Free Remus by Madison Stevens Page B

game.
    “When you come home, I’ll make you as much damn cake as you want,” Jenna said and pressed against him again. “Just come home,” she whispered.
    Rem took a breath, trying to keep his composure. This was far more difficult than he thought. The flirting game was fun, effortless. Actual emotion made everything far less fun.
    He reached into his pocket and pulled out another note. It was more for his peace of mind than anything, but once tomorrow came, Titus would have all the information he needed, regardless of what happened to Rem.
    “Give this to Titus,” Rem said and placed it in her hand when she pulled back.
    Jenna huffed, and he placed a gentle hand under her chin.
    “Go easy on him,” Rem said and rubbed the smooth skin there. “He really does care about us all. I’m the one changing the plan.”
    She frowned but placed the note in her pocket.
    “Meet back here tomorrow morning,” he said and looked away.
    “I don’t like this,” she said quietly.
    Rem looked down and smiled at her. “I know.”
    “And whatever stupid plan you have is crap.” She twisted out of his arms.
    Rem stepped forward and wrapped his arms back around her.
    “I know,” he whispered into her hair and breathed in her sweet smell. He wanted to remember as much about her as he could.
    She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
    “I think I love you,” she said.
    Rem kissed the side of her head and stepped away.
    “I know,” he said and glanced away. His voice was clouded with emotion.
    Without looking back, he made his way into the entrance. It was time to end this and move on to the war.

Chapter Nine
     
     
    The air was hard to breathe the entire walk back. Jenna sucked in big breaths and tried not to let out all the tears she’d been holding. When she reached her truck, she nearly fell into the seat.
    That was it. He was walking off to die, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it. She should have made him come with her. He would be safe in her truck, and they could just drive off into the sunset.
    Jenna leaned her head forward and let the tears fall freely now. She’d finally accepted her feelings, and now he was being taken from her. Everyone she loved was destroyed at some point.
    The note to Titus burned a hole in her pocket.
    She should read it. What did it matter at this point?
    Jenna pulled the note out and stared at the folded square. She couldn’t. It wasn’t right, and Rem hadn’t meant for her to see it. Still, after the way he acted, she couldn’t leave it alone. She needed to know.
    Slowly, she unfolded it and stared at the words on the page.
    She tossed it onto the seat next to her.
    It didn’t matter if she called Titus. None of it mattered now.
    Numb to the world, Jenna started the truck and pulled away, leaving a piece of her heart behind.
     
    * * *
     
    Rem stalked the halls slowly. He couldn’t think about her now. She would be well on her way home, and that was exactly where she needed to be: safe and far away from this hellish place.
    He shoved thoughts of her out of his mind. If he was going to pull this off, he’d need total focus. Even if he wasn’t weakened from their procedures, it’d be near impossible. Now, he didn’t know. Still, waiting around would just end up with him as a Glycon.
    Footsteps drew closer, and he made a sharp right to avoid them.
    He let out a sigh when they stopped nearby.
    “I’ve found him,” Nyx said quietly.
    Rem stepped out into the hall.
    “And the stone?” Rem said. He could only hope this would be simple.
    Nyx shook her head. “That bitch must be keeping it on her.”
    He groaned a little. Of course nothing would be simple.
    “Tell me we’ve at least got the firepower lined up,” he said.
    Nyx nodded. Her long black hair bobbed behind her. “Magnus is on it. We’ll be ready to go tomorrow when you are.”
    “And the book?”
    Nyx sighed. “Do we really have to do this to her?”
    He frowned. They had been over this a