The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

Chapter 74

Lachlan had been truly terrified a few times in his life, but this one was probably the worst. Going into that battle, he knew that not everyone would return. However, seeing a full-size dragon with dark blue and green scales flying right above their heads and taking out most of the werebirds in one go paralysed the mighty Beta with fear for his new mate. Feathers were flying everywhere- red, blue, white, black, and every other colour imaginable. The sight was so beautiful and horrifying at the same time. Whenever a black feather landed in front of his eyes, he wondered if it was Zara’s, and the anger seethed in him. He had already lost a mate once. He couldn’t do it again.

Lachlan dug his teeth into an enormous white bear who tried to kill one of his men. These beasts were so big now, almost invincible, but the hate and the painful agony made the Beta blind to the unequal power distribution between them. He did not care. He would fight and die here if he absolutely had to. Especially if Zara…

He did not get to finish that thought as a huge black hawk reappeared to claw his enemy’s eyes out. Just the glimpse of her allowed him to breathe again, and he deepened his canines into the white beast.

Zara was making short, tactical attacks, where she dived down, trying to hurt the enemy’s vision, and then flew back up quickly to avoid their claws. Only to return to repeat everything until her goal was achieved. She did not let herself think of the flock that was once hers. She did not let herself dwell on the fact that she was the one who brought them here. Most of them had died, and there was nothing she could do. Although they considered Joran taking part in the war, they did not expect a flying freaking dragon. No one had seen one for so long…

And now she was angry. Angry that her attempt to help cost so many lives, angry that her part of the plan failed, angry that she couldn’t do anything.

But she could do one thing and that was fight by her mate’s side until death indeed parted them today.

Ash ignored the blood trickling down his side as he was surrounded by two gigantic foxes that looked like they were a product of some crazy scientist’s experiment. Joran’s blessing looked like a mutation on them. If he didn’t know any better, he’d take them for demons from hell, not foxes. But unfortunately, that knowledge did not help him during his fight. They were too strong, too fast for him.

Although usually, he could defeat a couple of redfurs with his eyes closed.

He charged at one of them, aiming for his neck, but missed again. And what was worse, the other one jumped on top of him, nailing him to the cold frosty ground. This was a position impossible to get out of for a wolf, especially since the first fox prepared to deliver the final blow.

A bolt of quick pink lightning flashed before his eyes, and Ash’s heart sank. Petra threw herself at the fox on top of him, knocking him off with a growl. The beast was about to pounce towards her when a huge white bear appeared, scaring him off.

Ash tore the throat of the fox in front of him like it was nothing, although he was struggling just a few seconds ago. Seeing Petra against this bear made his blood boil in his veins.

The bear recognised his mate. He did not plan to kill her. He wanted her and was now trying to back her into the woods. This realisation made Ash more furious than he had ever been. The Alpha in him couldn’t let this happen. The Alpha in him did not want to share. The Alpha in him knew that this little black and pink wolf belonged to him.

Petra was his, and the bear was a dead beast walking.

Ash knew he would protect her no matter what.

Although everyone begged him to stay with Riannon for protection, Kyle had to politely decline the offer because of the one woman who had been on his mind for a while now. Even if she did not want it and objected every step of the way, even if she would reject him when everything was over as she promised to do many times, he couldn’t leave her alone on the battlefield. Claude and Chloe were more than capable of taking care of the footage and the coverage, and his Queen agreed that she did not need him for protection, leaving a few other lycans by her side.

Besides, in a massive war like this, every warrior was priceless.

And this… this was so much worse than their previous battle with the foxes that he started to think that he wouldn’t make it. One of the bears had already injured his foot, but as a lycan, he could still work with that.

However, after the bloody dragon destroyed one of their main advantages, the majority of the werebirds, he couldn’t help but feel pessimistic. Especially as he watched the witches who came to help them now simply defending themselves with their magical shields. If no one would get there soon, they would all be dead. So much for an alliance…

He could smell Evelyn and tried to follow her scent through the battlefield, searching for Petra’s scent as well. If Evelyn was here, she would still be trying to protect her girl.

Kyle could feel that she was near, but in the chaos of wolves, cats, bears and foxes, and other creatures, he couldn’t move fast.

Someone was constantly attacking him, life hanging by a thread, blood spraying the frozen field. They had to manoeuvre between the colossal ice spikes with the biggest bears’ bodies pierced on top of them. The work of Amarok for sure. It was a mess, and he couldn’t get through, no matter how much he tried.

Though he tried to brush them away, gloomy thoughts were not leaving his mind. It did not look like they would be able to win today despite everything they did and tried.

Three white bears circled around him, trying to cut him off from everyone else. They were attacking lycans in groups, while foxes and brown bears were taking care of werecats and werewolves. That was a smart decision because, in the past hour, Kyle saw a few of his friends lose their lives because of that tactic.

He bared his teeth, demonstrating to them that it wouldn’t work with him. He’d make them bleed before they…

His thought was cut short when a red wolf knocked one of them off their paws, digging his canines in a death grip around his neck. And before Kyle could act again, something absolutely unexpected happened, and one of the two remaining bears attacked the

other

glance around the battlefield. Now bears were fighting other bears,and this… this

believe in Brigit’s words and promises. It did not matter what her little sister told him. His mate… his ex-mate was not to be

everything for one smile of hers. He was ready to love and cherish her, to kiss the ground she walked on, but she chose to betray him. His blind faith in her cost

tables in the middle of the fight and join them with their

Empty.

Useless.

Lies.

of dead foxes behind him and charged straight at her, seeing how she was going to attack that western pup alongside

turmoil of his life

it for all the

this more than anything. He

he pounced at a different white

he saw her fighting her own kind. He saw

could have been

or his Queen. Moreover, the Western Lycan King was gone as well. And

reason why she wasn’t on the battlefield now, and she was happy

Serpent needed answers, but so did she. And Ria knew she would be safe until he got what he wanted. Maybe even

the

you’ve been expecting me,” the deity brushed his hand through his dark blonde hair and sneered

the deity killed several people to clarify his point. Luckily, Riannon already learned that knowledge was power and that with its help, she could alter the future.

was probably in a worse mood in your visions,” the man chuckled. “I hate having to explain the obvious. This is why I think we would work great together. You already know

she shrugged nonchalantly, biding for time. “My visions are usually very hectic and leave

still take everything you have to

getting that firstborn,” Ria arched her brow at the man that

the Serpent

know your answer.” This time it was her time

break this one too.” Joran

how many of them were not working anymore. “Excuse me for destroying your drones,” he said, returning his attention back to the Luna in front of him. She was now within his reach but did not

time she was this close to what could

radiating from him. It was stronger than anything she could have imagined, but she

talk,” the Serpent insisted lazily, but she could feel how agitated he was. “Give

and I will let

now.

doesn’t work like that for me.” Rhiannon tried

Seidhrthen!” the man snapped

no idea what he

of him furrowed her brows

The Queen that she was, she wasn’t going to grovel before him; she wasn’t going to give up or

he muttered under his breath and grabbed her hand, pulling the Luna closer. “It’s going to be an express lesson. Seidhr is ancient magic that goddess Freyja herself used to see the future with. And sometimes alter it. Yes, some visions come naturally to Seers like you, and I bet the connection between the Moon Goddess and your woll helps a lot. I can see it with my eyes closed. But often, if you need answers to particular questions, and the answers don’t

she had heard for the first time in her life. This wasn’t something Selene taught her wolf, but

do I have to

ways to perform seidhr,” the Serpent chuckled darkly, taking her chin into his

face away in disgust. She couldn’t imagine anyone

a try,” Joran snorted. “If we are this picky, then I guess I can

alone repulsed Riannon, but it wasn’t much in the grand scheme of things.

offering his palm. Ria grew the nail on her index finger into a sharp claw and, looking into the deity’s eyes, slowly cut his skin to draw blood. The wound healed almost instantly, but a few drops were left on the tip of her claw,

the finger to her lips as Joran watched her every move, but then

now let’s speak about the conditions,” she offered, ignoring how desperate he was. It was evident