The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

Chapter 48

Lachlan had to be in bed for weeks, and this felt like a punishment. It wasn’t his choice, but he had to obey the

King’s order. However, one factor made this all an even bigger torture.

“How is our patient doing today?” Zara waltzed in with a bright smile.

“Go away, Cruel Bird. I don’t trust you anymore!” He grunted and tried to turn away, but his eyes still grazed over her toned legs in high heels. She only wore those for occasions. He knew that from all the times he discreetly watched her during The Luna Trials.

“Feathered Gods! You sure are grumpy today!” She scoffed, slipping out of her favourite leather jacket and revealing that she was wearing one of her tightest little black dresses. This one was not too long either, and the thought of what was underneath made him growl internally.

“Go away, or I swear even Kai’s orders will not keep me away!” He warned her, knowing he couldn’t touch her even though it was all he was thinking about the whole time.

“Actually, I hoped you could be my plus one to the Engagement Announcement and the Marking Ceremony tonight,” she said nonchalantly. After they played their usual staring contest, Zara leaned back against her jacket on the chair, demonstrating to him her curves at a better angle on purpose and started looking for something in the

pockets.

“You are playing with fire, Birdie,” Lachlan gave her a withering glance, to which she chuckled. She was toying with him for weeks, visiting him daily, knowing he had to restrain from any kind of physical activity due to the poison in his blood that proved not that harmless. They had been detoxifying him all this time. The treatment was painful and weakened him significantly. Yet every night, the cheeky bird slipped into his room, whispered dirty promises into his ear, touched him where she wasn’t supposed to and then disappeared into the darkness. Last night, as he was getting stronger, she flew straight out the window, leaving only her tiny underwear behind on purpose.

On purpose, because bird shifters’ transformation wasn’t physical like it was for wolves, cats and bears, they were using magic, and the clothes disappeared and appeared together with the human form.

The mighty Beta of The North would never admit to her that he kept the teensy piece of lace in the drawer right next to his bed. He’d rather die from that poison after all.

He should have thrown it away, burned it… But something stopped him each time, and each time he saw it, he

thought of how sweet his revenge would be.

“But I am serious this time!” She giggled and produced a piece of paper, waving it in the air before his nose. He had a few identical ones somewhere here in the bedroom. The results of his blood tests. “The doctors say that the poison trace is insignificant now, and it will be gone completely in a week or so, but you can certainly return to all the physical activi”

Lachlan did not let her finish as he yanked her onto the bed, towering over her instantly and getting the paper out of her hand. His eyes quickly read the very bottom line that confirmed Birdie’s words, and a satisfying growl emerged from the depths of his chest.

Zara sucked in a deep breath, trying to wriggle out from under the giant Beta, but he held her in place.

“The announcement,” she mumbled, but he stopped her by placing his index finger on her lips.

“This,” he whispered as the smirk spread on his handsome face. “I think we can miss that announcement and come straight to the Marking Ceremony.” He traced her lips, making them part and leaned down to her so that she could feel his hot breath on her skin. “But before that, you owe me so much, Birdie.”

“I don’t remember!” She rolled her eyes and tried to get away again, but he could tell she was just playing, so he pinned both her hands to the mattress and enjoyed her looking helpless under him.

“No worries,” he smirked at her. “I will remind you.”

“Will you?” She taunted, voice raspy and hitched.

“Of course,” he grew one claw and cut a strap of her dress, making her gasp. “You promised to let me peel off every piece of clothing from you.”

“Did I?” She blinked innocently,

“You did.” Lachlan cut the second strap off. “I hope you have another dress for tonight,” he chuckled and then hooked the golden zip at the front and pulled it all the way down, letting her breasts bounce out of it.

Another growl escaped him, and he traced his sharp claw over her skin to her already hard ni.pple. Her chest went up and down as he removed the rest of her dress to see that she was not actually wearing anything

underneath.

“No undergarments?” He arched his brow, and she bit her lip, not a shade of embarrassment in her eyes.

“I think I lost mine!” Zara tilted her head playfully. “Have you seen them anywhere here by any chance?”

“I don’t remember,” he lied, mimicking her tone from a few seconds ago, and finally took her in. Retracting his

claw, he caressed her soft skin, feeling how this made her little heart beat faster.

They were not made for each other, but it felt so right for the two of them. Here and now.

Zara arched her back as his large palm travelled from her belly button to her neck, eliciting a rush of goosebumps on the way to cup her chin and make her look at him.

“First, my hands,” he reminded her, and his fingers brushed down to knead one of her breasts, thumb playing

with its firm bud.

A little moan left Zara’s lips, and that free hand went lower. Her core was already heated and moist when he reached her folds, parting them slightly with his fingers. The little bundle of nerves was throbbing when he touched it, and her whole body jerked from the contact. She was so close, and he barely even started.

“Not so soon, Birdie,” he laughed as he slowly inserted a finger into her and curled it inside, making her tremble again. “You tortured me for weeks! I think I have to return my debt to you f

“You can try!” She narrowed her eyes at him, but another moan left her as he added one more finger, pumping them in and out slowly, building her up.

“No worries, I will!” Lachlan promised menacingly, finally finding the ridged sensitive spot inside her walls. Each time he touched it, her inner muscles clenched around him tightly, making him thrilled in anticipation.

He bent down, still holding her arms captive and whispered as their eyes locked, “Then my tongue.”

Lachlan clashed his lips with hers, tasting her properly for the first time and enjoying every second of it. He never thought he would be able to feel this way again. Not after his mate had died. Not after he killed all those responsible for it. A part of his soul was dead that day. He could never even imagine he’d ever recover from this.

His service to his King and Alpha kept him going for so long. He ate, drank, ran in his wolf form, slept with random women, fought in battles, and protected his country, but… it did not feel like he was living until now.

colours. Now, he wanted to see what was next. He was excited.

He wanted

would

Zara groaned in

not done with you yet!” The Beta gave her a roguish grin as he licked her juices off his fingers

to twirl his tongue around the peak of her

was staking his claim on her. Although, there were no ifs. She was his

of sweat, he kneeled before her and parted her

legs.

She used his nickname for the first time, probably not even knowing she did it, and that made him lose the last bits of sanity. He couldn’t take it slow anymore and made sure to make firm, tactical slides of his tongue down her core to make her tremble in his arms. His fingers returned to work, pumping in and out faster than before as his tongue concentrated on the little quivering

ride it, not stopping even for a second. Her legs weakened, and he threw them onto his shoulders, digging his palms into her flesh for support. The lycan knew he could give her much more

laced her fingers into his blonde hair and kept him there

bed, and a part of him wanted

him. Just like that.

his tip over her wet entrance and ready to make that woman his, when her foot pushed

thinking it was another of her games as she was already standing next to him. But when Zara shoved him to sit on the edge of the bed and kissed him on the lips, he took the opportunity to explore more of her

She giggled as she tore off him and took a cushion from the bed, throwing it on the stone floor between his feet.

the sentence when she traced his length from base to the tip with her warm tongue, her eyes at him the whole time. “You are the most beautiful…

stroking the rest of him with his hand, making him snarl and swear

him? Surely he

arms before she knew it and made

to eyes, Birdie!” The Beta said as he lined himself at her

because her mind worked in a way that she had

answer here and now. Were they just playing with

arch her back and gasp in delight. This was a part

her, and she obeyed,

you going to ask me first if I agree?” She shot her brow up, wrapping her arms around his neck at the

time.

was so much in his eyes that she

games.

“No,” Zara breathed out.

slammed into her again, one hand sliding up her

hair and

and leaving her empty, until he couldn’t bear it anymore and started simply pounding

nails into him, biting his shoulder to keep herself present. That much pleasure threatened to destroy her,

kept pounding into her, and soon she stopped

masterful hands.

have enough of her. His wolf was hungry for the little bird too. The long-forgotten sensations of having someone they cared about were so

he claimed them gently this time while both

time until Zara sighed, sounding disappointed. “We need

the schedule.” The Beta chuckled and towered over her, spreading her thighs again and positioning himself between them. “There are drinks and speeches in the beginning. It can go on for a

crashed his lips into hers again and turned her around

next round…

bear to let it slide. He was probably already packing his things for the trip. They even set up a perfect opportunity for him to approach

would

but he could already feel that Ria’s tummy wasn’t as flat as it used to be.

did not reach her eyes. “I just wish I had a new dream by now. But other than that

dead mother’s ring

Her wolf Onyx tried to reach the Moon Goddess to ask about it, but the

now silent. Gods

so painful because Riannon’s parents were long dead. Not to mention that she would really prefer

course of action now instead of

yes, but there were weak points in it

chest and closed her eyes. She kept looking for that ring

Kingdom had it. Neither did anyone she had met in the

special. One of a kind. And since Savannah and Kai were just chosen mates, their marks would just look like two scars. Not that it mattered much if two people were in love,

away from them.

main square. The people were gone now as the royals wouldn’t be making a second appearance tonight. The rest of the event was private. Only families of the Luna Trials contenders were invited, following tradition, so the guests were kept to a minimum. Luckily, Penelope’s father declined the invitation,

second, okay?” Ria smiled at her mate,

her hand to his lips to place a gentle kiss before he let go of her. “And I will go and scare

to hold back her smile when she reached the only white bear shifter in the

before her tried to

Gate,” she

“Doesn’t matter,” she swallowed.

to give up. “I remember you really wanted to find your mate. And here he is, ready to do everything and madly in love with

Brigit turned away. “He will

to prove you wrong!” Ria placed

a white bear,

will be regretting this your whole

know…” Brigit’s voice barely had any life in it. “Excuse me,” she whispered and left the room abruptly. Ria looked out of the window too, and noticed Aspen walking in the middle of the square. She hoped that the two mates would throw away their fears and reunite today despite

platform in the middle, where Kai would mark Savannah in less than an hour. She caught Princess Elene staring at her husband while she gave local omegas their last orders for

she wasn’t a saint. That Northern woman needed a new

on her lips. Astrid’s family was on their way but running late. The Southerner only had her friend Emma by her side today. However, both seemed happy with everything. The ones not happy were Inga and her pack. Celia kept them company as her only living family was Aspen, and he was working tonight. It was clear that both girls

slowly returned to their places. The future King and