Golden Crimson Novels & Stories

I said. Sebastian turned, his eyes cautious. "Anna has been by my side for years, as close as a sister. Now that she's about to walk down the aisle, it's up to me, her big sis, to hook her up with the most epic wedding gift ever, so she can make her exit in style," I said, my voice steady and clear enough for everyone up front to catch every single word. "And now that Anna's expecting, she needs extra care and protection. All the prenatal vitamins, baby clothes–nothing's going to be missing from the Caruso household."

POV EMMA BELLE The grass of Aurum was not green. It was a shimmering, metallic gold that rippled in the wind like the surface of a sun-drenched lake. These were not mere plants; they were biological conductors, each blade vibrating with the "Hex-Resonance" we had established.

"Maybe, let me have two other color choices," I say and they shove me into a fitting stall with three choices: deep forest green, steel silver, and a golden yellow that shifts like warm sunlight when it catches the light. Out of pure spite, I don’t try the gold first. I try the green which turns out fine but doesn't give a wow factor and the silver washes me out completely I don't step out from the dressing room in either. With a sigh, I pull the gold over my head.

“Then it’s not just showing me what’s happened. It’s showing me what will.” Theo reached beside the table again and pulled out a second item from the leather folder. It was slim, bound in deep red linen, the corners worn with time. He hesitated before handing it to her. Her breath caught the moment she saw the title: The Crimson Letter By Isla Ward She stared at it, her hand hovering. “Where did you get this?” “I found it last year,” Theo said quietly. “Tucked behind the books in the library’s upper shelf. I didn’t know what it was at first. Just that it felt… wrong.”

My heart beats loud. Bang. Bang. Bang. Door. Big. Dark wood. Carved flowers. Lev opens it. Inside is a room. Not big, but rich. Everything shines. Sofa soft like clouds. Red cushions. Gold mirror on the wall. Big. Tall as me. Chandelier above with crystals. They catch light and throw rainbows. Smells like roses. Real roses. Red ones in a silver vase on a small table. Bottles too. Whiskey. Vodka. Glasses are clean and waiting.

I didn’t hear a single word they said. “Right, Candy?” Irina’s voice finally draws me out of my reverie. I turn to her, startled. “Huh?” “I’m asking what you think about this color palette? Emerald and gold?” Turning to Vivi, she continues. “You see my man loves gold.” My ears flicker up in surprise. “No, Axel doesn’t love gold. His favorite color is black so maybe you could incorporate that with gold?” I add without thought.

Set ≠8 with a tick. The maple leaves were dried and looked perfect, one reddish orange, two clear glass reflecting the white gold and yellow gold underneath. She had made a reddish orange small beaded chain mixed with yellow and white gold for this pendant. She boxed together the set as ticked ≠9 of the list.

But her eyes tracked me the way you watch something fragile near an edge. They showed me more. Greens like poison. Silvers like weapons. A gold so bright it looked like a warning. "That one." I pointed. Sharp cheekbones blinked. "The gold?" "No." I reached out. Touched a fabric the color of ash. Not gray exactly—deeper. The color of something that used to be on fire. Silence moved through all three of them at once. "That is—unconventional," she said finally. "I know." "The court will expect—"

But suddenly they appeared faded and pale. The green was still there, but it had been dulled as if someone had rubbed the edges with an eraser. And in the center, around the pup, there was something entirely different—gold. It was faint, but I could see it clearly as if someone had dipped a brush in molten sunlight and drawn a circle inside his iris. And it shimmered in the light enough that I knew I was not imagining it.

Its irises were stained in deep crimson, and underneath it was a small shade of gold. Eleanor stretched her hands. “Welcome back, Vladimir! Welcome back!”