ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ Tethered ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chapter 14

━━─── • ───━━━

• Amir •

Amir had woken with a sudden gasp sometime during a deep sleep. He lowered his chin and stared at Luna as she slept peacefully next to him. Moving closer, he gave her temple a gentle kiss, making a solemn promise that those responsible would be held accountable for their atrocities. He wasn't the only one making a promise. Two people were involved instead of just one.

Together, he and Luna would both seek retribution.

He pulled his wife in while her arm swiftly shifted around his hips. One striking brown eye opened. "Hi," she said quietly.

"Moon."

She smiled up at that.

"I'm sorry for waking you up," he said.

Her mouth tipped up. "I was awake, but I was too tired to open my eyes."

"You're probably still sore from yesterday." Amir exhaled and gripped her shoulders. "You should take it easy."

"No, I've had enough rest."

"Are you sure? Because you were severely burned. Your body has been through a lot." He continued to stare at her, and she didn't respond. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay. I don't feel . . . terrible. Not like I did before." She curled her arm over his chest, twisting her body to face him. "Are you all right, A? I'm sure what happened to me had an impact on you."

"I didn't feel a thing," he said, but that wasn't entirely true. His emotions exploded the moment he saw what they'd done to her, and he was furious. "They did nothing to cause me physical duress."

"It was brutal, Amir. They used a small torch, like those in toolboxes, and a lighter to trail down my limbs. Hot wax, too." She slid a hand between them, chin down. "It was nothing but torture. I don't-I can't even think about it."

He squeezed her shoulder. "Once we get out of here, they'll get what's coming," Amir promised, and Luna caught his stare. "Burning you was the final straw."

"And there's more torture to come."

He sniffed, gritting his teeth. "We'll get through it."

We're strong. We can do this.

Luna wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Did they make you heal me?"

"They did."

For a few moments, there was nothing but silence until she spoke. "I'm sorry you had to see me in that way."

"What?" He didn't take his eyes off her. "This was not your fault, Luna. You don't have to apologize."

"It wasn't my fault, but I know it must have been difficult for you to see your wife burned worse than Freddy Kruger."

He silenced her with his finger on her lips. "You are the most amazing and incredible woman I know. You're tough and can handle whatever they throw at you. And what amazes me now is how you're sorry for something that was completely out of your control. You did not choose this torture; it was chosen for you."

She nodded and moved forward, lightly kissing the corner of his mouth. "You're also incredible. And amazing."

"Okay, okay. No need to play with my ego." She chuckled as he lowered his mouth to hers, making sure his kiss was as sweet and tender as the others, just as consuming because it offered a promise-a promise of more, of a future. "Just so you know, Luna Khan, I love you."

Luna drew a sharp breath and met his gaze. "Hearing you say those words never fails to affect me. I've told you that before, but you don't remember." She reached up and ran her fingers along the curve of his cheek. "I love you, too."

Amir smiled and fell back to sleep shortly afterward until the squad behind BARDA came to collect them. They actually waited until the healing started working. It was another recruit who had been overly enthusiastic. This one slashed his throat just below his Adam's Apple. Still a mess. Luna was there to witness it all over again, and he'd healed the idiot. Overall, it was a success, except Amir couldn't get near the TS-12. It was a shame because there was some liquid left in the previous syringe.

Neither of them was relying on Titus, but if Amir could get the serum their hybrid friend wanted, and if it turned out that someone, whether Greer or not, could help them flee, he would take it. Moon's plan of releasing the Lazarus bunch was the best they had, but the details of how they could do so remained unclear. Not to mention that they had no idea what they were about to unleash. As much as he despised acknowledging it, innocent people were held in these cells.

During the three days it took for the fourth guinea pig to display superhuman abilities, Amir was asked to heal more officers and one civilian-a female who appeared too nervous to have signed up for this without violence and aggression. She didn't shoot herself, but she was given a lethal amount of poison.

And he hadn't been able to heal her at all. Amir had no idea what it was, but it had been dreadful. He tried, but there was nothing he could do when she began foaming at the mouth and gasping for air. He couldn't see the injury in his mind, so it wasn't working properly.

Under Luna's terrified gaze, the woman had died right there.

When the staff carted away the patient's motionless body, Alisha was overjoyed. On the fifth day, Aristides and TS-12 were given to the seventh soldier Amir had healed. Later the following morning, a man crashed into a wall. Amir had no idea what was up with most of the participants and running into glass walls, but that was number four.

The ninth subject was assigned TS-12 on the sixth day. He lasted another twenty-four hours before bursting fluid through every crevice of his body, including the navel.

The deaths came one after the other. It was difficult not to take them personally. Did he blame himself? Not always. Only when he attempted to heal a severe injury and the healing failed. Did continuing this cycle irritate him to the point where he wanted to douse the entire compound in petroleum and begin throwing matches? Without a doubt.

The majority of the time, the staff kept him away from Moon, only allowing them to share a room when he performed the healing act successfully. However, they occasionally allowed him to enter her room to talk for a short period while they were both on the other side of their door. It wasn't enough. He had hoped that Luna's appearance would signal a rest in his hormones because she seemed as worn out as he felt. He had to use every bit of restraint he had every time he heard her fall into her bed. There were bathrooms without cameras as well, so it wasn't just the cells that had them. But he had no intention of taking a chance on the possibility of having their children in that building.

He couldn't even dream of it.

When another soldier was given Aristides two weeks later, he survived the rest of the day and well into the next evening. He immediately began displaying signs of successful healing, as well as superhuman abilities. Then, he breezed through the training.

"You have done amazing, Mr. Khan," Alisha said, and he resisted putting his foot up her backside. "You deserve to be rewarded. You and Luna can spend the night together. No one will bother you unless it's for a meal break."

Amir kept quiet. Luna did too. She'd just given the woman an obnoxious look as if she wanted to punch her into the next room.

While he wasn't going to refuse Alisha's offer, it was still creepy hearing her say that he and Luna could spend the evening together while watching them on video. He remembered the pregnant women on the lower floors. Not happening.

Amir noticed Luna getting closer to the tray. When Alisha made her announcement, she stopped for a moment. He didn't know what his wife was eyeing.

The staff then brought in a participant, but this time it wasn't another soldier. This one had soft brown skin and red-rimmed eyes. He got a better look at her when she pushed her hair back, and his jaw dropped.

Alisha's stare followed her. "You can stay right there, Sefora."

Luna whirled around and her eyes popped open, halting whatever she was doing. She took a step closer, but Greer stopped her with his hand around her elbow. "Leave me alone."

"Well, Mrs. Khan," Alisha said with a raised chin. "You remember my daughter. Sefora has changed a lot in the past few months."

"What on earth did you do to her?" Luna screamed, and tears streamed down her cheeks. "How long has she been this way?"

"Since the ground had turned into a wasteland, Luna."

"When was that?" Amir demanded, keeping an eye on both of them.

"Five months ago," Greer spoke, earning a glare from Alisha.

Five months?

Amir's eyes began filling in tears.

Luna straightened her spine, and she took a deep breath. "It has been five months since I last saw Sarah?"

He wanted to reach over and hold her, but he knew the staff would intervene.

"I don't even know if she's still alive!" his wife yelled.

Alisha pursed her lips and looked down at her watch as if her time was being wasted. "We must proceed. You know what to do," she said, looking at her daughter.

Amir was disgusted that she had brainwashed Sefora into doing something so irrational. The mother had no soul.

"Yes, mother," Sefora said, grabbing the knife from the doctor.

After a quick stabbing motion, Amir had blood on his hands and a very happy Alisha dancing around the room.

Dr. Reynolds stayed quiet this whole time and placed the used needle alongside the clean ones. He noticed Luna making grabby fingers, but something struck him.

She was reaching for the TS-12, because it was propped up against the wall, with nobody around.

"Is she completely healed because she didn't face-paint the wall?" Amir asked, wiping his hands on a towel that had been chucked in his direction. "Will she suffer and die?"

Alisha burst out laughing.

His brow furrowed. "I'm not sure how that's an amusing question."

"You're asking the right questions, Amir. That's all." Alisha's dark eyes glistened after she clasped her hands together. "That's an excellent observation. The Aristides serum administered to the injured subject should keep her alive."

That was a huge relief. He didn't like the idea of Sefora's death being on his hands. "How is that possible?"

As Alisha crossed the room, a guard opened the door. "Mr. Khan, we've had decades to narrow down the dynamics of healing abilities and repercussions. As you already know, there must be a genuine effort to use the healing gift." She turned to face him, her head tilted to the side. "Yes. We were aware of it. Always have. It's not a mystical or a transcendent ability, but rather a combination of skill, stamina, and perseverance."

Well, damn . . .

"Your cousin was almost there." Her voice lowered, and his body stiffened. "It wasn't a lack of will or skill. And he was swayed. We made certain of it. Especially showing him images of how your family was treated. He lacked the necessary strength, and he didn't have to be a Pure Soul to have the Alpha serum injected into him. He was related to one, so that was the next best thing."

Amir clenched his teeth. Anger slithered like venom through his veins.

"We don't need Faisal. Cassie, on the other hand, remains to be seen. But you?" Alisha rested her hand on his shoulder. "Amir, you're a saint."

• • •

• Luna •

Amir, you're a saint.

Oh, hell, no, Luna thought, almost ready to pierce Alisha's eye with a needle. It was a good thing she didn't because that would defeat the entire purpose of what she'd collected.

She crossed her arms and folded her hands around the TS-12 syringe, keeping it hidden under her shirt. She followed Amir and Greer out of the room, expecting to be tackled from behind.

Nothing happened.

No one was paying attention to her in the height of the excitement of Amir's healing ability. Except for her husband, no one looked at her during these trials apart from Greer, and if he was peeping into her thoughts, he hadn't said anything.

She hadn't given it much thought when she picked up the serum, but as she held it in her hand, she knew she'd be sorry if she got caught. So would Amir. They'd be in big trouble if Greer was peeking into her thoughts right now and he wasn't an ally. She didn't know what to think about him.

He remained . . . an enigma.

"Hey!" Alisha exclaimed from behind the group. "Bring Amir and Luna to the loading bay. We need to get them to Vancouver."

"Wait, we're going to Canada?" Luna asked when she spun around to face her.

Amir shook off the other guard's grip and locked eyes with her.

Alisha took a step forward and straightened her back. "Actually, we're going to Africa for the rest of the trials, but there is a scientist in Vancouver who would be thrilled to meet with both of you." She gave them a tight smile. "Hawthorne, you're riding with Major Thibeau, Luna, and myself. Greer, you're riding with Amir and Sefora."

"Yes, Ma'am," both guards said in unison.

"Everyone, go up to the surface, and I'll be there in a minute," Alisha instructed the group.

Amir shifted to Luna's other side and leaned in close to her ear. "Did you get what I think you got?"

She looked up and nodded slightly. She couldn't say anything in case the others heard her. "We'll talk later."

"Be careful," he cautioned, and Luna quickly tucked the syringe beneath her bra.

When Sefora locked eyes with her, Luna's stomach dropped. Her friend didn't even recognize her and appeared to want to fight right there in the hall.

As Hawthorne led her up the elevator and out of the steel doors, bright sunlight poured down on them.

Soldiers surrounded the cars, which seemed normal during a war or a superhuman takeover, but every guard she noticed who wasn't wearing sunglasses had Defective eyes. Red.

Of course.

It was odd that no one was wearing a gas mask, given that she and Amir had been told that chemicals had polluted the atmosphere. But after five months, maybe the masks weren't necessary?

Her stomach tightened when she realized the dark-haired guard was steering her toward a tinted-out black limo. She took a glance down the line of cars and noticed her husband stopped beside a black Expedition. His expression told her he was on the verge of dropping his morale and rearranging the car assignments, but she knew that would be disastrous.

Luna shook her head and scuttled toward the open door of the waiting car. Hawthorne's pressure against the center of her back was not comfortable, and she almost toppled onto the leather seat. He climbed in beside her shortly after she started pushing strands of hair out of her face.

Major Thibeau and Alisha, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, sat across from her. She stared at her and persuaded her to come closer, but Luna resisted.

She felt as if a coffin was closing around her when the door closed.

The major, who was wearing a sharp black suit this time, sat up straight and fixed his sights on her. Alisha was busy tapping on a tablet to look in her direction. Luna didn't need either of them to know she had a stolen syringe on her. There was no telling what they might do.

Her palms were drenched in sweat as she looked out the window, wondering how quickly she could summon her energy source and bust out a window if she needed to flee.

"Wait!" someone yelled from outside the car.

Alisha rolled down the window, allowing Luna to see Sam's head.

Please spare me.

"Yes, Mr. Davidson?" Alisha questioned.

"Can I . . . can I come along?" he asked, and Luna's stomach roiled.

Say no.

Just say no.

"Sure," Alisha said, smiling. He slid in next to her after opening the door. "We're heading to LAX first, and then off to Canada."

"That's perfect. Luna and I had talked about going to Lake Winnipeg after we graduated from high school." On his lips was a nauseating glistening smile. "Do you remember that, Luna?"

She replied, peering in his direction, "No. I've upgraded."

Alisha and Hawthorne both laughed. "Let's make this trip as easy as possible," she said.

"I agree," Major Thibeau quipped. "Let's go."

Luna bit her lower lip and kept her gaze on the outside, hoping to see what it looked like. It was the first time she saw what had changed in months, in a new year.

"I'm sure you're wondering why you and your husband aren't riding together," the major added.

When she turned to face him, she noticed something strange about his eyes. They were crimson red, and there was no humanity in that cold stare. "I can take a guess," she said.

The engine fired up, and the car shifted into motion.

A slow smile tugged at the major's lips. "Mrs. Khan, I've never seen such a formidable duo before. Amir has such a strong bond with you, and his healing act after you were burned was . . . extraordinary. You realize that, right?"

The limo started to move, and she figured it was best if she spoke to him so she didn't appear to be hiding anything. She was enraged that he had to bring up what happened. She had no choice but to continue the conversation. Even Sam was sitting quietly with a big goofy grin on his face. She so wanted to punch him.

"Yes, I am aware of how awesome my partner is," she stated, reflecting on how much they'd been through together since Sarah's birth.

"But you haven't spent much time together." Once the limo came to a complete stop, Thibeau tilted his head and scrunched his eyes together. "It's our fault, but I'm wondering what else the two of you could do as a team."

"Well, you had all the time in the world to look into it, but your priority was the training methods."

When Sam's lips tipped up, Luna grumbled.

"We had to get you both prepared," Alisha added, and the way she said it made it sound like they were about to face something big, which she didn't like.

Luna pursed her lips and took a deep breath. "Okay."

"Do you even realize the consequences of what your group did on the highway?" Major Thibeau adjusted his tie.

"Am I supposed to feel bad about it?" Luna rubbed her right side lightly to make sure the syringe stayed secure. It was. "We did what we could to run. We were surrounded in every direction."

There was a short pause before he burst out laughing.

That was not what she expected.

"This happens to you," Thibeau said.

Um . . .

He laughed once more. "You sit there, meek and oppressed, and you don't see the error of your ways."

Hawthorne, whom Luna had no desire to see, rolled his eyes. Even though his body size and appearance made him appear to be in his late twenties, he seemed to be a kid who had to sit through his parents' argument.

"You'll never be able to escape us. And what you did on the highway was the beginning of the rebellion. For centuries, we've had this world exactly where we wanted everyone, and then two people appear, tethered, and decide to change the game." Thibeau leaned back, stretching his legs until his calf touched hers.

She froze.

His grin widened. "I just wanted to bring it to your attention."

The limo jolted over a drainage ditch in the road, pushing her up against Hawthorne. Her nerves were rattling right now because he, too, had a despicable expression on his face. Like he hated the revelation of the organization's plans for humanity. "Noted," she said, looking the major in the eyes.

"Good. Our mission for this week is to calm the remaining survivors on the surface, to get them to