The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

Chapter 51 

Savannah was in and out of consciousness. She was weaker than ever at the worst moment possible. The only thing that still registered in her mind was that they were still in Kai’s castle, 

Thinking of him was painful. Too painful. Thinking of him made breathing impossible, and she closed her eyes, writhing from the pain, remembering their last moments together and the spear piercing his chest. That damn spear was supposed to be just for decor… 

It wasn’t true. It wasn’t true. It couldn’t be. It had to be a dream, and she had to wake up from it. Wake up! Cold air bit at her exposed skin, and she opened her eyes again. Not a dream after all. A nightmare. 

They were crossing the main inner square of the castle, which was now clear from people who celebrated her engagement to Kai just this morning. 

Bjorn held her tight, and when one of his warriors offered to take and carry her for safety reasons, he growled at him menacingly as if she was already his and he couldn’t stand to part from her. She hated it, she hated this. She wished he would have left her back there with the people she loved. That would have been a much better destiny than anything else left for her. 

From the corner of her eye, Savannah noticed Brigit and Astrid walking slightly behind them. The latter unfastened the waistband of her gown, and the skirt fell off behind her, revealing tight, comfortable pants and boots underneath. Astrid came prepared. She said it was her job and didn’t lie about that. She was a true warrior. A spy, an assassin, who had no remorse over what she had just done. The gloomy dark aura of death was radiating from her now. There wasn’t a trace of the sweet contender. 

Someone cried not too far away. Probably Petra. Savvy couldn’t see, and in all honesty, she didn’t care 

now. 

She had no strength to console anyone. She was broken herself. This… what happened today… it would never be repaired. There was no way to fix it. Her life was pretty much over. 

“Brigit Borg!” A loud roar emerged, interrupting her train of thought and making everyone stop. Savannah tensed. The voice was hard to recognise because it was more of a growl, but it seemed familiar. Anger soaked in that voice. 

Bjorn turned around, and she could see what was going on as his men stepped aside to give him a better view. Four humongous bear warriors were holding Aspen. He was badly beaten and in chains, but his eyes were still full of fury. He may have lost, but he wasn’t defeated yet. Savvy’s eyes searched for Brigit. She could 

see her pale face with parted lips now and noticed how she clenched her fists so hard that nails were breaking her skin and making her bleed. 

“Brigit Borg!” Aspen repeated loudly, and it seemed like time froze here.” I, Aspen Morr, reject you as my mate!” 

The words echoed through the square, and Brigit sucked in a painful breath; her lips trembled as she thought about how to respond. Savannah knew exactly what she felt right now, but she wasn’t sorry. Even after finding out everything about her sister. 

She could have come to them, she could have worked with her mate, and they would have helped her to rescue her sibling 

Brigit chose the bears. Her kind. And soon, her mate would be dead because of this. Savvy was surprised he was still alive, but maybe it was a strategic decision. They were leaving the capital, which meant that this wasn’t the war’s end yet, 

Bjorn just decapitated the North and probably planned to trap it into falling to his feet on its own. He wanted to get his crown while people cheered for him. That’s probably why he kept the bloodshed to a minimum. Just the castle. Just people most loyal to kai and his family. He was that confident and believed that this would be enough. 

“What are you waiting for?” The leader of the white bears taunted Brigit with a sneer. “Accept it. You reported that it was next to impossible to get rid of him, and here you are. He is disposing of himself for you, saving you the job. Prove your loyalty to us once more, and maybe we will stop calling you a traitor.” 

Clenching her fists, Brigit avoided Aspen’s gaze. Tears trickled down her cheeks when shespoke, her voice barely a whisper, “I, Brigit Borg, accept your rejection.” 

The Gamma of the North groaned from the new wave of pain that struck him as the mate bond with Brigit was broken. White bears around them laughed as they dragged him away to one of the cars waiting for them. They shoved him into a trunk while making insulting jokes. 

“What an eventful night!” Bjorn sneered, and a waye of chuckles followed. “Some bonds are broken, and some are formed!” 

His eyes grazed over Savannah. He wanted to add something to his statement, but Astrid interrupted him. 

“We need to go as soon as possible! We’ve already lost plenty of time, which is not what was agreed to!” 

“Your Master wants something from me. Not the other way around!” The white bear snapped at her yet started walking towards the car designated for him. Savannah saw dead bodies everywhere. Some were killed during fights, and some were probably poisoned as it looked like they had all fallen right at their posts. 

“My part of the deal is over,” Astrid informed the self-proclaimed King dryly. “Now I want to get the payment and leave!” 

“You’ll get it when we are out of here!” Bjorn answered frigidly, and one of his men opened the car door for him. 

Savannah’s eyelids were heavy. Her painful agony was dying down, but it was replaced by numbness. She tried to move a finger but found it an impossible task. She managed to get a last glimpse of the castle she hated so much when she first arrived here. Once, all she wanted was to leave this place, and here she was, leaving it but wishing to stay. She could already see the flames as the fire spread from the top floors. 

stay. With her family and with

and their destroyed bond. Losing Kai was a million times worse. The broken mate bond was just weakening her, but losing

they had been driving. It was dark inside, and

herself from him, and he only chuckled, releasing her and letting her fall to the floor. “As

gestured to someone behind Savannah to help and get her out. A

vehicle. “Just drop her!” Emma told her partner with

ignoring the suggestion “I want to

weren’t partners after all. Instead, Astrid was in charge, and Emma did not like it too much. Not that the Princess cared. She could barely stand on her feet. The skin on her right hand was itching because of Zack’s dry blood on it; every cell of her body was in agony. She wanted to scratch every drop of her ex’s

the assassin with a hoarse voice while Bjorn was talking to his people. “Why did you-”

off without even so much as sparing her a glance. Savvy wanted to hit her,

life!” She let out a heavy sigh, clenching

interjected, whispering so that only Savannah could hear her. “The rest is in the hands

but Bjorn was

Astrid added quickly. “Good luck to you, Savvy. You are going to need it.”

was nothing; the man caught his prize with a chuckle and pressed her tighter against his torso,

it felt like she was losing

bag was thrown on her palm, and she carefully opened it with her thin fingers, checking the insides. Then, she closed it back and nodded at

… everything.” The woman nodded at Bjorn, but her eyes met Savvy’s stern glare. After which,

Astrea,” The White Bear King rubbed the stubble on his chin, and she stopped, “tell Aeron that he

black car and stopped right in front of Astrid, or was it Astrea? The assassin

and although Savvy hated them both with all her heart now, she felt like she was left alone with the enemy and the last pillar of support was gone. She didn’t see Petra anymore.

it didn’t seem to bother him at all. He seemed happy with everything, and all she wanted was to wipe that smug smile off his face. She was ready to

Bear King pushed her at

and heard a growl in response from her leader, who

show must go on!” Bjorn chuckled.

her hand. They didn’t speak. There was nothing to say between them, and Savvy felt relieved when the girl left. Only that she

cape! Who would wear a cape in this day and age?! When Bjorn returned, Savannah tried to catch a

pale and did not look healthy. Yet, at the same time, she saw the excited glint in his eyes. What did

to cup her chin, but she slapped his

miles left from here to your new home,” he informed

are not my people!” Savannah glared at him defiantly.

off his leather

men 

do? His

this was

he stepped out of them. She did not give him the satisfaction of a reaction and held his gaze

you shift now when we are so close?”

Northern traditions.” The werebear towered over her, and she swallowed the lump in

Savannah breathed out, holding the tree behind her not to fall

should one bring his bride and the future Queen if not

agree?” She clenched her lips so tight that blood drained from them. “I am afraid I am

will help you!” The werebear nodded, and immediately a warrior arrived at his side with silver chains

Zara to be quiet and took her hand, leading her to one of the side passages. They barely managed to step in there when the smell of fire and the sound

their ears. Zara clenched her teeth and almost ran to attack the bears, yet Lachlan caught her in time and held her in place, covering her

They both realised pretty quickly what was going

The Beta whispered and felt the werebird’s tears on the hand that was covering her lips.

will only get us killed too. This was what he was

today. Maybe she could have noticed the movements on the ground and warned her friend. Instead, she indulged herself and forgot