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.

shrine in the city’s centre. It was higher than any other building here, and Sawy frowned when she noticed drones flying over

time and moved as quickly as she could. She had to at least

second

of steps were before her and she clenched her fists, knowing that the other

one thing. That contender was walting for

rest of them were, it

round fire pit in the middle of it illuminated the place, letting Savannah see the carvings and murals on the walls. It was Fenrir’s temple, so, of course, she recognised the huge black wolf depicted in the stories the ancient pictures told. Son of a God, he was betrayed and chained in the underworld. But even then, he managed to bite the hand of his enemy, Tyr. After years of

of the spacious ritual room with incredibly high ceilings. One step in the wrong direction, and she would fall down, down, down … something told her that she’d fall well below ground level as

edge of the bridge

behind the fire pit, but only one of them was lit-the

knew who had

kind of Queen would you be with such results?”

retorted, a confident smile playing on her lips. That

fight my battle now! So, the victory will be clean and all mine!” The words seem to irritate

stepped forward, eyeing which torch was hers and not even surprised that it

very naive of her. She probably even thought she would be able to stop her from getting there and

see now!” Penelope snarled,

Savvy chuckled. “And here I thought we would

me and Elene. How

but it doesn’t matter! I didn’t spend all

friend you are!”

was the best friend 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

right

that crown! I worked for it for so long!” Penelope yelled, hitting herself on

lied for it!” Savvy cut her off. “You used a vulnerable girl who considered you her friend just to gain the title with

off that bridget My family is one of the oldest in the North! It’s our rightful place

even mention Kalonce.” The Northern Princess pointed out, getting closer. “I guess you don’t care

the contrary,” Penelope hissed. “I care about him.

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. Aren’t you afraid to

laugh of a

though. I almost bought it. Almost.” Savannah was moving forward confidently. She knew she had to go through

a menacing one. “You come from the West, and you think you are so

just being me, but thank 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

and the fire started burning brightly, the crystal glowing in the darkness as the announcement of

do now

she was free to deal with Penelope, who

Penelope’s back and tensed. Who else could be here other than the two of them? All the contenders were too

Lycaness did not see the dark figure that appeared from the back entrance of the shrine. This was probably one of the passages

the rituals.

saw the familiar white hair sparkling

freeze on the spot.

and yanked her back forcefully. The woman screamed as he threw her to the ground without

night hair