Chapter 217 – The Luna Trials Novel by Marissa Gilbert

Filed To Story: The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert

Petra was pushed to werewolves’ table, and she looked happy to be able to stay with them. Ash showed her to an empty seat, and she smiled at him gratefully.

Bjorn frowned at that. Sometimes it seemed like he was the only one unlucky with women. Savannah never looked at him like that, despite them being mates. In fact, he would K*ll for her to look at him just without resentment. Her taste was still on his l!ps from their k!ss earlier today, and he gr0aned, remembering how sweet she tasted.

He wanted more. More of that taste, more of her.

He had some regrets about giving her the freedom to choose whether to come tonight or not. He would feel so much calmer if he could finally place his mark on her.

No one would be able to undo that, and it would secure his claim on her forever.

But he decided to be generous and play nice. And now she wasn’t here…

The main doors to the hall burst open, and he lifted his head to see who exactly wanted to d*ie tonight.

However, when he saw the intruder, he went speechless and stood up, placing his glassback on the table.

Savannah stood there in a gown of wine-red silk.

The dr@ped bodice expanded into flowing skirts that resembled flames. Her l!ps were painted red too, which made them so much more desirable. If she were to mark him today, she would leave traces of l!pstick all over his neck.

Bjorn’s breathing became ragged just from thinking about it.

She came! He gave her a choice to postpone the marking, but she chose to be here tonight, and this made his l!ps grow into a proud smile.

Savannah smirked, pushing a strand of hair that she wore down today behind her back to demonstrate her bare neck. She did not even wear any necklaces, fully ready for him to mark her.

“Sorry l’m late,” her grin deepened, and she took a step towards him.

She walked between the rows of tables as if the whole world was under her feet, the dark red fabric of her dress flowing behind her, whispering in the silence of the room. No one dared to speak before the King, and Bjorn, himself, was speechless. He did not expect her to come here tonight, and now that she was here, he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.

Savannah was a vision. Everything about her was perfect. Queenly. A perfect woman for a King, and Bjorn couldn’t believe that she had made the decision to join him tonight.

They both knew what it meant, and the bear inside him was already fighting to release his claws to mark her the moment she reached them, to claim that woman in front of everyone and be done with it.

Bjorn could give her more time before he took her and put a child inside her womb. He could give her more time to accept their bond and admit it out loud. He could wait for many years to hear that she loved him from her luscious l!ps. He wanted to do that for her. But the desire to make the bond unbreakable by marking her was immense. It was something that plagued his mind, something his bear was insisting on f0rcefully.

Because it was wise. The moment his claws made the marks, Savannah would be his forever.

Everyone would know this and no one would be able to stake their claim on her. Not anymore. Not ever.

He wanted to secure that claim, and luckily, he would do this tonight. He couldn’t believe his own luck because, although deep inside he hoped for this, his rational mind told him that it wasn’t possible. He’d hurt Savannah too much, and it would take him years to earn her forgiveness and, eventually, her love.

That thought sobered him up. Why was she doing it?

Was she really ready?

A treacherous idea of it being her plan to humiliate him publicly or get some kind of revenge circled in the back of his mind. He hated thinking about it, but even he had to admit the possibility of it happening.

However, just one glance at the princess’s wrist and he saw the bracelet still shining brightly on it, the guararantee of his safety. Whatever Savannah did, she wouldn’t be able to do him much harm as long as she wore it. She wouldn’t be able to shift even to her second form, so it was unlikely she would be able to do much damage. If she decided to humiliate him, he’d have to punish her. Somehow, that thought alone brought a smile to his face. He tried to be gentle with her, but if she gave him more reason to be personally mad at her, his punishing her would be justified.

The Princess chose a red dress. This wasn’t what people wore for marking ceremonies in the North. Bjorn himself was wearing a blue shirt tonight simply for the occasion. A lot of the dresses he sent to her were in shades of blue as well because of this. But then he remembered that she’d already worn a blue dress. She even rode on top of his back and no one ever would be able to take that away from him.

She was already standing at the bottom of the stairs and their eyes locked as she waited for his permission to take her place by his side.

“Join me, my Queen,” his l!ps curled into a smile as he gestured to the empty chair next to him. He had been prepared.

Savannah went up, her eyes downcast and cheeks flushed slightly. Although that last part could be the product of his imagination. He wished he could get into her pretty little head and find out what she was really thinking now. Was she imagining his claws digging into her skin too? He knew then and there that as soon as the marking was done, he would make her turn to face him and l!ck every drop of blood on her soft skin. His manh0od reacted to that thought, and it got only worse when she was finally beside him. Her intoxicating bluebell scent had made him close his eyes just for a moment and enjoy it. He envisioned how, after everything was finished here, he would take her to their chambers and rip that dress off her, learning every inch of her with his tongue. If she let him, of course. But she would, after she’d been marked. This was the whole point. The mark would unlock their bond for her and heal her soul after the previous unsuccessful experience.

She’d want him just the way he wanted her. She would come around.

“My King,” her sweet voice brought him out of his daze. It was a greeting, and he couldn’t help himself from taking her hand and bringing it to his l!ps, placing a w*et k!ss on her fingers.

Her skin tasted divine, and Bjorn wanted to cut the ceremony short now. Anything to speed the process up.

“My Queen,” pride was lacing every word, his voice loud, so that everyone heard him, but then he added quieter, “I hoped you would come.”

“And here l am,” she replied, her red l!ps trembling.

This was an unusual look for her, but he liked it. He loved it. He loved everything about her.

“Are you sure?” He asked her the silent question of whether or not she wanted to be marked today. Her presence alone was the reply, but he wanted to show her how caring he could be. He wanted her to know that he wasn’t the monster she believed him to be. They could become a family. He could make her happy. All he needed was a chance…

His hand stretched to her on an impulse, and she shyly placed her palm into his.

“l am,” Savannah breathed out, and finally, their eyes met again. He saw the determination in hers, and it made him smile. She was ready. It was really happening.

---