32. Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Two

Remus

Conquer .

That's all I've ever known. War, battles, and protecting my people have always been at the front of my mind. Being a leader has always been my main priority. Until she came along. I wonder how different things would have been if I had never laid eyes on her. Seeing her there, clearly frightened and outmatched yet still risking her life for others, piqued my interest. But I should have just killed her or added her to the slaves, where I would never have seen her again. I never should have taken her in.

Iris is asleep in my bed, her features lax of emotion. Her body gave out from the amount of energy it was taking in. And up until an hour ago, it didn't look like she would survive the transfer of my essence .

I bonded her to me. I hadn't meant to. I understood her frustrations initially. She's always been very vocal about her attachment to her planet. I expected her to give me pushback when it came to leaving. But when she tried to take her life instead of taking the one I had offered her, after everything we've been through, I snapped. She would still choose humanity, who has offered her nothing but disappointment, over me. And I couldn't take the thought of her life being so fickle any longer.

Nothing mattered other than claiming her.

My gaze shifts to her throat. Even now, I can see the puncture wound. It won't heal until her body is fully coded to my DNA. Already, the symbols that belong to me are beginning to form on her body. Bonding is a very intimate act only my siblings and I can perform. It is something that was passed on to us from our mother to allow our lifemates to share our lives because not every species lives as long as we do. I can already sense the change in her bloodstream as her body begins to fit mine .

The last thing I wanted was to bond with Iris. She's always been a distraction, but now she will be even more so, her emotions visible to me in our new shared state. It is something I've both admired and disliked about her: her ability to let her emotions rule her. I've been alive long enough to understand the negative impact being emotional can cause. I've learned to tamp down my emotions and live rationally. But somehow, she has awakened that side of me each time I'm in her presence.

What began as a curiosity has become something I can no longer control.

I take a seat next to where she lies, admiring her. Her hair has grown significantly in our time together. I reach toward her face, pushing her hair aside, and she doesn't stir. Her chest's slow rise and fall lets me know just how deep of a sleep she's in.

"What do you want me to do?" I murmur as I study her.

Humans are a valuable resource among the galaxies. Though the humans of the solar system are unaware, their kind exists in other star systems. They are intelligent, and their bodies are compatible with most species that exist. Finding a planet-full so far behind in their evolution was disappointing, but the fact that they've managed to put up this kind of fight for so long is impressive.

However, my patience has run out for both sides. I know Iris will be disappointed if her brother gets caught in the crosshairs, but I've put it off long enough because of her. Clearly, I can't control myself when it comes to her, so it's time to put an end to this. The percentage of humans that are hidden within the resistance living as not only rebels but also refugees is astounding. They've managed to create a society wherever they are hidden, giving a large percentage of humans freedom. If not taken care of immediately, it could lead to an uprising in the future. I can't be here forever, and now that they have access to weapons that can harm the Leviathan, they are to be taken much more seriously.

I've treated them with mercy long enough.

I look back at Iris when I notice a shift in her state. Since bonding is an intimate act between us and our chosen, I should be excited for her to awaken and explain to her everything that this means, showing her the newest state of her body, but I'm not. I know that once she awakens, there will be hell to pay. I eye her form, watching closely as my essence within her begins to form physically atop her skin.

I find myself smiling as I watch the process. The energy is forming my mark on her throat where I initiated the bond. It slowly appears as the puncture wounds heal, traveling across her collarbone before dipping under the thin shirt she wears. It's done. Already, I can feel her emotions weighing on me.

I also feel my own anger with myself for doing something so immature in a fit of rage. But it's done now. I silently place my palm against her throat, focusing on the energy. She won't like this once she awakens. When I remove my hand, the symbol is gone, embedded under her skin until a time I feel it is right to let her know what has happened and what it means for her life.

Taking in her sleeping form one last time, I stand to make my way into my office. Already, the screen is flashing with a transmission. The screen flashes, and Xion appears smiling back at me. I barely get a greeting out before she launches into how much she misses me and Ezra and everything that's been going on at home. I smile as I take in her features, listening to her stories. I missed her. It's nice to see a face that is excited to see me and speak with me after all this time.

I'm pulled from my musings when I pick up something that she said.

"Wait. You said Ezra contacted you?" I ask. She nods her head, visibly noticing my concern.

"When?" I ask .

"A few weeks ago, why?" she asks. I feel slight irritation but hide it.

"What did he say, exactly?" I ask.

"Just that he was on a mission and not to worry." Xion takes in my silence, her mood shifting.

"Remus... is something wrong?" she asks. I mull over my options for a moment before responding.

"How would you feel about visiting this planet soon?"

Iris

Something is pulling me out of my sleep. It smells... sweet... mouthwatering. It calls to me. I've never smelled it before, but as I do, I can only wonder how I ever lived without it. As my unconsciousness wanes, my senses come back to me. There's a dull throb on the side of my throat, and I open my eyes to reveal the familiar ceiling of Remus's bedroom. My mind slowly drifts to the cause of my pain: the ship, the mountain, my leap to death, and Remus's reaction to it. I sit in bed, my hand flying to my throat as I try to rationalize what happened. The room around me sways as a wave of nausea washes over me, and I cry out softly from the pain on my neck.

"You shouldn't be moving so much."

I tense following the sound of Remus's alluring voice. He's standing in the doorway, his stark white hair falling carelessly over his face. There's nothing holding it back or away from his features. He's also wearing black for once, a sharp contrast to the hue of his hair. I find myself warming at the sight of him, his appearance breathtaking.

Remus gracefully begins walking toward me like a predator toward his prey, his gaze studying me with a strange expression. He silently sits on the edge of the bed, taking me in, and when I look into those eyes, I feel all my resentment rushing back to the surface. All the suffering he's caused this planet and its people. All the pain and torture he's caused me rush over me in a blur, but even as I recall these things, I can't bring myself to move away from him. His scent is like a drug to me, and I want more than anything to be close to him.

He places his hand against my cheek, using his thumb to leave a warm trail across my skin. I don't have the strength to push him away.

"What did you do to me?" I whisper. Tears spill down my cheeks as my brain fights with my body. Physically, I want him. But mentally, I despise him. And I can't seem to get my body to understand that. Something isn't right. Remus's hand gently falls to my throat, exactly where the pain is, and I shiver in pleasure when I feel the warmth emanating from his palm. It soothes me and dulls the pain. My hand instinctually lifts to rest over Remus's, enjoying the feel of his skin against mine, and he notices, smiling to reveal those sharp canines.

I shudder as I recall the feel of those piercing my flesh. So, it is a trait for something specific.

"I lost control...," he trails off as he thinks about his next words .

"I lost control, and I almost killed you," he says with a straight face.

"...You bit me," I say. It's strange hearing those words aloud. But not as strange as enduring the act. I expect him to explain the foreign action like he normally would, but instead, Remus's eyes twinkle in light amusement.

"Yes. I did."

"Why?" I ask. He doesn't respond, his eyes sweeping over me. He's having an inner battle with himself and finally comes to a decision. His amusement vanishes as he focuses on me.

"Don't toy with your life again, Iris." The way he says the words is almost like a physical entity in itself. Something inside me is convincing me that his concern is genuine and that he's really worried about my life, but as quickly as I feel it, it disappears, and I'm left with a cold emptiness. My grip tightens around his before I gently pull his hand away from my body. And he lets me. He's somehow different in the way he interacts with me. It sets me on edge.

"Don't you see? I would rather die than spend another second with you," I whisper. Even as I speak the words, my tongue feels heavy from the lack of conviction I feel.

"Congratulations, Remus. You did it. You broke me. Isn't that what you wanted? To break me?" I ask. More tears fall as the words spill from my lips, and Remus still has yet to respond. He's only watching me, and I can read him for once.

"I don't value life anymore. I have nothing to live for... nothing," I sob. Remus is silent, and suddenly, I feel his hand rubbing comforting circles around my back. I feel emotions that are hard to decipher wash over me, and the moment I acknowledge them, they're gone. Remus is keeping something from me. I feel strange ever since I woke up.

"You have me. I am your life now. As you are mine," he says gently.

My eyes widen from his words. Is this his way of professing his feelings for me? I shake my head, looking at him in confusion.

"No. You don't mean that. You don't know what you're saying," I say. He chuckles softly, raising a brow at me.

"I don't?" he asks in amusement.

"If you really felt that way, you wouldn't force me to leave my planet, you wouldn't do everything that you have done to me—"

"Those are humanity's ways of living, Iris. I am not human, nor do I share an ounce of your traits and strengths. I do not need to adhere to your silly morals built for a seventy-year lifespan," he snaps.

"And what about me? What makes you think I have to follow your morals?" I ask.

He laughs again, putting me on edge. "You don't have a choice."

Rage festers in me and my body is moving before my mind. I immediately move to slap him, but he catches my hand, his amusement still visible.

"What is it you want from me, Iris? You wish for me to abandon this planet and give up my search for my brother?" he asks.

"Yes! Your problems are not mine," I growl. Remus narrows his gaze, and his grip on me loosens .

"How about we compromise?" he asks.

"Compromise?" I ask. Remus nods his head.

"I give you what you want, and in return, you give me what I want. We both sacrifice something while obtaining what we desire from the other." I vaguely register Remus moving closer to me, but my body yearns for it.

"You asked me why I wouldn't just kill your people and take your resources. And I think you are ready for the answer," he murmurs as he places a soft kiss along my throat. My heart begins to speed up from arousal or fear, I don't know.

"You are unaware of this, but humans exist outside of Earth. They have different names for themselves, of course, but the cellular makeup you share is exact. Humans' biological makeup is universally suitable to other species. You are a rare form but very valuable because of your universal compatibility. To your earlier point of asking why I haven't just killed all of you, the rebels are housing numerous humans within its confines. And wiping them out would be another waste of this planet's resources." Remus watches me carefully as he explains. The more he reveals, the deeper the twist in my gut becomes. Especially from his use of the word "resources."

"Humans are a rare form of intelligent species. They are perfectly bred for servitude. You have no heightened senses, no strength, no special ability. You are the most basic form of creation, with a mind that is smart enough to assist those you serve—" I shove Remus away from me as disgust washes over me.

"Do you hear yourself?" I snap. Remus shrugs, but his eyes give away the challenge between us. He sees no issues with what he is saying.

"No matter how you feel about it, that is the reason I cannot let the resistance continue to thrive and build a society on this planet. It would call for issues in the future. And I have use for your kind whether you like it or not. Those who are active parts of this little rebellion, however, I do not have use for. Including your brother." Remus is calm, watching me expectantly, but I can't find the words to express my anger. Petra warned me about this the first day I met her. She said Remus had a place for even the lowest of beings. I was so naive to her use of the words then, but I see clearly now.

"What compromise do you think I would ever agree to, to not try and fight you on this? Or take my own life rather than watch you carry this out?" I ask.

Remus silently pulls the pendant I almost threw into the ocean out of his pocket. He watches me carefully as he holds it out to me. My hands tremble as I take the locket from him, and we both know that he has me.

"Your life holds more value than you could ever know. I suggest you figure out what is more important to you. Your life or your brother's?"

My life or my brother's .

It's a no-brainer. Of course, I will do whatever it takes to save my brother, even if he doesn't care for me. Because that's who I am as a person. It's a trait that Remus not only admires but exploits every chance he can, especially if it means keeping me by his side.

I suck in a deep breath looking at the locket in my hands. The chain has been replaced, and it looks like it's been freshly shined. A kind gesture from Remus that adds more mystery to his character as a whole. My eyes shift to the scenery beyond the window—my home. It will only be a memory soon. Remus is going to take me away from here and use the people to liven the populations of those in his empire. And there's nothing I can do about it. I am at his mercy, as I've always been, but he's made it very clear just how outmatched I am this time around. I turn away from the window as the longing for freedom sends my mood into a deeper spiral of despair.

I make my way to the mirror in the room to once again look at myself. My body has no signs of any trauma I've endured. I silently push my hair over my shoulder to take in my throat, where Remus attacked me. There's nothing there, not even a scar. I shudder to think of that moment. Remus almost killed me in the process. He was terrifyingly savage, his demeanor far from the one I've become accustomed to. Although there are no scars, the spot is tender to the touch and has been throbbing for days, not from pain but more like a pulse. I place my fingers over the area, feeling only warmth.

Something familiar catches my attention, pulling me away from the mirror. It's a scent. The same scent that I've been craving for days now. A foreign sensation washes over me, and I don't have to look to know Remus is in the room. As my eyes meet his, my skin prickles in excitement, and my heart flutters in my chest. Just being in his presence is calming yet exciting. I find myself wanting nothing more than to embrace him, but I can't. I know I can't.

He's watching me with an emotionless expression, his eyes shifting ever so slightly as he studies me, looking for something.

"What did you do to me?" I whisper.

Ever since his attack, I don't feel the same. Remus doesn't respond, making his way across the room. He stands over me, his thumb rubbing lightly over my cheek, and I find myself drawn to the feeling. My body instantly calms from the contact, the anxiousness I felt before he entered the room all but disappearing. It's as if my body needs his presence to feel safe, which is the complete opposite of how I felt only days ago. I lift my hand, placing it over his to remove his touch from my face. It takes all of my strength, but somehow I manage.

"Please don't," I murmur. To my shock, he doesn't push me.

"Have you thought about my offer?" he asks softly.

I laugh at his choice of words. "Offer? You mean, ultimatum?" I say.

Now Remus laughs. "If you want to call it that."

I shrug, looking away.

"Of course, I'll choose you if it means saving my brother." I look at Remus, and his purple gaze is practically glowing as I speak. "But you already knew that," I add.

His smile widens .

"Of course I did. You would do anything to protect those you care about. You care about what happens to them more than what happens to yourself," he says. "It is a trait we both share."

I narrow my gaze at him.

"You are nothing like me," I growl.

"Oh? Why? Because I am the conqueror?" he asks. An amused grin spreads over his lips as he takes me in.

"Don't let your anger cloud your sense of logic, Iris. Because we are on opposite sides, our ideals do not align, true, but we are very much the same in our determination to protect those we care about."

His gaze drops to my throat only briefly before his eyes meet mine. "You know that I will do whatever it takes to see Ezra return safely, and you would sacrifice your own happiness to ensure your brother makes it out of the massacre of the rebels."

I take a step away from him, my body screaming at me in anger from the distance I put between us. And Remus somehow knows it, judging by his laugh.

"Whether you care or not, I am very pleased that you have decided to discontinue putting your life at risk," he says behind me.

I release a bitter laugh.

"It won't be for long. I'm human, Remus. You do know I will die one day. My life is fleeting compared to yours," I say. Remus doesn't respond, but I can feel him step closer to me. He gently grabs my hand, pulling it to his lips as his eyes meet mine, and he smiles, revealing those sharp teeth that have plagued my nightmares.

"Then I shall enjoy the time I have with you."