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.”

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

too difficult. “Maybe it’s

is requesting to enter the

present was sure they had misheard

Savvy furrowed

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,” the red-haired

that the two of you can see each other.

the brink of the war, and I had to pull back some of the

situation. She knew Gideon

so she turned

her man, and his face became even grimmer by the minute. “Win

“As

up and apologise,” the Western

what we have

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

enough of her. “But do not worry, I’ll do anything

up on you. We are a package deal

we are,” she chuckled into his chest. “Just … be

next stage of the Trials as soon as possible so that he can’t reach

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

He’d take it better if he saw

she snorted. “The moment Gideon sees me, he’d grab me and take

home now!” Kai growled

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

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

move the challenge, it will ruin our enemies’ plans.

at his Beta “I want double security around the Forgotten City,

act if

clenched her lips. “Even if something happens,

take care

nothing!” The King

sister gave up. There was no point arguing with him once he had made a decision, and she

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

opened almost immediately. Evelyn looked like

the Western Princess

only one who always used titles as it was

on a whim.

emerged from the back, and he soon appeared wearing a female silk bathrobe. The young lycan wrapped his hands around the older she-wolf, who

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

atready!” Evelyn motioned for her to enter the room and closed the door after she checked the hall behind

weakly. She still knew too

front of

a good deal out of all of

what exactly?” Now the

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

about how her unusual sense of fashion makes her unique and how brave she must be to

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

I could really use some testosterone free zone right

woman was right. She also knew for a

handle Too confident,

night,” he said with a smug smile plastered all over his lace, and

wanted to slap him.

mean when you got into my bed without permission?” Evelyn snapped

did you?” His grin

It had been a while since

She looked exhausted from his attention and didn’t even try

say the same,” the woman in his arms

sleep that you wanted!” Kyle didn’t seem offended one bit. “But it’s okay. We have many nights ahead of

I can do anything to help

once.

eyes sparkled, and she stepped closer, taking both Savannah’s hands into hers. “During the next

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

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