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 didn’t know the way to the dungeon, so I walked with Tulip in search of her kids. This wouldn’t look suspicious. I hadn’t met them yet; it stood to reason that she would want to introduce them to me, their aunt who had been presumed dead all this time. 


Along the dark metamorphic stone corridors of the Crimson Castle, we passed pairings of Ivory Soldiers who spoke quietly to one another. I recognized some I had brought from my trip to the Ivory Kingdom, and I knew I was seeing my plan in action; the word of rebellion was spreading. It just had to happen quickly, before Albus or the Ivory Court could catch anyone having these hushed treasonous conversations.


I noticed some of our smoke bombs hidden in the shadows behind different statues and columns.


“How much time do we have?” Tulip asked me when no one else was in sight. “Before everything starts?” Our click-clacking heels echoed in the empty corridor.


Chapter 56: For All This Time