Crown Of Midnight By Sarah J Maas Novels & Stories

CHAPTER 61 The Crown Wakes Up September 13, 2029 – Blackbird-Coyote Dorm, 3:11 a.m. The Crown of Dacia hasn’t spoken since the night I first learned the Deep Script from the Gulf itself. Tonight it burns cold against my temple like it’s been waiting for me to be ready. I sit straight up in bed. Remy’s arm is still around my waist, his breathing slow and warm against my neck. The dorm is dark except for the soft glow of the living battle-mural and the violet pulse coming from inside my own skull.

Dust motes floated in sunbeams, and old books lined the walls like silent witnesses. The manuscript lay open on the desk, nearly complete. She paused over the title page, unsure. Titles had always been crowns: symbols, declarations, weapons. But this one had to mean something beyond ambition. She tried many. The War Beneath the Sea. The Serpent’s Daughter. Ashford, Unwritten. None fit. Then her eyes caught the faint reflection of the old scar on her shoulder, the mark of the serpent crown. The memory of Francesca’s dying words echoed faintly: “We are all bound, my darling. To blood. To power. To the things we love enough to destroy.”

she raises an eyebrow, confirming my suspicions silently as I think of the calling tune the crown had sung. “Ha,” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, feeling my face grow red, “-you could say that.” “It doesn’t surprise me,” Cassandra chuckles, “-It was made by a Marsilla so it’s riddled with pure magic. No wonder your presence sparked the remaining slithers of power hidden inside of it. I’m rather disappointed now. I’m afraid you beat me to what I was hoping would be a rather big surprise. That crown is the very one Emmeline wore. It was recovered after the Blue Moon Castle was destroyed. Technically, it belongs to you. My intention was to take you down after this meeting and present you

Since all of my cards had been frozen, I could only go to a small clinic for treatment. But the tweets Katie posted had caused a huge stir, and soon, someone recognized me. “Are you Claire, the one who stole her own sister’s mate?” “That’s her! The news said that she forced Scott to bond with her using her family background, but Katie is his true love!” “Look at her belly. I heard that she’s pregnant with his illegitimate child…” The pain in my stomach made my voice tremble. “Please call the doctor…” “Stop with the pitiful act!” A pregnant she-wolf shoved me away. “Mistresses like you disgust me the most!”

The ink was dark, the handwriting rushed—as though the writer had been in a hurry. "What're you doing, Talia?" Mason questioned. The suspicion in his voice made my head snap up. His eyes were trained on me—wary. My eyes slipped to Nicole, whose expression mirrored Mason's. "What's wrong?" My brows creased. Mason opened his mouth. "Nothing," Nicole answered hurriedly. "Go on." My eyes lingered on him—wary—for a second before drifting back to the book. "The Crown of Thorns," I whispered, feeling a light pressure against my forehead. "A powerful relic forged by the goddess herself."

It was only a matter of time before her father came for her, being in her debt of an old favor years ago I couldn’t bear to refuse her. “I haven’t seen that wife of yours in a minute.” She muttered as she bent to pick a rose, “Trouble in paradise, Row?” I frowned, not fond of the cordial name bestowed upon me, “it’s Rowan and no—there’s no trouble in paradise. We’re just giving each other space.” “She’s less pretty than I expected. The news is all over you know? The blood moon king finally claiming his Luna. I was disappointed a little, I thought i—

Queen Amelia changes her soft features and faces the gathering once more and says, “With the placing of the Queen's crown on Emma’s head…” I jump slightly as Finn surprises me again as he walks up next to Amelia with a small rose gold crown set with lots and lots of red rubies. Finn steps forward and places the crown on my head and again I feel that slight wave of power flow through me, even though I am not sure why I kept feeling it. Amelia then continues, “People of the βρυκόλακας (Vrykolakas) kingdom, I would like to present to you your Crowned Queen Emma Mason and your Crowned Prince Adonis…”