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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 72
Victor moved swiftly through the city streets, a blur in the darkness. His newfound power coursed through him, every sense heightened, every shadow a potential threat. The city he had protected for centuries now seemed smaller, more fragile than ever. He could feel the pulse of the city’s life, the distant echoes of mortal hearts beating, unaware of the storm that was about to descend.His mind, though sharper, struggled to reconcile the torrent of ancient memories and power with the part of him that had once been human. He could hear Elara’s words, a constant reminder: “Do not forget who you once were, or you may lose yourself completely.”But what if that part of him was already gone?Victor shook the thought from his mind. There was no time for doubt. Lucien had to be stopped. As he approached the heart of the city, the sky above began to darken unnaturally, thick clouds swirling into a storm. Lightning cracked in the distance, and the air grew heavy with the scent of blood.In the
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 73
Elara’s cries pierced through the encroaching darkness, pulling at the fragile threads of Victor’s awareness. He could feel the cold seeping into his bones, his body weakening with every second, but he couldn’t let go—couldn’t leave her. Not like this.As the last traces of his vision began to fade, something stirred deep within him, an ancient power buried far beneath the surface of his being. It wasn’t the destructive magic of Lucien, nor was it the bloodlust of his kind. This was something older, purer—a remnant of the life force that had sustained him through his centuries of existence.Elara’s hands were still gripping his shoulders, her tears falling onto his pale skin. He could hear her heart racing, the desperation in her voice as she pleaded with him to stay."Victor, please," she whispered. "You’ve survived so much. You’ve fought for so long. Don’t let it end like this. You have to come back to me."Her words echoed in the void, reverberating through the depths of his fading
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 74
Victor and Elara moved swiftly through the city streets, navigating the winding alleys and shadowed corners. The quiet tension of the morning was deceptive. Beneath the surface, they could feel the city’s pulse quickening, the unrest spreading as news of Lucien's death began to seep through the cracks. Factions would start vying for control, and the council’s invisible hand would soon make itself known.As they approached the central district, Victor turned to Elara. “We need to reach the House of Silver,” he said. “The lords there are loyal, but their loyalty is fragile. If we’re to unite the city, we must secure their support first.”Elara nodded. “The House of Silver is the wealthiest, aren’t they?”“Exactly,” Victor confirmed. “Their influence spreads far beyond their estate. They fund half the city’s infrastructure. If we can get them on our side, the other houses will follow. But be careful—Lady Silver is calculating. She will not ally herself with a sinking ship.”They quickene
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 75
As Victor and Elara stepped out into the cold night air, the feeling of being watched prickled at the back of Elara’s neck. She glanced over her shoulder but saw nothing out of the ordinary. The city had quieted down, the marketplace a shadow of its earlier bustling self. Still, the silence felt unnatural, heavy with an unseen threat.“Victor,” she said softly, her voice laced with concern. “Do you feel that?”He slowed his pace, eyes scanning the rooftops and narrow alleys around them. “We’re not alone,” he murmured, confirming her suspicions.In an instant, a figure stepped out of the shadows ahead of them, cloaked in black. His presence was almost ghostly, as though he had materialized from the darkness itself. More figures began to emerge from the alleyways, each one moving with silent, predatory grace. The council had sent their best—the Shadows.Victor’s eyes narrowed, and he stepped in front of Elara protectively. “The council’s hounds,” he said, his voice low. “They’ve come to
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 76
Victor's chest heaved as he pulled the bloodied sword from the Shadow leader's chest. His side throbbed with the deep wound, but there was no time to tend to it. Elara was in danger, and that single thought drove him forward.He ran through the alleyways, his vampire senses heightened, tracking her heartbeat amid the chaos of the city night. The echoes of the battle still rang in his ears, but he shut out the noise, focusing entirely on finding her.Suddenly, he felt a cold dread settle in his stomach. Elara’s heartbeat, which had been fast and frantic moments ago, now thudded slower—almost faint. His blood ran cold."Elara!" he shouted, racing down the dark street, pushing his body to its limits. He turned a corner and froze at the sight before him.Elara lay crumpled on the ground, unconscious, with the hooded Shadow looming over her, his sword raised for a final strike. Time seemed to slow as Victor’s eyes blazed with fury. Without hesitation, he charged, his sword raised high.The
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 77
cult. You don’t have to do this alone, Victor. Let me help you."He turned to face her, his ancient eyes reflecting a sadness that spanned lifetimes. "Elena, you don’t understand. This isn’t just about us. It’s about survival—for my people, for yours. If I let my guard down, if I allow myself to be distracted by feelings, the cost will be too high.""But isn't that what makes life worth living?" Elena insisted, her voice filled with frustration. "What’s the point of ruling for centuries if you don’t allow yourself to feel anything real?"Victor looked at her, a trace of vulnerability crossing his face. "I’ve felt more than you could ever know, Elena. And I’ve lost more than I care to remember. I won’t allow myself to lose again."Elena stepped closer, defiant. "You’re not the only one who’s lost, Victor. We all have. But that doesn’t mean we stop trying to live."Victor took a deep breath, his voice softening. "This life... it’s not like yours. I’ve seen kingdoms rise and fall, watche