Her Hidden Crowns Novels & Stories

--- **The Symphony of Shattered Crowns** We land in a cathedral of light and glass, its walls lined with mirrors that reflect not us, but *versions* of us-Eden as a king with a crown of lightning, me as a storm with human eyes, the Weaver stitching our fates into a tapestry of ruin. The Chorus stands at the altar, her robes billowing as she conducts an invisible orchestra. *"Every crown has a song,"* she says, her voice harmonizing with the melody. *"Every song, a story. And every story... an *end*."*

Sara ushered him to the dimly lit table where a crystal was glued to a single spot on a map of Transylvania. "She's in a place called Hoia Baciu Forest, a famously believed haunted forest in Romania. In the centre of the forest is an ancient castle hidden with a powerful spell, so this castle has been hidden for centuries," Sara explained and showed him pictures. The forest was eerie and yes, definitely creepy. In one of the photos was a bird's eye view of the forest and as Sara said, in the middle of the forest was an empty field, most likely where the castle was. It's no wonder that no human has ever discovered it by accident, Dmitri thought, because surely Madeline does have the power to

The plunging neckline of the dress does not allow me to wear a necklace so I leave it as it is. The bell of my apartment rings and I furrow my eyebrows. Who could this be? I pick up my white clutch and make it to the front door since I'll be going out soon anyway. I open up and see an unfamiliar man. "Good day m'lady. You must be Ms. Harding. Mr. Frost sent me here to bring you to the ball" How caring. "He also told me to give this to you" he hands me beautiful white roses, my favourite type of roses too.

he urged, voice low enough that only Roderick and I could hear. Roderick’s face twisted. For a moment he looked like a man trying to decide whether to die by admission or by a dozen other smaller deaths. “There are men with clean hands who call on the dirty,” he muttered. “There are names you would not expect.” He spat again and the sound landed like a challenge. “Mara and Bram will choke if you pull their routes. The fourth is... hidden. It’s the kind that makes kings smile. Go find the ledger in Bram’s crates, and maybe you’ll see the scratch below the ink that tells you what was hidden.” “That’s not an answer,” I said, but I felt the edges of the clue like a map getting warm.

" My voice breathed out like silk winding around the air. The shadow growled, a tongue older than wolves, Words slithered into my head. Close guarded and Kept safe by those who betrayed you. A smile twisted my lips. Lucian and Nasir always play as kings when they are no more than animals playing at crowns. And now… my little thorn had gone into their den. Trinity.

I looked at my mother’s crown and understood why Rudina had wrapped it in servant cloth instead of royal silk. It was not only hidden from enemies. It was hidden from grief. “What does that mean?” I asked Otsana, while my eyes stayed on the red stones growing brighter with every breath. The old healer swallowed hard, and even Adolphus leaned forward slightly, enjoying the fear his old secrets had planted. “It means the crown has accepted the challenge between Rudina’s daughters,” Otsana said, her hands tightening around her cracked silver bowl. My sister lifted her chin, and the Blood Feather mark on her throat flashed like it had been waiting for those words.

Others lifted their heads toward the ceiling as their voices echoed in raw celebration. My throat tightened painfully. Tears burned behind my eyes. Not weakness. Pride. Overwhelming, unstoppable pride. Then came the crowns. Ancient heirloom crowns were brought forward—massive compared to their tiny heads, crafted from silver and lined with protective runes carved by ancestors long gone. Each crown shimmered beneath the torchlight, heavy with history and power. One by one, the elders gently lowered the crowns above each child—not resting fully on their heads yet, but hovering symbolically above them.

she whispered again, voice cracking. The Hollow hissed in her bones. No. You are ours. And we never lie. Ruby pressed her fists to her temples, desperate to silence it. But the truth clawed at her regardless: crowns weighed heavier when they were stolen.

"Not coming to what?" Luke Collins had come out of the shower. Droplets slid from his damp hair and vanished into the folds of his robe. The fabric clung to his frame, outlining his toned body. "It's just a party." I hurriedly ended the call, trying to avoid him and leave the balcony. 'Actually, it's my wedding,' I thought. His hand shot out, pulling me gently against him. The familiar warmth seeped through my clothes, stirring an ache in my chest. He chuckled, "Were you talking to Mike? Did you spill our secret?"