The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

Chapter 45

Savannah and Kai could hear the sounds of the water threatening their friends’ lives. Water was merciless to shifters unless they were

sirens. Thanks to their regenerative abilities, they could survive if they were thrown into a fire. Bullets were useless because most shifters

moved faster than them. Cold weapons were dangerous only in another shifter’s hands and only if special conditions were met; it had to

be a special type of metal or poison, plus it had to go through the heart. Decapitation was also an option.

But water… water did not need special conditions. If a shifter was trapped under it, it would kill him sooner or later from lack of

oxygen. In the middle ages, it was one of the three types of executions for lycans and werewolves.

The stakes were ridiculously high.

“Where is the entrance to the catacombs?” The Princess demanded as she followed the Northern King.

“Not here,” he informed her, and she froze just for a second bclore anger made her clench her fists.

“What do you mean not here?1” She was furious as this wasn’t the time for jokes or mistakes. The stakes were too high.

“We wouldn’t get there in time if we went to the main entrance that should be unscaled. ” Kai replied, “That is why I am looking for

… this!”

He pointed at a carving on one of the walls, and Savannah stared at him with a raised brow.

“How does that help us exactly?” she wondered, but the Northerner brushed his palm over the carving.

“Everything is not what it seems in the Forgotten City,” he explained and then, as if by magic, the stone with the carving moved,

revealing a small window with metal bars. “This was done for security reasons so that guards could watch over the priests while they

performed rituals in the catacombs.”

But Savannah wasn’t interested in the explanation anymore. There would be time for that later if they survived today. And if not.it

wouldn’t matter.

The little window gave them a view of a closed room full of water, but it was too dark, and they couldn’t see anything else. If there

was some light before, it was gone now. The water level was rising rapidly, and one could tell it would soon reach the window.

“Da.mn it!” Kai swore under his breath, sensing his Beta close. There was no other place for him to be. “Sawy, step away!” he

ordered and closed his eyes, preparing for the shift. He knew very well that he would have to use his third form for this task.

Savannah gasped as she saw his bones breaking as he stood. A transformation to the royal lycan form was different from shifting into

a wolf. It was painful, and usually, it took more time. But not for Kai. He made it look so… easy. Almost effortless. She was nowhere close

to that. However, she was happy that he was able to become the lycan beast. They sure needed one now!

Their eyes met just for a second as she nodded to him in approval, and he knocked the metal bars out of the window, destroying a

generous chunk of the wall along with it.

without hesitation, he shifted back into his human form and dove into the water, his eyes glowing to illuminate the area around him.

Kai followed his instincts and soon saw his Beta floating unconscious, chained to the werebird, who also didn’t show any signs of

life.

and he would never be able to forgive himself. He wasn’t sure that Savannah would

still went through with the stupid Luna

the werebear prisoner. It was

chains, silver coating burning his palms slightly and swam back to the surface

right next to the cavity he created, and the first thing he

she grasped the chains to help him, trembling when

to each other, they grasped the chains from different sides and broke them, working in perfect sync to

as they

dared to look at each other in between

declined, and right then, water gushed out of Zara’s mouth. Immediately, Savannah helped her turn

she was taking breaths on her own. The werebird still had shackles around her wrists, and

her healing and preventing

is underneath the silver coating,” the bird rasped, confirming her suspicions as she caught her gaze, but then

save Lachlan and somehow managed to become even paler.

of the

and Zara took the

whispered with tears forming in her eyes, “unawarewolf, wake

Mechanically, tactically, not thinking. Not ready to give

losing his best friend.

“If I did it,

taking too long, and the three of them knew Lachlan’s chances were lowering every second that

him,” the werebird couldn’t hold back tears anymore and rested her head on Savannah’s shoulder. “He…

off or at least escaped, but he

less from my Betal” Kai grunted. He should have stopped already, and they all were aware of this. It was time to get his woman out of here, but every time he pressed on his friend’s chest, he promised himself that

And if nothing

order!” He growled loudly and slammed his fist into his friend’s chest harder than he

time, water burst out of his Beta’s throat from the

hard, and Kai had to help him just like Savannah did to the werebird a few

the floor, muscles

is awkward… but I have to tell you this. Although my as.s is truly irresistible,

Birdie. I am sorry, but

tearing up in relief. This was

“Go and leave me behind. I’ll manage without

Lan, because we just wasted all this time saving you to leave you behindl” Kai rolled his

they helped him

thenl” Savvy interjected as she broke the shackles on Zara’s wrists, freeing her from binding

the surface,” Kai said, wrapping his Beta’s arm around his neck

really, though?” Savannah chewed on her lower lip, and they all looked

back up there for now?

exploding the city

don’t know if the

here.”

the first time as she pointed to the wall behind them with a huge map carved on

labyrinth of the catacombs, “How

Kai rubbed his chin. “it’s ancient, We haven’t done any adjustments to the catacombs since the city was sealed, but it’s pretty clear now that Bjorn and his people were

insisted. “It matches the

so,” her chosen

you trust me?” She looked him in the

she felt warmth spreading over her

was how mates were supposed

lead, and we will leave the city through the catacombs, giving everyone else a chance to escape

while we

with me,”