The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

I Want You

Savannah looked up. The sun was setting down, and its rays blinded her as she tried to trace the movements of the woman on top of the wall.

Spikes were still poking out of the old stones, but Mikaela did not seem bothered. She was walking between the sharp blades gracefully without even looking at them. A true werecat.

“Is the little Princess lost? “she sneered, words laced with spite. Cats knew how to give attitude when they wanted it.

“I am.” the Lycaness chuckled. “Why don’t you be so kind as to get down here and help me out?”

“Oh, I am planning to!” Mikaela snickered, “I just want to offer you to give up first. Step on the sun tile,

and I will not throw you somewhere worse!”

“Hmm,” Savvy hummed. “Tempting, but I would have to decline. Nonetheless, I will do the same since you are so kind to me. Step on the sun tile, and I will not throw you somewhere worse.”

They glared at each other for some time, already knowing this wouldn’t end well for one of them. “So be it,” Mikaela narrowed her eyes and jumped down on an empty tile in front of her.

The werecat struck first with her long leg with a sharp and accurate blow. Savvy dodged, stepping on a safe North star tile.

Another blow. Savannah twirled, avoiding it, fast as the wind.

They both jumped from one tile to another, and it started to look like a deadly dance. The cat was surprisingly better at this. She moved with ease and precise aim, her caramel hair flying in the air.

Savvy quickly realised why she dared to attack her. This was her only chance to win against a Lycan. Especially a royal Lycan. Cats were naturals at this. Jumping gracefully and avoiding danger was in their blood. At the same time, Lycans usually used raw force. If it was just about the force, Mikaela wouldn’t stand a chance.

However, Savvy noticed something quickly. Each time before another elegant landing, Mikaela had to look at the signs on the stone floor again. She didn’t remember their position and had to check every time, while Savannah didn’t have much trouble with that. All tiles were imprinted in her memory by now. She could walk through them with her eyes closed.

Mikaela got what happened when a grin formed on the Princess’s face, but it was too late as Savvy had already sped up. She was throwing a few tactical punches to make the werecat defend herself and lose awareness of what was happening around her. Savvy was moving as fast as lightning since she didn’t have to look under her feet much. All while Mikaela was losing her confidence with every second of the fight.

“Fine!” The cat yelled. “Let’s just go our separate ways!” Sawy would have laughed if she had time for this. It was too late for a truce now.

“I don’t think so!” The Western Princess went down, kicked her opponent’s feet in one swilt move,

making the werecat fall right onto the sun tile. The ground under her disappeared in seconds, and, screeching, Mikaela fell into a new silver pit.

Cautiously, Savvy stepped close to the edge to make sure that the girl was all right.

“You didn’t have to do this, you know?!” The cat looked at her with fury in her eyes, clenching her fists. They both knew that for Mikaela The Luna Trials were over. She wouldn’t be able to get out of here.

“This is for Petra,” Savannah said calmly. “You didn’t have to break that child’s teg either!”

Mikaela prepared to say something else, but Savvy wasn’t interested anymore. She had already moved on, continuing her quest.

The tiles went on for quite some time, but knowing which ones were safe, made the task easy. She did not meet anyone else for a while and soon reached the normal part of the Forgotten City,

It was forgotten, indeed. The streets mainly consisted of broken ancient houses built of white stone. They were much smaller than the houses now-each with a fireplace inside to keep the owners warm during cold winters.

Sawy looked up and saw drones in the sky. Three were circling above her head, and she saw several other groups at a long distance. That probably meant that other contenders were not close to her at all. This gave her relief, but she was still cautious about her surroundings.

It was higher than any other building here, and Sawy frowned

time and moved as quickly as she

second

Hundreds of steps were before her and she

could only mean one thing. That

knew where the rest of them were, it could have been only

course, she recognised the huge black wolf depicted in the stories the ancient pictures told. Son of a God, he was

was a bridge from the entrance to the centre of the spacious ritual room with incredibly high ceilings. One step in the wrong direction, and she would fall down, down, down

edge of the bridge

the walls behind the fire pit, but only one of them was

knew who had

I am tired of waiting! What kind of Queen would you be with such results?” Penelope didn’t even try pretending to be nice anymore as she walked out of

That woman did not scare her

victory will be clean and all mine!” The words seem to irritate the

was hers and not even surprised

even thought she would be able to stop her

now!” Penelope snarled,

sad, Pen!” Savvy chuckled. “And here I thought

that we are. You, me

about me becoming the Queen, but it doesn’t matter! I didn’t spend all these years listening to

friend you are!” Savvy

for her! I tolerated all the tears and all the sleepless nights for so many years! Do you know that she still has nightmares about her parents being killed? She wakes up in tears almost every night! And i was there for her every time she needed me! I wiped her eyes and gave

as your confession right now,”

worked for it for so long!” Penelope yelled, hitting herself on the

off. “You used a vulnerable girl who considered you her friend just to gain the title with her help. Well, she did help you. She owes you nothing anymore. How far

be in the same damn place! Ready to push you off that bridget My family is one

Princess pointed out, getting

Penelope hissed. “I care about him. We would make

So much love in every word!” Savannah let out a laugh, hoping to stretch the conversation for tonger. She almost reached a sale spot. “It looks to me that all you care about is power.

of a normal

confidently. She knew she had to go through the bridge fast as this was probably the Northerner’s best bet. Unless she was foolish and really believed she could

Penelope’s expression changed to a menacing one. “You come from the West, and you

you.” Savvy accepted the spiteful compliment and, without any warning, ran straight at the other Lycaness, dodging her blow at the last moment and sliding down on the ground right up to the fire pit. She grabbed one of the torches and stuck it inside the flames, charging for the big torch on the

the announcement

do now

free to deal with Penelope, who

tensed. Who else could be here other than the two of them? All

did not see the dark figure that appeared from the back entrance of the shrine.

the rituals.

footstep and Savannah saw the familiar white hair sparkling in the light of the fire,

freeze on the spot.

screamed as

night hair