The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert novel Chapter 28

28. Hit & Miss

Savannah didn’t know what to expect now. She grazed her sight over her smirking mate, although it was Kai’s reaction she was mainly interested in observing. He seemed tense to her, lips pursed and hands in his trousers pockets. Nonetheless, when their eyes locked, a small reassuring smile reached the corners of his lips, and she instinctively knew nothing had changed between them as of yet.

“So?” Claude urged her to respond, shaking his shiny blonde hair as if he was starring in a shampoo commercial. “Are you confident that you are staying, Savannah?”

“I can’t be confident, can I?” Savvy replied, lifting her chin slightly. She glanced at the Northern King again. His sinile faded, but now she was the one who wanted to raise his spirits. “I am the least wanted contender here. I know too well, and so does everyone else. I am the least likely to win, but…” She looked Kai straight in the eye, “But I feel like I am starting to fall in love with the North. The people are nice, the traditions are beautiful… there are so many wonderful things here!”

“But what about the king?” Chloe interrupted her little speech.

“He is … intriguing,” Savvy chuckled, desperately wishing to change the subject. She wasn’t going to confess anything on TV with so many witnesses. Not like that.

She could feel her cheeks heated involuntarily.

“But let’s imagine you can win,” Claude suggested with an insincere grin. He definitely wasn’t imagining that. “Do you think you can be the perfect Luna for the North?”

“Perfection is subjective,” Savannah felt herself relaxing. She was ready to talk about anything other than how she felt about Kai. Or her mate, who was now trying to pierce her with his glare. He hadn’t looked at her previously, but now that all the attention was on her, thanks to the interview, he was devouring her with his hungry eyes, as if she was all he wanted for the months they had been apart. “It would be premature of me to promise to be perfect. Perfection comes in all shapes, sizes, colours, and forms, and more importantly, it comes from experience.”

“And do you feel like you have the required experience?” Chloe leaned forward as if they were good old friends, but there was a menacing glint in her eyes that Savvy couldn’t ignore. She knew that glint too well. This was how a predator would eye its prey.

Savannah Stormhold was no prey though, and it was time she clarified this.

“I definitely have more experience than anyone else in the Luna Trials.” She shot the TV presenter a graceful smile. “You see, my parents died early, and, since then, it was only my brother and me. Gideon didn’t have a Luna, and naturally, I had to take most of the responsibilities

upon myself.”

“Yes, we have heard that you are one of the best at throwing amazing western parties!” The twins exchanged smirks. “But the North is a bit different from the West.”

“It is undoubtedly different,” Savvy nodded, “but politics is the same everywhere. You either have the skills for it, or you don’t. I do. However, I am surprised that you only mentioned parties. I

thought you had done sufficient research on me. Right now, it’s a bit embarrassing that I know more about you two than you know of me. When this is supposed to be in your job description.”

“Tell us. Savannah, what did we miss?” Claude pursed his lips, breathing sharply through his nostrils. He did not like being challenged on air when he had no problem throwing other people under the bus regularly.

“Pretty much everything!” The princess shrugged her shoulders innocently as she let out a little giggle. “My charity work, curating our schools and managing to achieve better results, thanks to a few changes in the education system than we have had prior. My personal art program, paid for by the money I inherited from my parents. My aid to Beta Reid with the budget and managing to increase our profits. Not to mention the many battles I took part in over the years because, frankly, I didn’t have all that extensive battle training for nothing. I have had a busy

life that was already filled with Luna duties. I am sure it will be somewhat different here, but luckily, I am a very quick learner.”

“And how about a rumour that you have …” Chloe went for the kill, judging by her fierce look, and Savannah gulped, preparing for an attack.

“Oh, is that Petra?!” she heard a voice that definitely belonged to Kyle. “What is she wearing?!”

Naturally, all heads turned to the main entrance, and everybody present gasped, seeing Petra walk in wearing a sparkling bodysuit, consisting mainly of rhinestones. It was barely covering anything, her long slender legs were on full display. She had an enormous fluffy cape in addition that consisted of layers and layers of white tulle. It was definitely made by the same designer for the previous gown. Her pink hair was done up in two pyramid buns with loose curls falling down her beautiful and happy face.

She was clearly enjoying the attention, right until the moment her mentor Evelyn ran up to her, trying to close the cape on her.

“Petra!” the woman hissed at her giggling protégé. “What?” The girl flapped her lashes. “You told me to s*x it up a bit!” “This wasn’t what I meant!” Evelyn gritted her teeth, trying to fix the situation.

“Well,” Kyle appeared right next to them, “and I believe that Petra looks stunning tonight!”

The rascal bowed and kissed Petra’s hand, making her grin even wider. All while Evelyn drilled his skull with her angry glare.

Savvy knew that this was the perfect distraction and decided to use that moment for her exit while the twins made the cameras turn and film Petra.

“It was such a pleasure to talk to you!” She stood up from her seat, shook startled Chloe’s hand, and then did the same to Claude. The two of them realised she had escaped when it was already too late.

“Wait, we are not done,” the hostess mumbled.

“Speed things up.” Kai grunted. “It’s time for the next contender. Princess Savannah, can I speak to you for a moment?”

“Of course,” she nodded, hoping that it was for the best and not because Zack told him something awful about her. Which could simply be the truth … She shuddered at the thought

alone.

But Kai was looking at her with the same warmth and desire, so she knew that her mate hadn’t managed to ruin anything yet. There was still hope.

She tried to walk past Zack, who was blocking her way, but he made sure their hands touched. Even if just for a moment, it felt like a bolt of lightning went through Savannah’s body, reaching every little corner of her soul. The mate bond was still there, ever present as the first day she met him. Athena howled from the pain, knowing that this bond had no future. The tingles followed … Torturously pleasant, they made her heart ache … It was definitely easier to look at him from the side than have any kind of physical contact.

She felt Kai’s fingers lacing with hers and in the very same moment, the bond and its effects were forgotten. Zack’s spell was lifted. Kai was being so bold, considering they hadn’t made any announcements yet, but she was happy that he did this.

Kai took her to the room where he had talked to Zack just a few minutes ago, and the moment he closed the door, he pressed her against it, crashing his lips into hers.