The Crown of Myth

By Mira Crest

If school is hell, Sophia and Audrey are definitely demons.

There's no point in living. One more step off the cliff and all this hell would end.

It's said that when one makes a wish under the full moon, one's dream will come true. It's supposedly just a dumb legend.

 

But when a fae appears and escorts her to a dazzling fairy tale world where a charming fae prince awaits her, Myth knows it's more than a legend. Myth is foretold to be the princess of the fairy tale kingdom called Yearning.

However, her new role is not as simple as it seems, and secrets and dangers lurk behind this new world.

Will Myth uncover the truth in time or be doomed to a fate worse than death?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mira Crest
• Release date: Apr 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201062453

Mira Crest

Mira Crest is a self-published YA fantasy author who loves writing action and adventure young adult fantasy romance with engaging mysteries, unique worldbuilding, and deep themes. Her stories usually revolve around strong female protagonists that set out on elaborate and perilous quests to unravel the mystery behind their dark magical enemies.

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Other Books by Mira Crest:

Princess League Series (YA Fairytale Fantasy Romance)

The Hidden Princess (Cinderella retelling)

The Silent Princess (Little Mermaid retelling)

The Slave Princess (Aladdin retelling)

The Hunted Princess (Beauty & the Beast retelling)

The Cursed Princess (Sleeping Beauty retelling)

Other Series

Land of Shifters Book 2 : Revenge

Meragon Book 1: Mermaid’s Destiny

Soul Mates Book 1: Soul Mates

Non-Series 

The Torn Fairy (New Adult Fairytale Fantasy)

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I

Wish Upon A Moon

The moon was high overhead , a perfect circle of brilliance fractured into rainbows by the tears clouding Myth Clearwater’s eyes. She wiped them with the back of her hand and walked to the edge of the cliff, shivering as the wind whipped her hair. The leaves of the trees whispered in voices she couldn't understand, but in her mind it was Sophia, the girl she had once called her best friend.

It’s a good thing your parents named you Myth, since you may as well not exist, she had said, just before she and Ethan had tricked Myth into humiliating herself in front of the whole school.

Myth’s family wasn't any better. She knew they thought she was pathetic and useless. When she was gone, she told herself with clenched fists, they would be sorry. They’d wish they treated her better.

Unless they wouldn’t, she thought, a fresh wave of despair bringing her nearly to her knees. Tears poured down her face in hot streams. The truth was that no one would miss her. But at least... at least she wouldn’t be a burden anymore, and the pain that she’d been carrying inside herself for months would be over. Her heart lightened at the idea of freedom, and she looked over the edge of the cliff again. Far below, the ocean crashed against the rocks in a spray of white foam.

Would it hurt? she wondered, a nauseous fear twisting her stomach. It was such a long way down, she figured death would be instant. The thought that she might be horribly injured but survive wasn’t at all appealing. That would only mean more doctors, more tests, more being a nuisance. She took a shuddering breath. It was now or never. The moon shone down, and it felt like the light struck her full in the face for one blessed moment. In her head, her grandmother’s voice spoke out of memory.

The stories say that in our times of greatest need, the full moon will grant wishes, the most desperate desires of our hearts.

Myth looked up into the sky. She was only five the first time she heard that story. That night she had wished for a pony. Of course, it hadn't come true. Believing in that sort of thing was stupid and childish. But she couldn't stop herself from hoping that someone would come to rescue her. Someone who would take her broken heart and put it back together. She wished for it with every fiber of her being, even as she scolded herself for being silly. It was time to stop putting off the inevitable.

She turned her face back to the dark water and swallowed. The tears began to flow again.

This was it, the end of her life.

Her foot slid forward, dislodging a pebble, which bounced off the rocks and down into the water, the sound drowned by the wind and waves. But another noise did reach her ears, as if out of a dream, bells jingling in the forest behind her. She turned her head, unsure whether she had imagined it, and the wind changed direction, pushing at her as if it were holding her back from the edge.

The sound was getting closer.

She backed away from the cliff, turning to face the trees. Now there was another noise amongst the musical tinkle of bells, a rhythmic clopping sound that she couldn’t immediately place, and as she stared into the darkness, a shape seemed to materialize in the shafts of silver moonlight shining through the branches.

It was a carriage. Like straight out of a fairytale or a Disney movie, a carriage of green and silver that shone with its own light, drawn by four silver-white horses.

The thought occurred to her that she must have already jumped, and this was the angels coming to take her to heaven. Either that or this was all a dream she was having. She’d always been told that suicides lead to hell.

Despite her fear and doubt, her feet were drawn forward, toward the improbable vehicle, and it trundled down a path she was sure hadn’t been there before, rolling to a stop just a few feet away.

Myth waited, her heart in her throat. Whatever was happening, she knew it was important. The door of the carriage opened, a pale hand briefly visible in the window, and someone peered out, a slender, ethereal being of indeterminate gender. Their expression was alight with curiosity and joy. Lady Myth? Is it truly you?

Despite knowing she was alone, Myth found herself looking around for the person being addressed. Surely this strange person couldn’t be looking for her. There was a long, uncomfortable silence.

Er... My name is Myth, she finally answered, biting her lip. The person in the carriage grinned, clapping their hands in childlike glee. They leaped to the ground and bowed low.

You are the one! I am your humble servant, Quince Briardream. I’ve come to take you home. Myth could see now that Quince was female, with wild golden curls and impossibly wide green eyes. She looked like she couldn't be older than twelve, but at the same time there was an air of calculating intelligence in her eyes that didn't belong to a child.

I don't understand, Myth said, frowning. Back to my parents’ house?

No, silly, Quince replied. To Yearning. We’ve been waiting for you for ages, the prince especially. I'm supposed to take you to him. Myth didn’t move. Of course, this couldn't be real. Do you have something better to be doing? Quince asked with a musical giggle.

No... Myth answered cautiously. This was like one of those kidnappings her parents always warned her about, only much, much stranger. But it couldn't be worse than here, could it? Than dying or going back to face school again. She shuddered. How did you even find me? Where is Yearning?

Your suffering has drawn the prince’s eye. He only wants to give you the happiness that you deserve. As for Yearning, you will see when I bring you there. Quince’s expression was challenging. Myth found herself taking a step forward.

Will I ever be able to come back here? Not that she wanted to return, but it helped to know whether this was a reversible decision.

When the full moon ends, Quince assured her. Now come. We can’t keep the prince waiting.

Myth only hesitated a minute more before following Quince into the carriage. No one would miss her, after all.

The woods seemed eerily silent now that the wind had died away. She sat down across from Quince. The cushions were comfortable, made of soft green velvet, and Myth ran her hand over them as the carriage began to move. How long will it take to get to Yearning?

Quince grinned. Her teeth were much pointier than a human’s. We do not measure time in the same way that mortals do. But I would say it is not a long journey.

Silence fell. Normally, Myth would have said she preferred the quiet, but Quince was staring at her with keen interest that made Myth feel like a bug under a magnifying glass. But what could she even say? She wasn’t even sure this was real; it didn’t feel right to make small talk, and Quince didn’t seem inclined to answer questions.

To escape her feelings of awkwardness, Myth looked out the window.

The night sky was a tapestry of colors, violet and emerald and cobalt. It reminded her of photos she’d seen of the aurora, except covering the whole sky. The moon hung low on the horizon, larger and closer than she’d ever seen it, but all of the light came from the millions of stars sprayed across the night, bright as fireworks. If this wasn’t all a dream, and Myth wasn’t convinced that was true, then they were no longer on Earth. Her heart fluttered with a mix of elation and fear.

She turned to Quince, who was staring up at the roof of the carriage, humming under her breath. Is the sky always like this? Myth asked.

Quince blinked. The sky? It is the sky... constant and ever-changing, she replied with a grin. But if you look out the window, you can see Yearning now.

Myth looked outside. It was as if the carriage had leaped ahead the moment she’d turned away. Instead of a rough trail through a dark evergreen forest, they now traveled down a wide boulevard lined with hedges. Colored lights twinkled among the leaves, lines of light leading ahead and behind, and beyond the hedges lay fields of flowers and trees laid out in neat rows. The air was sweet and fragrant with the scent of blossoms. And far ahead, at the edge of Myth’s vision, was a city silhouetted against the horizon.

At least, she thought it was a city. It seemed to have grown mostly upward rather than outward, judging by the dark spires and twinkling lights that rose high into the sky. Yearning is a city?

It is the city, Quince replied. Myth sighed. It was as close to an answer as she was going to get. The carriage continued forward, perhaps more quickly than before, and Myth could start to make out details, banners waving in the breeze, high arched bridges and graceful towers, colored lanterns hanging in trees and along the eaves. Faint threads of music reached her ears.

It’s beautiful, she said wistfully. It was too good to be true, but at the same time, too strange for her to have imagined it. She looked to her right, and she could just make out the glint of water in the distance. Was that the ocean? More interesting was a tall, dark tower, standing a short way from the walls of the city. Something about it gave Myth the shivers.

What's that over there?

Quince peered out the window and shrugged. Nothing but an old ruin.

Just then, a bell rang high and clear, answered by smaller bells ringing in harmony all around the city.

We’ve been sighted by the watchtower, Quince said, clapping in delight. Your people are preparing to welcome you home. Myth swallowed.

My people? She wasn’t good with people, especially in large groups, and the fact that they would be waiting for her, expecting things, made her heart pound unpleasantly.

Of course, Quince said easily, either not noticing her distress or not caring. You are our princess. Or you will be, once you are crowned.

Myth’s palms were sweaty. But... I don’t know anything about being a princess. Are you sure you have the right person? I mean... I'm just a normal girl.

Being a princess of Yearning requires no special knowledge or training. The prince has been watching you for some time. If he says you are a princess, then you are. It is as simple as that, Quince said. The carriage rolled through an ornate silver gate and into the city itself, down the streets dyed in rainbows of color by the lanterns. Already people had lined up to watch the carriage pass, and more were arriving every minute. A child waved at Myth, and she found herself waving back.

The street led up and up in a loose spiral, and the crowd was only growing thicker and louder. Princess Myth! Welcome princess! How is it they know her name? Confetti and streamers fell through the air like rain. Finally, they reached Yearning’s highest point, and the carriage rolled through another gate, this one made of something black and iridescent, before coming to a lurching stop.

We’ve arrived, Quince said cheerfully, jumping to her feet and throwing open the carriage door. Are you ready to meet the prince?

No, Myth thought, clenching her fists to stop them from shaking. She would never be ready for this, but she couldn't stay in the carriage forever either. She nodded because she felt unable to speak. Quince hopped to the ground, and held out her hand, beaming. There was nothing Myth could do but allow herself to be led forward. They walked down a thick violet carpet, lined on both sides by more graceful beings dressed in flowing garments of silk and velvet. She could feel their eyes on her, their expressions smiling but strangely intense, and at the end of the carpet was the steps leading to a magnificent building that she could only assume was the palace.

There was a figure standing there, and as they moved closer, Myth could see that it was a man. Not just any man, but possibly the most beautiful man she’d ever seen, dressed in black and silver with raven hair falling down his back in waves. He descended the last two steps as they approached.

Lady Myth, you are even more enchanting in person, he said, taking her hands in his own. I am Vesper, the Prince of Yearning. His voice was like