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THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 68
The council chamber grew quieter as the members of the House of Voss settled into their seats. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows on the ancient stone walls, creating an atmosphere thick with tension. Victor stood tall at the center of the room, aware that his every word would be scrutinized, every move analyzed. Isolde, ever watchful, remained close by, ready for whatever may come.Lady Voss's gaze lingered on him for a moment before she spoke again. "Tell us, Prince Victor, how exactly do you intend to stop Lucien? He has the strength of several covens behind him, not to mention his relentless ambition."Victor took a deep breath. "Lucien thrives on chaos. His strength lies in manipulation, in dividing and conquering. But he underestimates one thing—the unity that can be forged when those who value order come together. He may have the numbers, but his alliances are fragile. They’re based on fear, not loyalty.""And you believe that by uniting the remaining covens, you can
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 69
Victor moved swiftly through the city’s hidden corridors, where shadows clung to the walls like old memories. The underground passageways beneath the city were a secret only the oldest vampires knew, and they would provide the cover needed for his forces to gather unnoticed. His thoughts raced, filled with the weight of the council’s trust and the looming threat of Lucien’s ambition.As he stepped into the meeting chamber where his most trusted allies awaited him, the air was thick with tension. Isolde, already present, stood by the entrance, directing the others with precision and efficiency. Victor’s eyes swept the room, taking in the faces of those who would fight by his side—warriors, strategists, and spies who had sworn loyalty to him centuries ago. He caught Isolde’s eye, and she gave him a nod of assurance, though her face betrayed a flicker of worry.Victor cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Lucien is on the move. His forces are converging on the city as we spe
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 70
Victor’s body tensed as the circle of enemies closed in around him, their fangs gleaming in the dim light of the underground base. Cassandra stood behind them, her smirk widening as she watched. Victor had faced impossible odds before, but this was different. Lucien had anticipated every move, turning the city into a labyrinth of traps.Without hesitation, Victor charged forward, striking down the first few vampires with swift, calculated blows. His hands moved like lightning, breaking necks and driving stakes into the hearts of those who dared come too close. He was a force of nature, a blur of violence and power.But for every vampire he felled, two more took their place."Come on, Victor!" Cassandra taunted from the edge of the chaos. "Show me that legendary strength. I’ve waited centuries to see you fall."Victor didn’t respond. His mind raced, calculating his next move. He needed to escape—he couldn’t win this fight, not here. Not yet. Lucien had the advantage in numbers, and the
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 71
Victor's fall felt eternal, the weightless abyss swallowing him whole as he plummeted into the unknown. The darkness was thick, suffocating, but the sense of Lucien’s victory burned deeper than any physical wound. His brother had always been two steps ahead, always calculating, always orchestrating Victor’s downfall.With a bone-jarring crash, Victor hit the ground. Pain shot through his body, but his centuries of experience and resilience allowed him to rise swiftly, despite the disorientation. He surveyed his surroundings—an underground cavern, ancient and sprawling, lit by the soft glow of crystals embedded in the walls. This was no accident. Lucien had planned for him to fall here, but why?Victor's breath steadied, his eyes adjusting to the gloom. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something else—something older. He ran his fingers along the walls, feeling the pulse of ancient magic coursing through the stones. This place had power.Suddenly, a voice echoed throug
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 1: The Eternal Watcher
The night air was thick with the scent of rain, the city below teeming with life as its inhabitants went about their business, oblivious to the ancient eyes that watched over them. From the penthouse suite of Blackwood Tower, Victor Blackwood gazed out over the sprawling metropolis, his sharp features illuminated by the soft glow of city lights. The rain streaked down the glass, blurring the world outside, much like the memories that haunted him.Victor—or Aiden Thorne, as he had once been known—was not a man in the traditional sense. He was a vampire, an immortal being who had walked the earth for over a thousand years. In that time, he had seen empires rise and fall, had dined with kings and whispered into the ears of tyrants. Yet, as the centuries passed, he had learned to adapt, to remain hidden in plain sight. He had become Victor Blackwood, a reclusive billionaire with a reputation for ruthless business acumen and an enigmatic past.Tonight, however, something was different. A s
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 2: Shadows of the Past
Clara Hastings sat in the dimly lit corner of her favorite café, her laptop glowing softly as she typed furiously. The article she was working on was meant to expose corruption within the city’s political elite, a story that had been months in the making. But tonight, her focus wavered, her thoughts drifting to the enigmatic Victor Blackwood.Victor had been a mystery she hadn’t intended to unravel. He was the city’s most elusive billionaire, known for his immense wealth and influence but guarded in a way that intrigued her. In her line of work, Clara had encountered plenty of powerful men, but none had captivated her like Victor. There was something about him—something dark, dangerous, and deeply hidden.Her investigation into The Order of the Dawn had been a separate project, one rooted in whispers of secret societies and urban legends. She had stumbled upon the name while researching an entirely different story, and her curiosity had led her down a rabbit hole of ancient conspiraci
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 3: Revelations
The car raced through the darkened streets, the city lights flashing by in a blur. Clara sat in the passenger seat, her hands trembling as she tried to make sense of what had just happened. Victor’s grip on the steering wheel was tight, his eyes focused ahead, every muscle in his body tense.“Victor, what just happened back there?” Clara’s voice was shaky, a mix of fear and confusion lacing her words.“They found us,” Victor replied, his voice steady but edged with urgency. “The Order has been hunting me for centuries, and now they’ve made their move.”“Hunting you? Why? What are you?” Clara asked, her mind still reeling from the sight of Victor’s supernatural speed, his glowing eyes, and the way he had fought off the attackers with an inhuman strength.Victor didn’t answer immediately, his jaw clenched as he maneuvered the car through the narrow streets. Finally, he spoke, his tone softer, almost regretful. “I didn’t want you to find out like this. But you deserve the truth, even if
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 4: Whispers in the Dark
The road stretched endlessly into the night, winding through dense forests and steep hills, as the city’s lights faded behind them. The silence in the car was thick, filled with unspoken fears and unanswered questions. Clara’s thoughts raced, tangling with memories of the night’s events and the shocking revelation about Victor. Beside her, Victor drove with a steady focus, his eyes trained on the road ahead, yet Clara could sense the turmoil simmering beneath his calm exterior.Hours passed in silence, the hum of the car’s engine the only sound breaking the stillness. Finally, Victor spoke, his voice low but clear. “We’re almost there. The safe house is just beyond these woods.”Clara nodded, her eyes scanning the darkened landscape. “What exactly is this place? And why can’t The Order reach us there?”“It’s an old manor, one of the few places left that’s protected by ancient magic,” Victor explained. “Wards have been placed around it, shielding it from those who seek to harm us. The