The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

Long Live The Royals

Bjorn’s eyes scanned the space around him calmly. As if he wasn’t in immediate danger. As if the presence of not one but two Lycan Kings was nothing to him.

He dropped Brigit to his feet, losing interest in her. The woman almost clawed her own chest, trying to get some air into her lungs.

She was lucky to survive as it was.

Kai and Gideon both growled again, warning the bear, letting him know his days were numbered. They saw what kind of chaos he caused and were ready to end him right there and now.

“On your knees!” Gideon ordered, eyes glowing golden. “Do it quietly, and your life will be sparedi”

A chuckle escaped the white bear leader, and Savannah had a bad feeling about it as his gaze grazed over her. Calm, he was too calm. This kind of confidence could only mean he was sure he would be walking out of here unharmed.

However, this was ridiculous! She might have had trouble defeating him on her own, but now there were three royal Lycans in the

room and a few Alphas to top that off. Not to mention the feisty contenders who all looked like they wished to take part in his

execution.

Bjorn knew all that, and he still remained uncancerned.

“So temptingl” He stepped over Penelope’s body which was on his way again. “Did you make an offer like that to my brother before you killed him, Western King?”

Everyone tensed as his red eye gleamed in the dimmed lighting of the ancient temple. They all had been thinking about the same

person now.

“You are Castiel’s brother,” Riannon entered the shrine, and Gideon growled, trying to step in front of her for protection, but she only

placed her palm on his shoulder and didn’t move an inch from where she stood. Those two had an understanding between them, and

although Gideon wanted his wife safe and sound, as far away from here as possible, he had to respect her choices. And she chose to join the fight alongside her family as the Alpha that she was.

“Ah, Queen Riannon Stormhold in the flesh. I thought getting to you in person would be much more complicated.” Bjorn sneered,

taking a step forward. The remaining warriors snarled at him; however, everyone’s movements were restricted because of the narrow

bridge between the two platforms. There weren’t too many left, but with the royals in the room, their chances of winning were huge now.

“It’s bold of you to just arrive here like that in front of me.”

“I am not going to die or get hurt today,” the Queen stated calmly, and now he stared at her with genuine interest. “He spoke about

you a lot, you know.” Ria tilted her head to have a better look at him.

“He didn’t speak much about you,” Bjorn countered. “Which only means he treasured you, considering how much trouble he got

into thanks to you. My silly brother was probably afraid I would want to take you for myself. He was a bit insecure like that.”

Gideon’s eyes flashed gold as he bared his teeth, but that only made the white bear chuckle.

“Relax” he lifted his hands up in the air. “I am not interested in what belonged to my brother. I have my own prize in mind.” Bjorn’s

gaze locked with Savannah’s once again, and both Lycan Kings growled menacingly, realising what he meant.

“Over my dead body!” Kai was next to her in an instant, pushing the three girls behind his back, his hand brushing over Savannah possessively. Gideon followed him to the centre of the bridge, ready to rip the enemy to shreds.

.

. “Funny you should say that because this is exactly my plan!” Darius threw his head back and laughed wholeheartedly.

***Why don’t you come closer and try bringing it to life?” Kai scoffed, knowing there was no chance in hell the bear would do this. Although Darius had spent a lot of time on his territory lately, Kai had trouble meeting him face to face for months. Every time he was close, Bjarn changed his location. This chase had been going on for years, and there was no end to it. However, right now, he was close. So close. It could altend tonight. The white bears would be broken easily without their scheming ruler. This was why the Norther King

was so surprised that Bjorn was still here, with a smug expression plastered over his face.

“I am afraid you will be too busy for that.” The bear king’s grin deepened. This couldn’t be good.

“Sawy, take the other women and leave,” kai found her hand without looking at her as he had to keep his eyes on his foe and gave it

a squeeze.

“I have a better idea!” Bjorn got angry for the first time as he observed them. “Come here, Savannah, and I will give you the best gift.

You can choose the one who will survive out of your family. Your brother or your pregnant sister-in-law.”

Silence engulfed the room as Sawy’s head snapped to Riannon. She already knew, of course, but this wasn’t something they

announced to everyone. This was a secret. It was essential for safety reasons, yet Bjorn was aware. It started to seem like traitors were everywhere.

“I will repeat myself just once.” The white bear’s healthy eye found the Princess, immediately getting darker. “Come to me now, leave this place with me, and I will spare one of them.”

“Let’s start with the fact that you are not leaving this place!” Gideon was barely holding himself back. “Not after you threatened my

my

And for the first time ever, I have to agree with Stormhold;

joined

looking at them, his eyes still lingering on

your

not going anywhere with you,” Savvy replied calmly. “My choice was

comes.” Bjorn gritted his teeth, clenching his fists and turning his back to them. This was when Brigit tried to attack him again, but he caught her in the middle of it and threw the woman at the two Kings who charged at him. Savannah and Naya helped the group to keep their balance and prevented

of an explosion reached them. The ground shuddered, and so did the walls of the ancient temple, threatening to fall on their heads at any

his face. “Now, it’s a real survival mazel If you make it out of it alive, I’d be surprised! But I will give you a little clue on how

his protector’s instincts took over. He knew he had to get his wife out first.

get this bastard.

at his sister and then Riannon. The stubborn

out against her will if he had to. He wasn’t taking this risk, even if it was just

ran in Bjorn’s direction. Savannah followed close behind, even though Astrid tried to

Southerner begged, but the Princess wasn’t going to leave her chosen mate alone. Brigit rushed for the exit,

clicking her tongue. The cat knew better

he recoiled easily. The Northern Lycan King was close, ready to

and end this,

and Kai froze, blocking Savannah’s way,

him?”

do?” Savvy growled, growing her claws.

into a smirk. “I am going to tell you! I ani not a monster. Maybe they are still

explosion deatened them, some kind of dust or sand falling through newly created cracks in the ceiling. This

clenched his fists, knowing that he

“You already know

supply system of the city. The space where they arc is rapidly illling up with water. You have minutes to try and save your friends. Although, my personal advice would

ordered them to stop. They wouldn’t be able to win against

his face and tell through the back

men and turned to look at Sawy. “Go find your brother. As long as Gideon and

her brows,

the parts of the city where you

claim on Savannah, meaning that killing

alive.

to go

ready to send her off lorcclully and let one of the wolves carry her back to salety. But the stubborn glint in her cyes told him this would take a number ol minutes he didn’t have at

Zara is my friend! I am not leaving her behind, and if you are right, it’s only

and took her hand. They were running down spiralling

shrine. Kai swore under his breath at how easily they got into a trap. This place was checked. Other than the Luna Trials

Penelope was dead. And Fenrir knew how many other casualties they would have by the end

night.

low. Ancient lycans were delinitely

the darkness to

on their night vision.

or three minutes,” Kai

couldn’t help herself,

King admitted as it was

He had years of experience as the King’s

bait for his own

themselves alone inside of this catacomb, he already knew

bears got Zara first, the werebird wasn’t a match for them, and when he saw a knife

the ability

wasn’t supposed to be like this. He knew exactly what he had to do back then. She was the sacrifice he had to –make for

to give her up in a heartbeat for the North, for Kal. But he

able to

damn bear didn’t even spare them a glance before he left. He clearly

bird. His bird. They injected him with

two of

leave them a single torch behind. Darkness surrounded them, and only

companions for a while.

it,” Zara said. He could hear her pulse quickening. The

us,” he said, hoping to bring her some kind of relief. It didn’t work as she started panting.

injected me with will wear

back a sob. He could tell she was on

still a lycan. Whatever it is, my body

ragged. He could tell she

leaned her head

thanks to the chains and reaching for her

wrist, drawing circles on her skin. It

strength would get back fast, sadly, this wasn’t

least help her in his last

else.

changed that for

she said in a broken voice. “Trapped in a golden cage. First, I didn’t understand what I was getting into, and by the time I did, it was too late. Every day, all I could do was fly to the unbreakable glass ceiling and look at the sky, imagining! would be soaring free one day again. I swore to myself that if I ever got out, I would never let anyone lock

at me!”

he could feel her body twitching, recognising