Todos os capítulos de The Crown That Owns their Hearts: Capítulo 11 - Capítulo 20

Chapter 12 The eastern wall of Veyrith had fallen.The sound of its destruction rolled through the kingdom like thunder.From the highest towers, black smoke could be seen rising beyond the mountains. Thousands of creatures moved beneath it, marching toward the castle like an ocean of darkness.The Hollow King's army had arrived.Lyra stood at the entrance of the Forbidden Chamber, surrounded by the four men.Caelan had his sword drawn.Riven wore his battle armor.Darian's shadows moved restlessly around his feet.Lucien's golden eyes were brighter than usual.The old librarian stood behind them.“Your armies won't be enough,” she warned.Caelan looked at her.“How many?”“Too many.”Riven tightened his grip on his sword.“Then we'll make sure they're not enough for him either.”Lyra looked toward the castle windows.She could feel them.Thousands of hearts.Soldiers.Villagers.Children.Every heartbeat inside Veyrith seemed connected to hers.It was overwhelming.She placed a hand

Chapter 14The gate remained open.Beyond it stood a darkness so deep that even Malachor's golden eyes seemed small against it.Lyra couldn't move.She could still hear the voice.Come home.Her own voice.Seraphine's voice.A voice from a lifetime she had forgotten.Caelan stepped beside her.“Lyra.”She didn't answer.The enormous black heart beneath the castle continued beating.Thump.The ground shook.Thump.The four heartstones answered.Thump.Lyra's silver heart burned.Darian suddenly grabbed her wrist.“Don't go through that gate.”She looked at him.“Why?”“Because something is wrong.”Malachor smiled from across the chamber.“Very perceptive.”Riven raised his sword.“What is behind it?”Malachor looked toward the darkness.“The place where the first Heart Queen made her greatest mistake.”Lucien's expression changed.“You.”Malachor laughed softly.“No.”He looked at Lyra.“Her.”Lyra's heart stopped.“What did I do?”Malachor stepped closer.“You trusted love.”The words

Chapter 16 The bells of Veyrith continued to ring.Not in celebration.In warning.Lyra stood in the ruined courtyard, rain sliding down her face as thousands of black banners appeared beyond the eastern walls.The army of the Hollow King had arrived.For a moment, nobody moved.Then Caelan stepped forward.“Close the gates.”The soldiers rushed to obey.“Archers to the eastern towers!”“Prepare the wounded!”“Wake every guard!”Veyrith came alive around them.But Lyra couldn't move.Her eyes remained fixed on the distant army.Malachor had survived.Worse, he had followed them.Riven stood beside her.“You're thinking about what happened in the Hollow Realm.”Lyra nodded.“I thought cleansing the heart would stop him.”Lucien looked toward the sky.“Perhaps it did.”Darian's expression remained dark.“Or perhaps we only weakened him.”Caelan turned toward Lyra.“Either way, we cannot fight an army from the courtyard.”Lyra looked at him.“Then where do we fight?”Before Caelan could

Chapter 18 Morning came to Veyrith beneath a silver sky.For the first time in centuries, there were no black clouds above the castle.The people of Veyrith stepped cautiously from their homes, staring toward the eastern walls where Malachor's army had gathered during the night.But the army had stopped.No attack came.No arrows flew.No soldiers marched.They were waiting.And inside the castle, something even more important was happening.Lyra stood in the throne room.She had never seen it so full.Nobles filled the marble floor.Soldiers stood along the walls.Representatives from distant kingdoms had arrived after feeling the awakening of the Heart Queen.And at the center of the room stood four men.Caelan.Darian.Lucien.Riven.They were not wearing armor.They wore the ceremonial clothing of their kingdoms.Caelan wore deep blue.Darian wore black.Lucien wore white and gold.Riven wore dark red.Behind them stood four crowns.The crowns of four kingdoms.Lyra looked at the

Chapter 20The war was over.But peace did not arrive all at once.It came slowly.It came with the first sunrise that did not carry the smell of smoke.It came with soldiers lowering their weapons.It came with mothers finding their children alive.It came with villagers opening doors that had been locked for weeks.And it came with the sound of bells.Not warning bells.Not funeral bells.Not bells announcing the arrival of an enemy.Celebration bells.For the first time in centuries, the bells of Veyrith rang for peace.Lyra stood on the highest balcony of Veyrith Castle and listened.The morning sun touched the mountains, turning the snow-covered peaks gold. Below, the city slowly awakened.Veyrith was wounded.Parts of the eastern wall had collapsed. Several towers needed to be rebuilt. Streets were still covered with broken stones and remnants of the battle.But the kingdom was alive.That was enough.Lyra rested both hands on the balcony railing.Her dark hair moved gently in t