Chapter 196 – The Luna Trials Novel by Marissa Gilbert

Filed To Story: The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert

He had seen so much blood and death in his life, often because he caused it. He had lost his mate before. But he never expected to see Kai pierced in the heart on that stage. Defeated for the first time in his life. It wasn’t fair. This was a cowardly attack, he could tell that much. This wasn’t how his friend was supposed to d*ie.

“Where is Savannah?!” Zara looked at him helplessly, her eyes full of tears. He did not respond. “Where is Savvy?!” the werebird screamed and brought him to his senses.

“They took her,” he muttered and stepped towards Elene, who looked like she was asleep in her chair. The graceful Princess kept up her appearance until the end. She was like a sister to him, and the sight broke his heart.

The fire was spreading rapidly, and Lachlan knew they wouldn’t be able to put it out. He knew that Kai would want him to at least get Elene’s body out, and he intended to do just that.

“We need to go!” he said to Zara, and she shook her head. “We can’t leave them!” she pleaded. “We’ll take whom we can.” His voice was stone cold. He would blame himself for this forever. He got closer to Elene and prepared to lift her when her hand flinched.

He must have been seeing things. Yet the princess’ fingers moved, and Lachlan was finally sure this was the reality. Whatever happened here, at least Elene had survived. This was better than nothing. Right now, he was happy to take that because it was so much better than losing everyone.

“What the-” The Northern Princess scratched her head, trying to focus her vision. Inga’s father gr0aned next to her.

Zara was taking a hair strand off Riannon’s face when Gideon snatched her arm before he even managed to open his eyes. Protecting his mate came before everything. The werebird squealed, but then Ria knitted her brows, and Zara was ready to let the Lycan King break her hand if he wanted to. She was ready to give anything for this to be true and not a hallucination because she’d breathed in too much smoke.

“You’re alive!” She felt her eyes stinging from tears, relief washing over her.

Before the royal couple managed to say anything, a huge flaming chandelier fell on the ground right next to them. Gideon locked his hands around Riannon, his body was still stiff after whatever drug was used on him, but his pregnant wife was his first priority. He noticed Kai on the stage not far from them with his chest pierced by a spear, and he gritted his teeth in frustration and fury.

If not for the spear, the Northerner would be awoken too. His blood was dripping off the floor and Gideon could tell at once that the wound was fatal. Too much blood and silver through the heart… no one could recover from that.

“We need to go!” he rasped, helping Riannon up. They both could barely walk, but the Western King still gestured to Zara to help others. Kyle was already at the exit with Evelynn, who was desperately searching for Petra everywhere around them.

Lachlan really wanted to get Kai’s body out, but Celia couldn’t walk. He knew what his King would have told him now if he was still alive. He had to save the living first. He had to perform his duty as the Beta of the North. It wasn’t the place or the time for sentiments.

Soon they were all outside, watching in horror what the bears managed to do in such a short time. The dead bod*ies of the sold*iers who weren’t drugged were in pieces all over the place. It was obvious they fought bravely but were outnumbered and… betrayed,

“Zara, stay here!” Lachlan ordered. “I am going back to get Kai.” The Beta charged for the entrance, but Gideon blocked his way. His strength was restoring slowly “He is dead,” the Western King said. “If you go there now, you will be dead too.” “I am sworn to defend him until -”

“Until the day one of you d*ies, and that day is today.” Gideon announced grimly. “The North needs you alive now more than ever.”

Lachlan stopped, taking in deep painful breaths. He couldn’t believe that this was the reality, but he had to face it Kai was dead.

A tall man entered the throne room and walked lazily between the broken pieces of furniture. He saw the dead priestess on the ground and the dead guards. He had seen too much death in his life, it didn’t touch him anymore, didn’t make an impression.

This was why he never liked big events. He chose to live alone and as far away from all that as possible. It was better for him. It worked.

However, today he had to come here because something that belonged to him was calling for him. And he couldn’t imagine that he would ever see this object again.

He stepped close to the dead Lycan King of the North and looked at him with a mixture of regret and respect. He’d known Kai since he was a little boy. In his own way, he knew him. They had more in common than one could imagine, however bizarre that sounded. And he grew up to be a Lycan to be proud of.

Such a shame…

Strong fingers wrapped around the silver-coated metal of the spear, and a wave of electricity went through it, causing Kai to open his eyes.

D*mn it! He forgot about that effect…

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 disheveled. 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 K*ll 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 K*lled 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!”

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