Tethered Souls | Books 1, 2, and 3

{Book Two} 95 | Infinity

∞ The Tethered Ones ∞

Chapter 25

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• Luna •

Luna's stomach dropped. She kept rubbing her eyes with a dirty fist, trying to make sure she wasn't dreaming. Shooting her gaze toward a Defective's gold necklace, it froze on the nape of his neck as his body was hunched. Her breath pawned at her chest, not quite making it out.

I stopped time.

That was me.

Panic and power rushed through her, leaving her breathless. Anxiety raced down her spine as her eyes traveled the backyard. Droplets from a sprinkler were stuck in midair. And the garden that was settled behind Dr. Kim's home was no longer beautiful because a body was thrown into it. Tiny hairs on the back of her neck rose, and her heart raced. Their battle was literally a fight to the death, and she and Amir's lives were in danger.

"Luna!" a voice yelled from behind her back.

Her eyes widen, and she turned, hoping she wasn't imagining hearing someone speak. Everyone within a ten-foot radius was frozen, except for one person.

Lily came running forward, her brown hair falling around her face. Her aura was calm and sweet, not at all sadistic.

"Oh my God," she huffed, looking over Luna's injuries. "You're okay."

She stared at the scene, her eyes wide with shock? Fear? Excitement? Luna didn't know. Her friend stepped to the side and lifted her gaze.

"How did this happen?"

"I'm not sure," she said, helping Luna up. "But I think it may have something to with you saving the little girl earlier."

Luna whipped her head toward the garage and then back to her. "You saw that?"

She nodded. "The second I sensed Dark Souls in the area, I cloaked myself."

"Dark Souls?"

She cleared her throat. "The people who attacked you are the dark ones. There were around two hundred of them at St. Matthew's and they escaped the facility shortly after you exposed yourself." She took a breath and glanced at the guest house. "This was Dr. Kim's compound. He had several of them inside."

"Jesus."

"This rivalry has been going on long before you were born. Maybe even before Amir's time."

When the sun peeked through thick clouds, Luna asked, "How are you walking around and not frozen like everybody else?"

"Probably because of this," she said, pulling her hair to the side to reveal a silver infinity pin on her collar. "It has tellurium in it. It's a type of element that shadows Tethered Souls' abilities."

"So, it can make you immune to another person using their powers?"

She chuckled. "Something like that. I was in Dr. Kim's daughter's bedroom when they came rushing in, and I panicked."

Luna's nerves jumped. "They didn't sense you?"

She shook her head, eyes narrowing. "If I wasn't wearing the pin, they probably would have. Max gave it to me before he left, and I've kept it hidden."

"You . . . you know Max?"

She nodded. "I sure do. Staff Sergeant Max Gardner."

After Lily confirmed Luna's question, she realized who she was. "You're his spy?"