The Luna’s Choice by Kat Silver

Chapter 127: Briggs

We followed Kingston through the thick brush. He seemed to know exactly where he was going, which was a bit uncanny since he was eight the last time he was here. But Theo said to watch him, so I would.

I had to admit, this wasn’t the same man I met months ago when I tracked Ayla down. That Kingston was calculating but genuine. On that day, there was no denying that he cared about Ayla.

This Kingston…

Well, this man was still calculating. But he was less stable. I could still see the affection for Ayla in the concern he carried, but there was something more determined in him. I didn’t trust it.

“The tunnel entrance is this way,” he said, leading us away from the packhouse ruins. “We won’t have to go far.”

“Where do the tunnels lead to?” I asked. “And how are you so sure they’re still intact?”

He paused for a moment, looking around the area.

“I’m not,” he replied. “But they survived a couple of millennia before this, so I think our odds are good.”

“So, the packhouse was built on an existing structure?” I asked, thinking about our own packhouse in Greytooth.

“It’s more like it was continuously renovated,” he clarified. “Remember, the Dominis family is the oldest werewolf bloodline. They

ruled from here from the beginning.” He glanced back at me. “At least, that’s the history I was taught.”

We came along a dip in the terrain and I could hear water running nearby. Kingston leaned down and brushed leaves and debris away, revealing what looked like part of a stone wall.

“It’s this way,” he said.

The dip turned into a steep incline as we followed it, stopping along a cutoff above a stream. The stone wall was easier to discern here except for moss and some vines. We didn’t have to follow it far before it

hillside, creating an

the tunnel. It wasn’t long before we came to

metal door.

Which was locked.

said, trying to keep the irritation from my voice. “This is a dead end.”

“Hush,” Kingston barked.

the wall and closed his eyes. Taking a few slow deep breaths. When he opened them, he reached up and counted the stones. One of them shifted. He removed it and, taking a second

that would be there?” I inquired

is how Jack got us out the night of

It opened into more stone tunnels full of cobwebs. Tree roots had found their way between the stones, hanging sporadically from the walls and ceiling.

still

pitch black, too dark for our night vision, so we switched to flashlights.

back for my father,” he said quietly before our light came on. “I didn’t know if

***

Theo

there had to be a way in from here. I walked the area, looking for windows or holes that

Kieran asked.

said. ‘Besides, you didn’t catch

It wasn’t intended to blame him but to give him some levity. His desperation was getting overwhelming. It was getting

That’s it.

the air near

There was nothing.

stepped in closer, focusing my sense of smell on

even the smell

said to Pierce