• Luna •

[ P A R T O N E]

━━━─── • ───━━━

It had been two weeks, and now it was the end of July. Everyone in the safe house was on large couches and lounge chairs in the entertainment room. A giant TV displayed Cami, Colin, Amir, and Luna. Luna's parents stayed while Amir's folks flew home. Darren, Sue, and Cassie remained. The minister was there to help everyone come up with a plan for getting out of the state. Luna knew that they would leave after getting married. It arrived earlier than anticipated.

Colin and Sue found themselves tethered. She was helping Luna arrange flowers in the yard one minute and on the roof with him the next while he and the others were on the helicopter pad.

She projected herself toward Darren's soul, and he saw Luna in the garden with him. Sue found it unusual and understood what everyone goes through when they change. Their powers activated before their birthday on August 2nd, making all Tethered Souls question their genetic anomaly.

Powers don't come before a birthday, only after.

Adnan's last test before going home was 'positive.' He is tethered and will likely be contacted around his birthday next March. He knew he had support throughout this.

As the group talked about what to do next and how to get out of the United States without being caught, Amir caressed Luna's leg and gently rubbed her knee. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek softly, then whispered, "I love you, Moon."

"I love you, A." She enjoyed it when they used each other's nicknames.

Cami put a plate of sandwiches and fruit on the coffee table and looked over at Faisal, who was sitting with Colin and Darren. Then she got two small sandwiches and went to a burgundy chair.

On the other side of Luna, Liberty leaned forward and grabbed two pieces of fruit, which she then gave to Sarah. She was sitting between her aunt and uncle as they talked about life in India, where Vikram's family was.

Sue was sitting quietly, so Luna looked at her and asked, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling better." Sue took small bites of her toast and pulled off the soft brown spots. "But I'm tired. Darren thought it'll be good to explore a nature trail earlier."

"We've been walking out there a lot lately," said Darren from the other side of the room. "I think I've done my fair share of walking and running."

Luna laughed. "I don't mind walking sometimes. The paths behind the house stretch a long way."

Darren looked at his wife and told her to eat more with his eyes. "You haven't eaten much of your sandwich yet. Aren't you hungry?"

"I don't know if you realize this, but Colin over there is eating enough food for both of us," Sue replied, and Darren laughed and took a look at Colin, who was eating a big hamburger. "I'm covered."

After the food was gone, everyone stayed in the room for a while, but Luna was sure that no one wanted to talk about it because they were all going to leave quickly. So much so that Reverend McDaniels left the room and told the group he had to take an important phone call but would be back shortly.

Faisal set his elbows on his knees and leaned forward. "Time to discuss the important stuff."

"Exactly," Raul said in a low voice. "We have to leave before midnight. That will be in six hours."

"I think that was the plan," said Darren. "Where are we going exactly?"

Raul opened his mouth to say something, but Vikram put his hand up and walked away. "Don't say anything else."

Raul's eyes narrowed, and he gave Mera a grave look. Then, with his jaw tight, he stood up. "What's happening?" Faisal asked.

Weariness shook down Luna's spine as she reached for Sarah. She looked at Amir, who was suddenly on alert and straightening up.

"What is it?" Luna asked him, feeling her heartbeat pound rapidly.

She then saw Faisal stand up, his chest rising sharply. One second he was standing in front of the recliner and the next he flung himself quickly across the room, his hand wrapped around the pastor's neck before he finished walking into the room. "Why?" he demanded.

"Holy crap!" Colin screamed and jumped up.

"How long?" Faisal questioned the pastor, his fingers tightening around his throat.

Luna blocked Sarah's eyes from seeing what was going on.

"What-what-what are you talking about?" the reverend stuttered.

Amir stepped around to face his cousin. "What's going on?"

Faisal ignored him and used one strong arm to lift the pastor's body against the wall and his feet off the ground. "How long?"

"I didn't know they were following me," the pastor gasped.

Faisal said in a low voice, "Wrong answer," then slammed his fist into the man's chest. "You can sense hunters."

Holy shit.

The people they were trying to hide from followed the man straight to them.

"Can someone explain to me why Faisal is hurting the pastor?" Amir asked in an aggressive tone.

Vikram reappeared with a fractured nose and purplish-looking cheek. When he tried to talk to the pastor, they got into a fight in the hallway. He was stronger than all of them. He could read their thoughts and know what they were going to do before they did it.

Faisal still had his hand around the reverend's throat, but Vikram moved forward and hit the man in the stomach with his right hook.

Darren and Colin shot forward.

"What in the hell?" Darren's voice echoed through the hall. Mera and Liberty escorted Sarah and the Carlyles out of the room. "Someone needs to answer me right now!"

Luna's whole body shook when she saw what was happening.

Vikram held an ice pack to his jaw and said, "The reverend was on the phone. Tell them, Reverend, tell them who you were talking to."

There was no response from him. He did nothing but look around the room.

Faisal's grip tightened, and Vikram yanked the pastor's scalp. "The asshole was on the phone with Chase. And he is the hunter we've been running from. They're coming."

Luna's mouth dropped as she took a step back and thought about what she had just heard.

Chase was a Tethered Soul? And a hunter? He was the hunter who we were all trying to stay hidden from? The same one who was after thousands of our kind and experiments on us?

Chase couldn't be a Tethered Soul.

That means he knew about her all this time.

Luna was about to be sick. Chase knew about her daughter. He lured himself into their lives to get to Sarah after he saw her blood type on the computer. He'd been after her, and he wanted to hurt Luna in the process. Chase was The Hunter—the one who had power over everyone.

"No," Amir murmured, glaring at the reverend. "You couldn't have led Chase and the rest of them here."

"I'm sorry," he said. "They were going after my church, my family, and this community."

"So turning us in was okay?" Luna said, her face pale.

"I didn't know they were following me until I pulled up into the church parking lot. A group of men stepped out of their Escalade and told me I had no other choice since I had filed Luna's and Amir's marriage licenses. They told me they knew I performed the ceremony, and they wanted to know where."

A cold sensation ran through Luna's veins, hitting Amir. Their connection became very magnified. "What did you tell them?" she asked.

McDaniels stood there and Luna connected to his soul. He had no feelings, no remorse, and no pain from the beating the guys gave him. For the first time, she felt the distrust and anguish he felt toward Pure Souls.

"You two are the most powerful couple we have on the planet, 'Aluna'." He even used the couple's pet name like he was worthy of saying it. "You have something so powerful inside your blood that will go beyond anything we've ever imagined. You don't know the magnitude you two face. It's even more powerful than Sloan."

"Who is Sloan?" Luna asked in a grave voice.

"Sloan Sullivan is a Tethered Soul, and she is from Lubbock, Texas. She is one of the most powerful souls in history, besides you two."

"Why?" Amir asked.

"Because she is tethered to not one, but two, people. Sloan is paired with two different souls. Through that, her powers are unimaginable. That is why the facility in Sweden has her. They get her to connect to her souls and have them spied on. But they keep slipping away from Chase's grasp."

"Oh, my God." Cami clasped her hands over her mouth in shock.

Colin tsked softly. "I know Sloan and who she is tethered to. They won't get them."

"Yes, they will." The reverend struggled free from Faisal's and Vikram's grip, but couldn't move. "They can't run forever. No one can."

"What's so special about Sloan and her partners?" Luna demanded.

"Because Sloan and her two partners are Pure Souls. Their parents were married before their powers became active. They're hunters. Though, the female who's tethered to her has developed a shield inside her mind to where it can cover her and the man who's also part of Sloan's connection. They are what we call—Tethered Shields."

"A what?" Luna asked.

"Tethered Shields. These domes around our community can hide hunters, but Sloan and her cluster don't need them. They can shield anyone in their surroundings. That's how she helped the community in Nigeria. They were able to keep anyone who is immune and are Pure Souls inside of a dome-like structure. But Chase will find them. He is bigger than any of you."

"He acted like he never knew about me, or Amir," Luna stated, her voice cracking.

"He manipulated you. He does that to people," the reverend said, laughing. "Actually . . . Chase could always sense Amir's presence, but he probably couldn't see him. You can shield yourself, Luna, and any Tethered Soul you're around."

"But my powers didn't become active until last year."

The man smirked and stared at her. "Honey, your powers became active the moment Sarah was born. They stayed dormant until you were ready to open up. And Chase, well, he pretended with you. Now he is coming here."

Faisal then surprised the group by slamming a fist into the reverend's ribcage, knocking him back down. "Why would you betray us like that?"

"You guys don't get it!" the reverend yelled, making Luna step back an inch. "If I have to sacrifice a few to save the many within this community, I will. Sometimes it's for the best."

Luna was stunned. She replayed it in her thoughts, wondering why the reverend was so polite and helpful the past two weeks. Why their ceremony was so fast. Chase and the reverend were both cunning.

She was surprised by how much Chase knew. He knew about Amir earlier, and that he was the hunter they were fleeing from. How could I have been so naïve? Reverend Judas's stare horrified her.

Because he was a traitor, Luna started calling him "Judas" as Amir had been doing in his head. A coward. Jesus was betrayed. The reverend betrayed them.

Colin cocked his head. "What'd you get? If you gave them who they wanted, the community would stay hidden?"

The reverend replied, "Dr. Kim wants Cami, and Chase wants Luna and Sarah," looking at Amir. "This community was created for a reason. To keep this place safe, I had to do something."

"Seriously?" Cami shrieked. "How would you protect anyone if you brought them here?"

"No one will touch you guys. Only Sarah, Luna, and Cami. I'm sure Amir now since Chase knows he and Luna are married." The reverend stepped up and faced Luna. "Why do you think he said nothing? Before committing you to St. Matthews, he knew you were seeing a Tethered Soul and that Amir's parents were pure. He was going to find this group of you."

"No!" Cami stomped forward, shaking her head. He wouldn't have known!

He spat, "Chase can find anyone. I had little choice when I saw the men in my church. They would stay away from this area if I revealed where you guys were hiding."

"You can't be that stupid," Amir screamed, lunging forward. "You gave up my wife and family? How are you a man of the cloth?" Amir's mouth dripped venom as he glared at the reverend.

"Sacrificing something for the sake of others is what I was always taught. I apologize if this lovely bubble explodes." He turned to face Mera and Raul. "Even you two. I had no choice."

"You did, Judas," Mera said, clarifying his name. Judas? "This was my family's home," she said. "We helped your family when you needed us. Your daughter became like one of mine after she and my son started talking. He was ready to propose."

As he hissed, all eyes were on Raul. "Was Esther a decoy? Did you build that relationship to spy on us?"

"No." Judas tidied up. "Esther wanted to do that solo. Chase caught her alone in downtown New Orleans and offered something she couldn't refuse."

"And?"

"To keep our family safe and out of hospitals. She had to be a distraction for you, considering how close you were getting around Luna. He felt threatened by you."

"So Esther went along with a relationship and used me to make sure Luna and I weren't getting close?" Halfway through, Raul's voice broke.

Judas, the Second, nodded his head. "I'm sorry to confirm, but she didn't like you at first. We had to do whatever we could to stay hidden."

Raul looked heartbroken in Luna's eyes as if he'd been sucker-punched. Pulling out a pistol from his back pocket, he aimed it at the reverend's head. Everyone darted and got out of the way as Amir took Luna's hand and pulled her aside.

Judas stared at Raul and pleaded with him through his tearful eyes. "If it makes any difference, my daughter loves you now." He pressed his hands together and looked up at the ceiling. "I didn't want any of this to happen. They only wanted a small portion of you."

Raul reacted quickly and shot Judas in the foot, then once again in the shoulder, making the man fall back. He was still alive, but the blood from his body started pouring out of its wounds. Luna crouched down, holding herself together, tuning everything out.

She believed the man had died. She couldn't sense his aura flowing anymore.

She knew it was Cassie who screamed in the back of the room.

She knew it was Amir who pulled her up with his hand on her arm and dragged her across the room.

She knew it was Colin's voice that rose from the chaos, joining Vikram's in issuing orders.

And she knew they needed to pack their stuff and flee. Quickly.

But she never expected the actions that this kind reverend had done. She didn't think he'd turn them in. Or that Raul would shoot him like he was target practice.

"We need to move, Luna." Amir's deep voice sounded gently near her ear, passing through the kitchen. "I need you to—"

"I can move," she said, watching Darren pulling his thunderstruck wife into the hallway. "We need to go. Now."

"That we do," Colin said, handing her a gun.

"Where are we going?" Amir asked, his grip on Luna's elbow tightening. "We'll just rush out there and look insane?"

"That's the best plan we've got at the moment," Faisal said, entering the room. "Unless we all want to become lab experiments for the rest of our existence."

"No." Vikram kept a careful eye on the ladies as they stood huddled in a corner while they sorted their next move. "We'll head out toward Texas. I know a place outside of Dallas those assholes won't find."

Amir glanced at his cousin. "Sounds good? We can always leave the country after." When Faisal nodded, Amir let go of Luna and hugged him in a brotherly hug. "I love you. You're my family."

Luna glanced over at Liberty, holding Sarah next to their parents in the corner. Lawrence cuddled Elizabeth close, shielding her eyes from the scene in the room before them.

"Anyone who jumps into one of those cars out front is in for a long haul," Colin said, shaking a set of keys in everyone's direction. "If any of you don't think you'll be able to handle a war, then I suggest you stay here. It's about to get ugly and messy, and we don't need any light-weights." He flashed Amir and Luna a charming smile. "They aren't playing around out there. Not at all."

Amir glanced around the room. "It will get worse. They will not stop until we're captured."

"I've been in since the beginning," said Faisal. "Might as well make sure my family makes it out of this."

"To be clear," Colin announced, "they are after Luna, Cami, Sarah, Amir, and me. Come to think of it, they don't even know about me being tethered, but I helped everyone escape." He chuckled at that last part.

Everyone gazed at Cassie.

"What?" she said, tucking long strands of hair behind her ear. "Look, if I didn't care to take part in this craziness, I would've gone home when the Khans did. I'm still in."

As they hurried out the door, when no one objected to the charade they were facing, Amir held Luna's hand until they reached the car. "I'll be back. I have to go upstairs for a moment," Luna mumbled.

Colin whipped his neck around and looked at her. "Whatever it is, just leave it behind."

"Amir . . ." Her limbs shook. She assumed everyone had their fake identities on them, and they didn't.

"Crap." Amir connected to her mind and read what she was thinking. "Go with them. I'll be quick."

Nodding, Luna darted around and joined her family as they all rushed toward the selection of cars they had. Vikram turned her way and shook his head. "Really? Those papers aren't that important. We're able to make more of them."

"I know." But they needed them in case they didn't reach Dallas in time.

She gazed around and saw Darren buckling Sue in the backseat of a black SUV. Mera and Raul climbed in after them.

"You should go with them. Keep them safe," Luna told Vikram as he was handing a gun to everyone. Luna noticed Sarah was cuddled in her mother's arms in the SUV. "Amir and I are going in the Hummer."

Vikram nodded and didn't hesitate to intercept her father from getting behind the wheel. "You want me driving, especially through the areas we are traveling through."

Lawrence nodded as he sat with Elizabeth and Liberty. They placed a seatbelt over Sarah in the backseat and made sure it was secure.

Luna walked over to the car and hugged her daughter. It was unspoken, but she knew why Sarah would be in their vehicle. She will be safer away from her mother and around Vikram because she learned something about him since their escape from St. Matthew's.

Vikram was a Tethered Shield, and he could shield Sarah's aura from any hunters who spotted them. Even Luna could feel him. He could cloak, shield, and read minds. Being a Tethered Soul wasn't always bad.

Everyone who was going with him piled into that car, and a second later, Amir appeared behind her. "We're set."

"Thanks."

They climbed into the Hummer, with Colin behind the wheel and Faisal upfront with Cami. Faisal twisted around as they slammed the doors shut. "Sorry about what you had to see back there," he said to Luna. "I know you trusted that man, but people should think twice before messing with the Khans. Nobody messes with our family."

"Or me," Colin muttered under his breath.

Luna nodded as she settled back in the seat. "I'm sorry," she whispered to Amir. "I wanted a joint ceremony."

"Shh," he murmured. "That wasn't your fault. Even Raul and Mera thought differently about him."

That didn't help her feel better, though. She invited the reverend over for meals and sermons for anyone who wanted to have a small church meeting. She missed a lot of signals