The Liar's Crown Novels & Stories

Upon seeing how firm and unwavering I was, the crowd began to doubt themselves. Some dissenting voices could be heard. "She doesn't sound like she's lying. Why would she risk being thrown out of the Weatherby family by claiming to be the heiress?" "Yeah, look how emotional she is. Maybe what she's saying is true. It's unsurprising for powerful families to have unknown, dark secrets." "If Zadie is the true heiress, this is going to be quite a show."

Ashina sobbed, both hands locked over Maelor as if the moon might reach inside her and lift the child by name. Conri stepped forward until the barrier burned his boots, his face carved from horror and restraint. Bardolph went still. The poisoned bond between us turned blacker, pulsing once, twice, then pulling the crown’s whisper into my skull. I shook my head before the name fully formed, because some part of me already understood what the crown wanted. No. Not him. Not after every lie. Not after every wound. Not because I loved him. Not because I hated him. Not because the crown wanted one more broken bond to pay for power.

The Crown floated above the throne. Silver light poured from it endlessly. The ancient voice thundered through the chamber. "The unworthy shall never rule." The words echoed everywhere. Malrik stared at the Crown. Hatred twisted his face. Years...he had spent years chasing power. Years hunting Ariana, years searching for the kingdom. And the Crown had rejected him with a single touch. --- Then something unexpected happened. The Crown turned toward Ariana and Orion. The silver glow intensified. The guardians immediately knelt once more.

"It came from the king. It carries his power. It drew the shadow to her. Maybe it can draw the poison out of me." Cassian's eyes widened. "That could kill you. The crown is dark. It is made of the same stuff as the poison." "The poison is killing me anyway," I said. "I have nothing to lose." Cassian stood. He walked to the pedestal where Lorna's crown sat, its thorns still dark with dried blood. He picked it up, holding it away from his body as if it might bite him. The crown pulsed in his hands, dark light bleeding from the thorns.

Damon drifts toward center ice and stops at the logo. I follow. For a moment, we stand where the game began. Where so much between us almost ended. “Funny,” he says. “All that fighting over who gets the crown.” “And?” He looks at me fully. “There was only ever one.” The words hang there. Not competitive. Not sharp. Certain. Only one crown. And it doesn’t belong to one king. The arena lights dim slightly as the crew prepares to clean up. I feel his hand brush mine. Not by accident.

"He knew something about this crown. He spent whatever he had left carving it into rock for me. You are going to tell me what he knew, and you are going to tell me now, because I am done being protected from the truth of my own life." Carmen looked at the warning for a long moment, and then she gave me the last thing she had been keeping, and it was the heaviest of all. "The High Luna crown does not rule bonds," she said quietly. "That is the lie they teach. It does not command them from the outside. It takes them into itself. Into her. Every bond that passes through the crown's power passes through the woman wearing it." Her eyes were wet.

What's with that attitude, Victor? I looked at her and said, "You're appointing a man who was disbarred two years ago for a bribery scandal as the lead counsel for a cross-border merger. Is that how you show responsibility to your law firm, Ashley?" Eddie's eyes welled up right on cue. He lowered his head and softly whispered, "Forget it, Ashley. Mr. Wright clearly doesn't want me there, so I won't go. I don't want to be the reason you two fight."

The witch resurrected back the warlord through a passage door that was suddenly brought out from the magical mirror Lucy had stolen from her lover, Queen sekina. The skull and the heart joined together and the warlord appeared from a dark mist which had suddenly covered everywhere. He stood up naked from the circle with a staff in his hand and a crown on his head. He was clad in a long brown animal skin attire, covering his nude area just with a hand he stretched out .

I knelt in front of her, my hands gripping her face as I pressed my forehead against hers. "You're mine," I said, my voice raw. "No ancient law, no shadow princess, no cosmic bullshit will ever change that." "Yours," she agreed, her voice barely a whisper. "Only yours." The Void Crown materialized above the throne, hovering in midair like a promise. It was made of pure obsidian and silver, set with a single crimson jewel that pulsed with ancient power. The elders watched with hungry eyes as it descended toward Lilith's head.

It looked like something forged in hell. "I had it made for you," he said, eyes locked on mine. "Not some fragile princess crown. This is a weapon, like you. It cuts those who dare come close. It bleeds loyalty." "I... can't wear this." "You will." He stood, lifted the crown with both hands, and gently placed it on my head. Then leaned in and whispered against my lips, "Because tomorrow, when they all bow to the fake one—I'll bring the fire to the throne. And you'll rise from the ashes."