His Moonsilver Mate (Abby and Kade) novel Chapter 69

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MON

2

OOK

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Liam

Chapter 69

We found the temple before midnight.

Finding a way inside was another problem.

What remained above ground looked exactly like the abandoned ruin everyone remembered.

Part of the mountainside had collapsed over the old structure years ago. Broken columns lay half buried beneath dirt and roots, sections of wall had fallen inward, and trees grew through what had

once been the outer courtyard.

There was no obvious entrance.

Kade stood near the remains of the main stairway, staring at a wall of fallen stone.

“This used to be open.”

“I remember.”

Adrian had brought us here when we were younger.

The temple had been old even then, carved partly into the mountain with pale stone steps leading toward a wide entrance. Priestesses had still lived here. Travelers had stopped to leave offerings or rest before continuing through the mountains.

Now most of it looked like it had been swallowed by the rock.

Ryan came back from the northern side with two scouts.

“Nothing.”

Kade turned.

“No openings?”

“Not one we can fit through. We found recent boot prints near the eastern slope, but they disappear

onto stone.”

“That means they’re getting in somehow.”

Ryan nodded.

MON

2

OK

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୮

Every few minutes, another scout came back with the same answer.

Tracks.

Signs of movement.

No entrance.

Kade’s frustration had stopped showing on his face an hour ago.

That was worse.

He stood beside the maps we had spread across a flat section of broken wall, going over the same terrain again and again as though staring hard enough might make an opening appear.

I stepped away.

Then I reached through the mind-link.

Abby.

Nothing.

I had tried so many times that I no longer expected an answer.

I tried anyway.

Abby, if you can hear me, answer.

Silence.

My chest tightened.

Then I reached for someone else.

Sloane.

Nothing.

I walked farther from the others, toward the edge of the ruined courtyard.

Sloane.

002

MON

OK

O

Sloane?

Static seemed to tear through the connection.

Then-

Liam?

I went completely still.

Her voice was so weak through the link that I barely recognized it.

Sloane.

The connection flickered.

Can you hear me?

Barely.

Relief hit hard enough to make me close my eyes.

Kade noticed immediately.

He started toward me.

I lifted one hand.

Wait.

Where are you?

The answer came broken.

Underground.

The link faded.

Sloane.

Nothing.

Then she pushed through again.

002

MON

OOK

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O

W

My pulse kicked harder.

We’re at the temple.

Silence.

Then:

You’re close.

I turned toward Kade.

He read it on my face.

“Her?”

I nodded.

THE

Ryan came over immediately.

I kept my attention on the link.

Where is Abby?

The answer took longer.

Above us. Higher level. Circular room.

My stomach dropped.

Is she alive?

Static.

Sloane.

Then:

Yes.

I exhaled.

Kade’s eyes closed for half a second.

MON

2

OK

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୮

Testing her.

hand curled into a fist.

How do we get in?

Nothing.

I waited.

Sloane.

Her voice came back strained.

I don’t know. They move me through corridors. Stairs. I never saw outside.

Kade was watching me.

“What does she know?”

“Underground. Abby’s alive. They’re keeping her in a circular room higher in the complex.”

His entire body went still.

“Entrance?”

“She doesn’t know.”

Ryan swore quietly.

I reached for her again.

We’re trying to get inside.

Hurry.

There was fear in her voice now.

Why?

The link broke.

“Sloane?”

MON

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002

They need Abby for something. Cressida keeps talking about the moon.

looked up.

The nearly full moon hung above the ruined temple.

My blood went cold.

When?

The answer barely reached me.

Soon.

Then the connection vanished.

I tried again.

Sloane.

Nothing.

The silence felt different this time.

Not absence.

Distance.

Something interfering.

But she had been there.

I turned back toward Kade.

“She said hurry.”