Chapter 4 The Trial

Luna’s POV

Before dawn, the trumpet blasts. Like thunder, its reverberation echoes through the Ironfang castle. There are other girls in line with me, some of them trembling, others of them stone-faced. Collars shine, chains rattle.

I'm pushed forward by a guard. Kael is waiting on a raised stone in the clearing when I stagger into it. He is surrounded by icy-eyed warriors.

He raises his arm. Now is the start of the first Luna Trial. Stay Alive During the Hunt

I swallow. I feel sick to my stomach.

Kael points to the dark trees behind him. "Go. You're done if you're caught. If you're smart, you could survive to witness the next trial.

I look to my side. With her little hand slipping into mine, Calla stands near. She has warm, trembling fingertips.

"Remain with me," she murmurs. "We'll figure something out. I swear.

I have a dry throat. "We run together."

Kael looks into my eyes. His smile is nasty and piercing. He lets go of his hand. "Search!"

We are pushed ahead by the guards. Like frightened deer, we burst through the forest. My face is whipped by branches. My feet are clawed by roots. With Calla at my side, I continue to move even if my breath hurts my lungs.

Hounds scream somewhere in the background. Warriors chuckle.

"More quickly!" Calla pants. She tightens her grip on my hand. "Left — in this direction!"

We plunge beneath low branches. Somewhere far behind, I hear a girl scream. Silence, a crack. I don't turn around.

We take cover beneath a fallen log to gather our breath. Calla peeks out. "Until nightfall, we may remain low. Then sneak out.

I nod, but something doesn't feel quite right. My skin twitches. A smell—blood, iron.

"Make a call," I say. "Hold on —"

The leaves whip up a rope. A trap! As the loop grabs her foot and pulls her upward, Calla screams. Clawing at the rope, she dangles upside down.

Eyes open, I scramble to my feet. Behind the trees, a shadow appears—another applicant with sterner, older eyes. He takes another rope from his belt and smiles.

"No." I take a breath.

He throws himself at me. I take a rock, duck beneath his arm, and swing it at his skull. He falls back, swearing. With trembling hands, I slash at the rope as I sprint to Calla.

"Be quick!" She sobs.

The man snarls. "Moon girl, you should have remained weak."

The rope breaks. Calla collapses in my embrace. Together, we scrambled up after hitting the ground hard. At that moment, I sense the pulse beneath my skin. It sounds like the forest is listening to me.

The man rushes forward. I raise my hand and mutter to myself, "Help me."

He is knocked flat when a branch snaps and swings down. Calla lets out a gasp.

"That's what you did!" She takes a breath.

I look at my hand. "I'm not sure how."

Calla takes hold of my arm. Keep going. We must leave.

We dash farther into the forest. The trees get closer, darker and heavier. Wolves howl once more somewhere.

Then there was a rustle ahead. Calla takes hold of my sleeve. "Hold on—"

It's too late. From behind the trees, Kael's troops move. Ironfang fighters. Swords out.

Calla pushes me from behind. "Go!"

However, I don't. The warriors move quickly closer. The largest one takes hold of my arm. His claws pierce my flesh.

A chilly voice pierces the trees before he can pull me down.

"Enough."

Kael emerges from the darkness. In the moonlight, his eyes shine brightly. His men retreat as he raises a hand.

He says, "Hello again, little wolf." His eyes are intense as he circles me. "Show me. The authority you conceal.

My heart is racing as I shake my head. "Go away from us."

Kael chuckles. "Fight me. Disprove the prophecy. Or demonstrate its truthfulness.

Faster than I can dodge, he lunges. I skid over the leaves as his hand smacks into my shoulder. The wind blew out of my chest as I struck a tree.

Calla lets out a scream. She is held back by the warriors.

With ravenous eyes, Kael stalks in my direction. "Change, or burn.

The heat is raging in my chest once more. With my hands digging into the ground, I push myself to my knees.

Kael lifts me to my feet by grabbing me by the throat. "Moonborn, where is your power now?"

I gasp. The globe revolves. Light flashes between my palms as my hands shoot upwards. Kael's smile wanes.

An intense, blinding wave of heat is released. Kael is thrown backwards toward his men after being struck squarely in the chest. They disperse like parched leaves.

I stand there, rubbing my hands and panting. Kael wipes blood from his lip and carefully stands up. The trees reverberate with his laughter.

"You are doomed," he exhales. "But power is your curse."

I take a tentative step back, but Kael's laugh is interrupted by a fresh growl.

Behind me, darkness moves, a scent I'm all too familiar with.

Rowan.

With silver eyes fixed on Kael and a low, threatening voice, he emerges from the shadows.

"Retouch her." With his sharp, ready claws slipping out, he says, "And I'll rip out your throat."