Swallowed My Crown Novels & Stories

Her face was already pinched into the expression of a woman preparing to fire the entire palace staff. “Mami.” I cracked an egg into a bowl. “Morning.” “My crown is missing.” I picked up a second egg. “Which crown?” Gabby looked at me like I had just asked who the president was. “My pink glitter crown.” “You have four pink glitter crowns.” “The aquarium one.” “Oh. The cheap one.” “It’s royal.” “Royal and seven dollars can coexist.” Her face darkened. “It’s gone.” Another set of footsteps came from behind her.

Someone even splashed a cup of hot coffee at me. The heat hit my skin instantly, sharp enough to make me flinch. It dripped down from my hair, soaking into my white blouse, the fabric clinging just enough to show the faint outline of what was underneath. I turned toward my office, planning to grab a spare outfit. Jim moved faster. He rushed in ahead of me and started throwing my things out into the hallway. Most of it, I didn't care about. Except for the antique ornament my father had bought at auction for millions. It hit the ground at my feet and shattered into pieces.

I could feel the rage burning in my chest. Every last shred of hope I had been holding onto crumbled into ash. I wasn't hurt anymore. I was just disgusted with myself for ever loving such a worthless man.

I rasped, And tried to sit up, "Underwater and I guess I got jolted by a forbidden crown." "Forbidden crown?" Kylie asked with humor in her voice but a bit of relief on her face. "that's the best I can come up with." I managed to say, "seeing as they don't want us possessing their damned crown. Nearly just ended my precious life simply because I touched it." Kylie's brows drew together as she turned to look at the crown. It still lay on the crown, it's pulse, larger than life, even though it was incomplete. "No, I don't think it's wary of our possession." Kylie whispered, her eyes now super fixed on the crown fragment. Her skin had grown suddenly pale and clammy, and her lips trembled.

Decision thinking itself through muscle. “Captain,” Harp pressed, softer than I’d expected. “We can’t pull dead weight. Not with the crown sniffing. Not with Morcant spending coin on our heads like water.” My hand went to my mouth before it could betray me another way. Not to stop a sob, I wouldn’t give them that but to keep the sound bruised hope makes trapped behind my teeth.

“I want you honest.” She turned to Vow again. “And what happens if the Crown lies?” There was a beat of silence. Then—for the first and last time—Triarch Vow spoke. “If the Crown lies,” the voice rasped through the hood, genderless and sharp as glass, “then the city burns.” Later, in a room without screens, without files, without exits—he handed her a coat. Black. Fitted. Cut like armor. “You’re inside now,” Domenik said. “You dress like it.”

When I opened my eyes, I saw Hazel White—my best friend—surrounded by employees, being ushered onto the stage. What was going on? I stared down at myself in disbelief. My body wasn't covered in sores, and my legs weren't broken. I was still frozen when an employee walked past and shoved me aside. "Hey, isn't this Ms. Moore's nanny?" she shouted. "What are you doing here? This isn't a place for you. Get out of here!" The sharp pain in my shoulder made everything clear—I had been reborn. In the crowd, Hazel glanced back at me, her tone somewhat impatient. "Why are you here? Trying to cause more trouble? Gosh, you're useless. You'd better not forget what you need to do later."

“I won’t let you down again.” He shook his head. “Silly. You’ve never let me down.” He leaned in and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Now rest,” he murmured, brushing my hair back. “Rest as long as you need. Because when you get better, my little queen—there’s an empire waiting for your command.”

Sanctioned means no one touches you—unless someone higher says they can. Caelric steps closer. “Where is the token.” The attacker’s eyes flick down, terrified. Soryn’s grip tightens, and the man whimpers. “Pocket—inside—” Caelric reaches in and pulls out something small. Metal. A coin-sized medallion. Even from across the room I can see the etching—too clean, too official. A crown shape. A vertical line through it like a blade. My blood turns cold. Caelric’s face doesn’t change, but his eyes harden into something I’ve only seen right before people disappear.

All I hear is, "By the power vested upon me, you will become the queen of Evergreen, from today until forever!" A maid removes my crown and my father stands up. He walks next to the high priest. The priest takes a few steps back and my father takes the queen's crown. Gently, he crowns me with it and says, "I am so proud of you!" I force a smile and curtsy as father nods and goes back into his place. I face the crowd once and for all. The high priest announces, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Children, world-- help me welcome the new Queen of Evergreen, Aurora Wintershade!"