Page 81 of Pet: Torment

“Why?” I ask.

Remus narrows his gaze.

“Did I not explain it to you when I gave it to you the first time?” he asks.

It’s eerie speaking to a version of Remus, that finds it revolting to be in the same vicinity as me, about his past self. He’s so matter-of-fact as he talks about it, not in the least traumatized by the possibility of his past being wiped out. And I still don’t know if he’s aware of who did it.

“No,” I say.

“Then I must have had good reason,” he says, slowly circling me.

I shake my head in confusion.

“I don’t understand. If you believe me, why haven’t you destroyed the rings yet? Why am I still hiding with your siblings?” I ask.

The air grows heavy, and I turn to face Remus just as he steps closer to me, making me stop, my breath hitching in my throat as he leans over me, his eyes glowing menacingly.

“You’re mistaking tolerance of you as affection. You do not dictate what I do, nor do you question me,” he says.

I slowly nod, my mouth suddenly too dry to form a response. But Remus isn’t satisfied. He steps even closer to me, forcing me to step back until my back is flush against the mirror and his hand finds my throat. He doesn’t squeeze, but the threat is there as he runs his thumb over the dip of my throat.

“You are a puzzle piece, nothing more,” he says.

His words cut deeper than anything he’s ever said to me. But I ignore them. He isn’t himself right now.

I laugh, looking away.

“You’re lying,” I murmur. I don’t know how the words leave my lips, but they do. If he were going to kill me, he would have that night in the snow. He’s made the mistake he usually crushes his enemies with. He’s shown his hand.

He leans in closer to me, his heat melding with my own as his lips hover inches from my cheek.

“Am I?” he murmurs.

I flinch when I feel the icy pull of him feeding, and I gasp, my fingers flying to his arm. His eyes meet mine, focused on me intensely and I watch in horror as they grow brighter, glittering from his feeding.

“Iris!” I recognize Ezra’s voice, as does Remus, both of us looking in the direction it came from.

One second, I feel his touch around my throat, and in the next instant, he is gone—as if he were never here. My breathing is shaky as I slowly sink to the ground, using the mirror for support. The air isn’t as heavy, making breathing easier just as Ezra rounds the corner. His eyes fall on me, taking in the tear in the dress, and he clicks his tongue in disappointment, having no idea that Remus was here seconds ago.

“Get changed. We have to go to the capital,” Ezra says. There’s a slight hint of panic in his voice as he speaks.

“Why? What’s going on?” I ask.

My heart sinks as I think of Remus’s visit, telling me to wear that hairpin. Is that why he visited? Is something bad happening? Maybe their mother has returned?

“I don’t know yet. The council has summoned us.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Iris

Whatever has summoned the Divine Three to the capital must be important enough for me Sky’s presence to not matter. My stomach coils as we approach the meeting room behind Ezra, and Remus is waiting at the door. His amethyst gaze shifts pastEzra to both Sky and me and narrows slightly before we both crash into an invisible wall.

We stumble back, Sky in more shock than I am from the sudden force that prevents us from going forward. It reminds me of that moment in the dressing room when Remus placed a forcefield to prevent me from touching him in my excitement. He’s never used his power so often and so menacingly.

He was so different by the time we’d encountered one another.

Ezra’s irritated tone pulls me out of my thoughts as he snaps at Remus for his actions in their language, but Remus isn’t bothered in the slightest. He ignores his brother, making his way into the meeting room just as Xion approaches as well. She gives Ezra a warning glance before entering, and Ezra watches both of them enter before he finally comes to face us.