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.”

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

was too difficult. “Maybe it’s for

requesting to

as everyone present was sure they had

furrowed

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

the two of you can see each other. He gave us a timeline too. So,

and I had to pull back some of

in this stressful situation. She knew Gideon wouldn’t be happy with her plan

so she turned to

you just got one more task to do,” she snickered at her man, and his

he groaned. “As if it’s

possible if you grow up and apologise,” the Western Princess pointed

him that what we

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

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

We

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

as soon as possible so that he can’t

himself slightly from her and locked eyes with her. “You

saw you are in

me and take me back home.

your home now!” Kai

know each other better before he has access to me” Savannah smirked, playing with her golden brown

a horrible plan!” Elene rubbed her chin. “And moving the

challenge, it will ruin our enemies’ plans. If they have any, of

his Beta “I want double security

ready to act if something unexpected

long distance, Kai,” Elene clenched her lips. “Even

care of it

nothing!”

no point arguing with him once

Savvy went to sit at the desk as if she owned it and opened one of the drawers looking for paper, “Give it to him to support your words. And one more thing, Kai. If his wife Riannon is there, she

door, and it was opened almost immediately. Evelyn looked like she wasn’t happy to see her,

Western

only one who

on a whim.

from the back, and he soon appeared wearing a female silk bathrobe. The young lycan wrapped his hands around the older she-wolf, who closed her eyes, annoyed to the core. “We are

was barely holding back a laugh. “You weren’t wasting your

she checked the hall behind it. “I can’t believe I got into this

smiled weakly. She

front

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

exactly?” Now

special.” Evelyn rolled her eyes. “It wasn’t really worth it for me, was it? The North saved Petra anyway. And if it didn’t, it would be Her

Petra about how her unusual sense of fashion makes her unique and how brave she must be to showcase it had a record number of likes. People loved that story, and

her face. “Amazing work. Shame we

could really use some testosterone

knew for a fact that her best

Too confident, too

with a

wanted to slap him.

got into my bed without permission?”

didn’t push me away, did you?”

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

Evelyn again. She looked exhausted from his attention and didn’t even try to fight it off. “We

say the same,” the woman

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

teeth. “If I can do anything to help ease the situation,” Sawy

once.

werewolf’s eyes sparkled, and she stepped closer, taking both Savannah’s hands into

to reply. She had to win the Trials no matter the cost, and this request was a bit too much at the moment.

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