21. Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

Iris

My mind is a swirl of emotional turmoil.

It's exhausting having to learn the Leviathan culture, spy on Remus, and sate his desires while at the same time remaining inconspicuous. As we make our way to a beautiful home encased in the cliffside of the city, I once again notice the Leviathan are prone to intertwining their homes with nature. It's as odd as it is beautiful.

I walk silently next to Remus with as much freedom as I've ever had in his presence. There's no inhibitor and no bracelet that controls me. It's me of my own free will. There's a small pull at my chest, having earned his trust. His mood earlier this week is more than enough of an indicator that I have cracked some kind of wall he holds up. He has entered a different stage with me than when he first found me in the blight.He doesn't suspect a thing, and I have learned how to manipulate information out of him easily.

Jude was right about one thing: their arrogance will be their downfall.

Remus knowingly makes his way through the home, pausing when we reach a glass door. He silently opens it, revealing a captivating garden with a glass ceiling. I look around in awe before my eyes fall on a familiar face. I feel my heart skip a beat as excitement courses through me. It's Jude. He's sitting near the fountain in the center with his back to us. I also note that there are other humans here, which can only mean one thing: there's another war meeting.

I take a step into the room, happiness washing over me as I begin to move toward Jude. I feel a rough pull on my arm, yanking me toward the solid body that stands in the doorway. I look up at Remus, but he isn't looking at me. His gaze is focused on Jude. His grip tightens, and I immediately flinch out of reaction.

"Calm yourself, Iris. Or you will get him killed."

I gaze at him in shock.

He's jealous. Remus is jealous.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, trying my best to calm him down.

The sooner he leaves, the sooner I can speak with Jude about everything I've learned. If I make him too angry before that happens, he might not let me be in the same room as Jude, let alone bring me with him to these meetings any longer. Remus looks ready to say something when Zaya saves me. She approaches with a smile on her lips, and Remus releases me as he begins speaking to her. I stand silently with my head down, remaining as I know Remus has trained me so that he doesn't suspect my eagerness. He continues his light conversation with Zaya before finally deciding to head into their meeting.

He looks back at me with an unreadable expression before relaying his warning.

"Don't push me," he growls.

I watch as he exits in the opposite direction, counting to sixty before I dare to enter the garden. I finally reach Jude, taking a seat next to him. He looks up in irritation, but his expression softens when he sees that it's me, and a smile graces his lips.

"Well, well... So you're still alive," he says. I chuckle softly at his words, feeling a sadness creep over me.

"Yeah," I murmur.

"I've uncovered so much since our last encounter," I say softly.

Jude's eyes widen and he smiles at my words. I immediately launch into everything that I've learned since our last meeting. I tell him about the main port and how many cities there are total on our planet. It takes me a while, but I finally give him all the information I can, ending with Remus's plan for humanity and his unkillable status with our weapons.

I take in Jude's shocked expression, waiting for him to process everything I've told him, and he finally looks at me in disbelief.

"So Remus is basically unkillable, is what you're telling me," he says.

I slowly nod my head.

"That doesn't mean he can't be hurt. Or captured. He said himself that weapons that can injure Leviathan could injure him but not kill him. He also said the Leviathan sealed his mother away at one point," I say. Jude nods his head.

"So, what are you thinking?" he asks. I mull over his words.

"What if we could somehow injure him? Just... consistently so that he is always weak?" I say. Jude raises a brow.

"How does that prevent him from recovering, though?" he asks.

"Remus feeds off energy. If he never gets it or has access to it, maybe he'll eventually die. And what if the injuries could speed along the process?" I ask.

Jude glares at me incredulously.

"Okay, say this plan of yours works. How are we supposed to capture the leader of the Leviathan race? He's conquered entire galaxies!" he says.

I look out at the garden surrounding us, thinking about what he's saying. I note that Jude's body heat is warm. It's nothing like Remus's unnaturally high body temperature. It's comforting. I ease into that comfort, trying to think of a solution.

"If what you say is true, and his brother is missing, then someone out there has a weapon that can injure them critically. I'm sure the resistance either has access to it or knows who it is," I say.

"And what about humanity? How do we protect them from the fate he has planned?" he asks.

"The port. Remus said that they only have a certain number of cities because they don't believe in messing with the planet's ecosystem. So that's why they only have one destination for import and export. Remus may be immune to our ‘primitive' weapons, but I don't think their buildings are," I say with a smile .

Jude is silent, his brain moving a mile a minute.

"What are you thinking?" I ask, unable to take the silence.

"I think... I have to get this information to the resistance as soon as possible," he says with a smile. I feel my heart picking up speed at his smile, and excitement fills me.

"Do you think we can pull this off? Can they really beat him?" I ask.

"We have to. He'll wipe us out otherwise until all that's left are the slaves in captivity. We'll be an endangered species—an entire planet. Gone just because we don't fit into his perfect empire," he says, referring to what Remus said.

I laugh softly, thinking of everything Remus has said about humanity up to this point. "He resents us so much, Jude. If he finds them, it's over."

"So we're on a time clock then. They've concluded their business in this city. Today is their last meeting regarding this place. Zaya will be returning to her region, and Remus will be setting out closer to finding the resistance," he says.

The hope that I felt dies a little as I look at Jude.

"What? Are you sure?" I ask.

Jude nods his head. "I'm sure."

"Dammit," I hiss.

"Hey, it's okay. You've given us more than enough information and planning for us to have a chance. You've done amazing, Iris. More than could have ever been expected of you." His smile is comforting and genuine. And I can't help but feel warmth in my chest at the sight of it .

"I just can't let Margot down. I can't let her death be in vain," I say softly.

Jude frowns, taking in my sudden shift in mood. Now that I'm away from Remus's scrutiny and the silence of his empty home, tears come flowing out of my eyes in the presence of another sentient life that isn't out to control me. Someone with free will to react on their own.

"Iris?" he asks.

"One of the slaves with the inhibitor. She was my friend. He took her from the facility to taunt me, and he killed her... he killed Margot," I say softly.

I can feel my bitter smile as I look down at my hands. "I pushed him. And he punished me for it. He took Margot from me."

I look at Jude with a bitter smile. "It's my fault she's dead. Because of me, he used her as an example..."

Jude places his hand on my shoulder, placing his forehead against mine. We sit silently for a moment, just breathing before he speaks.

"Don't cry. We're going to avenge them. All of them. And we're going to kick these bastards off of our planet." His thumb runs comfortingly over my cheek, and I open my eyes, looking into his deep green depths. There's so much warmth there. So much life. It's nothing like Remus's. It's human. I get a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach as I gaze at him, and his smile deepens.

"We will, Iris."

His smile slowly drops as he looks at me with the same level of intensity that I look at him. His eyes slowly drop to my lips, and I immediately lick them out of habit. His pupils dilate slightly, and I'm suddenly aware of how close he is to me. He leans in closer to me, his lips hovering over my own, and I feel my heart skip a beat as he presses his lips to mine.

My world was taken from me at a young age. It was taken before I had a chance to learn more about it and especially enjoy it. I went through puberty in the midst of fighting for survival, so love was never something I thought of, let alone entertained. There were barely any people my age, as everyone too young to survive without parents was killed during the attack or soon after.

Remus may make my body feel good, but this feeling that I have with Jude is something completely new and foreign to me. It stretches beyond physical pleasure. Just the thought of his lips against mine puts my stomach in knots and makes my face heat up. But it isn't a bad feeling. It's pleasant. I had never focused on my growing affection for Jude. I've been scaring myself trying to survive while spying on Remus. But now that our plans have elevated to the next level, I find myself almost at peace, his words ringing in my ears like a battle cry.

"We're going to kick these bastards off our planet."

I can only hope he's right. I look up just as the sound of the door opening fills the air. Remus never came for me back at Zaya's. He had a servant send for me and bring me home without him hours ago. If what Jude said about them leaving the city is right, and that was the last meeting, I understand why. I stand from my seat on the cushions as I wait for him to approach.

Right on schedule, he passes the archway of the living room. I expect him to keep going, but he doesn't. He pauses mid-step, his head angling slightly toward the ceiling before his gaze lands on me. The usual amusement I see isn't there, and I'm greeted with the same hostility I saw when we first encountered one another. Remus slowly makes his way into the living room, his eyes never wavering. The closer he gets, the more terrified I feel from within. But I can't give myself away. So, I drop my gaze upon his approach, trying to think of anything but the looming aura of intimidation he holds as he approaches. He's standing directly over me, studying me before I feel the light touch of his finger under my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his.

My body immediately trembles out of reaction, as it knows that this being in front of me isn't human. He is nothing like Jude, and my instincts have begun to take over. His eyes slowly roam over my face, and I notice the black of his pupils vibrating as he tries to keep some semblance of control. He leans in closer to me, his face hovering inches from my throat as he inhales my scent.

"You reek of that male."

I try to think of anything else to keep my heartbeat calm, but I seem to be failing miserably. Remus stands over me, a look of disgust on his face as he studies me. He seems to be having an inner battle with himself. A light gasp leaves my lips as I notice the black of his eyes has almost swallowed the purple. He stands to his full height, not speaking another word as he turns away from me. He doesn't have to say anything to me to know what he wants. So I force my legs to move, following him up the hall.

Remus keeps his back to me as we make our way to the bathroom. Steam already fills the air from the heat of the water. The bath itself isn't as large as Remus's usual taste, but it's still large enough for two people to fit easily. It's built within the curve of the window that overlooks the city, revealing the sun slowly setting over the land, the lights of the Leviathan buildings coming to life.

Remus keeps his back to me as he pulls his clothing off. I take in his muscular form, silently admiring his physique. He still doesn't say a word, stepping into the tub. He leans against the tub with his head tilted back and his eyes closed. The usual steady pulse of the symbol on his chest has picked up a new rhythm. He isn't as calm as he seems. And that's all the more terrifying.

"Iris. You have yet to move."

I tense at the sound of his voice, my body immediately moving forward to appease him. My brain is going into overdrive. If he can smell Jude on me, does he suspect? He seems to be in a sour mood about something, but I don't know if it has to do with me or with something that happened in the meeting.

Remus's eyes open, focusing on me once he hears the sound of me removing my clothing. His expression is blank, reminding me of our first months together. Chills break out across my arms as I take him in. I never bothered to acknowledge how much I've become accustomed to Remus in the time we've been together. At this moment, he seems completely different than he's been, and it scares me.

He continues to watch me as I step over the edge of the bath, submerging myself in the water. I don't see lust in his eyes. I don't see anything. Remus's eyes stay lined to mine, and he doesn't look away. He's studying me. I wish more than anything I could read him the way he reads me.

The longer he studies me, the faster my heart beats.

"Pet... you're frightened," he says. I suck in a shuddering breath, and yet Remus still hasn't moved. He's eerily still. He angles his head, his gaze never wavering.

"Why are you so anxious? I haven't even touched you," he says, his eyes dropping to my lips. He finally moves, the sound of the water filling the still air of the bathroom as he comes near me. He's so close that I feel like I'm suffocating in the warmth that engulfs us. Remus's hand comes up to my face, cupping my jaw as his thumb runs over my bottom lip.

His eyes meet mine, and they're vividly bright as he looks into my own. My breathing catches in my throat as a nagging pain begins washing over my body. It starts out as an irritation, like the feeling you get when you have a small cut. And it slowly grows. I begin to shiver as the pain increases. My flesh begins to prickle in discomfort, and the pain dips beneath the surface of my skin, finding its way into my bones. My bones ache and weaken. I want nothing more than to scream as pain finds its way into my every nerve ending, but for some reason, I can't. I can only look into Remus's eyes as he mentally tortures me .

I feel tears brimming my eyes, only to slide down my cheek, but nothing else escapes me. Not a whimper, not a scream, just tears.

"I own you. Not just physically... I own every part of you, Iris."

The pain intensifies, spreading through my chest like wildfire. I'm vibrating against his palm, unable to move in the slightest, and he watches me. He watches me suffer.

"I control every part of your body. Your blood vessels, nerves, bones, and flesh are all mine to control. I can smell the second arousal touches your skin. I can sense the rise and the fall in your hormones. I can access your mind easily. I don't need an inhibitor for that. And I can control the way your brain perceives everything." His gaze remains on mine until, finally, he releases whatever mental hold he has on me. A whimper leaves my lips as the pain dissipates. His hand slowly finds its way over my throat, and he slowly tightens his grip, cutting off my air supply. I panic, my hands trying to move to claw at his, but as he holds my gaze, I find that I can't.

I can't move.

When he sees the panic in my eyes, his grip tightens, and he pushes me under the water. Now that I am out of his sight, my body launches into a panic, clawing at his grip and trying to find my own grip in the slippery bath, but I can't. I suck in water, and I can feel myself begin to slowly drown.

He's drowning me. He's going to fucking kill me.

Suddenly, he yanks me up out of the water, and I instantly sputter and cough, my lungs burning from the water intake. Remus has me out of the water with my back against the glass, his hips anchoring me against the wall as he pins me. His hands grip my arms above my head, his grip impossibly tight.

"I don't need to control your mind when I can easily overpower you physically." He emphasizes his claim by tightening his grip to the brink of the bone snapping. Pain radiates up my arm as he holds me on the edge, making me guess if he's going to break it or not.

"I. Own . You."

I'm panting against him, succumbing to the fear he's brought forth.

"I know that he put his mouth on what's mine. Did you think I would not notice?" he growls. His fingers grip my jaw as he forces my gaze to meet his. "And I'm going to make you watch while I kill him. Slowly. And painfully."

He steps back from me, letting me fall against the window as he exits the bath. He walks toward the door, pulling on a robe as he does. My brain finally connects with my body, and I'm out of the tub, screaming at Remus as I run toward him.

"No! Please!" I scream. I reach Remus, pulling on his clothes as I beg.

"Don't-Ah!" I cry out in pain as an invisible force knocks me back. When I open my eyes, Remus is glaring at me in open rage. As I look up at his face, my breathing hitches in my throat. My whole body runs cold, and any instinct I had to fight flies out the window. I'm literally paralyzed in fear. His eyes are pitch black. Any color that was once there is completely gone. I feel myself growing weak just from being in his presence. His hand grips me around my throat, holding me so that I am inches from his face. The sound of his voice sends tremors down my spine, and I can see clearly just how inhuman this being is.

"You are a slave to my empire. Nothing more. To do with as I please. If I want to kill you right now, I can. Everything that you are, your thoughts, your emotions, your fucking body, all the way down to the brain cells that reside in your skull, are mine to control."

He drops me, kneeling so that he is at eye level with my trembling, naked form.

"You are mine . And I will beat that understanding into the very marrow of your bones if I have to."