17. Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

Iris

Exhausted doesn't even begin to describe how I feel. I thought ensuring Remus's promise to teach me the Leviathan language would come with benefits and the slightest bit of confidence, but it's only come with exhaustion and the realization that I am out of my league. Remus has discovered a newfound interest in me when it comes to sex. And being the powerful being that he is, his exhaustion comes long after mine. He's also found a way of mixing his desire with teaching me to read. I can't help but wonder if he does so to make me weary of learning. If so, his plan has succeeded. The strangest thing about it is that Remus is surprisingly patient when it comes to teaching, even if it takes me hours to decipher a simple sentence.

"Iris, you've completed nothing within the last hour of me leaving you here." I'm pulled out of my thoughts as Remus walks by me, snatching the scribbled-up paper from in front of me. He eyes my handiwork with a blank expression before looking at me.

"Tell me, am I a poor teacher, or are you a poor student?" he asks before moving to sit next to me. My cheeks burn at his proximity as he places the sheet in front of me. He's looking at my scratchy handwriting with keen interest as he takes in my notes. I use the moment of silence to study him. He's dressed in his usual attire, his hair only half pulled back as the rest drapes over his shoulder to form a curtain of white. His purple eyes move over the page with subtlety. He's impossible to read, just like his language.

His eyes shift to me before I can look away, and I feel my face on fire as I whip my gaze to the paper, embarrassed from being caught watching him swallowing me whole. His soft chuckle sweeps over me before he uses the pen to circle the issues on the page.

"Our written language is not horizontal or linear. It's static. Why do you repeatedly ignore that concept?" he asks.

I suck in a shaky breath letting my embarrassment roll further.

"I don't know what static means," I whisper.

Silence washes over us as Remus recognizes my lack of knowledge. But he doesn't humiliate me for it.

"Static means it doesn't move. It doesn't read in a specific direction." He begins writing on the page in front of me, his handwriting smooth and elegant. I immediately notice that he's left-handed. My handwriting pales in comparison to his. It's messy, bold, and all over the place. I stare at the letters in front of me, and it takes me a moment to realize he's written my name .

"Your language moves left to right, with the alphabet conforming to form words, which in turn form sentences."

He continues writing after my name, forming a sentence.

Iris is learning.

"My language stays in one place, each element adding meaning. My language also contains symbols that specify who, what, and when."

He draws a strange shape that resembles an "A." His pen doesn't lift as he marks through it, adding more symbols that I don't understand.

"This is your name..." He adds two curved loops on the edge. "This clarifies it as a proper noun, and this clarifies that proper noun being a living entity that is called that."

His pen moves only slightly further up. "Verbs are placed above the subject because it is the command of the sentence..." He adds another strange symbol that hooks on the end of the verb, "And this clarifies tense."

He looks at me to make sure I'm following along before writing something else on the page.

"Translate this, and we'll be done for the day," he says. I stare at the sheet, my eyes deciphering my name immediately. I look above at the verb and the adjective describing my name. It slowly falls into place what the writing says, and although I'm pleased that I've made a breakthrough with his explanation, the words cause my cheeks to flush.

"Iris is... aroused," I whisper .

Remus's arms are around me, his lips playing at my throat with a smile.

"Very good."

The Leviathan are holding a celebration. It's a festival to celebrate the saviors of their planet on the day of their release. It's the day Remus's mother released him and his siblings to save and lead the Leviathan race.

More servants sprint past Remus's study to make their way to his location. They've been preparing him all morning, and even though it is a celebration, Remus doesn't seem excited in the least. He seems upset. One thing I've never been able to do is read Remus's emotions. But today, he hasn't said a word or uttered a command. His temper is short, and he is borderline angry.

The servants dressed me in a beautiful white gown that hugs my skin flatteringly, leaving a lengthy train behind it with the symbol that I've come to associate with Remus on it. The length of the dress is slightly transparent, and jewels I've never seen before attach it to my waist. I silently wonder if they're from Remus's homeworld. They also pinned my short hair back with a silver pin, holding it out of my face for the day.

I slowly make my way out of the study to the balcony that rests on the edge of Remus's city residence. When I enter the living room, Margot slowly begins to follow me from her silent post against the wall. I suck in a deep breath as we both walk to the glass door that leads to the balcony.

"How long has it been?" I ask.

I'm met with silence. I'm always met with silence. I turn to face Margot, who watches me with that dilated gaze. It's eerie.

"How long have you been trapped in there? How long have I been trapped here?" I ask. I suck in a deep breath.

"I haven't given up, Margot. We have so much more hope now than when we lived in the blight. Don't worry. I'm so close to saving you—to saving all of us. I just have to keep at it," I say softly.

I turn back to the balcony door, my fingers inches from the glass, when I hear Remus's voice. "Step away from the glass, Iris."

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from growling out loud and turn around.

Remus is dressed in his all-white once again and has a high-collared shirt with a cape that latches using two jewels similar to the ones I wear on my waist. He wears a sleek silver crown around his head, and his hair isn't in its usual place, held out of his face. It's free, with no pins holding it as it flows down his back. I draw in a breath as I study him from where I stand. Remus would never fit into our society. Everything about him screams otherworldly.

He makes his way toward me, and Margot steps aside as he approaches. His eyes are focused on my arm, and he doesn't hesitate to grab my hand and place a familiar object around my wrist. It's the same bracelet he made me wear the night of the ball. The night he tortured me within an inch of my life.

His deep, purple gaze travels up to my face .

"I believe we are beyond threats. You have such a strong will to protect those around you. And if I continue to test that will, you may very well get yourself killed in the process. I will not hinder your defiance because it is something I have come to admire about you. But I will no longer tolerate it. Especially today."

I stare at the elegant bracelet that sits on my wrist.

"Why do you keep bringing me to these events? Why, if you know that I will be disobedient?" I ask. His eyes brighten at my question.

"I don't know you will be disobedient. You have all the prerequisites that come with compliance, and I bring you with the intention of the evening going according to plan, with no outbursts from my pet..." his hand presses lightly against my cheek as his eyes bore into my own, "and you prove me wrong... every single time."

His hand slips from my cheek to my throat, lightly squeezing as he speaks his next threat with terrifying conviction.

"I'm done playing games with you. I will break you, and I will prolong the pain. I will not heal you, and I will let your feeble human body go through its own slow and painful process of repairing your body back to its near-perfect condition. And if your body cannot do that, then I'm afraid I will have to let death take you." Remus's eyes glisten with the promise of his spoken threat, and my body takes heed to his warning, shivering in his presence. It's hard to imagine that he willingly hugged me only last week.

Thankfully, a servant interrupts us, her timid voice carrying over the room as she speaks to Remus in the Leviathan language. Remus stands tall, his eyes never leaving mine as he quips his response to her. He watches me for a moment before a sly smile spreads across his lips.

"You can also try to earn the language if you'd like. I'd love to see how you'd earn that."

The trip to the venue is short and sweet.

Remus's mind seems to be elsewhere today. He even passed up the opportunity to tease me on the ride to the massive coliseum. It's interesting to see that some ideas span across galaxies. While the coliseum itself rivals any that humanity has ever made, especially since it seems to float on its own, the structure still centers around the circular shape that the Romans fell in love with.

I watch in awe as the craft we're in docks in one of the landing bays, an array of Leviathan ready to greet their terrifying leader. Remus doesn't speak, nor does he offer me a last-minute warning as he exits the craft, expecting me to follow behind. I walk silently behind Remus while the Leviathan that greeted him speaks to him with excitement in their voices. Remus's answers are short and cold as we make our way through to the main event.

Once we reach the large glass door, the Leviathan bow to Remus before stepping further away from him. He finally turns to face me, and I note that his features soften only slightly as he steps into my personal space .

"Obedience. That is all I demand of you today. Don't test me. Don't test my patience. I am not in high spirits," he says. He places his finger under my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his, and I feel my blood run cold at the sight of his eyes. The black of his eyes trembles violently, threatening to dilate as he silently warns me. My instincts kick in, and I realize that I am trembling.

"Okay," I whisper.

Seemingly satisfied with my response, Remus steps away from me to the opening doors. I have to fight the urge to cover my ears from the deafening roar that blasts through the doors. It takes me a moment to decipher the noise. It's his people. My eyes widen as Remus steps ahead of me onto a leveled balcony, my eyes widening even further when I see the interior of the coliseum. I regret ever comparing it to anything a human has made throughout history.

The massive interior holds thousands of Leviathan, some of which are in floating rooms while others are seated in the semi-circle around the edges. The interior itself is a beautiful landscape. The ground is abundant with perfectly leveled grass, and the surrounding columns spew water, forming a waterfall around us. Remus steps forward, and with a wave of his hand, the roar grows increasingly louder.

A large and vivid display forms in the center of the domain, rising up in the air for all to see as Remus's face appears in full view for the spectators.

I'm pulled out of my awe as a Leviathan tugs on my arm lightly. When I look at him, he is motioning for me to step onto a rectangle with Remus's symbol. I slowly step onto it, and it gradually rises, taking me to a balcony that's been carved into what looks like a mountainside inside of this coliseum. When I reach the top, a light blue ray of light spreads over the edge, and it doesn't take an expert to know that this is a barrier.

My eyes shift to Remus as he walks among the Leviathan, his expression as hard as stone. He looks more regal than ever in this setting. From the reaction of his people alone, I can see the amount of power he holds. He reaches his throne and takes his seat as an announcer begins speaking in their language. I note that there are two empty seats next to Remus, and six more are in the row beneath him.

After a lengthy entrance, more Leviathan enter the coliseum, waving as they make their way up the path leading to their seats. One I immediately recognize as Zaya. She greets Remus, crossing her fist over her chest as she bows before taking her seat in the row beneath him. Each of the following Leviathan do the same until all six chairs are filled. And yet, the seats next to Remus remain empty.

"It's different, seeing their customs up close, huh?" I look to my left at the sound of Jude's voice to see him standing next to me on the balcony. We are separated by the blue beam of light but still close enough to speak. There are pets of the other Leviathan leaders that are being brought to the same perch as well. It's disappointing to see how many of us have caught the eye of one of them.

"It's sick. They have us on display like we are some kind of prize," I hiss in irritation. Jude laughs next to me .

"We are prizes, Iris. We are the conquered—the planet's living inhabitants. We are the greatest prize this world has to offer," he says bitterly.

"This festival is a weeklong celebration of the arrival of their gods. Xion, Ezra, and Remus," he explains.

My eyes widen.

"Gods?" I repeat in shock. Jude's gaze grows distant as he watches Remus.

"...Yeah."

I think back to the names he mentioned, wracking my brain, but I come up with nothing.

"What's Ezra and Xion?" I ask.

"Not what, who. They're his siblings. And they're just as ruthless." I look at Jude in shock, but he's quick to react.

"Keep your eyes on the ceremony. We don't want them to see that we're talking," he says. I quickly shift my gaze back to the ceremony. More Leviathan who weren't among the six that entered have begun making their way up the path with baskets of different items in their hands. They're all dressed in different colors.

"Nobility is a big deal in the Leviathan society. Remus and his siblings are considered gods among their people. Since you told me about his origin, I can see why," Jude says.

Each of the six Leviathan beneath Remus begin to stand, approaching the Leviathan who hold gifts.

"Those six are the generals. Each of them is chosen by Remus himself. That's why they are considered such high-ranking members of society. Their god handpicked them himself to join in their homicide mission across the galaxy," he chuckles bitterly.

"So his siblings are going to be here as well?" I ask. I've only ever seen Remus's brother once. It was the same day they were going over plans together. It's strange that his siblings didn't arrive with him.

"No. Xion is on their home planet, Xyrannis . She was a part of the military, same as her brother, but she found a lifemate and decided against accompanying them on this trip. She's leading Xyrannis , under Remus's order, of course, while he is here," Jude says.

My eyes shift to Remus. He still hasn't shown any emotion on his face since the beginning of this ceremony. It's hard to believe that someone just as ruthless as Remus decided to stay on their planet for the sake of loving someone.

"As for Ezra, he hasn't been heard from in months," Jude says breaking through my thoughts.

"What do you mean?" I ask, my interest piqued.

"Ezra leads the Leviathan armada. He left a few months ago on a mission and hasn't been heard from since. At least, that's all I could make out on Zaya's reports. This is the first time in a very long time the three of them won't be together." Jude laughs bitterly beside me. "They can call us weak all they want. But we managed to split up their gods. So we must be some kind of threat."

I can't help but smile at his words. He's right. Remus loves to brag about our lack of power, but we've managed to keep him and his siblings so busy that they can't be together for this important day. This new bout of information would also explain Remus's recent mood. When Ezra visited, Remus seemed very protective of his brother. And now, he's missing, more than likely in danger or even dead from the resistance, and his sister is light-years away. I glare at his regal form in complete confusion.

Could he be lonely without his family?

I nearly laugh at the thought. The idea that Remus could be saddened by anything is absurd. He's cruel the majority of the time. It's a foreign thought that he could be remotely upset by his siblings' absence on this day. But as I watch his rigid form, the thought nags at my brain.

Could it be possible?

The generals reach the edge of the platform, standing in front of the Leviathan holding baskets. Remus raises his hand, and an almost instant silence washes over the coliseum.

He opens his mouth and begins to speak. Just like he does with every other speech, his words send a wave of excitement over the crowd. Even I feel my skin pleasurably tingling at the sound of his voice. Everything about him screams charisma at this moment. Even his body language is inviting. Whatever he said, the generals raise their fists, exerting battle cries of agreement. Remus finishes his speech, and the screen above zooms in on the Leviathan, who are now handing their objects to the generals.

"Do you know what they're doing now?" I ask.

I vaguely register Jude's response as my eyes travel to the screen that now has foreign words displayed across it. My heart races as the teachings that Remus gave me fall into place .

"They are giving Remus offerings," I whisper, my eyes still glued to the screen.

"You can read their language?" Jude asks next to me.

His expression reflects my excitement as he watches me and I find myself grinning in response.

"Only a little," I say timidly.

Jude shakes his head in disbelief. "How did you ever manage that?"

I feel my cheeks burning as I remember the night I got Remus's word.

"I... earned it."

My voice trails off as my eyes reach where Remus is seated. My skin runs cold as a wave of fear washes over me. Remus isn't watching his people any longer. He's watching me. And he does not look happy. Jude and I both forgot the most important rule, and I just know that both of us are going to pay for it.

The celebration lasts the entire day.

We switch settings, from outside to different buildings to private parties hosted by important members of society, at all of which Remus makes an appearance. Each location hosts performances, speeches, and offerings. And I am grateful that Remus is so busy that he and I don't interact the entire time. He ensures that we are at the same venues but never acknowledges me. And why would he? I am a pet. A prize. A glorified spoil of war. They bring us with them as if we're decorations, even using us to make the venue pop. We were stacked atop columns, our clothing accentuated with the lights that shone around us. And Jude has been far away from me instead of being next to me like he was at the ceremony. Judging from Remus's look, he had something to do with that.

When the day finally ends, Remus and I take separate ways back to his city home. I don't even see when he departs the last venue. I am brought in a separate craft back to the towering building where he resides. The craft hovers in the loading bay, and I exit when signaled to greet Margot's lifeless eyes, waiting to escort me back into my prison.

I follow Margot silently as we make our way through the familiar halls. I half expected more Leviathan to be here, but to my shock, it's empty. We reach the living room, and the light is on, but the room is empty. When I look out onto the balcony, Remus is standing against the glass railing, looking out over the city. Soft music plays overhead as I enter, and as if sensing my presence, Remus turns to face me.

He's only wearing white pants, and I notice the exciting rhythm of the purple symbol on his chest pulse with life. He's in a better mood. He steps into the house, and Margot silently backs out upon his entrance. His purple gaze roams over me with interest. He silently approaches me, kneeling once he stands over me. My eyes widen as he gently pushes the fabric of my dress aside and begins unfastening the silver jewels that pass for shoes in this world. My legs ache as I step out of them, the cool floor feeling heavenly against my bare feet.

Remus stands to his full height, holding his hand out to me. I obey his silent command, placing my hand in his, and he pulls me in close, wrapping his hand around my waist. He then hoists me up so that my feet are on top of his, and he moves to the music playing overhead. Remus remains silent as he gently sways us rhythmically. The warmth of his body seeps through the material of the dress I'm wearing. I hate to admit it, but I find it comforting. At this close proximity, I can better take in the symbol on his chest. My eyes widen as I study it. There's an almost transparent-like glow to it. And I can see the beam of energy rushing through it.

"What did you think of the festival?" I look up and his gaze is boring into mine, the purple matching the symbol.

"It was...long," I say. Remus actually smiles at my response—a small grin, but a smile, no less.

"It was just opening ceremonies. The rest of the week won't be so bad," he says.

I look away, not knowing what to say. Is he trying to hold a normal conversation with me?

"You seem to like Zaya's pet."

Ah. There it is.

"He is the only person I've been able to talk to who still has a mind of their own," I say.

Remus's hand tightens around mine, and I have to stop myself from flinching.

"Don't get too attached, Iris," he warns .

"I'm not," I say quickly. I take a stab at the thoughts that have been plaguing my mind all day since Jude explained Remus's siblings.

"I just get lonely not having anyone to talk to," I say, opening the door for him to say something about his siblings. But he doesn't. He remains silent. Remus spins us so gracefully around the room that it's hard to imagine him as the same creature that wiped out the blight.

"You looked stunning today," he says, breaking the silence. I'm so caught off guard by his compliment I look up, and he's gazing down at me in appreciation. His face is so close to mine that I can make out the blue flecks within his purple eyes. It's beautiful. Otherworldly. Like him.

"Thank you," I mumble.

Remus stops moving, his eyes focused on my hand in his.

"My siblings usually celebrate this day with me. For the people, it is the day that they were saved, but for us, it is the day that began our freedom."

He smiles as if remembering something.

"Xion couldn't wait to get out and away from our mother's graces. Ezra was reluctant to leave. He was always the most attached to her. Each of them looked to me for guidance. And now, Xion doesn't want to leave Xyrannis , and Ezra thinks he has to prove himself by doing the most…" Remus trails off, and I watch his expression shift. I want to urge him to continue, but I've been in Remus's care long enough to understand his tells .

Suddenly, Remus's demeanor changes. He grows closed off and cold, his expression morphing into that unreadable one I've become accustomed to. He steps away from me, letting go of my hand as he leaves the room.

"Come. I'm tired," he growls over his shoulder.

I watch him for a moment before forcing my feet to reluctantly follow.