The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

Chapter 52

Savannah tried to resist as they cuffed her wrists, not wishing to make things easy for the bears.

“Feisty!” One of the warriors chuckled as he managed to wrap the chains around her waist too. Silver usually did not have much effect on her, but today… today was a different day. And it seemed like there was no end to it.

She tried to break the chains just like back then, with Kai… but found it impossible now. One of the warriors pushed her, and she almost fell to the ground, but Bjorn caught her at the last moment, growling at his men.

“Careful! I need her in one piece!”

She gave him a withering glare. A promise that the second she regained her strength, she would end his life just like she had her mate’s. However, he only chuckled at that, confident as ever. His mood was getting better and better after he slaughtered everyone she cared about.

Brigit stood not far away from them with her hands crossed over her chest, watching the show and frowning. She wasn’t pleased with it, but she wasn’t exactly doing anything to help the Princess either.

Bjorn turned to give her a stern glance, “Make sure she looks presentable when we arrive. And take care of the twins. The cameras must be working at all times.”

Savannah looked around and found Chloe and Claude not far from them. The siblings were paler than usual, with their clothes and hair dishevelled. That sparkle they always had about themselves was gone entirely as they were cornered into submission. Their cameraman was right next to them, and the trio were surrounded by a group of fierce-looking warriors, ready to end them after one wrong move. Only Petra was still nowhere to be seen. Her crying couldn’t be heard now either.

Savvy’s train of thought was broken when someone pulled her chains back, much gentler this time. She didn’t mind, as it meant Bjorn’s hands were no longer on her.. He still had no clothes on and was about to shift when their eyes locked.

“Isn’t this exciting?” He purred.

“It will be when I get to kill you!” She hissed. The warriors around them cheered her on with excitement, enjoying their King and Queen’s banter. There was something wrong with those bears.

Just like the last time she saw him do it, Bjorn shifted into a huge snow-white beast in seconds. He was both magnificent and menacing, but she hated his guts with all her heart and soul, regardless.

His men led her to him, making her get onto his back while she tried to fight them

off.

The white bears’ leader roared, warning her. At the same moment, Brigit appeared at

her side.

“Listen,” she whispered, “he will find a way to make you do this either way. Why do you think they bothered to bring Petra? Disobey, and she will be paying the price!”

“I don’t care about Petra!” Savannah thundered, secretly hoping that this would help them both.

“Too late for that! You saved her in the Maze!” Brigit reminded her.

“It was a deal! Nothing more, nothing less!” The Princess lied through her teeth. She had a soft spot for Petra, but admitting it now would be a mistake. “The joke is on you! You shouldn’t have killed Riannon! I would have done anything for her and the baby! But Petra is no one to me!”

“Don’t say that!” Brigit grew grim. “They will test your words! And as I said, Petra will be the one to bear the consequences!”

“Why not you?” Savvy chuckled darkly. “We have known each other longer! I like you so much! Why don’t they test my stubbornness on you?!”

The she-bear lowered her gaze. “I will not apologise,” she breathed out.

“Even if you do, Aspen nor I would ever forgive you!” Savannah found herself to be this cruel for the first time in her life. Brigit flinched at her words, and her fingers trembled. She barely managed to hide them so that no one else could see her weakness.

One of the warriors yanked the chains on the other side, forcing Savannah to climb on Bjorn’s back; the other pushed her feet up from the ground. She hated them touching her. When she was up and where they wanted her, they surrounded her again, adjusting her shackles and ensuring she stayed exactly where they needed her.

colour of the North, and now Bjorn was going to take her to his castle on his back while cameras were filming it. She was a true bride today.

and adjusted her cape so

and started to move. Slowly, everyone

The last bits of strength left her,

to her enemy who claimed her as his and with

a mountain chain that looked vacant at first. Savvy wondered if it was really necessary to try and show her off when no one was even around to

on top of the hills. They were watching them, not taking their eyes off their

Dozens of them. Hundreds!

filming her and everything around them, while Claude and Chloe commented on what was going on

Queen!” Claude stated dryly. Not a hint of his

are tied,” Chloe chimed in right next to him, getting quiet as one of the warriors next to her shot her

became simply a buzz as Savvy observed the area around her. Now there were bears and people watching her from above. They probably had

was where

with pride. It was his victory march, and

Her nausea was getting worse, the stress of the day finally catching up with her. In the rays of the

seeing small cosy houses peppered on the

to her anymore. She had

she didn’t expect. Below them was a castle built into a mountain. A work of a rough master, it was a fortress in its own right.

raging under the castle, its waves sharp and deadly. Savannah didn’t even realise they got this far, but

get to the castle. The gates opened as soon as they reached them. People inside clearly awaited their king’s

rippling through her body, even though it had gotten slightly duller. But her soul was aching more. She wasn’t mourning yet. She still couldn’t believe what had happened to her. Things like that were hard

them inside the castle, and she didn’t know how to take this any longer.

my King!” A massive man with silver hair bowed before them as Bjorn stood in the

her to say something, and she looked him straight in the eye… right before she emptied her stomach, parts of

feet.

tried to remove the spear, but the damn lycan grabbed it with both his hands. The Northern King knew what would happen once the divine weapon

rasped through his chest.

is over, King,” the stranger told him, his voice void of any emotions. He had seen this way too many times before to feel something now. “Time to move on to a better place.

persisted, clenching his fingers tighter around the spear. “I can’t… He… He took her… I… have to-” Words were

happen. This is why the human world is so awful. The next one will be better, I

back some memories. He once begged for a chance with a woman he loved too. He grovelled… only

couldn’t pronounce her name. He prohibited himself from

other side,” he said, sighing and hoping that this information would help the wolf to accept his death faster. It wasn’t like he was in any kind of a rush, but for some reason, he wanted to be done here faster, to be away

she is everything. She needs me, and I- I can’t leave her. Not yet. Not… ever.

for you to decide.” Last time. He would try to reason with him one last time before pulling

king furrowed his brows, watching how the light of the flames around them drew his God’s

turned away. He hated that mate thing! Binding people together without them getting to know each other, giving them chances

is my mate or not! This doesn’t matter! It

what you are up against! You are going to lose that war!” Fenrir cut him off, revealing the sad

life the best I could! The whole North worships you over everyone

guilt rising inside of him. Something he didn’t feel in a

twitching. “But at least give us a chance to fight! Give us something,

wisely, boy!” Anger rose from the pit of his stomach. He should have pulled that thing out now and forgotten any of

from doing just

wouldn’t have approved

didn’t matter, though, because she was long gone. He

had the right to be mad, looking at the one who