Chapter Eight
Iris
Ever since I met him, Ezra’s presence alone has put me on edge.
Remus’s presence is calm and patient. Even when we began our time together, he was always so reserved.
Ezra, however, has always been a little more erratic.
He’s unpredictable, and his smile is always a result of enjoying himself, tearing down those around him.
Now is no different as he approaches, ignoring Noah as he steps into my personal space.
His different-colored eyes glitter in excitement as he pulls my hand into his, bowing mockingly.
“Has my brother completely released you from his grip so soon? It’s only been a few weeks since he tore through the rebels looking for you,” he chuckles, and I pull my hand from his grip.
“Ezra—” Noah attempts to step between us, but Ezra is quick to stop him.
“I am not speaking to you,” he says. His eyes never leave mine as he speaks to Noah, and I notice they glow threateningly.
He’s warning me.
“It’s okay,” I say, gently pushing Noah back.
“I’ve been curious about how Sky’s adjusting anyway,” I say.
And just like that, the murderous facade Ezra dawned melts away into the carefree younger brother of Remus that I have become accustomed to.
He even holds his arm out for me, and I place my hand in the crook of his elbow as he leads me back to the party.
Although my exterior is calm, my heart beats frantically against my chest as we walk, and Ezra makes sure he acknowledges it.
He laughs, shaking his head. “I can hear your heartbeat.”
But I ignore his jab, hoping we re-enter the party soon, as I would feel much more at ease if Remus saw us together. He always makes it a point to shield me from his siblings. And after our conversation earlier, I know this time would be no different.
“So, how is she?” I ask.
Ezra is silent for a moment, and I almost think he’s not going to answer me.
“As good as someone who just lost everything can be,” he says. His tone throws me, but I don’t look at him. It’s the first time I’ve heard him speak so empathetically.
“She didn’t want to come tonight?” I ask.
Ezra chuckles, his footsteps coming to a halt as he turns to look at me.
“Did you?” he asks. “It is a celebration of the end of our time on Earth. Permanently. I figured you would be more…obstinate at the idea of attending.”
I use the opportunity to move past Ezra as I continue the walk to our destination.
“I chose this. I don’t have the right to be that way any longer,” I say.
I expect Ezra to respond with some snarky comment, but he doesn’t. He resumes walking behind me, but I don’t miss his laughter as he follows me back into the party. Before I can enter fully, I pause, turning to look at Ezra.
“How’d you do it? How’d you stop her?” I ask.
Ezra’s grin widens until he is smiling, his eyes glimmering in excitement as he moves past me.
He doesn’t give an answer as he enters the party with me in tow.
As we enter, it takes me all but five seconds to find Remus.
He’s separated himself from the crowd and is sitting on the throne at the front of this level.
His expression is blank as he sits, and I note that he isn’t looking for me, his words to me earlier playing in my head.
“I am yours. And you are mine. No matter how you feel about that fact.”
I guess Noah was right. I am no longer a slave. I am his equal.
I pull in a deep breath before crossing the room.
I expect Leviathan to stop me at some point, but no one does.
I am only a few feet away when Remus glances in my direction.
My heart flutters in my chest as a small grin forms on his lips at the sight of me.
He is so different now that we have arrived on Xyrannis.
It’s hard to imagine Noah’s warning to me—that everything I saw on Earth was only a fraction of Remus’s power.
And that in bonding, I could unleash even worse.
Remus stands, closing the space between us. I want to hate the feeling of safety and calm he exudes as I step into his arms, but after my brief exchange with Ezra, being with Remus feels like heaven.
“Where have you been?” he asks.
I almost laugh at his innocent question. It’s never been this way, Remus allowing me to roam and asking me about my time away from him. He’s always known where I am and what I am doing, as he’s always been the one in charge of it.
“There is a portrait of your mother out there. Is she not attending tonight?” I ask.
“You have a curious obsession with her whereabouts,” Remus says.
I shrug, pulling away from him.
“I’m curious about the woman who raised you,” I say, earning a laugh from Remus.
“My mother doesn’t like coming to this plane. It holds negative memories for her,” he says.
“But the Leviathan don’t seem to harbor negative feelings,” I counter.
Instead of anger, Remus once again shows his patience as he smiles, his eyes falling to my throat.
“You haven’t worn your locket since I returned it to you,” he says matter-of-factly.
“I—”
“Find it difficult when the memory of something so precious has been tainted?” he finishes for me.
My eyes widen at how spot-on he is.
“I thought you weren’t going to use the bond,” I say accusingly. But he once again laughs, and my cheeks warm from the sight of his smile.
“I don’t need the bond to understand parts of you, Iris. You and my mother are similar in that regard. You both don’t like reminders,” he says.
He studies me for a moment before gently gripping my hand as he pulls me along. It isn’t until we approach a hall opposite of the room that I realize Remus is taking me away from the celebration. He seems to know where it is he wants to take me, and for some reason, I am content with going along.
Remus takes me to the rooftop of the building.
It’s empty and slightly chilly as we step onto the terrace, and Remus doesn’t miss a beat as he removes his cape, wrapping it around my shoulders as he leads me to the edge of the building.
My eyes widen as I take in the large planet in the atmosphere.
It’s much more visible now that night has settled over the land, casting light over the city below.
Remus steps closer behind me, gently pulling me flush against him.
“How are you feeling?” he asks.
“Better,” I manage.
He doesn’t respond to my blatant lie. He knows me better than I know myself. He can hear my heartbeat and smell my fear. I’m sure he knows how I am feeling without me lying to him.
I am exhausted. Even standing here takes more effort than it did on Earth. And it doesn’t help that the dreams I’ve been having are keeping me up at night. All of that, coupled with Remus’s strange shift, is driving me to the brink of self-control. And it’s only been a few days since we arrived.
“We can leave if you’d like,” he says as if sensing my thoughts.
“Isn’t this celebration for you?” I ask, earning a chuckle from Remus.
“I hardly ever enjoy attending these. I am known to disappear after an hour or so,” he says.
Though his words should be harmless, they shed more light on the existence of him and his siblings.
The fact that they have conquered so often that Remus has a known routine is unnerving.
And as I look at the planet in the atmosphere, I am forced to acknowledge that regardless of his small shows of humanity, Remus is a force to be reckoned with.
A force that everyone seems hellbent on warning me about.
I continue to look at the planet, my mind shifting to the one we passed that was destroyed.
And I can’t help but wonder if Noah is also aware of the history behind it.
I slowly turn to face Remus as I let my curiosity get the best of me.
Before we attended the event, he asked me what was on my mind.
And with everything that has occurred tonight, from learning about his mother and his title to dealing with his brother, I am beginning to appreciate the calm I’ve associated with Remus.
He’s always been transparent, never hiding his intentions.
So, I force down the emotions that I’ve been harboring against him for the sake of my own planet as I give in to the part of me that needs answers.
I take a small breath, reaching for his face.
His eyes rival any jewels as the warm purple is slowly swallowed by the exciting flecks of blue sprinkled within his ethereal gaze.
He always looks at me with such desire—such excitement.
My fingers hesitate inches from his face as I recall the forcefield that pushed against me that day in the snow.
But his eyes coax me into following through, and I am met with no resistance as my fingers come into contact with his cheek.
His skin is warm against mine, and I note that the blue in his gaze continues to shine brightly as I touch him.
My mind shifts to Noah’s warning as I look into Remus’s eyes.
I’ve always known Remus is otherworldly, but he casually mentioned his mother existing on a separate plane.
And I don’t have the mental capacity to contemplate what that means.
Noah’s warning was a wake-up call I didn’t know I needed. Everything I’ve witnessed up to this point has been a red flag as to the danger that is Remus.
The true Remus.
As I stand before him, taking in the unnatural beauty I’ve grown accustomed to, I realize just how out of touch I’ve been. I know nothing about this alien. All I know is what he’s allowed me to see and the patience that has come with it. What is he capable of that goes beyond what I saw on Earth?
“What is it?” Remus asks, knowingly.
His voice is low and strained.
“What are you, really?” I ask.
He doesn’t respond immediately, his hand slowly coming up to cover mine. He gently pulls my hand from his face, placing it on his chest where his symbol pulses beneath. He smiles, leaning in so that his lips hover over mine as he speaks.
“Yours.”
And then he kisses me.