The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert novel Chapter 44

Long Live The Royals

Bjorn’s eyes scanned the space around him calmly. As if he wasn’t in immediate danger. As if the presence of not one but two Lycan Kings was nothing to him.

He dropped Brigit to his feet, losing interest in her. The woman almost clawed her own chest, trying to get some air into her lungs.

She was lucky to survive as it was.

Kai and Gideon both growled again, warning the bear, letting him know his days were numbered. They saw what kind of chaos he caused and were ready to end him right there and now.

“On your knees!” Gideon ordered, eyes glowing golden. “Do it quietly, and your life will be sparedi”

A chuckle escaped the white bear leader, and Savannah had a bad feeling about it as his gaze grazed over her. Calm, he was too calm. This kind of confidence could only mean he was sure he would be walking out of here unharmed.

However, this was ridiculous! She might have had trouble defeating him on her own, but now there were three royal Lycans in the

room and a few Alphas to top that off. Not to mention the feisty contenders who all looked like they wished to take part in his

execution.

Bjorn knew all that, and he still remained uncancerned.

“So temptingl” He stepped over Penelope’s body which was on his way again. “Did you make an offer like that to my brother before you killed him, Western King?”

Everyone tensed as his red eye gleamed in the dimmed lighting of the ancient temple. They all had been thinking about the same

person now.

“You are Castiel’s brother,” Riannon entered the shrine, and Gideon growled, trying to step in front of her for protection, but she only

placed her palm on his shoulder and didn’t move an inch from where she stood. Those two had an understanding between them, and

although Gideon wanted his wife safe and sound, as far away from here as possible, he had to respect her choices. And she chose to join the fight alongside her family as the Alpha that she was.

“Ah, Queen Riannon Stormhold in the flesh. I thought getting to you in person would be much more complicated.” Bjorn sneered,

taking a step forward. The remaining warriors snarled at him; however, everyone’s movements were restricted because of the narrow

bridge between the two platforms. There weren’t too many left, but with the royals in the room, their chances of winning were huge now.

“It’s bold of you to just arrive here like that in front of me.”

“I am not going to die or get hurt today,” the Queen stated calmly, and now he stared at her with genuine interest. “He spoke about

you a lot, you know.” Ria tilted her head to have a better look at him.

“He didn’t speak much about you,” Bjorn countered. “Which only means he treasured you, considering how much trouble he got

into thanks to you. My silly brother was probably afraid I would want to take you for myself. He was a bit insecure like that.”

Gideon’s eyes flashed gold as he bared his teeth, but that only made the white bear chuckle.

“Relax” he lifted his hands up in the air. “I am not interested in what belonged to my brother. I have my own prize in mind.” Bjorn’s

gaze locked with Savannah’s once again, and both Lycan Kings growled menacingly, realising what he meant.

“Over my dead body!” Kai was next to her in an instant, pushing the three girls behind his back, his hand brushing over Savannah possessively. Gideon followed him to the centre of the bridge, ready to rip the enemy to shreds.

.

. “Funny you should say that because this is exactly my plan!” Darius threw his head back and laughed wholeheartedly.

***Why don’t you come closer and try bringing it to life?” Kai scoffed, knowing there was no chance in hell the bear would do this. Although Darius had spent a lot of time on his territory lately, Kai had trouble meeting him face to face for months. Every time he was close, Bjarn changed his location. This chase had been going on for years, and there was no end to it. However, right now, he was close. So close. It could altend tonight. The white bears would be broken easily without their scheming ruler. This was why the Norther King

was so surprised that Bjorn was still here, with a smug expression plastered over his face.

“I am afraid you will be too busy for that.” The bear king’s grin deepened. This couldn’t be good.

“Sawy, take the other women and leave,” kai found her hand without looking at her as he had to keep his eyes on his foe and gave it

a squeeze.

“I have a better idea!” Bjorn got angry for the first time as he observed them. “Come here, Savannah, and I will give you the best gift.

You can choose the one who will survive out of your family. Your brother or your pregnant sister-in-law.”

Silence engulfed the room as Sawy’s head snapped to Riannon. She already knew, of course, but this wasn’t something they

announced to everyone. This was a secret. It was essential for safety reasons, yet Bjorn was aware. It started to seem like traitors were everywhere.

“I will repeat myself just once.” The white bear’s healthy eye found the Princess, immediately getting darker. “Come to me now, leave this place with me, and I will spare one of them.”

“Let’s start with the fact that you are not leaving this place!” Gideon was barely holding himself back. “Not after you threatened my

wife and my unborn child.”

“Savannah is not going anywhere with you, Bjorn. And for the first time ever, I have to agree with Stormhold; neither are you. It ends

now!” Kai joined the Westerner.

The bear wasn’t even looking at them, his eyes still lingering on the woman he desired.

“I only need your answer,” he said, frowning.

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” Savvy replied calmly. “My choice was made a while ago. I already told you that.”

“Then don’t blame me when the time comes.” Bjorn gritted his teeth, clenching his fists and turning his back to them. This was when Brigit tried to attack him again, but he caught her in the middle of it and threw the woman at the two Kings who charged at him. Savannah and Naya helped the group to keep their balance and prevented them from falling off the bridge, but all of them were delayed now. The warriors shifted into their wolves, ready to fight.

This was when a sound of an explosion reached them. The ground shuddered, and so did the walls of the ancient temple, threatening to fall on their heads at any moment.

“Yeah, I forgot to mention that the Forgotten City is about to explode!” Bjorn chuckled as he observed their reaction with some kind of amusement on his face. “Now, it’s a real survival mazel If you make it out of it alive, I’d be surprised! But I will give you a little clue on how to do it. Silver pits. Jump in them, and you’ll be safe. I’ll get you later, and we will continue where we left offl”

Gideon was furious, but his protector’s instincts took over. He knew he had to get his wife out first. There will be another chance to

get this bastard.

“Everyone outl” He commanded, looking at his sister and then Riannon. The stubborn woman hesitated, and he knew he’d have to

carry her out against her will if he had to. He wasn’t taking this risk, even if it was just a distraction for them.

Kai, however, still ran in Bjorn’s direction. Savannah followed close behind, even though Astrid tried to stop her.

“Sawyl” The Southerner begged, but the Princess wasn’t going to leave her chosen mate alone. Brigit rushed for the exit, and so did

Naya after clicking her tongue. The cat knew better than to stay in a crumbling building,

Two warriors charged at the white bear, but he recoiled easily. The Northern Lycan King was close, ready to shift into his third form

and end this,

“Aren’t you missing a Beta?” Darius burst out laughing, and Kai froze, blocking Savannah’s way, “And a little bird to go with

him?”

“What did you do?” Savvy growled, growing her claws. “Where are they?!”

“No need to be so angry!” His lips curled into a smirk. “I am going to tell you! I ani not a monster. Maybe they are still alive… maybe not. Can they both swim?”.

Another explosion deatened them, some kind of dust or sand falling through newly created cracks in the ceiling. This one was too close.

Kai clenched his fists, knowing that he had already lost this light.

“Conic on” Bjornchcored for him with a mocking smirk. “You already know I locked them in the dungcon, don’t you? The first

explosion caused a leak in the old water supply system of the city. The space where they arc is rapidly illling up with water. You have minutes to try and save your friends. Although, my personal advice would be to run and save yourselves.”

The two wolves snarled at him, but kal mentally ordered them to stop. They wouldn’t be able to win against the bear without him, and he couldn’t stay.

With a smug smile, Darius Bjorn bowed with contempt on his face and tell through the back exit, his laugh cchoing through the building

“Take Penelope’s body!” Kai ordered his men and turned to look at Sawy. “Go find your brother. As long as Gideon and Riannon are with you, they will be safe.”

“Excuse me?” The Princess surrowed her brows, shocked by his words.

“Something tells me Bjorn wouldn’t blow up the parts of the city where you walk.” Ile haled saying these words, but it was the truth.

The Bear King was a calculating bastard. He made a claim on Savannah, meaning that killing her wasn’t in his plans. He wanted her

alive.

“More reasons for me to go with you!” She insisted.

“Sawy, please, we have no limel” He grasped her, almost ready to send her off lorcclully and let one of the wolves carry her back to salety. But the stubborn glint in her cyes told him this would take a number ol minutes he didn’t have at his disposal.

“Ria is blessed by the Moon Goddess.” Savannah reminded him. “When she said she isn’t dying today, she meant it. Trust mel Zara is my friend! I am not leaving her behind, and if you are right, it’s only more reason for me to stick with you guys!”

“Finel” He growled and took her hand. They were running down spiralling stairs as the third explosion went off not too far away

from the shrine. Kai swore under his breath at how easily they got into a trap. This place was checked. Other than the Luna Trials traps,

nothing was supposed to happen. Yet Penelope was dead. And Fenrir knew how many other casualties they would have by the end of the

night.

The staircase was too narrow, ceilings too low. Ancient lycans were delinitely smaller than modern oncs.