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49. Truth or Trap
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 50. Desperation & Danger
(Salvatore's POV)The night is long and restless. My mind keeps replaying the conversation with the cloaked figure, trying to piece together any clues that could lead us closer to the obsidian veil. I can hear the distant sounds of the city, the occasional car passing by and dogs howl in the distance. It's almost as if the world outside is oblivious to the danger that lies ahead of us.I toss and turn in my bed, unable to find a comfortable position. Every time I close my eyes, I replay the figure's sinister grin as his gaze rakes over Quinn’s body again and again. Every time I close my eyes, I see his staring back at me, gleaming with malice. I can feel his presence lingering in the air, like a ghost of my past that refuses to leave me alone, yet I have no idea who he is.It's almost midnight when I hear a soft knock on my door. I sit up, my heart racing as I make my way over to it. I open it slowly. In my sleepy state, I half-expect to see the cloaked figure standing before me. Inst
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 51. Lust & Lies
~*~Warning the following chapter contains a sexually explicit scene. ~*~(Quinn's POV)When we return to the mansion, none of the other members of the seven have come back here. Thankfully, that means they don’t know that I have left my room, but I can’t help but wonder what is keeping them away. I knew we were walking into a trap when we went to the church, but I didn’t think it would end as badly as it did. Neither of us talks about it. We don’t want to dwell on our failure; we need to focus on locating the obsidian veil.The air in Salvatore’s study is thick with tension as he cleans and dresses my wounds. I wince at the pain as he disinfects the thick cuts. The horror of the attack weighs heavily on my mind, alongside the gentleness of the kiss that still lingers on my lips. Our partnership is strained because I still don’t know if I can’t trust Salvatore fully. If it came down to me or his brothers, I am not as sure he would pick me over them.“Quinn,” Salvatore breaks the sile
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 52. Veiled Passageway
(Salvatore’s POV)With everything now calm, it is time for us to go back into the tunnels to finish what we started. The dampness of the underground walls seeps into my bones as we make our way through the dark tunnel. My flashlight flickers across ancient walls as I scan from left to right, looking for anyone that could be hiding within the depths of the hidden passageway. The air is thick with dust, making it difficult to breathe even for someone like me.“Salvatore, do you think we’re going to find the artifact?” Quinn asks, her voice echoes loudly in the confined space. I glance over at her, noticing how the dim light reflects in her piercing blue eyes. She remains fierce, even in the face of danger.“It’s difficult to say one way or the other,” I admit. “But I think we might be on the right track.”Suddenly, Quinn trips over an uneven stone, stumbling forward. She is so clumsy I have lost count of the number of times it has got the better of her in the short time we have known ea
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 53. Peril and Possibility
(Quinn’s POV)We only just make it back to the mansion from our trip to the tunnels beneath St. James Park before Salvatore’s brothers appear at the mansion like an ominous omen of destruction. The faint smell of damp tunnels lingers on my skin, but I have to hide any trace of what we have been up to while they have been away to protect myself from Salvatore’s brothers. I need to be extra cautious not to leave anything that will expose our secrets. That means keeping my head down and pretending that I am their prisoner until they leave again. As I make my way through the vast corridors of the mansion, I can’t help but feel small compared to its impending size. Every wall is covered with paintings and photographs of the DeAngelo family over the decades. As I move through the corridor, I swear their eyes are following me around. Watching my every move like predators stalking their prey. “Watch where you’re going,” Antonio DeAngelo scolds, as I almost bump into him. “Sorry,” I mumble,
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 54. Flickering Desires
~*~Warning the following chapter contains a sexually explicit scene. ~*~(Salvatore’s POV)Trapped in the dimly lit room, the air is thick with tension. The flickering candle on the wall is the only thing protecting me and Quinn from the darkness. Our breaths mingle together, heavy and full of desire. I can practically taste Quinn’s arousal on my lips. The magnetic pull between us has become an unbreakable connection over the past few days. Quinn’s piercing blue eyes rake over my body, and a shiver runs down my spine as her lips curve into a seductive smile. There is a hungry desire between the two of us, but there’s something else buried deep under the surface, something that I haven’t experienced in what feels like an eternity... Trust.“Are you sure you want to do this now?” I ask, as I tear a piece of delicate silk from the lining of my suit my jacket to tie around her leg.Her gaze never falters as she nods, desire and excitement shine in her eyes. “Yes,” she bites her lip. As
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 55. Comfort & Chaos
(Quinn’s POV)Being alone with Salvatore in the small cabin reminds me of home. There is something comforting about it. Even though the house is nothing like the apartments back at the compound, it feels familiar. Maybe because the size isn’t as intimidating as the mansion was. As much as I miss my friends, I can’t see myself ever going back there to stay long term. I’m just too different from the rest of the pack, and for my own sanity, I know living there again would be worse than death. It feels like I have barely shut my eyes when my phone buzzes on top of the drawer next to the bed. I blink and rub the sleep from my eyes and groggily reach for my mobile. In the middle of all the chaos, I can’t believe that Salvatore managed to remember to bring it with him. My heart pounds as I see Piper’s name lighting up the screen. I swipe to unlock my device.“Quinn, I can’t talk long,” my friend whispers. “We have a lead on the veil. Check out the old library on Baker Street. But be careful
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 56. Venom Rush
(Salvatore’s POV)I race through the streets with Quinn in my arms. Her body is burning up. I have to get the venom out of her leg before it spreads so that she can heal. As I run, I can feel the heat emanating from Quinn’s body. Her skin is slick with sweat. The venom is coursing through her veins, and her time is running out. I scan the area, looking for a secluded spot where I can help her without being seen. Up ahead, I spot an abandoned alleyway and I use my vampire speed to sprint there in seconds. I gently place Quinn on the ground. Her eyes are shut, and she moans as I move away from her. Within minutes, her breathing becomes more shallow. If she is going to survive the newborns venom, I need to act fast. I expose my fangs, using them to tear her jeans like a blade. As soon as I see the bite mark on her thigh, I gasp. Dark veins are already snaking their way up her thigh to her stomach. I grit my teeth and take a deep breath to steady my nerves. Placing my fangs into the inci
Rejected Crown: Perpetual Twilight 57. Unwanted Journey
(Quinn’s POV)I have no idea why I agreed to go back home, it’s almost as if Salvatore cast a spell on me to agree to anything he wants. Just the thought of coming face to face with my mother and Alpha Magnus makes me feel sick. Between them, they have ruined my life, made me an outcast and forced me to fight against the darkness alone. I can’t believe that we are going to make our way from London to Snowdonia on foot. It’s not like Salvatore doesn’t have the money to get a car, so we can drive there. The fact we are doing everything the hard way makes me feel like he is hiding something from me. After everything we have been through, I want to trust him, but something about this plan makes me question everything. As we make our way through the dark and misty streets of London, I can’t help but feel broken and resentful. Salvatore knows why I left my pack behind, yet he seems to be chasing some weird idea that my pack is hiding the veil. He doesn’t seem to understand that the only wo
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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
