The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

9. Bost For Last

Savvy looked at him in shock, and his grasp on her became tighter. Elene cleared her throat again, bringing them both out of their daze.

“Kai!” She hissed. “We need to go. Now! Everyone is watching.”

“Right,” he conceded, finally letting her go. Savannah straightened her dress, and the realisation of how they might look dawned on her, also considering most people present were aware that he was their king. Not to mention that she was about to become unmasked as

well.

“Excuse me,” Kai took her hand and bowed to kiss it, however, she snatched it back before his lips could touch it. A soft growl left his chest, and she wondered what he was thinking. His level of deception was really beyond anything she could comprehend, and all that she wanted at this moment was to slap him. Then slap him again. And more, if it were possible.

But, of course, she couldn’t. Too many eyes, too many witnesses. At least he helped her finalise a decision she had been pondering.

There was no way she was leaving humiliated. She would make him and his mean sister regret the day they decided to do this to her. She would win the stupid Luna Trials and get those wishes from her “groom-to-be”. Then she would get her alliance and reject him, making it impossible to hold it against her, her brother, or her kingdom in any way.

“You are excused, Your Majesty.” She filled her words with as much venom as she could muster and turned on her heels to walk toward what looked like a queue of women.

“Please, over here.” A girl in a black dress and a mask gestured for her to stand toward the back. Savannah recognised Elene’s assistant. “I am sorry, you have the last turn …”

“That’s fine.” Savvy cut her off with the sweetest smile she contained in her arsenal. “In the West, we save the best for last.”

She was fuming, and even Athena was unsettled inside her.

“Are you okay?” Kyle mind-linked her. She knew he had seen everything and was probably wondering what was going on. They had known each other since they were kids, and he could sense when she was troubled.

“Peachy,” she replied sarcastically. “I am going all in. You and Zara need to find out everything you can about every single contender. So, keep your eyes open now that they will be revealed.”

“Fine,” he said quietly and closed the link, knowing it was better not to contradict her when she was in such a state.

“Together again,” a girl next to her remarked as she smiled brightly. Savannah looked at her in an effort to recognise her. “It’s Astrid,” the girl whispered. “I’m placed in the room next to yours.”

“Oh, right!” Savvy chuckled. “You are another lucky contender.” “At least I am in good company,” Astrid replied, giggling, but then, the sound of a loud bell

interrupted them. They watched as Elene froze like a statue of some ancient queen at the top of a staircase leading to a throne which was now taken because King Kai was sitting in it and staring at her with his piercing blue eyes.

Savannah pretended not to notice and stood behind Astrid, hidden from his gaze.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” For once, Elene’s voice sounded truly sweet, as if she loved the people gathered before her, not the contenders, of course, but the northerners present in the hall. “It’s time to begin! The Luna Trials are about to start, and you are present during an historical event which will lead to the appointment of the new Luna of The North!”

They all cheered loudly, and Savvy could decipher one phrase voiced all around her, by Fenrir‘s will. She almost forgot that the northerners often preferred the wolf warrior god to the Moon Goddess, who was worshipped more in the West. Of course, she was respected everywhere, but it was considered that Fenrir was the patron of these lands.

The photographers and cameramen stood between Elene and the contenders, filming everything from different angles.

“Our first contender!” The princess made a gesture, and a familiar brunette in a red dress came up to the bottom of the stairs and curtsied as if this were the Middle Ages.

Savvy rolled her eyes. For some reason, she remembered how that woman was touching Kai moments before she snatched him away and that memory was particularly unpleasant. Nevertheless, she quickly brushed it to the farthest corner of her mind, where Athena then obliterated it. This was war, with no strings attached.

to her brother, who was sitting on a throne behind

in a museum, and no one in their right mind would be sitting

today, she noticed that his beard was now a barely well-trimmed stubble. It was something she had missed during their dance because she was mad at him. She hated to admit it,

at someone else in the crowd. Elene followed his example by removing her mask, and so did all the northerners in the room, finishing off the motion with a round

Show-offs.

of the North can’t be an ordinary woman.” Elene was working the cameras with her dazzling smile, giving them the show of their lives. “She must be beautiful and have perfect lineage. While

and remembered everything she had ever learned. Nonetheless, what if the education system in the north was different from the west, and they would start quizzing her about something she didn’t know in the first place? This could

One,” Elene raised her chin with a facial expression full of self-importance. “I want

couldn’t hold back a snort and a few girls in front of her turned to see who could be so disrespectful. Astrid quickly stood in front of her, covering Savannah and giving her a moment to gather herself. She

starting to grow

that is lighter than what it is

was

and Savannah had to use all her inner strength not

was all just

contender to go up the stairs and stand

announced although it was apparent that everyone here knew

stepped forward, wearing a navy dress with rhinestones that sparkled as if she

now making, was that it didn’t appear to be

poor soul quickly

… something. She was one of the least wanted contenders here but decided to

was going to

size. Stuck at the bottom, yet easily flies. Present in the sun, but not in rain. Doing

the she-bear

Everyone here knew that if she couldn’t solve the riddle, she would be eliminated. She wouldn’t even get to take her mask off. Although, that was probably for the best. The rules were similar for the women who couldn’t enter the ball

clenching her fists, and Savvy wished she could tell her the answer mentally, but they weren’t from the same

option,

was a bear and bears weren’t liked much in the North because

lifted her head and with a slight smirk on her lips answered, “Shadow.” “Someone came prepared!” Kyle pointed out. “I wish it was

daughter

and the wave of murmurs that went through the crowds of guests confirmed Savannah’s suspicions. There was no applause this time, but Brigit did not seem to mind as she took her rightful place on

of them was a werewolf and not

Inga, a blonde with two long braids to her front, both looked ready to defend their future Luna’s honour and even stood at either side of Penelope yet a few steps behind her so as to make her stand out. Even their dresses were a dull

she was also successful. Sawy wondered who she was

eastern Ruby Hill

weren’t actively participating in the war, they were definitely under suspicion, and King Kai

the girls gaye Elene their answers, as Savvy got bored. Their riddles

off her mask. She had long wavy hair that was dark at the top and was gradually turning into bright red by the ends in the best ombre effect Savvy had

from Zara’s old flock, one who could

name put Savvy

once given her asylum in her territory when Savannah was running away from her traitor mate. If Zack had managed to capture her then, her life would have had a whole different outcome. She had reached

side by side in the bloodiest battle of their lives right

a glance at Kyle. “I