The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

Cruel, Beautiful Things

That's your real scent." Savannah whispered, and Bjorn nodded, confirming her guess. He leaned closer to her, brushing his palm over her cheek. She Ilinched away, and the motion disgruntled him, although he tried not to show it.

Her skin felt so mooth lo his touch like the petals of a most delicate flowet. He couldn't gel enough of the sensations when he touched her. He hoped that by now, she would say the one and only word he had longed to hear from her lips for so long. Mate.

"Yes, Savannah. This is my real sceni. The one i barely use anymore. I didn't even let you sinelli the low times we met, although I knew at once you were mine." He tried to be patient with her. He knowleliad already overstepped too many boundaries to push her now. She looked so weak, felt so broken... Maybe he should have left her sister-in-law alive as a little consolation gift for Savannah. He could dispose of that woman's baby later and pretend it was an accident. That little gili could have made the transition easier for his mate.

Although he remembered very well how dangerous Riannon Stormhold was. She alone was the sole reason for his brother's demise. That sealed her late.

Savannah stayed silent, and he took it as a sign of her wishing to know more.

"When I ran in the forest back then. I was going to kill the woll who witnessed me in lycans' territory. This was whall always did. Kill, destroy and get rid of the body." He was so calm that Savvy felt beads of sweat forming on her skin. "If it was anyone else but you, they would be dead. But it was enough for me to inhale a drop of your scent, and everything changed. All my plans went to chaos."

"Didn't you call me Kai's toy?" she reminded him, and a smile reached his lips. At least she was talking to him. This was some kind of progress for them. He was sure that, over time, she would give up and accept him. She simply had to and he couldn't wait.

"I was a bit frustrated at first," he confessed, "I wasn't looking for a mate. I didn't think I would ever get another. And it took me a tew seconds to realise what was going on. How you affected me. Who you were to me."

"And what happened to your first mate?" Savannah asked, ignoring his confession. She looked so pale that he knew she'd saint again soon. Now that she was here, there was no rush anymore. He could take his time with her.

**That's a story for another day." Bjorn dodged that subject. Today I want to speak about us." He took her hands into his again and realised they were cold and limp as it life was slipping out of his mate. "You think we have a future?" Savannah asked weakly, her eyelids too heavy again. "Of course we do," he didn't hesitate to respond.

"Good," the Princess' lips curled into a smile, and the bear's heart skipped a beat. She had never smiled at him before. He should have released his true scent long ago just for this alone. He was about to say something when something changed in her face. That beautiful smile of hers turned into a sheer as she narrowed her eyes at him. "Very good," she added, "because that means I can hurt you the way you hurt me. Although that's unlikely. You hurt me so much that unless I destroy what you love the most, you will never understand. But even this is good."

"What are you talking about?" Bjorn released her hands, anger and disappointment burning in his chest.

"I don't feel anything." she stated calmly. "Your real scent doesn't awaken anything inside of me. I hate you just as much as I hated you before you let it out. I don't want to say the sacred words to you. You will never hear them from me!"

He grabbed her shoulders and lifted her up, not really knowing what he wanted to do. Kiss her? Hit her? Take her? Things were already bad and she looked like she was about to faint anyway.

Why didn't she feel it? What happened? Or maybe she was lying to wound him? She must have been angry with him for killing her family. It was understandable. She was also recovering from her previous bond breaking. That exhausted her significantly and that poison to weaken her didn't seem to be such a good idea now. If she died, it wouldn't change any of his plans. He would still take the North. He already had. And the West would fall too without a ruler. What had been planned with Castiel was finally achieved, even though his brother wasn't there to see it.

However he didn't want her to die. Even if that was what she wanted, he wasn't going to grant her this wish. Time would pass and she would give into the mate bond. She had to. He did.

After the last time, he swore that if the gods granted him a mate again, he would kill or at least reject her on the spot to avoid the pain However, as won as he met Savannah, he couldn't do it. She didn't recognise him, didn't try to claim him and, although deep

nude he knew she was his, he wasn't so sure anymore.

After their fort encounter, he found out everything he could about her. He went through all the old reports after his brother's death andrealised that he wasmated to another. Moreover, that person had been seeking an audience with him for a while.

He instantly disliked/ack Morpan. Too pretty, too polished, not manly enough to be called an Alpha; yet Zack had an ego bigger than his own. He started talking about his mate early sure thai she would be his ticket to being appointed the King of The West when they wil done with the current rulers. Little did that pup know that this was never the plan. Castiel would have never given that crown to anyone el Bjorn cringed when lach mentioned this one and only night with Savannah and this was when he decided that the stupid werewolf

would die soon. Just the thought of him touching Savannah enraged him to the core. Initially, he planned to give him a slow and painful death, starting by cutting off his fingers one by one and then moving on toolher..protruding parts. However, this was when Zack mentioned the little game he played with his male to remind her of hum. As long as they had this bond, he could torture her softly. Zack could influence her, distract her. And thal was something Born needed.

He already knew she was here to join the Luna Trials to compete for the Northern Crown. There was no love lost between her and The king, he was sure of that. Nevertheless, he wanted to take cira recautions and he couldn't do it himself since they hadn't had a chance to mate vet. Not to mention how much work he had on his hands. Taking Savannah out earlier than necessary could unite the two kings and ruin his plans. So, lack was the best card in his hand loi now

It all started to bother him more when he found out they were poing on a date. At first, he took it calmly. Dates were normal at the tuna Inals. It was when he realised that Kawaslaking her outside olthe castle that the whole thing, started to worry him. He had been studying Kailor you and he knew what that place meant to him. He would never bring a simple contender there. And when he watched them both from the opposite mountain, gazing at the city and the stars, he'd had enough.

He was risking everything each time he met her, but each time only made him more confident that she was the one for him. She was his second chance mate, and she would feel this too the moment Zack died. However, things only got worse and worse from there. She wasn't thinking of him; she ignored his gifts and did not kill her annoying mate when she had a chance. All so she didn't ruin her chances with Kai. Biom never liked the Lycan king of the North, but he started to hate him with his whole heart after this. His old rival was getting what he wanted the most. Apain.

The desire to get Savvy out early and to claim her was almost unbearable, but he knew he had to wait for the right chance, or all of his work, including his brother's legacy, would go to waste. It wasn't fear it was torture,. But this was all he could do.

It all paid off in the end. All of his enemies were dead, and she was with him now. Except that her eyes were cold, her lips were pale, and she despised him. He could leel it even without that sneer of hers. Cruel beautiful thing! She knew what she was doing to him, and she enjoyed it.

"Maybe you feel nothing now," he got his face so close to hers that his lips were almost touching hers, but your soul will heal, and our bond will snap in its place. You will take these words back."

**If I ever feel anything towards you," she launted him, almost laughing, although her tiny delicate body was shivering in his arms." will reject you. There is no future in which you and I live happily ever after." "Then we will live unhappily ever after," he pulled her closer and whispered a promise into her ear. "Either way works for me. The rest is up to you!"

He dropped her back to the bed, and she had no strength in her left to light it. Her eyes closed, and for the first time, Bjorn worried that he'd crossed the line with her. He left the room and growled al the maid who waited outside to tend to him and his bride.

"Get a healer and clean her up! She needs to cal, and she needs detoxifying. The healer will know what to do!" "Of course, my King," the older woman bowed respectfully and left.

Bjorn found himself standing at her door, listening to her breathe and fearing each breath would be her last until the maid arrived with two younger girls and his trusted healer. Only then did he decide to leave. His duties couldn't wait any longer.

*When I get back, she'd better look much healthier than now." He barked at the group. "If she gets worse, heads will roll. Maybe yours, or maybe your friends and family. We'll see."

No one responded this time, and they all bowed to him in silence. This was just how he preferred it. They knew what the stakes were now.

Gideon held Riannon close as they both looked at the flames destroying the Royal Northern Castle. It was a sad sight, and he wasn't sure what to do next. They had just been majorly outplayed by that werebear. His sister was gone, and he knew very well where to look for her, but nothing looked good now.

He and Kai never managed to become good friends. For the past few weeks, he thought that it might be possible, but now he would never find out. However, that uneasy feeling in his chest made him regret so much. They both were slaves to their pride, and this was the result Kal was dead, Savannah was taken, Riannon and the baby survived by a miracle. So many warriors were slaughtered. The taste of deteal was new to burn, and he didn't like it.

kia wayn't saying a word, tears streaming down her face silently at the sight before them. Gideon took a look around and saw the Northern Prince not too laraway, helping Evelyn, who was sobbing since they did not find Petra. Brigit and Astrid were missing too, and

they had no idea what happened to any of them. They could have been taken together with Savvy of... they could have been the ones who purvondte. However, that oly meant that one of them was still on their side. If that wasn't the case, they would have been all dead. That was Bjorn's plan

H emories of the night were cloudy, but he was proud of his little sister. No matter what, she managed to kill her mate belore

was overpowied by the bea He ww/ar's body and his heart on the floor covered with dui. Savvy's sent was all around it, and he had no doubts ww was the one who did this. She nipped the trailor's heart just like he taught her. Even knowing it would hurt her

Histhesi delud at Uwe thought of her, how vie was sultening nowatter everything she went through. He would get her back, he

would do anything to save her, but... he couldn't bring her chosen mate back. That wasn't something in his power, and Savannah, of all people, deserved to be loved the way Kaihad loved her. Gideon may not have liked the guy, but he couldn't deny that what they had was real... and beautiful. Il was what he and Riannon had. It was what Reid and Maya had. Kai would have made her happy... They would have led the North together...

And now all that was left was Ilene. He had forgiven her, and she did seem to grow up, but the girl wasn't born to rule. Yet she was Kai's sole heit now. He glanced at her and sighed, realising she had completely broken again. Lachlan held her in his arms while Zara stood nearty and watched the princess Sob

"Itsadustel," he muttered. "Not really." Riannon said quietly, and he looked at his wife,

What do you mean7" Gideon knew one thing very well - everything his wile said had to be listened to carefully. The Moon Goddess's blessing was working in mysterious ways, and often Ria knew things no one else could know. She had her dreams, her visions, and sometimes the simply sensed events everyone else ignored. It was her gift given to her after rebirth. They were still figuring out how that all worked, but no word of hers was ever ignored.

* Something is happening there," she whispered, looking at the flames in the windows. "Something big. Important. Divine." "Should I go inside and look for survivors?" he asked. "I don't think so," she shook her head. "Onyx only senses one, and he will come out on his own."

The moment she said that all the flames instantly died down as if they were suffocated by a force bigger than all of them. The air grew colder, and Gideon could see his breath turning into steani. Everyone around them got quiet and looked toward the castle. What they were seeing was impossible. The firefighters hadn't arrived yet, and such a massive fire couldn't just disappear on its own. It was now so dark that they could only see, thanks to their beasts' night visions.

Instinctively. Gideon wanted to place Riannon behind his back. Something was getting closer. He could sense it and the hairs on the back of his neck rose.

Aloud and powerful growl sounded, echoing through the empty castle. Then, sounds of calm, confident footsteps reached their ears.

And then they saw him... First, the creature's eyes gleamed in the darkness, and then he slowly walked into the moonlight, making all of the survivors part their lips at what they saw...