The Luna’s Choice by Kat Silver

Chapter 72: Ayla

“What did they find?” I asked as I stepped off the ladder.

“Honestly,” Briggs said, “I’m not sure. Just that it’s big and Theo wants you in there.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. I didn’t know if I should be worried or scared or excited. We really had no idea what could be in there, but I knew it wasn’t nothing. So, I braced myself for something terrible but hoped for some kind of miracle.

It didn’t take long for Briggs to guide us through the passageways. It did get a little difficult to navigate around the area of the vault with all the mess and equipment. Alpha Torin and Harmon were carrying lights through the hole in the wall when we arrived and I followed them through. I stopped in my tracks just inside when I saw the huge stone structure.

“Holy crap,” I blurted out.

Theo stood from where he had been looking at something on the stone and headed toward me. He immediately wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against his chest. He released a breath. I could feel that he needed me through our bond. But I still didn’t know why.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

He pulled back, brushing my hair from my face. “We may have found something that can help keep you safe.”

“Really?”

”

“I hope so,” he replied. “At the very least, this is something that will change history.”

He took my hand and led me toward the structure at the center of the room. He explained that it was a sarcophagus and who was buried inside it. Then he showed me the depictions on the side. Including the one indicating there may be a second Moonstone located nearby.

Theo

showing me what seemed to be a compartment

open,” Theo said, squeezing my hand. “But I needed you

for you,” I

started to pull at the panel. As it started

ran through my head. “What if this just makes things worse? This

of this room is going to find out about this,” Theo

the situation. Theo rested his hand on

we find something in here, I won’t use it unless you

with

me. I threw my hands in the air

some kind of magical powers,” I said. “Do you really think a rock is going to

sighed. “I don’t know,” he offered honestly. “But I have faith

if you’re wrong?”

firmly. “Everything else that we have planned is still going to happen. This is… it’s just something I feel

that was drawing him towards whatever was inside this tomb. He was right. He needed to

I agreed

back to the stone panel. I leaned forward and helped him pry it free from the sarcophagus. It took more effort than I expected and with one big tug, it fell to the floor, sending up a cloud of

Theo asked as I coughed and

I assured him. “Just a little dust. Come on. Let’s see

what’s inside.”

so it shined into the space we had just cleared. From where I sat, I could make out a small box inside. Theo reached in slowly. The room was dead silent other than the scraping sound of the container as Theo removed it. Setting

open it,”