*Amir*
I knew I shouldn't have said anything. I knew I should've waited on telling her that, but I wanted her to be aware of what that place is truly about. They create our species and have done worse experiments than St. Matthew's. I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Ibrahim recovered something I had forgotten, and it pained me to relive the memory of my hands working on illegal projects I was hired to do.
I didn't know what the investors wanted from me every time, so I asked no questions. I was a puppet who helped make evil humans have unlimited powers, and my memory loss was the price for it. I cursed myself for this, for having played a part in this evil, twisted world.
"It's not that bad, Amir. They were practically begging you for your assistance. What were you going to do? Shake your head and tell them no? They'd be onto you and probably do something with you."
"Thanks for your input, Angel. Very helpful."
"Just forget about it. Romance your wife. She's looking at you like you've disappeared. You're just sitting there like a bump on a log."
"I know," I told him.
"Touch her more."
"What do you mean, Amir? How does the staff create our kind? People are born as tethered souls."
I wrapped my arms tighter around her shoulders and draw her closer to me. "They pull a Tethered One's DNA from their bone marrow, then formulate a serum with the DNA of a non-tethered soul. Once the serum is tested properly, they insert it into the non-biological tethered soul. A few weeks, sometimes a month later, that was when they tested the subject. The person will normally show signs of having a power. Sometimes telepathy."
Water cascaded over her shoulders and down her skin. My muscles fluttered. "I was in charge of a group who collected samples from every DNA we could find. Patients in real hospitals. Elderly homes. Morgues. The organization who hired me was covering what they were doing, and they hired many geneticists around the globe to do whatever they could to get the rights to those samples. Men and women on death row were the first in line."
I wondered what was going on through her mind, but I could tell she was now frightened more than ever. The hospital she is in was worse than all five of the facilities combined. St. Matthew's was a haven compared to Sweden's facility. They had the resources to experiment with pregnant women. I remembered walking down a corridor that was dedicated to the unborn.
"So the scientists that were hired to extract DNA had performed experiments that allowed regular people to receive powers?"
"It's a little deeper than that." I circled my arms around her. "None of us knew what we were doing or what we were up against. The employers had us believe that we were looking for ways to cure cancer and diseases, which that part is true, but it was more than that. I can't believe I played a part in it."
"It's not your fault," she whispered, gazing into my eyes. "Not at all."
"God, her eyes are extraordinary." Angel loved to speak his mind. "But she is right. It's not your fault many people are now damaged Souls that backfired when they were given the serum."
"I know. I just feel bad now about creating the mess we're in. People are damaged by my hands. I helped formulate that liquid they were injected with. Hunters were created by something I could have stopped anytime."
"You were hired to do something, and they misled you into believing differently," Luna said. "Don't beat yourself up over it."
"She is right, My Lord. Don't beat yourself up over it."
"Why shouldn't I? So many people have been injected with that serum and it failed them. They became defective, wrecked, and horrible people."
"You weren't told the truth. You were misled, and now you know. That's some power your son has."
I felt Ibrahim bounce in his mother's body when he heard Angel say that. He was right on both parts. I didn't know what the investors were asking me to perform, and my son was helping me relive parts of my past. He was the Master of Thoughts and giving people hope for their future. Aluna was the Master of Defense, and she'd shut out those who tried to break down her wall or anyone she was protecting, like her mother. Both of our children were really gifted. They'll be powerful after they are born.
"Please, don't blame yourself. There are some conniving and sadistic snakes in this world. We know one of them." Luna had always been understanding, and I loved that about her. "I know damn well that you wouldn't have taken part in anything illegal if you knew what you were getting yourself into."
Feeling a few tears slip out of my eyelids, she reached up and smoothed them away with her wet tips. I slid my hands down her back, brushing the curve of her hip once more. "They played us, baby. They played me. I helped create an unstoppable weapon, because I was hired to."
"No!" Heat unfurled inside her, spreading throughout her body. "None of this is your fault, Amir. There was nothing you could have done to prevent what the world has planned. They hired thousands to do their handiwork, and they are the ones who's at fault."
"Just them?" My voice was thick. "I was one of those who helped sick individuals have powers and cause chaos. I could have said no the moment I was contacted for a project I was unsure about."
"This world is horrible, and many people have known about our species and powers for centuries. Human who have no powers are threatened by us. Tethered Souls were made for a purpose. And you and I... we were paired for eternity."
She didn't give me a chance to respond because her hand slipped down my abs and toward my thighs, brushing her fingers between my legs.
Angel stayed silent, and now I felt calmer. He wasn't irritating the mess out of me.
"That we were," I said, leaning down, placing a soft kiss on her lips.
Her head fell on my shoulder as she sighed. "Aluna forever."
"You and I are biologically a tethered paired," I said, running my hands around her sides. "And those who are engineered into one of us won't have that luxury of being paired with someone. They'll just get the power that comes with our genetic ability."
"At least that's something. But I don't get it though." She moved forward and turned around to face me. "Chase said that he wanted to eliminate anyone who is a tethered soul, despite him being one. So why would he be worried about experimenting on us, on top of messing with my head? Something doesn't add up here."
I brought my hands onto her sides and slightly squeeze her hips. "I don't think he cares specifically about our species. But he—among many world leaders and scientists—are searching for anything they can to learn more about the Tethered Species. We've been around for thousands of years, and with technology today, they can combine our genes to people who aren't part of us biologically. It's for money. People will pay top dollar to be healed from a terminal illness after being injected with our DNA. Our kind is never sick."
Her eyes lit up as she stares at me. "You mean—" I nodded.
"Yes. The Tethered Ones never get ill. We will never have cancer, have any terminal illness, and our common colds last two days at most. Sometimes less. We can walk in freezing cold weather and it feel hot to us, especially when we tune into a location where the climate is warm. We rarely have to worry about anything."
A memory suddenly came back to me. I once worked on an experiment with Alisha Bankole, the wife of the doctor I never trusted. She explained to me how the Tethered Species worked. And she was the one who was not to be trusted. She injected me my own serum.
"I didn't realize that," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever been sick in my life. Maybe a sinus congestion one year, but nothing that made me seriously ill."
"Exactly. We can live healthy lives, which also includes mental health. The leaders of these facilities, however, can prove otherwise. Their job is to find Tethered Ones—detected or not—and experiment until they find the answers they are looking for. Most of the staff may not know too much, or understand what's truly going on. That's what happened with my team. We were offered everything we wanted and signed up to perform laboratory work in research facilities, under the direction of a false company. Now I know differently. Our powers work wonders."
"I hate these evil corporations. Let's bring them down, Amir. They're the guilty ones."
"For once, we agree on something."
"Finally. But really, bro, can you two talk about something else. Maybe do... something else?"
"Shh."
"You didn't pick up on anything all those times you were working on a project?"
I shook my head.
"We were given a drug, that I can recall, and our memories were wiped before the end of the day. I helped create it." I glanced away and stared up at the ceiling. But she wanted me to look back at her, guiding my chin with her hand, and then I felt the water growing cooler. "I'm sorry. I realize I unloaded a lot on you."
"Don't apologize. I'm sure this is a lot to take in for you. Our son is helping you remember all that you lost." Moving closer to my body, she brought her hand up to my mouth, running a finger along my bottom lip. I kissed it softly. "Amir..."
I raised both arms up and rose, cupping her cheeks. Placing one hand behind the back of her neck, I guide her forward, and then I slowly turned her over, my large frame covering her body. "I love hearing you say my nickname, Moon." My lips hovered over hers as my body moved between her legs, water sloshing everywhere.
"That's what I'm talking about."
I paid him no nevermind and continued to give my wife my love.
The exact moment I closed my lips over hers, I brought my finger down and began to thrust, capturing her soft moan as she rocked her hips upward against my erection. Lost in the moment, I felt her reach behind me and wrap an arm around my neck. I deepened our kiss, causing both of us to feel passionate and desiring more. The steady pumping of my finger was making her body react to my thrusts, and I knew it was close to driving her crazy. But doing this to her wasn't enough.
She knew it.
I felt it.
And this teasing definitely would not last for long. I withdrew my mouth from hers and began making my way to her neck, flicking my tongue against her throat. I heard her soft whimper as I ran a thumb over anatomy. "Amir..."
A low growl hummed through my chest and I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed ahold of her hips and brought her body over mine, centering her over my thighs. Angel was stirring inside my mind, but I kept my focus on her.
As she got comfortable with her legs on both sides of my hips, she lowered her body down and her bare chest hit against mine, capturing my mouth in a deep, searing kiss. My manhood was throbbing around her sex as I soaked in the taste and feel of her, feeling her nails digging into my skin. God, I could never get enough of her.
"I need you," I growled in her ear. "Bohat khoobsoorat."
She smiled as I told her she was beautiful in my language.
The blood in my body became warmer as I felt her hand wrap around my thick base, and she gradually lifted, pushing me inside her. Placing her hands on my chest, she ran her fingertips along my skin as my thumbs graced her slick skin.
Staring softly into her eyes, her gaze was a heady mix of love, hunger, and a yearning for me as I thrust up, hearing her cry out. She took me fully, sealing our bodies together as the water splashed around us. I felt the distinct pulse hammer inside her core as she rolled her hips, moaning each time my rhythm reached every part of her. Bringing my hands to her waist, I pulled her down as I pushed up, feeling her spasm around my manhood.
A luscious wave of instant pleasure rolled over me as I continued to thrust into her, mashing our lips together. Parting for a moment, both of us panted and gasped, keeping our bodies connected. Her hands stayed planted around my cheeks as I kept mine on her hips, and began moving us in a fast, almost frantic pace. Making love in the bathtub was not ideal for a pregnant woman, but this wasn't harming our babies. This was making both of us feel hungry to express our love to each other, and there was no way I would slow down.
I wouldn't stop. I was completely overwhelmed by her and always have been since the moment we first locked eyes on one another. Our true first meeting.
That first glance sealed my fate with her.
"You are so perfect," I whimpered, wringing a strangled moan from her lips. "You are perfect for me. Always have been."
My words sent her into a spiraling release that tumbled every ounce of her soul, and then mine came a second later, shattering the inside of my body. What I said was the truth, and I meant every part. She was perfect for me. We're perfect together.
We will ride this obstacle together.
***
Translation credit for "bohat khoobsoorat" goes to Muaaz, Muaazics
Shukria. Our very own, Cyrus Shah.
Assalamualailum. How are you, my
lovely and beautiful readers?
Do you feel the Aluna Love vibes? Because I do.
Welp! This is the last chapter of the older version of the sequel. I have a few more chapters written, but I will have to edit them and sort through them. The storyline was getting really interesting when Amir's pest of a rebellious side interrupted his time with Luna in their shared dream. The blood oath from Book One was not only used for Chase to have a power over Amir and Luna, but it was also meant for them to connect beyond this dimension. They couldn't connect in reality, so they were given a new path to see each other. The writer in me wanted them to see each other. The next three chapters were a flash-forward into the future, and I even brought in a way to use time-travel. Yes! I did! And I also had a new character who was able to stop time. Yeah, this author has many plans for the sequel.
I'll bring back Amir's rebellious side, Amir and Luna's pregnancy with the twins, and the connection of the new cast into the new sequel and third book, among other scenes that were written in these chapters. Once I am finished with the revision of Book One, I'll work on the revision of the second one, then write the third book. We'll see how everything plays out.
I may self-publish my revisions later in the end and see how that works out. I'm not wanting to publish the story for money or fame or anything like that. In fact, getting commissioned for my writing is not my goal. I want to share my story more so, and give readers something to immerse themselves in. But it just doesn't seem like this story is gripping enough. After this chapter, Chapters 1 through 23 of Tethered Souls will be available. They will fill in blanks for anyone who has not read them. And those chapters will be rewritten into a different story structure. Some of those chapters will be deleted. Feel free to read them, if you want to. Thank you all for reading! I appreciate you guys! 😚