To every reader who started this journey by reading Tethered Souls and thought, paranormal love across the world? Sure. Why not? I've read more enticing content. Then fell in love with Amir and Luna and their wonderful crew of Souls. This is for you. You have kept our Tethered Connection alive.

ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ Tethered ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chapter 1

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• Luna •

A tender caress slid along Luna's arm and over her upper thigh. She jerked awake from her slumber for a brief moment. Rough heat pressed against her back, sending chills down her spine.

She smiled as she blinked her eyes, only half awake. The dim ambient light told her it was far too early to be awake.

Lips brushed against the sensitive area on her chest just below her pulse, and fine tremors danced along her skin. Her stomach muscles clenched.

Her toes curled as the kiss returned, this time over her heartbeat. When she turned to face Amir, her sound was small, almost a whisper, as she tried to stretch. "A."

"Moon."

He smiled and massaged her cheek with his finger. "I don't want to get out of bed," he whispered.

"I know, but we're used to getting up before five-thirty," she yawned, twirling his strands with her finger. "You've got morning prayers, and I've got to get the kids ready to go to their grandparents."

"Did Aluna sleep through the night?"

Luna took a deep breath and nodded. "I fed her around one, and she let us sleep for five hours straight."

He tucked her against his bare chest while lying on his side. The cotton of his pajama bottoms tickled her legs, and she moaned blissfully.

"How did it go yesterday?" she asked, wobbling closer until she was nearly plastered to him.

"It went all right." Amir brushed her cheek, his hand lingering. "We've only encountered two Trojans so far, which is good."

"Do you think they know we're here?"

He shook his head. "No. I'm pretty sure BARDA had them on a routine check."

Luna shivered at the thought. She and Amir had barely escaped the organization's crosshairs, and they were finally in a good place, a place where they could raise their three children without worrying as much.

"Thank you for patrolling. I'm sure it's not easy for you, especially after losing Faisal." She cocked her head back, scanning the light for his face. His eyes twinkled softly.

"We all contribute." He pressed his lips against her brow and tightened his grip on her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I wasn't hurt too badly by the taser."

His gaze locked on hers. "Don't ever go through an unsecured checkpoint again, okay? And don't argue with me or accuse me of being chauvinistic about it. The organization has set traps for anyone above ground, and our children can't lose their mother."

Instead of arguing with him, she mangled in his embrace and kissed him softly on the lips. His lashes dropped a bit, shielding his eyes. He returned the kiss, and it was so sweet and tender and perfect that she may start crying like a baby.

But then the kisses changed everything. They grew deeper as she rolled onto her back and he followed, his weight was a delicious euphoric feeling between her legs, and these kisses were far from sweet. They burned deep within her, illuminating a brighter future for them. He undid her with his kiss, every muscle in his body coiling into a tight spring.

His mouth followed as his hand smoothed the tank top down, exposing her skin. A tremble ran through her body as static built in the air. After everything that had happened in the previous few years, she craved the sensation of him against her and inside her. She lifted her arms, and Amir didn't hesitate. He accepted the offer. His hands were all over the place, tracing the slender piece of her necklace, smoothing down the curve of her stomach, over her hips, igniting a fire within.

"Don't stop," she said quietly, in case he had any doubts about what she desired. "I'm fine; everything is fine."

He kissed her again, and she drowned in the rawness of what was strengthening between them. As he reared up, reaching for the small bedside table beside them, electricity coursed through her skin, casting dancing shadows across the walls.

She flushed as he took a daisy from the vase and laid it between her breasts. She chuckled when he sat up and their eyes met. A wide, beautiful smile spread across his face, softening strong beauty lines.

"I love you, Moon."

She took a deep breath and smiled. Tears welled up in her eyes. He meant those few words, and she loved it when he told her that.

She sunk her fingers into his silky hair as she reached for his head. Her heart was racing, and she knew his was as well.

Amir leaned back, easing his way between her legs, and she—

Sarah's voice broke through the door's soft knock. "Mommy and Papa! Ibrahim is awake!"

They groaned as they stared at each other. With three kids, they rarely get to be physically close. "Stay here. I've got him," he said, then shifted his head toward the door. "Thank you, sweetie. I'll be right out."

She lowered her hands to his sides. "You're such a wonderful—"

Startled, Luna blinked at the harsh lights shining down on her, forcing her eyes open. She couldn't see anything for a moment because of their bright glow. Everything had an ambiance to it. It finally cleared, and she noticed a white ceiling behind the lights.

"Finally. You've risen."

Her body locked up at the sound of the unfamiliar male voice, ignoring the pulsating burning in her chest. She turned to face the source, but pain shot down her spine, curling her toes. She was unable to move her waist, fingers, and thighs.

Icy horror smothered her veins. Phycyne bands were wrapped around her neck, wrists, and ankles, squeezing her. Panic erupted, suffocating the air out of her lungs. A shudder of unease and fear ran through her, and she realized one thing at that moment.

She was in Elysium. Everything was perfect. And now her perfect paradise had come to an end. She was back in the organization's hands, back to the never-ending streams of torture.

Wait a minute. Faisal died in that dream?

The sound of footsteps approached, and a face cocked sideways came into view, blocking the light. It was an older man, perhaps in his mid-sixties, with dark hair flecked with gray and buzzed close to the scalp. He was dressed in a dark green military uniform. Above the left peck were three rows of colorful buttons and a winged eagle on the right. Even with her discomfort and confusion, she knew that this man was important.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

She blinked slowly, wondering if this man cared about how she felt. "My body . . . my body feels like fire," she murmured.

"It's the chemicals, but you should be used to it by now." He made a motion behind him to something or someone. "When we found you and Amir outside of St. Matthew's, we had to take a few precautions."

Amir? As she stared at him, her heart rate increased. Was he okay? Safe?

"My name is Major William Thibeau. I'm going to let you go so we can talk and examine you. Do you see the nozzles in the ceiling?" Her gaze followed his, and she noticed the practically invisible specks. "It's a mix of hisyl and chemnisol. You understand what the hisyl does, and if you fight us, this whole room will be filled in it. Whatever resistance you've built won't help you anymore."

The entire room? It was only a puff in the face at Ramsey. Not an endless amount of it.

"Did you know that combining hellion with hisyl and chemnisol can harm a person in minutes? While it does not have the same painful effects as pesticides, in large enough quantities, and when hisyl is used, it can drain superhumans, making them unable to use their powers. Especially telepathy."

"Awesome. That's great to know."

"The room is outfitted with every chemical we have," Thibeau continued, his hunter-green eyes returning to hers. "I'm just making sure you understand that you can't get away from us this time. We never know the full extent of an origin's abilities."

Luna didn't think she'd be able to sit up without support, let alone go ninja on anyone.

"Do you understand?" His chin raised as he waited. "We don't want to hurt you, but if you and Amir pose a threat, we will neutralize you."

"Amir? Is he here?"

The major remained silent for a while, but she knew he was withholding the answer.

"So, can I count on you to behave?" he asked, his brow raising.

She didn't want to respond, but she also didn't want to be trapped in the chemical-bound bands. "Okay."

He scoffed. "I believe I am entitled to a better answer than okay."

"You're not entitled to anything," she spat.

"Well, it's a good thing you don't make the rules here." He smiled, but it wasn't a friendly one. "I don't like seeing you in pain. Your husband was shot by a hybrid after you were kidnapped by one of our rogue agents. You must be miserable right now."

"More than you could possibly know," Luna said, clearing her throat and looking him in the eyes. "Sam . . . Sam was a hybrid?"

His mouth twitched. "Yes, Luna. Sarah is a cross between the two of you, an origin and a hybrid."

"Isn't he supposed to be good, or at the very least balanced?"

"That does happen in some cases, but not everyone is like Titus."

Titus. Nadia. Luna's stomach lurched as she remembered how they had both been there for her before she and Amir went into cardiac arrest.

She lifted her gaze and replied, "I thought I was dead. We both died."

"Technically, you did. When our emergency responders arrived, Amir had a pulse. It was weak, but it was there. You guys are incredibly lucky. We were able to get you assistance just in time."

She tsked.

"You may not believe anything I say right now, but I hope you'll realize we're not out to hurt you. I guarantee it."

"Your words mean shit!"

Major Thibeau seemed to swallow it for what it was worth before reaching underneath the cold surface. There was a loud click, and the bands slipped off her neck and limbs on their own.

She slowly lifted her trembling arm, breathing deeply. Her entire body was either limp or paralyzed.

She shivered as he put his hand on her arm. "I'm only trying to help you. You've been through a lot of trauma."

Given that she lacked the strength to argue and fight, she saw no other option but to accept his help and support. In a few minutes, she was upright and clinched the edges of the slab to keep herself steady as she took several deep breaths. Her head hung like a spring from her neck, and her hair slid over her cheekbones, shielding the room for a second.

"You will feel dizzy. That will pass."

She turned her head to see a short, bearded man dressed in a white lab coat standing by a door that was shiny gray reflecting the interior. He was holding a paper cup in one hand and what seemed to be a conventional pressure cuff in the other.

"What . . . what happened out . . . out there?" she questioned, praying they would reply without protest.

"Well, Mrs. Khan," the doctor said. "Armageddon. That's what's going on."

She scoffed. "This is the end of the world? It's real this time?"

Silence.

Then it hit her. The Trojans were activated before she collapsed. A choked laugh escaped. "Your Trojans did the dirty work for you."

More silence followed as if they couldn't believe she knew that information. Titus's words stayed with her. She suspected he had hacked into their computers and discovered their plans.

She wasn't sure whether she should fight or resist. As General Davenport had explained, all she had to do was break someone's neck and she'd be activated.

She shook her head, not wanting to think about him.

Her gaze moved slowly around the room. It reminded her of Dr. Kim's office, complete with tiny cabinets with instruments and black hoses attached to the wall.

A man in a lab coat came over when the major signaled him to and held a cup gently to her mouth. She drank it ferociously. She guzzled it too quickly and experienced a loud and uncomfortable coughing fit, but the coolness of the water soothed the rawness in her throat.

"Hello, my name is Dr. Reynolds, and I work at the medical center." After setting the cup aside, he reached into his jacket and took out a stethoscope. "I just need to take a quick physical. Can I do that, Mrs. Khan?"

She shot the guy a look of damnation before nodding.

He placed the cold chest piece against her skin, and she jumped a little.

He then draped it across her back. "Take a deep breath in." He repeated his instructions when she did. "Good. Raise your arms."

She did, and she immediately noticed the tiny pink welts that surrounded her wrists. It reminded her of being held against her will at the laboratory, which was exactly what was happening now. She was terrified of not knowing where her husband, family, and friends were, and when her gaze landed on the staff, they weren't hostile, but they were fierce, with a purpose. They were eager to begin experimenting on her right away.

Luna's heart rate was soaring. Her pulse throbbed loudly as her chest tightened further. She inhaled several deep breaths as the pressure cuff was squeezed, then said, "Can I ask how my husband is?"

Her attention was drawn to the doctor. "Amir is sleeping in the other room. His vitals are steadily improving."

"Thank you." She cleared her throat and then questioned, "Where . . . where are we?"

Major Thibeau clasped his hands behind his back. "You're in Los Angeles."

Luna locked her gaze on him, and the walls—all white except for those gleaming nozzles—closed in around him. "California? That's clear across the country. That's a whole other time zone."

"Once we activated the Trojans," he said, "the city was the safest place. I'm afraid you've awoken in the middle of a war."

She scowled. "What are you talking about? We've always been at war."

"No, Mrs. Khan. There are bombs and active shooters on the streets right now. There is no safe place outside of this building. Not any longer," he explained, his eyes fixed on her. "The Trojans are instructed to kill anyone in sight, regardless of their superhuman status."

"But why? Nobody did anything to you."

He snickered, staring at her as if she were stupid. "It's not what people did. We have a new generation of people living privately and waiting to replenish the earth once this is all over. When every person on the surface has perished."

Dr. Reynolds unfastened the cuff. "Her blood pressure is slightly elevated, which is to be expected. I'd like to perform a more thorough examination."

Visions of probes and other insidious things flashed through her mind. She slid off the slab quickly, backing away from the men on legs that could barely support her weight. "No. My little girl. My family. I need to know if they're—"

"I'm sorry, but we don't have that information," Major Thibeau said. "All of our camps were dispersed, and we were fortunate to capture you and Amir."

"Why can't you people leave us alone?" Her back slammed into the wall. "We're not a threat!"

"But you are the property of the Biological Research and Development Agency," he replied. "It may be difficult for you to understand, but Mrs. Khan, you have powers and are paired with Amir because of his ancestor."

Luna slid down the wall and sat down hard, her legs giving out. "You . . . you have to be kidding . . ." Her mind couldn't make sense of anything. "We're tethered . . ."

Nobody said anything until she looked up and caught Major Thibeau's attention.

"I . . . don't get it."

He took a step forward and met her stare. "Amir's ancestor, a Tethered Soul, donated his DNA to our organization. Then we formulated it into a serum and gave it to Lawrence Carlyle in California." He took a breather and then continued. "Because of us, you were paired with him, and you were never supposed to be telepathic. You are now a risk because you are not only an Origin but also a Trojan. You can be activated at any minute."

Her mind wandered to how everyone on the planet was being linked to their partners. It was all because of their relatives' donations that they became connected. And this organization was convinced she'd go crazy and harm someone. She had it under control and would not let herself change in that way.

She squeezed her eyes shut, pressing her palms against her brow. "I'm not a danger."

"Can you be so sure?" Major Thibeau questioned.

Her breath came out in short bursts as she opened her eyes.

"Mrs. Khan, you're in a vulnerable position. Did you seriously believe we wouldn't bring you and your husband in? That you'd be able to stay in the community and live happily ever after?" He knelt in front of her. "Or the group of you weren't brought together for us to experiment on you without your knowledge?"

Her body was chilled. That was a great question. What did they think? At first, the community appeared to be a wonderful place, and all of them enjoyed it. But she and Amir had their doubts. They couldn't figure out what it was.

Luna raised her eyes to the man. "Where is . . . my family?"

"Titus got them out before the community went into lockdown."

Relief washed over her. At least their family was out of there. But what was their status now?

"We have yet to retrieve him," Major Thibeau added.

"That's unfortunate for you because I know him and you won't."

His mouth curved. "I know you think you're invincible, but everyone has a limit."

"Does that include you and the people who work in this facility?"

"We're only human. Without a doubt. But enough of that." He stood up and clasped his hands once more. "Let's get straight to the point. I want your cooperation. Things will go smoothly for you if they go smoothly for us."

"Good luck with that, douchebag. I don't care what your asses want."

He grumbled. "There's no need for that kind of language."

"What were you expecting, Major Thibeau? A cheerful, upbeat Luna?"

His chin lifted as he stared. "What can we do to gain your complete cooperation?"

"For what?"

"To be tested without any resistance?"

His statement caused her to burst out laughing. "You mean it's in my hands? Really?"

The doctor's face tensed.

"You guys are something else," she said quietly.

"So, what will it be? Donate your DNA and let us conduct any tests we want on you and have whatever you want?"

"How about a . . . no."

Shifting his frame, he replied, "Come on. There's got to be something you want."

Nothing in the world should have pressured her to think about his proposal. That was how wrong this was; it went against humanity. But she was a warrior, and she knew she could get her and Amir out of this . . . somehow. When it came down to it, there was only one thing that mattered, regardless of what the organization