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

Rowan and I returned to our inn room for privacy. He sat at the foot of the bed. I sat beside him.


 “So,” he began. “What is it that worries you?”


“Depends. What were you up to?” I didn’t want to get into it if I had completely misunderstood what he had traded his rings for at the jeweler’s table.


“I was…preparing for a possibility. Whether it’s the near or distant future, I’m likely to…encounter this possibility.” He was still trying to keep it a surprise. Or, he didn’t know how to answer when I had told him earlier that I didn’t want to know.


“You can just tell me,” I said. “If we have to have this conversation, just tell me.”


He grimaced. “I don’t want it to cheapen the moment that I ‘want’ to tell you.”


“I…guess we can talk around it.” I took a breath in preparation. Even though it seemed pretty obvious, I now had to go ahead and talk about what was bothering me without any confirmation that it was grounded in anything relevant.


Chapter 40: For A Future of Red