Her Hidden Crowns Novels & Stories

“Two days ago, Alexander personally took her to a private jeweler. Measurements, design consultations—he stayed the entire time.” My heart clenched. “There’s more,” Ethan continued. “And it gets worse.” “I accessed her private cloud. Password was Alexander’s birthday.” Inside were photos. Hundreds of them. I opened the file he sent. The album was titled: My Knight. The most recent post was dated two days ago. He said this crown belongs only to me. Just like him. Next week’s family dinner—he promised to give me a name. The image showed an exquisite bridal crown— diamonds and sapphires set in a constellation pattern.

“What did you do?” He smiled. “You keep asking the wrong question, Kael.” Ariana stepped beside me. “Then ask us the right one.” Darius looked at her. “The crown.” My hand moved toward it. “What about it?” Darius laughed. “You still do not know what you are wearing.” Ariana stared at him. Darius pointed at the silver crown on my head. “That crown has a hidden chamber.” I froze. “What?” His smile widened. “Inside it is the original Moonborn treaty.”

But I can’t help the feeling that someone is really, really watching me. My pulse spikes. Slowly, I scan the dim room. People are dancing against the flashing lights, but my gaze lands on a tall figure leaning against the edge of the VIP bar, tucked into the dark corner of the club. He’s wearing a black leather jacket, a dark baseball cap pulled low over his forehead, and a black face mask hiding the lower half of his face. Despite being hidden in the dark and covered in a mask, I find him hauntingly familiar.

But I didn’t ignore it. Class went on. They showed us guns, knives, how to hide a blade in plain sight. I held one of the blades and turned it in my hand slowly, feeling the weight. Clean, sharp, but too flashy. “I prefer forks,” I muttered. Shadow rolled his eyes like I was the dumbest person alive. When the ‘class’ ended, we were marched out again like little soldiers. Shadow leaned in. “That red-haired guy? Avoid him.” I raised a brow. “What’s his deal?”

She couldn’t see the Elder’s face beneath his hood, but she sensed a wave of approval coming off him. Nodding, he gestured for her to bow. Bending her knees, she held the curtsey. Goosebumps flushed her skin as he revealed a golden crown. It had six leaf prongs weaving upward, two at each side, one at the back, and one that would align perfectly with her forehead. The band was lined with diamonds and hecatolites that gave off a subtle glow.

Her throat running dry as panic overwhelmed her at losing her wedding ring which was a beautiful gold band with a 2 carat oval diamond in the center. "Alessio will kill me!" Serafina hissed at herself, pulling the towel off her hair as she shook out her clothes on the counter, hoping, praying that it got tangled in the material. Gnawing at her lower lip she stepped out of the washroom, thinking maybe she left it in the room, taken aback when the lights of her bedroom had been turned off, with a dim flicker coming from the bedroom. Cautiously, she walked across their walk-in closet, hesitantly peeking into the room.

For three years, I had trekked back and forth between territories, harvesting rare herbs to stabilize their weak constitutions. And this was the payoff. To my own pups, I was nothing but a "wicked" obstacle. Without a word, I turned and walked away. The villa was quiet when I returned. I opened the wardrobe and stared at the heavy, ornate gowns meant for an Alpha's Luna. I packed one old suitcase with my family's herbal journals. That was everything I packed. Those were mine and had nothing to do with this pack or Julian. When I finally pulled off the Iron Claw wedding band, the cold metal left a stinging ache on my skin.

“I know.” “You can tell me to stop.” Jamie looked at him. Really looked. The scar. The control. The restraint that felt like it was holding something dangerous in check. “I don’t want you to stop,” Jamie said, then winced. “I mean….” Adrian didn’t smile. He didn’t gloat. He just nodded, like that answer fit into something he’d already decided. “Good,” he said. Behind them, unseen but aware, La Corona Nera watched. And after midnight, Bar Della Luna closed its doors, keeping its secrets, for now.

she muttered. The old man looked at her his eyes were daggers. "Listen to me carefully." "What?" "If the Black Crown reaches the inner vault, you do not fight for the sanctuary." "Then what do I fight for?" Aurelio's voice dropped to a whisper. "You fight for the child hidden beneath it." Prickling her hair leaving Goosebumps on her skin. Cinthye stared. "What child?" Another horn blasted, much closer now. Hooves thundered across the mountain road. Damien's eyes widened. "Aurelio—"

Because I saw something no one else did. In the trees, just beyond the sacred stones— I saw a woman standing, wearing my face. Her eyes were glowing black. But she didn’t say a word, she only smiled. And in her hands—she held the Crown. A second one. Made not of moonlight… but *shadow*.