Page 56 of Pet: Torment

I stand, letting my irritation fuel me.

“You know, I’ve had it with all of you thinking I can’t have an opinion just because my life is shorter than yours. I can see clearly that this whole situation is fucked up! Are none of you worried about him?” I flinch as I suddenly grow light-headed, swaying on my feet.

But Ezra is by my side, holding me up so that I don’t faint.

“Here, sit down. I didn’t mean to rile you up. I’m freaking out about this, too,” he says gently.

His tone forces tears into my eyes. I know what kind of person Ezra is. For him to show me compassion means this is much worse than he’s letting on. He’s much more frightened.

“I’m telling you, this wasn’t like any of the visions before…before they felt like memories. This one felt like I was there, experiencing it in real-time,” I say.

“Before?” he asks in confusion.

I nod, wiping my tears.

“Ever since Remus and I bonded, I’ve been having weird visions. They’re always in the same place, with someone calling for him. I didn’t tell him before he left, I thought it was just the bond and my body trying to adjust to it,” I say.

Ezra is quiet for a moment.

“When’s the last time you had one?” he asks.

My cheeks burn as I recall the night.

“The night Remus left,” I say.

“I don’t know what this means. Bonding with a human is something none of us have ever done before. Not even Xion. It’s foreign territory,” he says.

“Our mother always warned us against bonding with weaker species,” he adds.

I slowly giggle before it turns into a full-on laugh. Of course, she did. I’ve been dragged across the galaxy into a situation that wouldn’t have happened had Remus just left me alone. Or even not bonded with me.

Ezra tenses next to me, and when I look at him, his brow is furrowed in confusion. He quickly stands before shifting his attention to me.

“He’s back.”

Even though Remus has returned, I don’t feel at ease. It’s been hours since he came back, and he hasn’t come for me. So, as we ride in Ezra’s transport, heading for Remus’s home, I can’t help but twiddle my fingers at what this could mean.

Why wouldn’t he come to me first after what he put everyone through? After knowing the bond between us is gone somehow? I shift my attention to Ezra. Even he looks worried as we continue our journey. And he never looks worried.

“How do you know it’s Remus and not your mother coming to finish the job?” I ask.

Ezra scoffs in irritation at my quip to his mother, looking at me. “I can sense it. Anytime one of us leaves or returns, there is an energy surge,” he says.

“Okay, but how do youknowit isn’t your mother?” I ask.

“Because I know the difference between Remus and my mother’s energy signature. How do you think I knew he had bonded with you when you showed up…” he trails, clearing his throat.

“Sorry…I wasn’t thinking,” he says.

I know he’s referring to the loss of the bond between Remus and me. But I ignore the pain his words elicit, pulling in a deep breath.

“Don’t you think it’s strange he didn’t come to get me himself? After all that he put us through?” I ask.

“You’re so hellbent on finding the worst possible outcome,” he says after a moment of silence.

“You are blinded by your—”

“No. I just don’t want to think about what it means if you are right,” he says.