The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

14. Brunch

“Is it good or bad?” Savvy furrowed her eyebrows. She did her best, and she knew it, but it wasn’t like

they were in a friendly country. Besides, Elene had plans of her own for the contest. which was evident

to everyone present.

“Just take a look at it yourself.” Zara handed her a laptop and placed a cup of coffee on the bedside

table. She never wasted time, an aspect Savannah especially valued in her. She was always punctual

and neat, even though her sense of fashion was on the edgier side and could easily suggest otherwise.

Her usual put-together and neat appearance were out of replacement, and Savannah was surprised to

see a huge distinct stain on her white dress.

“What’s this?” she asked without hesitation. “Nothing.” Zara shook her short dark hair. “Just a clumsy

accident at breakfast.” “Are you sure it was an accident?” The princess arched her brow.

“Yeah. Sure. I’ll change when we are done here. It’s nothing for you to concern yourself with.” Zara

shrugged her shoulders. She was projecting confidence, so Savvy was about to let it go when Kyle

snorted.

“Accident my as*.” He glanced at her from the chair he was sitting in with his own laptop on his knees.

“That bird shifter contestant did it. And the whole room heard what she said to Zee.”

“Oh, really? What did she say?” Savvy chirped and took a sip of her coffee, flapping her eyelashes

innocently. She wasn’t fooling anyone, though, as her eyes glowed golden with Athena’s anger as her

desire rose to rip off the head of her friend’s tormenter.

“Nothing,” Zara pronounced the words cautiously and shot a death stare at Kyle.

“She said it made sense that Zee joined a lycan pack since she was now a stray and her flock didn’t

want her and then suggested a stain on her dress would make her look the part.” Kyle ignored Zara’s

warning because he knew too well that none of them would tolerate the bullying of their team members.

“How lovely!” Savvy put the cup down with a clatter. “And what did you do when you saw it,

K?”

“I wanted to bathe that b*tch in coffee,” he sneered at her but then heard Zara clearing her throat. “But

Zee stopped me, and we just walked away. It was …nice.”

“The hell …Savvy protested in disbelief.

“Because everything we do will be reflected on you, Savannah.” The assistant said firmly. “And no one

here will be doing you favours and looking away. We are here to help you and not create problems,

remember?” She glared at Kyle, and he groaned, getting back to whatever it was that he was doing on

his laptop.

“I’ll deal with it myself then,” Savvy promised him via their mind link, and he secretly smirked at her,

knowing that she would take care of Mavis discreetly.

“Let’s get back to that news release.” Zara had lost her patience and sat on the bed next to

her, clicking on the trackpad.

A northern channel’s logo appeared with a beautiful scenic mountain view as a background, and then

she saw the hosts, the famous brother and sister, Chloe and Claude Larsen. She read a few articles

about them in the past, and, of course, they were imprinted in her memory forever. They won all kinds

of prizes for their tv and online programs and were one of those people who were shaping the minds of

their kingdom. People loved them, and, more importantly, people believed them.

“And now to the part we have all been waiting for!” Chloe stretched her smile to the maximum, showing

off her pearly whites. She was in her late forties but didn’t look a day older than twenty-five.

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“The Luna Trials are really happening!” Claude picked up where his sibling left off. “Moreover, King Kai

has already met the contenders, and the first elimination took place.

“Shame we didn’t get to find out who failed the simplest test!” Chloe looked straight into the cameras.

“But of course, we have saved the best highlights to show you. And, trust me, you want to watch them

all!”

One by one, they started to introduce each contender. Praising some of them, like Inga and Celina.

They mention some briefly, like the witch and the werecats until finally, condemning all the others.

“I don’t know what this werebear was thinking!” Chloe shook her head with a disappointed impression

on her face. That was far from what she really felt, judging by the glint in her eyes.

“You know how those are – crashing things all the time, coming uninvited to the territories that are not

theirs. Brigit is just true to her nature.” Claude smirked. “Having said all that, she wasn’t by far the main

surprise of the day!”

“You are right, brother!” Chloe agreed with him quickly. “I couldn’t believe my own eyes when I saw her

taking off her mask!”

They showed a video of Savvy removing her mask. Kai was cut entirely out of the shot. Then it was

revealed that she was saying something, but one could only hear the twins explaining what happened.

“Savannah Stormhold, Ladies and Gentlemen!” Claude announced.

“The Western Princess in the flesh!” Chloe giggled. “And let me tell you, I have always known those

rumours about King Kai asking for her hand in marriage were not true. Now it’s obvious who is chasing

whom!”

“I have to agree.” Her co-host snorted. “It must be difficult for a princess to show the world that she is

the one clinging to our King. Yet here she is! Smiling and waving her hand as she tries to compete with

the real deal!”

“Speaking of which …” The picture changed to showcase Penelope. “If I were to make a bet today, I

would be placing all my money in the hands of Miss Summerstern! She was a true picture of grace and

beauty in her unique red gown. Just look at how wonderful she looks right next to King Kai…”.

They went on and on about how amazing Penelope was, and Savvy could feel Elene’s touch in all of

this.

a “Unbe-freaking-livable!” The lycaness gritted her teeth. “My carefully selected dress, my

performance, my speech! They showed none of that!”

“No worries,” Kyle chuckled from his seat as she tried not to grow her claws out and go to the garden to

chop some more roses. “I am on it.”

“What do you mean?” Savannah looked at him with interest.

“I mean that I just created accounts on every known social media platform with the nickname

Truthteller.” He winked at her. “I had everything recorded and had footage from every angle as well. I

spent the whole night editing them together. And now I am planning to spend the whole day sharing

them as far and as wide as the internet and social media will allow. I am also adding comments on my

personal point of view as well regarding your bravery, the unfair treatment, all of it.”

“Show me!” she tiptoed to him barefoot on the cold stone floor and sat on the armrest. “Don’t read the

existing comments, though,” he warned her. “It’s a work in progress.” However, of course, she went to

the comments section first. “They showed her that they didn’t want her, but she still tries to cling to the

king!” “She is just embarrassing herself.” “I don’t like her, but the dress is great.”

“She can come to my town, and I will show her the northern hospitality! She will forget about the King!”

“I think it was brave of her to do that for love.” “Show off!”

Savannah walked away, and for a few seconds, her friends were quiet. She could feel anger rising in

every cell of her body:

“Are you okay?” Kyle asked with a concerned voice.

“Peachy.” The princess gritted her teeth. “Zara, help me to find that pink dress. Since this is the reality

of our current situation, make sure you film everything happening today. And every day after that while

you’re at it. Remember, we are on our own here.”

“Isn’t this dress too much for today? It’s just a break.” Zara pointed out, getting the shimmering fabric

out of the wardrobe.

“There aren’t breaks here,” Savvy took it from her and inspected it one more time just in case. “Every

minute, we’ll be filmed, and we need to beat them at their own deceptive game.”

***

Savannah strolled through the garden in her long pale pink dress. The fine brunch spread was another

opportunity where the contenders were supposed to meet kai to get better acquainted with the

Northern Prince. She had already spotted four cameras on her way in, subtly giving them her best

angles as she passed them by.

There was a reason she liked this dress so much. The sheer flowing fabric covered with intricate

shimmering lace hugged her body perfectly while her chest and arms were covered, creating the

innocent and modest look she was going for. At the same time, the gown was backless and see-

through from mid-thigh down, letting her stay playful and true to herself.

This wasn’t what she would normally wear for brunch, but she wasn’t wrong in her choice.

Savvy noticed and quietly applauded herself for her foresight the moment she saw all the other

contestants in their sparkly and bedazzling outfits.

Some brunch it was!

And there, right in the centre, she saw none other than the Northern King himself talking to Penelope

Savvy had to clench her fists in her skirt and force a charming smile when someone greeted her. She

didn’t like them being together one bit.

Truth be told, she hated it.

What she hated even more was that they appeared to be a beautiful couple. Penelope was indeed a

stunning woman fit to be a queen.

Today she was wearing a deep purple dress, the colour of the royals. And the golden hairband in her

rich wavy dark hair looked suspiciously regal.

Kai said something, and she laughed, placing her palm on his chest as if it belonged there, as if she

had done it many times before. What was worse was that it made the king chuckle as well.

They indeed looked like this perfect couple, and Savvy wanted to wipe their smiles off both their faces.

“Savannah! Savannah!” Someone called her name, and she was surprised to see a cloud of pink

moving toward her. “There you are! Come with us!”

A small hand grabbed her and pulled her away. In this pink chaos, she noticed pink curly hair done in

two pretty buns and decorated with flowers.

“Petra?” Savvy tried to stay polite as the other girl giggled. She let herself throw one last glance in Kai’s

direction, realising that he was watching her intently now.

“Yes, come on!” Even though it was hard to see her in layers and layers of tulle, Petra insisted. “I like

your dress, by the way! Do you also like pink? I love pink!”

She already regretted that she was wearing that colour today. However, when Petra stopped, she saw

that some other contenders were already there.

“So, we are sharing information!” Petra announced proudly. “Penelope told us some things that no one

else did! Did you know that there are cameras here everywhere filming everything that we do?”

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“Really?” Savvy tried to sound surprised and caught Astrid’s approving gaze.

“Yes!” Petra nodded. “And also Penelope said that everything we do is judged all the time. We have to

be really careful not to lose points. And did you know that we were lucky to come in

the right dress colours yesterday?!”

“Penelope is so kind!” Bridgit was staring at her flute with what looked like a mimosa.

So kind to share the information they had already figured out on their own. Which was exactly what

Bridgit hinted at, and everyone other than Petra understood her hidden meaning.

“She is,” Petra beamed. “I decided to follow her example and tell all of you as well,”.

“That’s so nice of you.” Naya purred, flipping her straight snow-white hair to the back. She looked

gorgeous in a silver dress without any extra detailing.

“So, I thought….” Petra was fidgeting with the hem of her dress. “Maybe we could all share useful

information? I know we are rivals, but we are also together in this … We don’t have to become

enemies.”

Sure, kiddo! Count on it!” Mikaela, another werecat, snorted loudly. It was clear that she wasn’t going to

share anything, even if her life depended on it. “Nice dress, Naya.”

She said before leaving in a tone that meant she hated the garment. “I take it you know each other?”

Savvy asked the werecat and only received an eye roll. “We went to school together, and she was a

bitch back then too,” the cat replied. “So, what do you think?” Petra attempted to bring them back to the

subject

“I’ll share some useful information with you.” Bridgit gulped her drink and placed the empty glass on the

nearby table. “Beware of what Penelope says, and don’t trust the information you get from her.”

With that, the werebear turned on her heels and left their small company “What does she mean?” the

pink-haired girl gaped just as her babysitter arrived.

“Petra, I think you should mingle some more!” The elegant woman, who had helped her at the first

challenge, took her hand, leading her away. She was undeniably beautiful, and, unlike her ward, she

knew how to play the game. Obviously, she didn’t want the girl to be seen with the least

popular of all the candidates. Chloe and Claude spared Petra in their piece about the Trials, and there

was no need to give them a reason to tear her apart next time.

“Okay, Evelyn.” Petra looked slightly startled but obeyed her mentor, waving her hand at the others as

she was dragged away toward the “more popular kids”.

“I have to say I like that child!” Astrid let out a little laugh, and even Naya almost reacted to that but

managed to keep her calm. She wanted to say something, probably something snarky, but her face

changed suddenly, and her gaze shifted slightly behind Savannah’s shoulder.

Savvy turned to see what startled the cat and saw Kai walking in their direction. He was beside them in

no time with a polite smile, looking very handsome in a black shirt and trousers while the wind was

rustling his hair.

“Ladies, it’s nice to see you all again,” he greeted them.

Astrid stood up, smiling nervously, and Naya nodded slightly, holding her glass with a cat’s

grace.

“We are honoured by your presence!” Savannah didn’t look at him the second time. “Excuse me, I see

someone I need to talk to.”

She was about to leave when he caught her arm.

“Actually,” Kai lowered his head and locked his eyes with hers. “I wanted to talk to you for a moment.”

Everyone around them went silent. It seemed like the whole garden stopped moving and breathing. It

was as if they were utterly alone here …

“Some other time perhaps,” she answered, angling her head at him and then sharply removed her

hand from his grasp, making him growl ….