The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

12. Daja w

“Look at us! We are even sharing clothes now!” Savvy said, pulling on the sweatshirt he gave her. “And here I thought that I wasn’t special to you!”

“Savannah…” He groaned, and she imagined that the king of the North was angry with her. He had to be since she was just a nuisance to him.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty,” she giggled. “Don’t be offended. I know very well that I am just one of the twenty or so contenders. Oops. Pardon me, twelve. Twelve contenders. We don’t count those poor girls who came in the wrong colour dresses, right? They committed such a serious offence!”

“Are you done?” Kai growled, waiting for her impatiently.

“Oh, I am far from being done!” the princess snorted when she realised that the sweatshirt was barely covering her bottom. However, she had to admit that it was better than nothing, and she would have to be content with having just this on her. It was better than the two of them staying naked together. Nothing good could come out of that. “In fact, I could go on about all this for hours!”

“That’s not what I am asking,” Kai cut her off, “Are you dressed?”

“If one can call this short hoodie a dress, then yes….” The girl muttered and didn’t even get to finish her sentence when the lycan’s strong hand grasped her forearm, pulling her out of the bushes into the moonlight.

“Good,” he said calmly and pushed her against the tree where just a few minutes ago, the bear was holding her hostage.

Déjà vu.

“And now tell me who the man you were with a few minutes ago was.”

He tucked his nose into the crook of her neck, taking a deep breath of her scent mixed with the intruder’s, and his elongated claws sliced the tree bark right next to her.

“Damn, Kai,” she chuckled, demonstrating that he wasn’t intimidating to her at all. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you are jealous!”

He pulled away from her quickly. Way too quickly.

Their eyes met, and he quickly averted her gaze, making her blush at the realisation that there might have been some truth to her joke.

The king cleared his throat. “Don’t change the subject. It’s absolutely unacceptable that my… one of the contenders is sneaking out with some guy in the woods!”

“Imagine my surprise when I thought I was coming here to get married and found my groom-to-be with twenty other women!” She didn’t hold back a smirk that curled her lips, and he finally locked his eyes with hers. They stared at each other as if it was a competition, and Savvy experienced a wave of triumph when he sighed heavily and looked away.

“I didn’t know, okay?” Kai ran his hand over his hair. “L’

M

you,” she said coldly, and he felt respect for her. Her composure was admirable. After all, he was the one clearly at fault here. “And then you decided

her right there. “Savannah, I didn’t. I didn’t know it was

So,

either,” he chuckled, leaning lower. “Because of your ridiculous beard!” the princess pointed out. “I thought you liked it better that way.” The man scoffed, and she rolled her eyes at him. “Back then,

that she was right. The

that the one time he allowed himself to enjoy life at least a little bit, he got into that mess with one of

and breathed. There were too many wars in the past, and his people did not

what it’s worth, I am sorry it turned out like this.” Kai found himself apologising to her. He owed her that

could have stepped back. Yet here they both were, in the darkest shadows of the night forest. Where no one

snapped out of it first. She had enough men playing with her in one lifetime. She had had enough of those. Unfortunately, even if he apologised, he was still one of them. She was

stumbled to give her an

and furrowed her brows. She had to be the reasonable one, and this was her

the very

him like a slap, and he tried scanning her face for any kind of emotions. Yet

that she was serious. All he had to do was sign

look that bad now since he knew there was a looming

Savannah would go back to her kingdom forever. She would find her mate. or

of his mind. That fellow wasn’t

her.” “She is not our mate. Just forget it.” Kai

will you.” He had to shut him off, but deep inside, he knew that Asgard was right. Letting Savannah go felt wrong, and he was used to trusting his

said firmly, and she gaped at him. “No?” Her whole body got tense hearing his words.

am afraid I will need an

and I need to investigate the situation more,” he replied calmly and heard her teeth gritting. For some strange reason, he enjoyed that more

for that!” Savvy

a few more weeks wouldn’t make a big difference.” Kai chuckled, and

The thoughts of her not wearing anything under that sweatshirt raced in his head. His eyes lowered to her chest, which

ignorant!” She squeezed both her hands in between them to fold them simply to demonstrate to him how unimpressed she was. “After all, you probably need this alliance more than we do from the looks of it. We got

supposed to mean?” Kai’s smile

at home here. Not to mention that your sister even found a witch somewhere. I really want to know where she managed to get her! A part of me wants

very funny!” The king shook his head, chuckling. “Just when I thought that you could be serious. No bears

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few werewolves to help