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.

able to forgive himself. He wasn’t sure

all, it was his fault they still went through with the stupid Luna Trials. Even capturing Bjorn wasn’t worth

take the werebear prisoner. It

coating burning his palms slightly and swam back to the surface as

came right next to the cavity he created, and the first thing he saw were

the water, and she grasped the chains to help him, trembling when she

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

silence, they started performing CPR as they heard yet

you should leave!” Kai told her when they dared

gushed out of Zara’s mouth. Immediately,

The werebird still had shackles around her wrists, and the Princess

healing and preventing her

underneath the silver coating,” the bird rasped, confirming her suspicions as she

save Lachlan and somehow managed to become even paler. She

the

took the Beta’s large palm into her

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

tactically, not thinking. Not

friend.

guy!” Zara pleaded. “If I did it,

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

anymore and rested her head on Savannah’s shoulder.

or at least escaped, but he

stopped already, and they all were aware of this. It was time to get his woman out of here, but

And if nothing happened,

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

but at the same time, water burst out of his Beta’s

Kai had to help him just

was able to breathe, still facing the floor, muscles

have to tell

into the Little Birdie. I am sorry,

King growled through laughter, almost tearing up in

confessed. “Go and leave

all this time saving you to leave you behindl” Kai

tried to smile through pain as they helped him

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

get back to the surface,” Kai said, wrapping his Beta’s

Savannah chewed on her lower lip, and they all looked at her. “Kai, if you are right about Bjorn and

to go back up there for now?

like he is exploding the

“We don’t know if the bears wouldn’t arrive, and there

here.”

a better idea!” Sawy smiled for the first time as she pointed to the wall behind them with a huge map carved on

the labyrinth of the catacombs, “How accurate

was sealed, but it’s pretty clear now that Bjorn and

overall, it’s correct?” Savannah insisted. “It matches the city

guess so,” her chosen mate

you trust me?” She

not hesitate with his answer, and she felt warmth spreading over her chest. They may

mates were supposed

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

while we

me,” Zara