The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

The Blue Ribbon

“No?” Savannah eyed him questioningly. “I am getting some very mixed signals here, Kai

Fionnlagh.”

“No mixed signals.” The King leaned over his desk and folded his arms on his chest. “It’s just that I am not letting the woman I love go and risk her life fighting while I sit here and wait.”

“Aww, that’s so sweet!” Sawy smiled and walked to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Then join the Trials and fight us. When I win, you can be my Luna!”

A menacing warming growi left his chest, and he pulled her closer, not even bothering that they had witnesses in the room.

“Gross,” Elene was the first to turn away. Lachlan and Zara exchanged glances and pretended there was something that grabbed their attention on the bookshelf and the ceiling,

“Savvy.” Kai was oozing testosterone now. “Don’t test me. You are not going. We will announce you as my Luna, and then we’ll take it from there.”

“Kai,” she mimicked his tone and arched her brow while he pulled her closer. Eye to eye, they were both challenging each other. “I have to disappoint you, but I am an Alpha too. I don’t take orders unless like them. And this time, I will have to pass. We have a problem that can only be solved in two cases. One, if I win the Trials. And two, if you find Zack and make him talk. Preferably accepting my rejection in the process.”

The King of the North was silent. He knew she was right, but all his instincts opposed the idea of her

going to the Forgotten City Maze challenge alone. Or at all, actually.

“Elene is right,” he said, savouring the look in his beloved’s eyes. “From what I learned, things get crazy during this contest. You can’t shift or use any kind of magic other than the strength in your human body. A lot of contenders have died during that part. Especially the ones who were leading by points or favoured in any other way. All because they had targets on their backs. Sawy, when you are there, everyone will go after you.” He stroked her cheek gently, and she leaned into his palm, eyeing him playfully. She liked that he was worried about her. She liked it a lot.

“Why would you think that?” she asked.

“Because everyone here knows that I am in love with you. I love you, Sawy.” He breathed the words into her mouth and claimed it with a possessive, greedy kiss, lacing his fingers through her hair.

She broke the kiss early, to his disappointment, but when Savannah gestured at the three other people in the office, he knew he had gotten carried away. They left the cabin, their safe haven. It was time to act according to their titles.

“If you want to stop the Trials, find Zack as soon as possible,” she smiled at him reassuringly. “And until then, do not worry about me too much. I am a Royal Lycan, you know. I can take a lew girls who can’t

shift.”

“Sawy,” he released an exasperated sigh, ‘these girls were preparing. The Northerners know about The Forgotten City Maze. You…”

“I can take them,” she promised with a grin. “Tell me about this Forgotten City. What does it mean exactly?”

“It’s an ancient northern city,” Elene said, turning back to face them. “Long ago, it was the capital of the North where lycans lived. Unfortunately, it was wiped out by the white bears in a gruesome war. It was so bad that only ruins are left there now.”

“So we need to get through the ruins?” Savannah furrowed her brow. It didn’t look that hard, if she

was honest.

“It’s not as easy as it sounds.” Elene shook her head in disapproval. “You need to get to the centre of the city, and it’s a giant maze on its own. Besides that, it’s surrounded by the Forbidden forest. And let me tell you, it is forbidden for a reason. One part of it borders the Lost Kingdom and is full of rogues. The other part is right next to the white bear territories. And those are worse than rogues.”

“And why are you doing all this there again?” Savvy chuckled, staring at the Northern siblings in

turns.

“Traditions,” they replied in unison.

“In my defence,” Elene interjected, “I was sure we would be done with everything by now, and it wouldn’t get to that.”

“Great plan,” Sawy stretched a smile and slid out of Kai’s grasp. “No flaws at all.”

Lachlan snorted and glanced at Zara, who gave him an approving smirk. But his face changed suddenly as he knitted his brows as if he was talking to someone via mind link. After a few seconds, he

reported to his King, “Aspen is here.”

“Aspen?” Kai tensed, “Tell him to come in.”

Savannah already knew that Aspen was Celia’s brother and the King’s Gamma. He mainly patrolled the borders for him, checking on the guards and gathering intel on their enemies. The charming pub they had been to was his cover to trade information with guests of other species when they visited the place. In other words, Aspen was a spymaster. Him being here could only mean one thing he had something to

report.

He walked in firmly into the room, wearing a black coat with a hood, Snow was covering the top of his head, and Savvy even noticed a few iclcles here and there on his ginger beard.

He took off the hood and looked around in surprise.

“My King,” he said in an official tone. “I apologise, but what I need to tell you can’t wait.”

“Speakl” the ruler of the North ordered, and the massive guy looked at him questioningly just to ensure he didn’t mishear. “Speak, Aspen, speak,” Kai pulled the Western Princess closer and locked his arms around her. “Savannah is my chosen mate and your future Queen. You can speak freely in front of

her.”

am surprised after the last time I saw you.” Aspen shrugged as if he was about to

was too difficult. “Maybe

requesting to

with silence as everyone present was sure they had misheard

Savvy furrowed

“He brought a small army with him, and he is furious. He insists that he didn’t send you here to take part in The Luna Trials, and that the event alone is humiliating for someone like you,”

you can see

brink of the war, and I had to pull back

situation. She knew Gideon wouldn’t be happy

she turned

snickered at her man, and his face became

“As if it’s

will be possible if you grow up and apologise,” the Western Princess pointed out.

him that what we have is

know what his reply is going to be either way.” Kai exhaled heavily and then pulled her

He couldn’t get enough of her. “But do not worry, I’ll do anything he wants

up on you. We are a package

she chuckled into his chest. “Just … be sincere with him, okay? He

stage of the Trials as soon as possible so

her and locked eyes with her. “You are not going to

he saw you are in one piece and

me and take me back home. He

your home now!” Kai

and for you to get to know each other better before he has access to me” Savannah smirked, playing with

her chin. “And moving the

contrary.” Savvy shrugged her shoulders. “If we move the challenge, it

looked at his Beta “I want double security around the

ready to act if something unexpected

clenched her lips. “Even if something happens,

to take care

better than nothing!” The King

then,” his sister gave up. There was no point arguing with him once

she owned it and opened one of the drawers looking for paper, “Give it to him to support your

the door, and it was opened almost immediately.

the Western Princess

woman was the only one who always used titles as it was appropriate and

on a whim.

a female silk bathrobe. The young lycan wrapped his hands around the older she-wolf, who closed her eyes, annoyed to the

back a laugh. “You weren’t wasting your

after she checked the

Savvy smiled weakly. She still knew

front

out of all of this.” He looked like he was having the time of

Now

it for me, was it? The North saved Petra anyway. And

article on Petra about how her unusual sense of fashion makes her unique and how brave she

ran her hand over her face. “Amazing work. Shame we are stuck here

could really use some testosterone free zone

woman was right. She also knew for

Too confident, too

you said last night,” he said with a smug smile plastered all over his

wanted to slap him.

you got into my bed without permission?” Evelyn snapped

away, did you?” His grin became

her ears but then saw her friend choking with laughter. It had been a while since she saw him this happy. If

and didn’t even try to fight it off. “We just cuddled, but it was the best sleep of my

same,” the woman in his arms snickered and pushed

seem offended one bit. “But it’s okay. We have many nights ahead of us

anything to help ease the situation,” Sawy started

once.

she stepped closer, taking both Savannah’s hands into hers. “During the next challenges, help

was a bit too much at the moment. But Kyle could have had a much worse punishment than being on house arrest with this

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