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41. Sanctuary and Secrets
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 42. Enigma Unravelled
(Salvatore's POV)The air in my room hangs heavy with the weight of everything we are up against. I only left Quinn alone for a few minutes while I went to the study to get the book containing the mysterious symbol. When I return to my bedroom, Quinn is still staring at the painting, as she frantically tries to write each letter and number hidden within the artwork in the hopes of decoding the cryptic message. I carefully place the book on an ornate wooden table in the centre of my suite. Quinn’s body still bears the marks of my brother’s brutal assault, but despite her pain, her eyes remain fixed on the painting that holds the key to our salvation.Each of us has a task, and we are both determined to uncover our part of the mystery. We work in silence. The only sound in the room is a pen on paper, but in my heart a storm of rage and guilt churns. I know I am not the one who physically hurt Quinn, but I still feel responsible. If I hadn’t let her roam the mansion freely in their absen
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 43. Darkest Desires
(Quinn's POV) My heart pounds so hard I think it’s going to burst right out of my chest. I stand in Salvatore’s bedroom. My body is battered and bruised from Dante’s beating. My mind is swirling from the kiss and everything we have discovered. I should be feeling broken, yet I feel strangely alive. There is something about Salvatore’s lips on mine. I should feel disgusted. He is supposed to be my enemy, but in this moment, I want him, more than I have ever wanted anyone. My body hums with desire, and I feel more powerful than ever before. A warmth spreads through my core, and I feel compelled by his presence. The way that he looks at me tells me he is feeling the same, and seeing how much he wants me causes the ache between my legs to throb even more. When I came back to London, I was trying to find out about the perpetual twilight so I could bring back the sun and take back my life. When I was captured by the seven, I thought it was the end, but now I know that we can do this, an
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 44. Twilight Conspiracy
(Salvatore's POV)Now that we have a location, I look at the map for where I need to go. I will have to investigate it out alone. It is too risky to take Quinn away from the mansion. My brother hurt her enough for just going upstairs. Thankfully, he does not know that she has been in the study with me. Before I leave, I want to fill her in on the vampire hierarchy, so she understands how we work, in order to protect herself not only while I’m away, but also for when this is all over. The single candle bathes the room in a dim glow, casting shadows on the walls. I lean back and the worn leather chair creaks beneath my weight. Quinn looks up at me, her eyes wide and eager. “The vampire mafia operates on with a delicate balance of power,” I state, my gaze fixed on Quinn. “My family is at the top. We oversee every major decision within our organisation. Over the centuries, we have seen many empires rise and fall, some under our hand. My brothers are not like other vampires you may have c
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 45. Candlelit Confessions
(Quinn's POV)As I walk inside the study, I realise I will never get used to all these candles. The dimly lit room casts eerie shadows on the ancient artifacts and dusty books inside, making the atmosphere feel heavy with mystery. My heartbeat slows down as I take a seat next to Salvatore at the wooden table. I glance across at him, as he starts looking through an old manuscript looking for any information about the obsidian veil.“Are you sure we’ll find something in here?” I whisper. “Surely if any of these books mentioned the veil, we would have found it when we were looking for information about the perpetual twilight.”Salvatore nods absentmindedly as he tries to focus. His amber eyes glow red in the flickering candlelight. “That was before we knew anything about it. If it truly does exist, then it will be in here somewhere. If we can unlock its secrets, it could change everything.”I bite my lip, considering the implications. Finding the Obsidian Veil has quickly become an obses
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 46. Intense Desire
~*~Warning the following chapter contains a sexually explicit scene. ~*~(Quinn's POV)Salvatore stares at me intensely. His gaze burns into my soul, igniting a spark that quickly turns into an inferno of passion deep inside me. “Quinn,” he whispers, his voice rough with need. “I want you.” He points at the spot in front of his feet, and I move towards him. He wraps his arms around me, pulling me closer as his lips crash into mine in a frenzy. I’m completely consumed by him, as I surrender to my desire.One by one, he slowly removes my clothes and tosses them in a pile on the cold stone floor. Salvatore’s muscly tattooed arms wrap around me as he pulls me into his embrace. I crave his touch. There’s nothing I want more in this moment than his hands on my body. Finally, he breaks away and starts to explore every inch of me. His hands wander lazily over the curves of my breasts, before they trail towards my bum. “Please,” I whimper, arching into him as my desire turns dark with need.
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 47. Masquerade and Mystery
(Salvatore's POV)The empty street echoes with the sound of our footsteps as we approach the entrance to the gathering. The dimly lit ballroom looms before me, instantly memories of a long-forgotten past that refuses to be buried flash through my mind. Quinn’s hand grips mine. Her palm is sweaty, and it’s clear that she is anxious. I squeeze her hand to reassure her, but her piercing blue eyes are too busy scanning the area for any threats to notice the slight gesture. As we approach the grand entrance, I put my hand on the small of her back. “Stay close,” I whisper. A deep purple velvet curtain opens into the main hall. The air is buzzing with power. The promise of uncovering many dark secrets is overwhelming.I scan the room, taking in the sea of masked faces as they dance. The sound of their laughter and conversations are like whispers barely audible above the loud, yet haunting music. Their identities might be hidden, but I can sense the power emanating from each and every one of
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 48. Enigmatic Escapades
(Salvatore's POV)As we attempt to leave the building, I turn to Quinn. “Stay close,” I tell her, my voice barely audible. “We have what we need. Let’s try to get out of here without drawing too much attention to ourselves.”“Alright,” she murmurs back, her eyes flicking from mine to the shadows beyond. She’s well aware of what will happen if someone figures out who she is. We make our way through the crowd with ease. My hand grips hers tightly. As we pass by other guests, I can’t help but notice the hungry looks on their faces. The way their predatory gazes move across Quinn’s body as we walk past them puts me on edge.“Over here.” I lead her down a dimly lit hallway, away from the main gathering. My senses are on high alert as we make our way into a quieter area, where we can discuss our findings in private.“Salvatore,” Quinn says once we’re safely in the secluded alcove, her blue eyes meeting mine with a mix of relief and concern. “Now what do we do?” She asks with a frown.“We go
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 49. Truth or Trap
(Quinn's POV)The walls of the ancient building echo with an eerie silence as we prepare to leave. All of a sudden, the strange figure in a cloak that we had spotted inside the party appears before us like an apparition. Salvatore steps in front of me protectively, his body tense as if he’s ready for an attack. I can feel my heart race faster. What if it’s one of Dante’s men? A chill runs down my spine in the dim light. My fear seems to linger in the air. It’s like a thick fog surrounding me. “Salvatore,” the mysterious figure snarls, his voice low and dangerous. He doesn’t remove his mask, so he is at an advantage. This guy clearly knows who we are, but I have no idea who he is.“Do I know you?” Salvatore sneers, not even attempting to hide his disdain.The figure chuckles, a deep, menacing sound that echoes through the desolate halls. “You should, Salvatore. After all, we used to be partners in crime.”Salvatore’s eyes narrow as he studies the figure’s face, trying to place him. “I
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Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 69. Hunter’s Revelation
(Quinn’s POV)We get dressed quickly. The air in the library is freezing against my clammy skin. Salvatore watches me as I put on my jeans. I check my pocket to make sure that Arion’s relic is still tucked safely inside. When I feel the small, solid pendant, I let out a sigh of relief. We are going to have to be more careful now that it is in our possession. It’s so tiny that it will be easy to lose, and although what just happened between us made me feel amazing, tossing my jeans on the floor with the relic in the pocket was kind of reckless. As Salvatore and I leave the mine shaft, I feel like everything is finally falling into place at last. We have something that will help us use the obsidian veil. Although we don’t know exactly how it works, I have faith that the relic changes everything. As we make our way through the dense forest, we try to be as quiet as possible. I move with caution. Every step I take is calculated. My heart pounds in my chest and adrenaline courses through
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 68. Library Liaisons
~*~Warning the following chapter contains a sexually explicit scene. ~*~(Salvatore’s POV) We follow the path around the village until we reach an old abandoned mine shaft. It’s the most random place for a library I have ever seen, but the supernatural said it was here and I have to believe him. We venture inside the tunnel that runs into the cave, following the old cart tracks that run underground.Wherever this secret library is inside the maze of tunnels, the tracks will lead us to it. As we move deeper into the tunnels and further underground, the air is heavy with the scent of dirt and dampness. How anyone could have spent their lives working underground in such harsh conditions, I do not know. It is difficult enough for me to breathe easily in here, so I can only imagine how hard it must be for a human. We walk in silence, focusing on trying to find the hidden library. I use my vampiric sight to scan the area, looking for anything out of place, and then I see it.“Over there
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 67. Settlement Secrets
(Quinn's POV)As the final particles of the supernatural fade out of sight, I am left standing open-mouthed. I have no idea what the gift is that she gave us, where she went, or how she knew about our encounter with Arion. Then again, nothing in this place has been straightforward. Actually, it’s like the entire universe has gone crazy since the eclipse. Hopefully, when we find the obsidian veil, things will return to normal when the sun is back. “Come on, let’s head deeper into the forest to see what we can find,” Salvatore says. “Alright,” I reply, but I am not sure if I want to explore anymore with all the strange things we have found so far. We move further away from where we met Arion, and I hope we are on the right path. The relic he said we needed to use the veil is the most important thing right now. There are way too many things that we have to do, and it’s best to focus on one thing at a time. I’ve come a long way from my mission to bring back the sun. I knew it would be
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 66. Secluded Seduction
~*~Warning the following chapter contains a sexually explicit scene. ~*~(Salvatore’s POV) The icy chill of the air surrounds us as we stand at the edge of the secluded forest. I lock eyes with my Quinn, her piercing blue eyes seem to glow in the strange light emanating from the trees and plants inside the clearing. It is a stark contrast to the darkness that has sucked the life out of us. Quinn is determined to complete our mission, but as she looks out into the unknown, there is a vulnerability there, buried beneath her fierce exterior. We move deeper into the forest in search of the being who is allegedly causing problems for the other supernaturals who call this place home. There is something about this place that feels different. It is almost like the air around us pulsates with an energy of its own. The whole area, in fact, seems to have its own heartbeat. We don’t even know what this creature we are hunting looks like, which could cause problems if we run into more than one
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 65. Power & Pathways
(Quinn’s POV)Even though it’s dark everywhere, somehow it seems to engulf us as we follow the path further into the dense forest. It isn’t easy to do, even with my shifter eyesight, because the path isn’t straight. It weaves through the trees, over ancient roots, and fallen branches that are thicker than my thighs. I’m glad that Salvatore is by my side. I can lean on him when it is too difficult for me to navigate. Ever since the eclipse, my senses have become more heightened in the darkness, making every rustle and whisper of the wind feel like a threat.“Are you sure this is the right way?” I ask, as we pass by a large tree that looks exactly like one we walked by five minutes ago. Even though I’m panicking, I try to keep calm despite feeling like we are lost in the middle of nowhere. I’m half expecting something to jump out on us any second. Salvatore looks at me, his eyes glow, even in our black surroundings, he presses his lips tightly together so they form a thin line as he tri
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 64. Spring of Hope
~*~Warning the following chapter contains a sexually explicit scene.~*~(Salvatore’s POV)As we sit amongst the trees, a sense of hope washes over me. There was never any doubt in my mind that we can do anything together. But with the odds stacked against us, it seems at times an impossible task. When we walked away from the first trial unscathed, I felt a sense of accomplishment. Our strange encounter with Arion, and his words of belief, makes me feel a little lighter. I can’t help but feel like the universe has given us a push in the right direction. Maybe we aren’t as alone in this as we thought. I glance over at Quinn and she appears to have a similar belief. The fierceness that has been engraved in her aura since my brothers captured her seems softer, and there is a glimmer of optimism.I turn to Quinn, “We should get moving. We still have to find the relic.” She stands up, and we move deeper into the dense forest. As we walk, I am on high alert, looking for any sign of the nex
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 63. Thunderous Quest
(Salvatore’s POV)The loud clash of power echoes through the glen like thunder. Quinn stands by my side, ready to fight with every inch of her being. Her presence is like a beacon fuelling my strength. Together, we will do whatever it takes to get to the mysterious relic, that is supposed to be the key to unlocking the obsidian veil. The grotesque figure looms before us. Its size makes it a formidable adversary, but we won’t back down. We have faced so much the past few weeks and we have overcome every single one of them, even when they seemed impossible. This fight is no different. I look over to Quinn and see a fire in her eyes that mirrors my own. In this moment, she is more than a powerful shifter. She is the woman I love. She is a warrior and a force to be reckoned with. Her strength fuels my own, pushing me forward.We launch at the figure, and it moves with agility that contradicts its size. It takes all of our strength just to keep it away. I watch closely as it moves, lookin
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 62. Eerie Woods
(Quinn’s POV)We move deeper into the glen, guided by Arion’s prophecy. The air inside the ravine is filled with magic and mystery. The powerful energy I felt at the glowing rocks grows stronger with every step we take.“Quinn, look,” Salvatore says, pointing towards a clearing along the overgrown path.I squint, and notice what looks like the crumbling remains of an immense structure that seems to have been hidden from the rest of the world.“We should go check it out,” I suggest, and Salvatore nods. I’m on high alert as we carefully manoeuvre through the dense trees. Not only are we stepping into sacred ground, but I’m also on high alert. Arion said the relic was heavily guarded, and I have to be ready for anything. As we enter the clearing, I’m amazed at how beautiful the ruins are. Ivy covers the once magnificent walls. Between the vines, there are several intricate carvings poking through, and the images seem to depict some sort of great battle.“This could be where the relic is
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 61. Echoes of Destiny
(Quinn’s POV)As we leave the cabin, the chill of the early morning air nips at my skin. Today’s plan is to head deeper into the forest so that we can make our way to Wales undetected. The sky is a canvas of muted greys, blues and purples that should give way to the warm hues of dawn, but since the eclipse happened, we haven’t seen the sun. It feels like a lifetime ago, but it’s only been a few weeks. My heart sinks at the thought of this never ending night being a permanent thing. As much as we have been trying to stop it, it feels like we keep hitting dead ends. We stick to the dusty track, following a bend in its path, until we reach a secluded glade that seems to appear out of nowhere from deep within the shadows. As we get closer, I can feel a shift in the air. Someone has cloaked this place in ancient magical. That has created a mystical aura that sends a shiver down my spine. It’s as if time stands still inside here. Even the trees seem to whisper secrets, and I’m strangely dr
