Page 22 of Pet: Torment

“Don’t worry. We are far from done.”

Remus

I’ve never felt this before—this aching sadness. It’s debilitating as it runs over me. It’s coupled with loss, pain, anger, betrayal… so many hurtful emotions that I choose not to feel every day.

It makes breathing difficult.

I slowly open my eyes, immediately registering the slightly cooler body spooned to my front. Iris’s breathing is deep; after last night, she will probably be asleep for a few more hours. Heat rushes to my cock as I take in her scent. Her skin is soft under my touch; her ass nestled right over my hardening shaft.

I tense as a tear falls from my eye. These aren’t my emotions. I pull in a deep breath, calming myself down as I decipher my emotions from Iris’s. From the moment we bonded, I put a wall between Iris and me so that we won’t stumble upon one another’s most vulnerable feelings. But I couldn’t control myself as we had sex. I wanted every part of her, and at that moment, understanding the pleasure and desire that ran through her wasintoxicating. Feeling her in that way was…intimate. And I forgot to raise the block before falling asleep. Now, the foremost of her emotions are rushing over me, making me feel what she feels.

I knew she missed her home. And I somewhat understood the weight she felt of her brother’s betrayal. But the emotions radiating from her now are unbearable. It’s too many feelings and confusion melding with each other to further complicate things—a self-loathing for the excitement that exists in a new world.

I gently pull Iris closer, feeling the disruptions under her skin before sending waves of healing over her body. I also sense she is exhausted. The planet’s gravity and atmospheric composition are taking a toll on her. And as long as she fights the bond between us, she will only get worse. But after feeling her inner turmoil, I know she will hold out as long as she can.

All she has to do is accept her new life and move on, and these feelings would disappear. But she won’t. She will hold fast to them until she can no longer purposefully suppress them.

I quietly get out of bed, ensuring I don’t wake her as I make my way out of the room. I myself am exhausted. I’ve never gone so long without feeding, and Iris’s emotions, mixed with the trouble Iriel’s trial will bring in the future, are things I am not looking forward to. Iriel’s betrayal is just a steppingstone for more Leviathan who feel opposed to our rule. And it will become even more tedious if more become aware of Ezra’s weakened condition during his time on Earth.

Even if he wasn’t entirely truthful about the injuries he sustained, he allowed Leviathan to get information on his genetic makeup. He has revealed that he is vulnerable, which will, in turn, make any enemies think we all are. But that is not the case.

Ezra has always been different from Xion and me.

The lights come on as I enter the kitchen, and I quickly go through the pantry and the fridge, ensuring Iris has enough food and nothing has gone bad. I chuckle softly as I study the food sourced from Earth. It was the only thing I could think of to make sure she felt somewhat comfortable, but as I recall the emotions swirling inside her, I see how foolishly optimistic I was. It just shows how different we are.

I thought I could give her a “choice” she would be happy with making in the end. She would learn to accept her decision because of the world around her that is much more at peace than hers ever was. But she still mourns for those who turned on her. For the boy she betrayed me with...for the world that showed her nothing but disdain.

I release a deep breath as an intense feeling settles in my chest. I recognize it instantly, mingling with another I’ve come to know only in Iris’s presence.

Jealousy.

But it’s more than a dislike for her attention being elsewhere. It’s a disregard for everything surrounding her as my own desires rush to the forefront. It’s a need to be around her every single moment, filling her senses with me. I want everything she has to offer. I want her mind, her body, her freedom. And the longer I mull over it, the more intense it grows. The world around me darkens as I focus on the emotions I feel. Her happiness, her sadness—I want it all to revolve around me.

I tense as sharp pain rushes through my head, followed by an intense flash. It’s the same vision I had just after the council meeting the other day. Except this time, I can decipher at least one thing.

I am a child, and the wave of energy rushing through me is much more satisfying than anything I’ve ever felt. This is what I’ve wanted all along, not what I’ve been forced to believe. And as I look around, I ampleased by the sight of Leviathan surrounding me, dead at my feet. Their bodies robbed of life by a single touch.

A loud crack pulls me from the vision, and I look down at the countertop, which has now been shattered in confusion. The vision was so clear. But it didn’t feel like a vision. It felt like a memory. It held small nuances that I am aware of for some reason. And I don’t recall it ever happening. I try to push it away, but it settles, only that one instance. Nothing before or after it comes to mind.

I shift my attention to the countertop. Once again, something has happened that I have no control over. I didn’t mean to do this. Same with the table in the meeting room the other day. It’s why I was so angry with Iris for coming so close to me when I was meditating. Something could have happened to her as a result.

I don’t know what’s going on, but it doesn’t seem like an isolated incident. It feels like it is the beginning of something for which I am not prepared for.

Chapter Ten

Iris

Remus is gone.

I know it before I open my eyes. Because even though there is a fire burning in the hearth, and I am under a ridiculously large blanket, my body feels cold. As if something is missing. The feelings I had before falling asleep, the ease and relaxation, haveall but disappeared. And I know it is the effects of the bond at play.

I slowly open my eyes, taking in my surroundings. The windows are dimmed, protecting me from the sunlight streaming outside. And as I sit up, the usual difficulty that accompanies it is gone. It must be from Remus and me crossing the line last night.

I can’t believe I allowed something so serious to transpire between us when I’m still having issues accepting this place as my home and living with the being who took my world from me. But at that moment, it felt like second nature. It was something I needed after hearing the terrifying warning from Noah, accompanied by Ezra’s unpredictable nature. Couple that with the exhaustion I’ve been feeling just from being here, and I’m shocked I didn’t give in sooner.

Now that I have, I am craving Remus’s touch like an addict. And he is nowhere to be found.

As I throw my legs over the side of the bed, the room illuminates with me. I note that I have no clothes. Remus usually leaves clothes for me, but not today. And the dress I wore last night is nowhere to be found. So, I wrap the large blanket around me, letting it drag the floor as I go in search of Remus to ensure the feeling of emptiness inside of me is because of his absence.