The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

27. Mint

Savannah crumpled the note in her hand, turning to search for the maid who had given it to her in the first place. To her disappointment, the maid was already nowhere to be seen. It wasn’t a big deal; her face was forever imprinted in Savvy’s memory, and she could find her later. For the millionth time, she was happy her parents had chosen not to disclose her little talent. It had proven to be useful in her adulthood so far.

She wondered what the present from Bjorn could be and instinctively knew that she had to go to the centre of the crowd to find out. However, this was when she realised that everything around her smelled like mint.

She swallowed the lump in her throat and hoped this was another one of the white bear’s tricks. In her presence he had already tricked her once, somehow imitating her mate’s scent. She was not going to fall for it.

However, Athena was unsettled inside, whimpering from pain, and Savannah knew events around her were taking a turn for the worse.

“I am fine!” She heard a familiar husky chuckle and felt a pang in her heart. “Really, I am sorry I scared you all! It was nothing!”

“Nothing?” Elene’s voice was unusually high-pitched. “Are you sure? Maybe we need a healer here?”

“No, I feel much better. Thank you, princess” Zack assured her. “It’s just an old trauma. I was poisoned with aconite, and sometimes it reminds of itself. But it’s temporary.”

She hadn’t seen him in months and really believed that the next time their paths would cross would be when she hunted him down to kill him. On her terms. When she was ready and prepared.

Not like this…

Nevertheless, the Moon Goddess had other plans. People in front of her stepped away, and she finally saw none other than her mate standing and talking to Kai and Elene. Another wolf was by his side, and she immediately recognised Zack’s Beta, Viktor. He was one of the few people she met in his pack. He was also one of the wolves who tried to catch her and kill her when she was trying to escape.

He hadn’t changed much, although something about him was definitely different. He had a crazy glint in his eyes that wasn’t there before. She could feel his wolf howling for their mate, yet Zack didn’t even look at her. What kind of game was he playing?

The worst thing of all this;- she had just been so happy a moment ago. The first time in a while. Zack’s presence had to ruin it for her once again.

She wondered how he could stand there and pretend nothing was going on. However, she quickly remembered that he was an excellent actor.

“You should have left when I told you,” Naya appeared next to her and handed her a glass of champagne that smelled suspiciously like vodka

“I am surprised you warned me at all,” Savvy admitted, and took a sip of the drink, setting her

sight on the king and his unexpected guest at all times. Alcohol did not affect her too much anyway, but it could calm her nerves just a bit.

“Why?” The werecat curled her lips playfully and shrugged her shoulders. “After all, I am not your enemy here.”

“Are you a friend, though?” the princess sniggered. “That is the question.”

“What are you going to do now?” Naya “masterfully” changed the subject, playing with her high silvery-white ponytail. She looked stunning in her azure sparkling dress with cut-out sides that emanated a gentle glow. It did not escape Savannah’s eye that the cat’s long nails were painted with the same pattern as the beads and sequins of her gown. But she knew that those were actually deadly claws ready to defend their owner any time. Or attack her opponent Brigit strolled past, ignoring them completely, but as she ended up standing behind them while choosing something to eat from the abundance of refreshments offered to the guests, they heard her quiet voice.

“Am I seeing things, or is that the infamous Alpha who is” She abruptly stopped talking, but they all knew what she meant. Savvy was happy that she didn’t call Zack her mate in a grand hall full of shifters with excellent hearing.

“How did you know?” Naya sneered, not looking at the werebear. In fact, neither was looking at the other. “He ran away with his tail between his legs before we rescued you.”

“I rescued myself,” Brigit declared firmly, popping a little chocolate heart into her mouth with her back to the other contenders and the drama in their midst.

as if she was more

victory when you were the last ones to arrive at the battle scene.” Brigit fixed the cape of her dress. It was made entirely out of glimmering purple beads, the colour of queens. It reminded Savvy of chain armour and a part of her respected Brigit for remaining true to

Naya mimicked her tone, and the two growled quietly at

since they were all here, and Zack didn’t look at

roaring that we belong to them. They would

probably should for mates, yet satisfaction grew in the knowledge of

for the first time as if knowing what she was thinking about. Their eyes locked for a few seconds, and his lips curled

a coincidence. He had known she was in the North. He had come here with a

seep into her conscience. There was so much raw anger, disappointment, regret, desire … It made her slightly nauseous. She neither wanted

she contained the pride and strength required to still want to reject him. This went against everything, but they both knew they would

thing the most, her stupid decision to mate with Zack on their first day

they were old friends.

herself from his feelings. It was

Naya whispered, polishing her nails. “I bet he has

needed to think in peace and not have to

walking away from them, and Savannah felt blood rushing to her

to her chuckled. “It’s not like you two tried to hide it. Is that why Morgan

involuntarily crept up the corners of her lips. “Did it hurt him that much?” she queried, drawing her tongue across her teeth. “He almost cried,” Naya snickered, barely holding back

when she saw him walking away

know who he was dealing

his eyes meeting hers in the crowd. His warm gaze calmed her a bit as

afraid to imagine what a spectacle Zack would

speak to her first. She desperately needed to tell him everything, but Elene started clinking a fork to an empty champagne flute thus getting

out of nowhere and quickly squeezing her hand in a supportive gesture.

already.”

a sigh. “I could have handled that. This means he is here for something

carefree

a traitor.”

guests in the North. Apparently,

should be the one to do it and not you. They will not kill me since

here…”

getting an alliance!” Savannah rolled

luck at the interview. I think they are ready to

***

gave the contenders their number, though it appeared Petra seemed

her mentor, who was already present wearing a beautifully draped black silk dress with her short hair curled and styled to perfection. She looked satisfied, and the princess wondered if it was part of

that, as brilliant as it was, that

how Zara watched her fellow werebird with her lips clenched tight. She knew that there was no love lost between the two of them. Werebirds weren’t the

course, the twins were the ones handling the interview. Both wore sparkling white outfits to host the event and were in perfect sync

the hall, an oversized purple and gold chair placed in the middle looked suspiciously like a throne. There were numerous vases with white roses in the background, and Savvy frowned at

with simple small talk, warming