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

I sat on our bed at the Ametyst Reigholt inn, hugging my knees to my chest. I knew I wasn’t waiting for long, but the seconds stretched agonizingly. 


Who was Leyna to Rowan? Why did she want to talk to him, and why did it need to be in private? I appreciated Rowan’s romantic gesture of holding my hands before he left, but it would’ve been easy for a man to know this would appease an insecure woman. 


I’d had some boyfriends before. While I never got naked with any of them, we had messed around. They’d always meant more to me than I did to them. To them, I was a novelty; the pretty rich-girl with a mysterious background. Then, once they got to know a little bit about the real me and my Ivory Kingdom “cult,” the novelty was gone. They’d either never date me but keep me around as a sexy pet, or date me and cheat on me.


Just because Rowan was a good king, it didn’t mean he was a good romance partner.


Chapter 34: Our Passions Burn