∞ The Tethered Ones ∞

Chapter 5

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• Luna •

Luna wasn't sure how to react to Amir's question. "What are you doing?" Because she wasn't sure what she was doing. She knew she wanted to wash her tear-stained eyes and face and catch her breath. The recent conversation she had with Vikram left her filled with unanswered questions, and her heart throbbed with the thought of going someplace she wouldn't be able to connect to him. She needed to connect to someone from the outside and obtain the information she couldn't for herself.

Standing still, with Amir's strong hands holding her waist, their contact had shaken her. One minute she was checking the door, and the next, he opened it, making her fall into him. She didn't hear any movement from outside, but an icky feeling continued to creep down her spine as she stayed quiet. She knew someone could waltz through her door any moment, then see them together and pull her away. She wished for a chance to speak to him, and now she got it.

Stepping backward and flattening her white shirt, she cleared her throat as she tied her hair into a tight bun and caught his gaze.

His eyes — the color of honey mixed with dark chocolate, stared into hers. Eyes familiar and beautiful connecting straight to her heart.

Amir.

The man who loved and cared about her had to be in there.

"Oh . . . sorry. I was about to wash my face and I noticed this door. I had never checked the other side."

"Ah." One side of his lips tipped up into a tiny grin as he stepped aside, his back hitting the wall. "It's an office."

"Oh, I see."

Her eyes traveled around the small room as she spotted a wide desk, with a computer and papers strewn across it, and a TV that was turned on in the corner. The volume was low, so low that one could barely hear anything coming from the IHOP commercial.

Damn. She missed pancakes and egg whites for breakfast. She missed all the good stuff she'd taken for granted.

Looking back at him, she stepped forward. "I'm sorry if I disturb you. I'm sure you were working on something."

"You didn't. I was hanging out in here," he replied as they both stepped through the threshold. "I needed . . . a break."

Luna nodded and turned her neck to gaze outside the window, observing the trees swaying from the wind. "It looks peaceful out there."

He cleared his throat. "It does. I would have gone out there, but I wanted to catch the latest news report first. I can't believe I'm in America while all of this is happening around the world. I'm worried about Pakistan and my family."

Her heart ached, then plummeted. She'd forgotten to ask Faisal about his parents when she'd spoken to him earlier. There was so much to discuss, and it had slipped her mind.

"You haven't spoken to them?"

"No." He exhaled a deep breath. "The phone lines are down in most places, and I've been told that my mother, father, and brother are safe. I think I'd feel better if I could hear their voices, you know?"

Shaking, her lips quivered. Chase must have told him something to keep him from asking questions or to give him a false status of his family's whereabouts. She'd hoped his family wasn't in the hands of their organization. There's no telling what they'd do to them.

Gazing at his beige kurta, with long sleeves and loose-fitting pants, she turned toward his frame and asked, "Could you tell me when you realized you were in the States instead of Pakistan?"

"I was on the first floor and lying on a gurney when I opened my eyes. I had noticed I was hooked up to a heart monitor and was told I'd come to America for a job opportunity," he explained, inching closer to her. "I can't remember much before that, but the staff has told me you and I met in a psychiatric hospital." He paused for a moment, then exhaled a deep breath. "We fell in love."

Apparently? Luna's mind whirled around while taking in what he'd just said. They must've told him the same story they told their families, that Amir had become infatuated with her and she'd lured him into a relationship with her. What a crock of —

"I'm sorry," he said, interrupting her thoughts. "I shouldn't have said that. I just — There's this gap in my mind that doesn't have you in it."

He sniffed and lowered his gaze. Thick lashes fanned the tips of his high, angular cheeks that were paler than they'd ever been. If she'd learned anything about the people they were dealing with, the two of them were damaged goods.

She glanced at the clock. It was close to three in the afternoon. "What do you know about me?"

"In my mind, I know you and I are married. I just . . . I can't recollect anything else."

He'd been through so much. The memories he had of them were gone. She tried not to think about the void that was in his soul because when she did, she thought about what he was missing out on. He couldn't remember their connection, what they'd been through to get where they were now, or the plans they'd made for their future. All those painful scars kept adding up, and it was impossible, nearly impossible for her to stop them.

"I'm sure you're more confused than anything."

He nodded. "Trying to remember certain details of my life has been a strain on me. I haven't slept much because of it."

"Really?"

"Yeah. And it has been affecting me when I pray." He just stared at her, as if willing her to understand what he was going through, and couldn't exactly explain through words.

But she understood. She knew his current dilemma affected how he spoke to Allah, and it hurt her that she couldn't help him in the way she'd like. She wanted to whip up the serum and help trigger every memory he'd ever lost. But she failed chemistry in high school and wouldn't even know where to start. She just wanted him back, so he could pray the way he wanted.

"You know this isn't your fault, right? None of this is."

He shrugged. "I know it's not my fault, but it still doesn't make it any less painful. It infuriates me that I somehow lost a chunk of my life, and I don't know why."

Luna nodded and pressed her lips together, slowly gliding herself toward the wall. "That must be difficult for you."

Stepping away from the window, he sat on the couch and met her gaze. "It is."

Walking forward, she reached over and laid a hand on his shoulder, then settled beside him. "Would you care to talk about it?"

He shook his head, fluffy whips of hair partially obscuring his eyes. His hair was longer than it had been and needed a trim. "You remind me of her — my mother."

She had no idea what to say to that. If he remembered his mother, then it wouldn't be long before he remembered her. "You haven't forgotten about your mother."

He met her gaze. A wealth of sadness and heartache was held deep inside of him. "Whenever I had a problem, she'd sit with me and talk. She'd . . ." He trailed off, pausing for a second. "I-I just wished I knew how my family was. My country, along with the rest of the world, has been destroyed. There's nothing to go back to."

Her chest hurt at the desolation in his voice as if he'd never see anyone he cared about again, and he couldn't focus on anything else until he had those answers. "I'll ask Faisal the next time I see him if he knows anything."

"Thank you," he said, closing his eyes for a moment. "I'm sorry, by the way."

"What are you apologizing for?"

He lifted his head, letting out a deep breath. Then, moving faster than she thought he would, he brushed his fingers over her cheek and caressed her skin. "I apologize for how I acted when I first saw you." Narrowing his eyes, he withdrew his hand and sniffed. "I was a jerk, and you didn't deserve that. You're my wife, Luna, and I would never treat you like that."

"You don't have to apologize. We had eyes on us, and there wasn't much we could have done."

Jumping up, he placed his hands on his hips and turned toward her. "Still. I shouldn't have pushed you away. You cried out for me, and I should've — I don't know — held you. I should've been there for you, even if I didn't remember who you were. That was selfish of me."

Standing to her feet, she sauntered over to him and took his hand. "Stop it. You hear me?" He nodded, a tear sliding down his face. "I don't hold what you did against you. You're confused. It's okay."

"How are you like that, Luna? So understanding?"

She barked out a laugh as she brought his hands up to her chest. "Because I'm married to you, and we balance each other out."

"Help me remember who you are," he murmured, gracing her cheeks with the tips of his fingers. "Bring me back to you."

Swiping a thumb over her cheek, she nodded. "That's my plan, A. You rescued me from my prison, and now it's time for me to rescue you from yours."

His lips tipped into a soft grin. "A. That's nice."

Bringing her arms around his waist, she buried her face into his chest. "That is only one of the nicknames you have."

"I have more nicknames? Do I even want to know what they are?"

Smiling, she said, "Well, I call you 'Prince' sometimes, and you really like that."

"Probably because that's what my name means. Which, I don't think I mind." Luna giggled. "What else you got?"

"The other is 'Mr. Spectacular.' You can guess why," she told him as he chuckled. "And my best friend calls you Mr. Tall-Dark-And-Handsome." He made a face, raising an eyebrow. "You should see yourself in the mirror. Your skin is white as a ghost."

Snickering, he moved around her and brought both of them back to the couch. "I think I like those nicknames."

She snickered. "There are plenty of nicknames for you."

"Okay. What about Mr. Bronze? Have you called me that since Mr. Gray is taken?"

She gasped after he said that. He once spoke those same words to her, words he shouldn't be remembering.

His eyes searched hers. "Did I say something wrong?"

She shook her head. "No. I like Mr. Bronze. It suits you." He smiled a little.

On the TV, a red-haired newscaster solemnly stared into the camera as she explained the events that were currently unfolding. On the other side of the screen, a live video of a television station in L. A. captured images of what appeared to be an emergency helicopter circling the area, passing by smoking buildings, burnt-out shells of cars, bumper-to-bumper traffic on the highways, and the streets being flooded with people moving in all kinds of directions. Then the tiny screen switched to a video displaying an aerial view of New York City, or what used to be the city.

Every building and skyscraper in that entire region was destroyed, making it more difficult to spot anyone walking around.

"This is . . . " Amir began. "How did this happen?"

Luna wiped her tears on the sleeve of her shirt as they sat, watching the news. "War," she uttered, the only thing she could say. It was the truth. An unconfirmed, but a realistic truth.

He turned the volume up, settling backward.

"Sources confirm the initial strike began in Dallas when a video of two people glowing was uploaded on YouTube. The couple stood in the middle of a highway and had levitated off the ground." Weariness etched into the newscaster's face as her tone was barely distorted. "We have received reports there was a meteor strike a week ago, but there are now . . ." She cleared her throat and seemed to struggle with her next few words. "It is believed we are dealing with . . . superhumans."

"I think she choked on that last word," Amir commented, chuckling. "I think it's rather funny."

Luna snickered. The woman looked like she was scared out of her mind and couldn't believe she'd said those words on national television.

The newscaster glanced down at the phone in her hand, her limbs shaking. "A Biologist from Mexico City, Dr. Guadalupe Martinez, has more insight into the crisis. Here is what she had to say." The woman peered down for a moment, and then back at the camera. "There isn't a definite number of people obtaining superhuman abilities, but we do expect there will be a substantial loss of life in many countries and states. There are teams of military personnel who are scouring the planet to confirm who is superhuman. We ask you to please cooperate promptly."

Luna shuddered at the horror of how things were unraveling. For anyone who had a special ability, it came at a price. It was almost too much for her to fully wrap her head around, and their world had changed in an instant.

On the television, the newscaster's fingers gripped her cell phone like it could fall out of her hand spontaneously. "What we do know is that superhumans have shown themselves in various nations across the world. The two people who started it all have not been seen since."

Glancing over at Amir, Luna watched a muscle flicker along his forehead. She had a feeling the reason the world hadn't seen either of them was that they were pawns in a sick, twisted game. She realized they were going to be used for something bigger, and it didn't settle well in her stomach.

Turning her attention back to the screen, Luna gulped as the newscaster continued her report. "We are still waiting on a press conference from the president of the United States of America, but we have received word she is unavailable at this time. Madam President McPherson and other government officials in the damaged areas will be making their public statements later today."

The screen to the left switched to a shaky recording showing them floating five feet into the air, holding hands while glowing.

"That's . . . us," Amir stated, inching forward with his elbows on his knees. "How are we doing that?"

Luna bit her lip. "We're different from other superhumans." Turning around to face her, he folded his hand over hers. "The day we got married, we did something most couples wouldn't do. We combined our bloodlines that connected us for eternity."

She never thought she'd have to explain any of that, but giving him small clues to what life was like before their current crisis may help them in the long run.

"So there aren't any other pairs who can do what we do?" he asked his Adam's Apple dropping.

"We're the first of our kind."

Bringing their joined hands to his lips, he pressed a kiss against her knuckles. "I'm sorry."

"What could you possibly be apologizing for now?"

He gazed heavily into her eyes, then let out a soft breath. "Things would be easier if I had my memories of us. You wouldn't have to explain anything to me."

"It's okay. We'll get through this, Amir. That's what your helpmate is for."

Stroking her cheek, he smiled and said, "I do admit, Mrs. Khan, despite my memories of us being erased, I feel a connection with you. I feel it in my bones that our souls are . . . tethered."

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