I circled him slowly, tracing my fingertips along his back, ribs, and stomach. His hair stood and I saw other clear signs of arousal, but I knew I could do better. I wanted him to beg - for what, I didn't yet know. He would tell me, and I would use it against him.

"Scarlet," he whispered, voice heavy with need.

I kissed his cheek.

My purpose was to serve the Ivory Kingdom. Be their sacrificial princess; enter the Other world; seduce our enemy, Rowan the Crimson King. I did all of these things. Now he would take me to the Crimson Gates and unwittingly break the banishment curse on my kingdom. My kingdom would invade his overnight. But he wasn't the monster I was told he would be. He was precious, playful, and all things good. I didn't want to betray him, but I didn't know what else to do.

18+ for sexual content
TW: mild violence; substance-induced psychosis; recovery from cult/mental abuse.

Of What is Red is created by Diana Regolizio, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Of What is Red

Hours passed and Rowan hadn’t returned yet. Fifi and Jasper had lives outside of entertaining royalty, and I insisted that they not worry about me if they had other things to do.


I joined them outside, where they weeded their field of leafy root vegetables - ones I wouldn’t have been able to identify even if they had originated on Earth. Wanting to make myself useful, I joined.


Fifi and Jasper exchanged a look of contained excitement and I could guess what it was about. I was royalty and I was helping them - just like Rowan was royalty and would do the same. 


Fifi and Jasper were shipping us ‘hard.’


"I don’t know much about Rowan,” I admitted, kneeling in an overskirt apron Fifi let me borrow to protect my dress. I noticed the tiny thorns in the weeds we pulled. In the thick fabric gloves my hosts had me wear, I felt invincible, the material impervious to the weeds’ defenses. I never knew I would enjoy taking advantage of this, even if weeding was a tedious task.


Chapter 30: With Just One Touch