13 Crowns Novels & Stories

The commotion in the crowd was reaching a fever pitch. Some were even gearing up to storm the stage to stop me when suddenly, the banquet hall doors slammed open. The screech of brakes violently cut through the downpour. It was not just one car that had arrived, but an entire motorcade of six black armored Hummers that crashed right through the glass walls of the banquet hall, sending shards flying everywhere. The car doors swung open in unison, and a stream of figures in black poured into the banquet hall.

It was moonstone inlaid silver filigree, exquisite and delicate. A crown fit for a real wolf, not a meek person. "I'm not sure," The older man stumbled, his swollen eyes flitting from Chad to me. "Crown her," Chad said in a steely voice, refusing to back down. The older person paused for a while more before nodding. With the crown held lovingly in his wrinkled hands, he stepped forward. I lowered my head, sensing the burden of custom and anticipation descend upon me.

Without raising an alarm, I marched over to where he stood and started to study every part of him before me. He raised a questioning brow utterly thrown off when I grabbed one of his wrists and gave it a firm squeeze, though my strength counted for nothing. "What in the devil's name are you..." "See!" I pointed out, amazed by my obvious discovery, his majesty deflected his crimson red eyes to a pink patch decorated on his pale wrist. "Your blood is red." I reiterated. Little did I expect his Majesty to titter at my sense of humor, and I did not know when I found myself giggling.

The council chamber smelled of smoke and polished wood. Candles burned in tall brass holders along the walls, their light reflecting off the gilded edges of the maps spread across the table. The city of Valoria lay in miniature there, every district rendered in ink and precision, the heart of the kingdom marked by the symbol of the crown. Adrian sat at the head of the table, but he did not feel like its master. His fingers drummed against the wood while the nobles murmured around him, their voices a tangle of fear and calculation.

Aameris spoke almost in a whisper, but everyone in the room heard him. The three couples kissed, then turned to look at the crowd. Lindaat started to glow, and a crown appeared on her head. Twisted silver and bronze metals looking like a tree being held by silver roots. Around the crown, small diamonds rose, looking almost like trees. When she turned to look at Teleraamon, he had a circlet of the same silver and bronze on his head. Ailive gasped when a crown appeared on her head, with a solid silver band with sapphires around the edges that looked almost like tears. Dakkaath had a circlet of silver with a hint of bronze in it. Xylia smiled brightly at the two, then felt something on her head

Mission accepted. My jewellery is onyx and silver, dark and glossy against my skin. Finally, Mum places the black crown gently on my head. It’s made of delicate metal vines and onyx stones, shaped to look like it grew right out of the shadows. And it completes me. I don’t just look like a queen—I look like his queen. “You’re absolutely stunning,” Mum says, adjusting the crown like she’s placing it on actual royalty. “Caden’s going to pass out.” “Good,” I smirk. “Let the man suffer.”

“They say he’s quite particular,” one matron informed another. “Turned down three princesses from the continent last year alone.” “Well, after what happened with his brother, one can hardly blame him for being cautious,” her companion replied, lowering her voice. “Though thirty is rather old to remain unwed, especially for a crown prince.” “I’ve heard he has his eye on someone already,” a third joined in. “Lady Amelia Everhart has caught his attention—mark my words.”

Mahagino is altogether more afraid to be executed than for his house to be burned by piratical incursions of the Viraiz clan. For Mahagino’s relief, Darina called Rowen, the cavalryman to bring a bag filled with golden coins and jewels. Rowen revealed that the bag has one thousand golden coins, three hundred pieces of silver, ten rubies, and ten sapphires. Darina commanded the cavalryman to record the amount. “Your fishes will be of Clapestris, is that enough?” Darina asked Mahagino giving out the bag to the scholar. Mahagino, being a cunning merchant, was supposed to say that it is not enough. But the cavalryman notices him still thinking and tarried his time to answer. The cavalryman nudge

“So… It is not because you want the throne?” Prince Cornelius looked at Emery as if she was some kind of great disappointment. Disbelief was plastered all over his face. “Of course not,” he snarled. “Being the head of an empire is a total headache. Why would I waste my good looks for the sake of some people I am not even related to? You saw my brother… He looked so old now compared to his age.” He was yet about to speak, however, some kind of movement from behind them caught their attention. Hence, Emery grabbed the bow and nocked an arrow as fast as she could. Her eyes scanned the vicinity, ready to shoot anyone who found them.

Never! He smiled with a proud glint in his eye as she lifted her head. One of the attendants offered a rough-looking black circular crown, the top spike in the center adorned with a massive black gemstone. Around the circlet's base are four long horn-like thorns. Nothing about the crown screamed glamor; everything about it roared status and dominance.