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.

be able to forgive himself. He wasn’t sure that Savannah would forgive him

his fault they still went through with the stupid Luna Trials. Even

the werebear prisoner.

slightly and swam back to the

created, and the first thing he saw were Savannah’s terrified green

friends out of the water, and she grasped the chains to help him, trembling when she noticed their

each other, they grasped the chains from different sides and broke

as

you should leave!” Kai told her when they dared to look at each

then, water gushed out of Zara’s mouth.

breaths on her own. The werebird still had shackles around

her healing and preventing

confirming her suspicions as she caught her

to save Lachlan and somehow managed to become even paler. She didn’t have strength in her and tried to

the two

helped her up, and Zara took the Beta’s large palm into her

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

kept pressing with his hands. Mechanically, tactically, not thinking. Not

his best friend. Not today. Not

guy!” Zara pleaded. “If I did it, so can you!

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

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

them off or at least escaped,

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

he gave up. And if

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

a bone cracking, but at the same time, water burst out of his Beta’s throat from

to help him just like Savannah did to the werebird a few moments

he was able to breathe, still facing the

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

the Little Birdie. I

King growled through laughter, almost tearing up in relief. This was a

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

you to leave you behindl” Kai rolled his eyes. “You are riding on my back

him back to his

thenl” Savvy interjected as she broke the shackles on Zara’s

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

we really, though?” Savannah chewed on her lower lip, and they all looked at her. “Kai, if you are right

for us not to go back up there for now? This will give a

like he is exploding the

know if the bears wouldn’t arrive, and there are

here.”

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

the catacombs, “How

sealed, but it’s pretty clear now that Bjorn and his people were

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

her

me?”

not hesitate with his answer, and she felt warmth

was how mates were

and we will leave the city through the catacombs, giving everyone

while

me,” Zara