30. Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty

Iris

The water is extremely calm today, barely licking the sand before dipping back into the ocean. Even the breeze is nice and comforting. We are located in a secluded area, as no living beings for miles surround us. Even the distance shows nothing but more water.

I've seen more of the world in Remus's care than I ever did beforehand. The water was never like this in the blight. It was scarce, and when it rained, it was murky and dirty from the debris and dead animals. Sometimes, even humans. A soft smile spreads on my lips as I dig my toes into the sand that the water barely touches. The top layer is warm, but as I dig my feet deeper into the sand, the cool sediment begins to tickle my toes. My eyes involuntarily close as I imagine myself a free woman. No Leviathan, no Remus, no rebels... just me, maybe on vacation, enjoying my day on the beach .

Remus hasn't spoken to me in days. He won't look at me, and he's been very adamant about keeping his distance. I should feel proud. I should be happy that although I gave out information, Remus doesn't know what that information is, which puts him at a disadvantage. Even better, he's more cautious about his next steps because he's aware that his brother could be in real danger.

I've managed to put the Leviathan leader at a disadvantage. I should be proud. But I'm not. I am wracked with anxiety and guilt. I've only prolonged whatever end he has in mind for the rebellion while giving them false hope. If they kill his brother, Remus won't spare any of them. And I should be killed right along with them for giving them the information in the first place. In all honesty, I should be dead right now. Remus could have ended my life that day. Judging from the damage left in the courtyard from his anger alone, he wanted to. But at the same time, he couldn't.

"You and I both know I can't."

What began as a simple challenge between us has morphed into more. Much more. Remus has actually gained an emotional attachment to me, deep enough that he is willing to sacrifice so that I can live. But it also means that he has a deeper hatred for the humans that have his brother and almost killed me.

I tense when I feel the sun's warmth dispel slightly, and when I open my eyes, Remus is standing over me with a large umbrella made from light fabric. He pushes it into the sand with little effort, and I watch in awe as it remains standing, hovering over me .

"You shouldn't be out here like this. The sun's rays can be damaging to your skin," he says. Once he's satisfied with the positioning, his eyes meet mine. I shrug, looking back at the ocean.

"Does it really matter?" I murmur. Remus laughs softly, taking a seat next to me.

"Of course, it matters."

I bring my knees to my chest, resting my chin atop them as I focus on the scenery. The weight of Remus's presence next to me doesn't feel as threatening as it once did. It also doesn't feel completely comfortable. But I'm suddenly more aware of my situation as it pertains to not only giving the resistance an advantage but betraying Remus's trust, the only being that seems to be concerned about my life and wellbeing at the moment.

I release a shuddering sigh as I think of Cypress. He left me with no interest in protecting me. And he's my blood, not a foreign being hellbent on taking over our planet. "Why did he leave me? Is it because I tried to stop him from fighting? Does he see me as a traitor?" I ask.

Remus heaves a deep sigh.

"I'm sure he didn't mean to. He probably thought you were dead—"

"No. He wouldn't come with me even when I tried to save him. He wanted to die and leave me," I say softly.

I pull my locket up, looking at it one last time as my feelings take hold of me. Cypress left me here with Remus. He wouldn't come with me when I tried to save him. I risked my life to save him, and he abandoned me to continue the fight against Remus. A fight that I know will not end well for one side. I feel anger at my situation, ripping the necklace from my throat. It's the only thing of my past life that I have, but I no longer want it. My fingers clench around the pendant, and I try to launch it into the ocean when Remus's hand closes around mine.

I look at him angrily, but he's watching me in pity.

"Didn't you say you wouldn't hate him?" Remus's tone is strangely gentle. He pulls the necklace from my hand, studying it while he speaks.

"Sometimes... we do what we think is best for our siblings so that they don't have to suffer as we did. And sometimes we're so busy protecting we don't see how our actions are doing more harm than good," he says, offering me a smile. I pick up on the double meaning of his words, but I push down the shock of him opening up to me.

"I'm sorry about your brother," I say softly. I don't know why the apology comes out of me. Everything Remus has done to me and humanity as a whole is enough to make my flesh crawl. And yet, here I am apologizing about his brother's fate. Maybe because if I were in Remus's shoes, I would be worried sick about Cypress, just as I am now. Maybe because when I lost, Remus was there to guide me to finding peace.

I look at Remus, and he's watching the waves. He seems somewhat at peace as a small smile ghosts across his lips.

"Are you? I thought you'd be thrilled about the results of his capture," he says. After a brief silence, his smile falls .

"It's a cruel thing, war. My brother knew how dangerous things were becoming when he volunteered. I'm sure he'll be fine one way or another. My concern is the weapons they are using and testing on him. While the information you seemed to have given has benefitted humans, it won't bode well for Ezra. We are not the same. I can only hope Iriel sees that before he kills him on accident," he says.

"Why wouldn't he just... kill him now? Use him for leverage?" I ask.

"Iriel isn't a fool. He may be their leader, but he isn't the only one that has betrayed me. If he kills Ezra, the entire planet will die, including him and his followers. The only chance he has at survival is to figure out a way to kill me. Ezra is just another means to that end. His capture is giving them a way to fight against the Leviathan race, but not me. Not even Xion."

I feel a chill ripple across my skin from his words. They're so cold and matter-of-fact. He has no reservations about ending life on this planet if Ezra dies. What's more, I don't think the rebels have taken into account that Xion is not as weak as Ezra. They are outmatched, and she hasn't even set foot on our planet yet.

"What do you plan on doing if you find the resistance?" I ask. I've dreaded this question for a while now, but I've been too scared to ask.

"Why? Are you going to tell them that as well?" I flinch from his tone but keep my eyes trained forward. I know if I look at him, I'll lose it .

"Why didn't you just give us a chance at peace? You just came in and took our home and deemed that we weren't worthy of it or a place in your ‘empire,'" I say.

"Your planet has a knack for repeating its history. Your leaders didn't want peace—"

"Our leaders don't speak for all of us," I say quickly. Remus laughs. He actually laughs.

"Yes, they do, Iris. Why do you think they are in charge? Do you think they magically put themselves there? The mass population each of them ruled looked to them upon our arrival. I have nothing to do with your planet's decision. Besides, had I not intervened, your leaders' stupidity would have killed all of you before I ever had the chance to interact."

"I would have never chosen this," I say.

"I never said there weren't humans who wanted peace. Of course, there are. Unfortunately, their voices don't matter to their leaders, and they end up being casualties of war, just as you and your brother almost were," Remus says.

"So you're okay with your brother being a casualty of war?" I ask bitterly.

"No. But as I said before, if Ezra is killed on this planet, the plans for your world will change because I, as the leader and an individual, have the power to do so. There will be no plan for humanity. Iriel knows this. I'm confident he won't do anything foolish until he's had a chance to kill me. "

"But he can't," I say. When I look at Remus, my blood runs cold at his expression. He's looking at me with a strange smile on his lips, a smile that reaches his eyes.

"Of course not, Pet."

I release a deep breath, looking back out over the ocean.

"You said you can't kill me... Why?" I ask. I hear the sound of Remus moving, and when I turn to look at him, he's inches from my face, his eyes traveling over my features to rest on my lips.

"I've grown very attached to you in our time together. I know it's a foolish endeavor, but I'm also aware that I can no longer fight it or try and pretend it's a light infatuation," he murmurs.

His lips come into contact with my throat, eliciting a shiver over my flesh. He continues to place gentle kisses along my throat, trailing to my exposed shoulder. I let out a soft sigh as pleasure once again builds up within me at the slightest touch from Remus. He gently eases me onto my back so that he is straddling me, looking down at me with lust. His eyes burn bright as he watches me, clearly enjoying himself.

"Even if you did give information, it isn't enough to halt my plans altogether, only delay them. After I thought about it, I wasn't angry about the information you shared. I was angry because I felt betrayed... by you." He scoffs lightly as a thought crosses his mind before continuing.

"But I know you only did so because you weren't fully aware of your situation, nor did you understand your place."

"... My place? "

"Yes, Pet, your place..." he presses a kiss along my collarbone using his free hand to pull the thin strap of my dress aside, "By my side..."

His fingers thread through my hair, pulling the strands tight as he suckles along my throat. My mouth opens to let out my moans, the feeling of warmth pooling between my legs. I don't have the will nor the desire to push him away or even tell him to stop. I tense when I feel the sand beneath us shifting, and it takes me a moment to realize Remus is changing the makeup of the sand. His lips cover mine just as the sand shifts, the feeling of soft grass tickling beneath me. He traces my bottom lip with his tongue before pushing it into my mouth, capturing me completely.

His hand possessively wraps around the back of my throat as his other palm holds my back, pulling me into him to deepen the kiss. The heat from my body expands, my sex pulsing with desire as he awakens my body and my senses.

He shifts us so that I am straddling him, his erection pressing into the damp center of my panties. I place my hands against his chest to stabilize myself, but he doesn't give me a chance to do anything else as his fingers thread through my hair, holding me captive as he straightens up to kiss me. I place my hands along his shoulders, my fingers trembling from the inner battle I'm waging with myself.

His hand presses against my ass, gently moving me deeper into the position as his cock presses against me, rubbing my sex through the thin layer of underwear I have on. I let out a soft gasp and I can feel Remus smiling against my lips, his arm wrapping around my waist to pull me in deeper. He begins to suck on my throat as he tears my clothing away with ease, leaning back in the grass. His hands hold my face captive on either side, forcing my gaze to his. I suddenly feel extremely exposed, but he smiles, strangely calming my heart.

"You need me, Iris... why do you still hold guilt for the people that have abandoned you? The people that don't deserve you?" he murmurs.

My eyes widen when I feel his tip pressing against my entrance, and I don't know if I can respond. He slowly enters me, and I arch my back as my moans release, my body betraying me with its own selfish need for pleasure. Remus's shaft stretches me impossibly, and I spread my legs to better allow him entry. Remus sits up, holding me flush against him with his free hand, his other hand coming up to rest against my cheek as he watches me in adoration.

He slowly begins to thrust, filling me each time, sending me to greater heights. My body feels on fire, the heat from the sun mingling with the heat from my own body as my pleasure ignites further, making me lose all track of logic and reality. I find myself holding his face between my hands, my thumbs shifting to enjoy the smooth texture of his skin. He smirks slightly as his gaze bores into mine and if anything, I can see the vivid color of purple shifting in a strange pattern.

"Let me hear you," he urges. He emphasizes his request with a violent thrust, forcing a cry from my lips. I vaguely register the sound of the waves gently brushing against the sand as my moans come out, the sound of the waves mingling with them. Remus's expression shifts, and he seems somewhat possessed as he takes me in.

He captures my lips again, pulling my bottom lip between his teeth, and I groan as he takes me to unimaginable heights.

I can feel my orgasm climbing as Remus's thrusts grow violent, jarring my body with a force that sends me over the edge. I toss my head back as my body clamps down on his. My groans feel louder than the waves around us as pleasure rocks my entire body. I can feel him growing harder inside of me before he shifts us forward so that I am on my back as he thrusts inside of me.

He nips lightly on my throat as he groans in pleasure, grinding his pelvis against mine as he releases himself inside of me. I can feel his warmth coating me inside, giving me a pleasant glow. I take note that my body has a light sheen of sweat, whereas Remus's skin is still the perfect temperature, not the slightest bit of perspiration daring to appear on his flesh.

Remus finally shifts, pulling back so that he is over me, his eyes roaming over my face. He pushes my hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my cheek.

"I will never let them have you. Never."