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

undid her hair and adjusted her cape so that it was covering

an approving growl and started to move. Slowly, everyone else followed them in a victorious procession. This was what it

couldn’t take it anymore. The last bits of strength left her, and she

who claimed her as his and with everyone she loved gone.

it was really necessary to try and show her off when no one was even around to

lurking out on top of the hills. They were watching them, not taking their eyes off their King and the girl

Dozens of them. Hundreds!

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

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

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

voices became simply a buzz as Savvy observed the area around her. Now there were bears and people watching her

was where their

pride. It was his victory march, and he

of the day finally catching up with her. In the rays of the setting Sun, she only wished for all

peppered on the tops of the white hills. An ice

her body not listening to her anymore. She had trouble telling how long it all lasted and barely managed not to

of a hill, and she saw something 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. She instantly knew this was where they were heading. He told her he had a castle of his own before. She just never thought

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

the pain of her broken bond still rippling through her body, even though it had gotten slightly duller. But her soul was aching more. She wasn’t mourning yet. She

were greeting them inside the castle, and she didn’t know how

hair bowed before them as Bjorn stood in the inner courtyard, still in

her to say something, and she looked him straight in the eye…

feet.

grabbed it with both his hands. The Northern King knew what would happen once the divine weapon was removed. He could sense that this was the only thing holding him here in this

Kai’s voice rasped through his chest.

seen this way too many times before to feel something

He… He took her… I…

will happen. This is why the human world is so

back some memories. He once begged for a chance

The King wasn’t him, and the woman he loved wasn’t-he still couldn’t pronounce her name. He prohibited himself from even thinking about it. This was how he survived all

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 from all the emotions that tried to get

coughed blood. “But she is everything. She needs me, and I- I can’t

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

brows, watching how the light of the flames around them

getting to know each other, giving them chances to hurt

she is my mate or not! This doesn’t matter! It never did! All I want is

against! You are going to lose that war!” Fenrir cut

ever. “I served you my whole life the best I

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

“But at least give us a chance to fight! Give us something, and then leave! Do whatever

Anger rose from the pit of his stomach. He should have pulled that thing out now and forgotten any of this ever happened, but

from

have

long gone. He would never see

He had the right to be mad, looking at the one who abandoned him when he needed him