      If you are looking for some Romantasy books to sink your teeth into, then check out these books. Available at all major retailers.
0 Comments
 Romantasy and romance books are not that different in terms of tropes, though some will work better than others in a fantasy setting.
Here is a list of some of the most popular tropes -
Many of these tropes cross easily over into fantasy. Enemies to lovers could focus on two rival supernatural clans, forced to work together. Bodyguard romance could focus on a Fae princess and her bodyguard. The possibilities are endless and you can combine tropes to add to the story. Tropes when done right are a great way to draw in readers who love books with similar themes, but it is important to look for some new angles. Putting enough of a twist on a common trope can really make your book stand out. But don't overdo it. Choose two, maybe three tropes and work with them. One example could be a princess is in an arranged marriage, but ends up being kidnapped by a rival clan. There is the option of forced close proximity here or even a love triangle. A fun way might be to write down tropes on individual pieces of paper and picking them at random to use in a story. It can be a fun writing exercise. Happy writing!  What is the difference between Romantasy and Fantasy with Romance?
Simply put in a Romantasy book, the romance is pivotal to the plot. In a Fantasy with Romance, the romance is an extra layer to the story. Much in the same way that Paranormal Romance focuses on the romance element too. Your Romantasy novel can contain all the usual romantic tropes, but is set in a fantasy setting or features fantasy creatures in a real world setting. Some of the most popular examples are Sarah J. Maas and Holly Black. It was only a few of years ago that Romantasy properly took off, mostly thanks to Maas. While her A Court of Thorns and Roses series does get mixed reviews, there is no doubt that it really pushed the genre into the spotlight. Many Romantasy books followed from both published and indie authors. So what else can we expect from these books?
Happy writing!  Admit it. You love a good villain love story! I know I do.
This trope has been used in many stories over the years, where the villain falls for the hero, and it changes them for the better. Some popular examples are Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Damon from Vampire Diaries and Captain Hook from Once Upon A Time. So what makes it so appealing? For me personally, I like seeing the villain falter. When they go to act on instinct and then stop because they know that it won't be well received by the hero. Of course the fact that they realize this, shows that they are fully aware that their actions are wrong, but they do it anyway. We do love a good villain in a story, but I think seeing them grow and change is interesting. They may start off trying to kill the hero or at the very least hating them, but somewhere along the way, they fall for them. Forced proximity is often used, along with a bigger villain threatening them all which makes them join forces. I am a fan of the trope myself, I even released a set earlier this years called Villains Need Love Too. It was a limited set so sadly it has been taken down, but the premise was a villain falling for either a hero or another villain. It was fun to write and it allows you to go to darker places as a writer. Villains don't care about the rules or doing the right thing and often when they first help the hero, they have no choice in the matter. Over time they get closer to the hero and they usually get together. Can I share an unpopular opinion though? I don't think a lot of the villains deserve their 'happy ending'. Not all, but some of them don't. While I think it is important that they change, the fact that it comes from their feelings for another person makes it seem like that changes is dependent on them. In other words, if they break up or the hero dies, what is stopping them from simply returning to how they were before? That's not true change in my eyes. That is restraining yourself to please someone else. A great example of both sides is Stefan and Damon Salvatore from the Vampire Diaries - the show, not the books - because they show two sides of the same coin. Stefan changed on his own, he stuck to it and even after his relationship with Elena ended, he didn't return to being the villain. His growth wasn't dependent on her. Damon's, however, was. When Elena went into her magical coma, he immediately started killing again. While they would be separated, he was going to see her again eventually. Yet he did it anyway. I know the ending of that show was altered to have a 'happy' ending, but I don't believe Damon should have survived. I think he should have died with Stefan. I know there are some hardcore Spuffy shippers out there too, but I think that was the right ending for Spike. I don't think the two of them belonged together. Of course there was a lot going on behind the scenes and certain scenes should never have happened. However, one of my favorite shows - Once Upon A Time - has Captain Hook get his happy ending and I do think he deserved that. I think falling for Emma made him care again, but it wasn't contingent on them being together. He did try to be better. So while I love a good villain love story, I believe the villain really has to want to change for themselves and not for another person. They can start them on their journey, but it is up to the villain to keep themselves on it. I do notice that in most cases villains are male. So a special mention to Regina from Once Upon A Time. She had a long journey back from being a villain, but it was shown in a way that was believable and her redemption was earned. I think that shows a well developed character, that it is not a case of I've fallen for someone and now I'm going to be a good guy. It is not as simple as that. The villain must fight against their own instincts and work on themselves constantly in order to prevent themselves from slipping back. These are definitely points to consider if you are writing a villain love story. And please do write some female villains! There aren't enough to read about. Happy writing!  In my first foray into romantasy, I’m kicking it into high gear with monster RH that has plenty of smut and, um, interesting appendages. I personally am a fan of humanoid-looking monsters (walking on 2 legs, a mostly discernible face, just like under the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, you could vaguely discern human eyes in a creature’s face). So this is how I came up with my monsters for Evynn to meet in Demonic Dynasty. Come meet the men! Lyone Aamonson leads the trio of half-demon monsters. He is the most human of them all, as his mother was an unnamed witch the trio’s father, a demon named Aamon, attacked twenty-five years ago, just in time for birthing season. He tries his hardest to keep his human features on display — long, golden curls, green eyes, goatee — however, his demon side is strong and breaks out at will, giving him shiny, almost iridescent black skin, silver eyes, fangs, wings, and horns that can go into extremely interesting places, as Evynn will find out quickly. Corel Aamonson is half elven, and while he looks humanoid, it is clear he isn’t human. When possible, he prefers a good mix of elven and demonic features. Elves’ faces are extremely “Uncanny Valley”. Stretched cheeks, pointed nose, elongated and pointed ears. His skin glows a pale jade green with black veins running through all over his body. He likes to let his horns just peek out of the top of his head. He can control parts of nature with his magic, and likes to use vines, thorns, and more while “playing” with Evynn, while his elven tongue can sometimes have a mind of its own. Finally, we have Pardus Aamonson, who wonders what their shared father was thinking when he impregnated a panther shifter while in her panther form. This anomaly, since shifters typically breed while in human forms, caused him to look more like a cat than a person. His body is lightly covered in dark brown, almost black, fur, and his face is a mix of feline and human. His eyes, however, remain a demonic silver. His hands work like hands, but he can extend his claws like a large cat. His tail serves as a second appendage for pleasure, he can both give and receive through it. And like all male cats, his cock is barbed, not for her pleasure (or is it?). I hope you come meet the Aamonson men and join them on their journey to become full demons! Pre-order: https://books2read.com/demonicdynasty1 Find S.L. Sinclair: Links: https://www.amazon.com/stores/S.L.-Sinclair/author/B097QPHSZN https://instagram.com/readslsinclair (3) S.L. Sinclair's Sinners | Facebook (5) Facebook S.L. Sinclair Books - BookBub S.L. Sinclair (Author of The Family Firm) https://substack.com/@partnersincrimebookservices  About S.L. Sinclair
S.L. Sinclair is a dark romance and taboo author fascinated with human sexuality, murder, and psychology. Beyond Her Duties was her first release, which made her an international bestseller. Followed by the surprise smash hit The Family Firm, cementing her in the dark and taboo genres of romance. They’re part of the LGBT+ community as bisexual and nonbinary and uses she/they pronouns. When not writing, she’s watching horror movies and has her nose buried in whatever book is closest. Sometimes she actually goes outside. Also by S.L. Sinclair Beyond Her Duties (MF) The Family Firm (RH) The Family Secret (RH) The Family Fortune (RH) Wife For Hire (MF) Call Me Danger (RH) Don’t Get Me Twisted (RH) Please Love Me (MMMM) Unbiased (RH) Perfect Martinis (MF) Acts of Contrition (MF)  1) Tell us about your Romantasy book/series The Heart of a Dragon Series started out with an idea I got from a premade cover. I knew I wanted to write about dragons and I saw an incredible cover online from Burning Phoenix Covers by Trish. As you can see above, the cover shows a dragon shifter in a graveyard. The idea started to form from that. The main character, Seraphina, is injured in a fight and loses her memory. She is saved by a vampire called Victor. They try to figure out who she was before her fall. Over the course of the books, Seraphina recovers her memory and tries to find the man who murdered her family. She and Victor fall for each other but it isn't smooth sailing. He lies to her to try and protect her and Seraphina isn't the forgiving type! 2) Are you a fan of a certain trope when it comes to romance such as enemies to lovers? If so, why? I do like enemies to lovers, but in the case of this series it is more wary acquaintances to begin with. They have to build trust and that is not easy for my main character. I do like forced proximity too where two characters have no choice but to work together. 3) What is your favorite fantasy creature or supernatural being to write about and why? I like to write about a range of creatures. Dragons obviously and I have a wolf in my next series. I don't like to be tied to one. In another series I have planned I will be writing about witches. 4) Who are your favorite Romantasy authors? I don't have a specific author I would read all the time, but I have read some good books from llona Andrews and Stacia Stark. 5) What is next for you? I am writing a new series called Grimm Descendant which will feature a woman who is the current descendant of the Brothers Grimm. She is given a job guarding a magical library and working beside hot Henri. It will feature fairytale characters, magic, witches and the Big Bad Wolf.  Addison Sinclair is a UK author who writes paranormal fantasy books featuring dragons, fantastical creatures and even the Big Bad Wolf himself.
A huge book nerd, you will often find her reading or doodling in her many, many notebooks.  I have always been a big fan of romance, but I especially love enemies to lovers romance. It is so much fun to write. Having the two main characters distrustful of each other or outright enemies who then fall for each other really adds another layer to a Romantasy story. For my Tempest Knox series the main character, Tempest, is right to be suspicious of Will. He is a former witch hunter and she's a witch! Not a great start. I put the characters in the position where they are forced to work together. Will does start off as manipulative as he tries to free himself from a curse, but he soon falls for Tempest. Of course there are issues along the way, including Tempest's actual love interest! It does take time for them to get together, but I think that makes it more realistic. I do hate when a romance is rushed. It has to be earned and believable to the audience. In the fifth and final book of this series, we see exactly how far Will has come when he goes to extraordinary lengths to save Tempest. No one loves a villain turned good more than me and it helped to have Will's backstory on why he did the things he did. He was abandoned by his mother and raised by a violent father. He ran away and joined the witch hunters, thinking he had found his place in the world, but soon discovered he was just power hungry. It was important to show how much he had grown over the course of the series. It has taken me a while to complete this series, I started it a decade ago! I am not a particularly fast writer, but I always finish what I started lol. If you love Romantasy books, the series is available now on Amazon and the final book will be released in the summer.  Kat Gracey writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels featuring her two favorite supernatural beings - witches and werewolves.
She currently resides in the UK, where she enjoys yoga and catching up on her favorite shows. You can learn more about her books via her website: www.witchesandwerewolves.co.uk  How I Write Romance as an Ace-Spec Author © Sarina Langer 2025 Disclaimer: while I am an author on the ace spectrum myself, my experience is but one of many. The spectrum is vast. I have written this post from my own perspective, and I’ve had several ace-spec friends chime in, too, to make it as inclusive as I could. If something below doesn’t match your experience, that’s okay. It doesn’t make your experience (or anyone’s, any less valid. So that we’re all on the same page, let me start with an explanation: what does ace-spec mean? Simply put, ace-spec describes people on the asexual spectrum. This is someone who either doesn’t feel sexual attraction to people full stop (more on the ace end) or who does feel sexual attraction but only once an emotional connection has been established (the demi end). This is different to someone who prefers not to sleep with someone until they’ve built more of a connection. To someone on the ace-spectrum, everyone is equally attractive/unattractive—we’re just not into you no matter how pretty you may be. To complicate things a little: aesthetic attraction is a thing, but it doesn’t mean we want to sleep with you. So, we might think you’re pretty, it just doesn’t do anything sexually attractive for us (or, for some people, it does very rarely). You might liken it to an art gallery: you might see a pretty painting, but that doesn’t mean you want to take it home and nail it to the wall. I hope that clears things up. If you want to learn more, there are plenty of great books out there that dive into all the details we don’t have time for here. (If I may recommend one: Ace Voices by Eris Young is a good start.) Now, you might be wondering how someone on the ace spectrum writes romance or sex when it’s not something many of us are all that interested in (I’m generalising - it’s called a spectrum for a reason). By the time I realised I was demi, I’d already been writing and publishing for roughly eight years. The entire time, romance either didn’t exist in my stories or it wasn’t a priority, more of a side story that developed slowly. My main characters just weren’t that bothered about dating or sex, and they’ve always needed a strong emotional connection before they developed any feelings or found anyone attractive. Folks, my characters knew we were demi and didn’t tell me. Some of my readers might have had an inkling, too: I once got a comment from someone who’d read two of my stories and praised the ace representation (this was before I knew), so I saw the comment and just thought ‘oh wow, that’s great, I didn’t know I did that but yay!’ and moved on. Now that I know, however, representing the ace spectrum (and really the whole rainbow, but we’re talking about ace-specs today) is really important to me. We see various romance tropes on TV and in books all the time, and it’s usually about how handsome, beautiful, and unbearably hot the characters are. Book covers with half-naked guys come to mind (sorry, but those do literally nothing for me; if anything, I find them extremely off-putting; I don’t even know this dude’s name yet and he’s already got his shirt off? wtf?? calm down, hun). If that doesn’t fit with your own orientation, though, it’s harder to see yourself in those characters. So, I’m more focussed in the way I write romance and sex now. I can make sure my ace-spec readers feel seen and understood, whether they’re straight, bi, gay, pan, etc. (and yes, you can be any of those and ace/demi at the same time—but that’s another post we don’t have time for today). As a demisexual author, I write romance slowly, and rarely as the focus of the story. It takes a lot for my characters to develop feelings for someone. They never know if or when it might happen. People seeing someone pretty and wanting to have sex with them because of it? My characters and I don’t feel that. Since I started writing my debut novel around 2015, I’ve written romance the only way it made sense to me (who doesn’t?), though I didn’t realise until 2023 just how much I had in common with my characters. Once the feelings are there, though… Then, and only then, does the attraction hit. Not having sex before the emotional connection has formed isn’t a preference—the interest and sexual attraction simply aren’t there any earlier. I’ve had a few readers comment on how sudden it seems—rest assured, it’s sudden for me and my characters, too. My characters have no control (and I mean no control) over who they’ll end up finding sexually attractive. Here’s a comparison for my fellow gamers: falling in love as a demi-sexual only happens when the other person has completed a very specific set of secret side quests, except we don’t know what those are either. Unconditional trust, mutual respect, and communication are the bare minimum. Once the secret achievements have been unlocked, it’ll either hit us or it won’t. We have no control over this. Likewise, I don’t always know who my characters will fall in love with. Sometimes I think I know when I’m still plotting the story, but then I write it and my characters just don’t see each other that way, or they might but they’re not there yet. That’s fine. Other times it surprises me as much as it surprises my characters. It’s also important to me to show different kinds of intimacy in my writing. In current media, intimacy is often equated to sex, but there are so many ways to be intimate. Your characters might hold each other after a rough day—no expectations around sex, only snuggles for the sake of snuggling, and it’ll be everything. They might have a deep conversation without judgement and support each other unconditionally. They can be vulnerable with each other in whatever way is relevant in that moment. Intimacy doesn’t have to be physical—it can be emotional or even spiritual, too. It all counts. So, you’ll see a lot of slow-burn romances in my books, and not a single instance of ‘that stranger is hot, want’. My main characters and I don’t relate to that. It actually feels really foreign to us. This isn’t to say I write the same thing, over and over. As writers, we should push ourselves, so I’ll try to write out of that comfort zone on occasion. I’ve written bloody battles where magic gets flung around left and right, too, and I’ve never been in one of those. (shocking, I know) It’s a lot harder for me, though, to write two main characters who see each other once, immediately fall in love because of their good looks, and then get married. I wouldn’t know where to start with their thought processes. So, writing main characters like that wouldn’t feel very authentic, and I don’t think I could do it very convincingly. It’s easier with side characters, where I don’t need to go into detail beyond ‘I saw her and knew she was the one’. My main characters and I will be happy for said side characters, we’ll just also be confused. It’s my job as a writer and author to write words I believe in, that my readers can believe in and feel seen by. It’s not my job to write something just for the sake of it. That I get to represent an underrepresented minority of the population—roughly 1%—makes this all the more important. And that is how I write romance and sex as an ace-spec author: very slowly, with purpose, and to represent. For further reading, check out The Trevor Project, What Is Asexuality, and Asexuality.  Sarina Langer is a dark fantasy author of both epic and urban paranormal novels. Her characters knew she's queer (demi and pan) and has ADHD before she did (and they didn't say *anything* to her).
She’s as obsessed with books and stationery now as she was as a child, when she drowned her box of colour pencils in water so they wouldn’t die and scribbled her first stories on corridor walls. (‘A first sign of things to come’, according to her mother. ‘Normal toddler behaviour’, according to Sarina.) In her free time she usually reads one audiobook, one ebook, and one paperback (one for every occasion), plays video games, and obsesses over mythology and languages. She has a weakness for books on writing and pretty words. (Specificity, anyone? Or perhaps nebulous?) Sarina lives with her partner in the south of England.  1) Tell us about your Romantasy book/series Hearts Desire is a second-chance romance with meddling Greek gods. Living among mortals, the Muse Terpsichore has reinvented herself again and again. The one constant in her life is her passion for dancing. In Hearts Desire, she’s known as Bliss and is enjoying her dream life as the star dancer for the Paris Opera Ballet. If it weren’t for her broken heart, everything would be perfect. Then her brother, Apollo, drops in to warn her their father has awakened. Not wanting to become a pawn in yet another of Zeus's maniacal schemes, Bliss flees across the ocean to hide with her many-times great-granddaughter. Magic and mayhem ensue. 2) Are you a fan of a certain trope when it comes to romance such as enemies to lovers? If so, why? Ohhh, choosing just one is difficult. Of course, I enjoy second chance romance, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers—all because I love how the characters overcome the twisty history that’s kept them apart in the first place. I also can’t resist grumpy/sunshine. Watching the antics between the two extreme personalities always amuses me and I love how ultimately they balance each other. 3) What is your favorite fantasy creature or supernatural being to write about and why? Witches! I grew up watching Bewitched and Dark Shadows. Samantha and Angelique are nothing alike personality wise, but they both fascinated me. I love creating worlds with magic, with the limitations and the possibilities—and the repercussions. 4) Who are your favorite Romantasy authors? In no particular order—Holly Black, Erin Morgenstern, Patricia Briggs, and Ilona Andrews, to name a few. 5) What is next for you? I’m writing a follow story for Neviah, a divination witch. She first appeared in the “Shadows and Sorcery” anthology. She is one of the Kingston witches, though she is only peripherally connected to Priya and Marin. Neviah intrigues me. Her character is an optimist at heart but her story has dark themes and more ideas for her keep cropping up in my imagination.  When not daydreaming about plot lines and characters Andra practices yoga, reads voraciously, and drinks too much coffee. She loves road trips and going off on wild tangents. Andra writes in multiple genres—including but not limited to—urban fantasy, steamy romance, paranormal romance, and horror.
 Blurb: MONSTERS DON’T ALWAYS WIN… Kat adored all of Eddie’s heart-throbbing serenades to her in the beginning. Over time, he clipped her wings with his spells of control. Kat felt trapped and lost. One evening, something led Kat to make a stop at a little shop, Codona’s Den of Secrets… Dive into the pages of El Gusano Verde to find what Kat found at Codona’s and more… Author’s Inspiration: Due to working with victims and survivors of domestic violence in my past, I reflected back on different scenarios of victims contemplating their courageous steps to leave their abusers with a safety plan—some were successful with little to no consequences while others weren’t. Therefore, this fictional story unraveled in my mind. If you or you know someone in an abusive relationship, then consider contacting/sharing… National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 El Gusano Verde By: Miracle Austin Can a monster control what he is or just his prey? When he wanted something, he went after it, no matter what or who it could hurt. Someone else’s possession could easily become his. Regardless of all his extracurricular activities outside or inside our relationship, I always took him back, forgave him—too many times. He could tell me any lie, and I believed it. I never wanted any of the plastic surgeries he recommended. He claimed how much sexier I would look for him, so I caved in. He declined to stay with me for any of my procedures. A neighbor was kind enough to drive me home after each hospital visit. Eddie refused to touch me, until I looked perfect to him. If there was something he didn’t like about the surgeon’s work, then he would schedule me another appointment with a different doctor. My parents and old friends in Texas begged me to return home on several occasions. Yet, he convinced me to stay with him every time in New Hampshire. He told me that he couldn’t survive without me, would be miserable, and probably off himself by jumping off Piscataqua River Bridge. So, I stayed with him and abandoned my family. He allowed me to call my mom and dad on their birthdays and holidays, if he was in a good mood. Whenever he thought I was gaining weight, he would do the grocery shopping. He always locked the food pantry and froze my credit cards, along with my bank account, until he was satisfied with the number on the scale. Seven months ago, I suffered a miscarriage. My physician shared my labs results and told me that high concentrations of diclofenac had been found in my blood. I knew what he’d done—he switched out my iron pills. My hate for him was finally confirmed. I wanted to leave him, but I knew that was forbidden. Honestly, I figured nothing would ever happen to him. He was untouchable for years. However, it’s true what they say. You can have it good for a long time, until you no longer do—and that worked in my favor. Playing spin the bottle that night changed Eddie’s life forever… One hour before the party, I placed a paper bag on top of the bathroom counter while he was shaving. He glanced at it. I hopped up and sat next to him, swinging my bare legs back and forth. I tucked my hand inside the waist of his towel and pulled him in between my legs. Grabbing his blade, I finished shaving him. He bent down and pressed his wet mouth onto my caramel lips. He started massaging my lower back and ran his hands down my thighs. “Slow down, cowboy, aren’t you interested in what’s inside the bag?” I asked, glancing over to where the bag was sitting. “I would rather concentrate on what’s right in front of me,” he whispered, both of his hands hugging my hips. “You might want to take a little peek inside the bag first,” I replied and pried his hands off. “Let me check out what you have over there,” he said, stepping back from me. He rinsed his face and grabbed a towel to dry off. Then, he opened the bag wide and retrieved two foil-wrapped gifts with white bows. “Wow, Kat!” he said. “My birthday isn’t until next Friday.” He grinned. “Yeah, I know. I came across them the other day at this little, hidden shop called Codona’s Den of Secrets, when I was driving home one evening.” “Sounds kinky,” he winked, sliding his tongue across his bottom lip. “C’mon, Eddie, be serious for ten seconds,” I begged. “Okay, please continue.” “The shopkeeper told me that they were her last ones in stock and extremely unique. So, I couldn’t resist. She promised me that you deserved them, after I told her all about you.” “Really? What did you tell her?” he asked with his eyes glued on mine. I jumped off the counter and said, “Oh the usual. How much you love me… Go ahead, unwrap them.” We entered the bedroom. I lit two, raspberry-scented candles on my dresser and commanded Alexa to play my favorite playlist--I Am by Mary J. Blige, started playing. I grabbed his hand and guided him to sit down on the floor on top of the Persian multi-colored rug. Facing each other, he unwrapped the gifts. “I didn’t expect these two things, Kat. I haven’t played spin the bottle, since college. Our version was cheap—a broken chalk board with challenges scribbled on it. Plus, there was no full tequila bottle,” he said, holding up the flat box and bottle above his head. “This tequila is very rare,” I replied, unfolding the game board—triangular divisions with bolded phrases written inside each slot. “I’ve had plenty of tequila drinks. I’m sure this is no different,” he said. “This one is like no other, according to what the shop lady told me. If your spin lands on the bottle on the board, then the person who drinks from the bottle and consumes the worm will be given an extraordinary gift,” I explained, as I placed the bottle in the middle of the board on its belly. “Really, Kat? I’ve heard crazy stories like that before. I’ve eaten my share of worms, and I’ve never experienced any special Marvel or DC supernatural abilities. That old lady doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Let’s get dressed, we’re going to be late,” he said, tapping his Rolex with his index finger. I stretched out my arm to block him from getting up. “Just one quick game. You know we won’t be the only ones running behind—we never are.” Eddie remained where he was. “Alright, just one. He extended his legs opposite of mine.” I spun the bottle first, and it landed on the truth or dare option. “Truth,” I blurted out. “Are you sure?” he asked. “I could ask you something that you may not want to tell me.” He stared at me. “Yes, I’m good with you asking me whatever.” I rolled up my denim sleeves over my arms. “Alright…how many guys have you slept with since we’ve been together?” I paused for less than a minute. “None, only you, my love,” I said, leaning over to run my hand down his smooth face and sliding it down to his chest. “Your turn.” He gripped my wrist, pressing his nails into my flesh, with his hand and threw it back into my face. “Ouch!” I screamed out. “I already knew that answer, but I wanted to hear it from your mouth, because you know that you belong to me, Kat.” Bending over the board, Eddie spun the bottle, and it went around several times before it also stopped on the truth or dare challenge. “Dare,” he said without any hesitation. “Hmm… you didn’t want to choose truth like me?” I asked, narrowing my amber eyes towards him, and blowing my curly bangs up. “Nope, I’ll stick with my dare.” “Your choice, right?” “Yes. Dare me to do something,” Eddie insisted. “Are you sure?” “You already know—I’m not afraid of anything.” “Okay, if you’re sure.” “I am. Let me have it!” he yelled and laughed, pulling his legs up and crossing them. “Let me think… I dare you to drink and eat the worm inside the bottle.” “Hey, that’s really two dares.” “Well, if you’re too afraid to take my dare on, then you’ll automatically default to the other option, truth...” “Listen, I’m not afraid of your little dares. I’ve done a lot worse.” He smiled. “I’m sure you have.” I looked down and back up at him. He stared down at the bottle and watched the green maggot-like worm float up and down in its liquid home. Then, he sat it upright. He was analyzing the worm, and it was a good thing he was doing so. Although I’ve never eaten one, I’ve seen a few worms, but this worm looked different, compared to others I’ve seen. Its puffy, segmented body seemed to cast off a bright, lime bioluminescence. A twirly, red antenna was centered between its mandibles. When he tapped on the glass, the liquid seemed to glow, as well. “Hey, are you seeing this, Kat?” he asked. Scooting closer to him, I said, “Yes, the lady told me that it may do that.” “I’m not sure if I should drink this, and I’m definitely not eating this thing,” he gulped. “It could make me sick or something.” “Eddie, don’t tell me you’re afraid of a little worm bathing in some alcohol, but hey, if you are, then I totally understand. Hand the bottle over to me,” I demanded with my hand stretched out. “Come on now, give it to me... I’ll do it.” He shoved my hand away and said, “Whatever. I got this!” He started unscrewing the metal cap off the bottle and kept his eyes on the worm. He placed his nose near the opening and took in a deep whiff. The alcohol aroma pierced his nose and eyes, making them water. He sniffed and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. I watched him without blinking. Wrapping his lips around the bottle, he tilted his head back to take a sip. “Hmm, tastes like sweet, crushed blueberries doused with sugar and a little lime juice. Not bad.” He continued to drink it all, until the worm disappeared from the bottle into his mouth. “So, how was it?” I asked. “Tangy, cold, and gooey. The worm slipped right down my throat before I could chew it up. I’ve always loved to chew the worms, to savor their taste. Like I thought, no x-ray vision. Oh, well… Let’s get ready.” We both started getting dressed. “Make sure you wear the black dress tonight,” he demanded with his cold eyes piercing through me. “Hold on, I brought a new dress,” I said as I pulled out a plum, ruffle backless dress with a plunging neckline out of my closet. “Isn’t it beautiful?” “Absolutely not! If I wanted to take a hooker for all my friends to gawk at to the party and pass her around later, then I would stop off at Enright Park and pick one up.” He turned his back away from me and flipped his hand into the air. “Hurry up! You don’t want to upset me tonight, Kat,” he hissed, balling up his right fist. Tears filled my eyes. I placed it back on the rack with my quivering hand and chose the black one that resembled nun attire. Fifteen minutes past, and I was in the bathroom brushing blush onto my cheeks. I watched him in the mirror and saw Eddie sitting in the chair. He was bent down about to tie up his shoes. “Damn it!” he yelped. I dropped my brush on the floor and stepped out. I asked, “What’s the matter?” “My body feels funny, like cactus, thorn bullets are shooting inside of me. My hands feel numb.” He rubbed them together and flexed out his hands. “Kat, something’s wrong, I can’t read the numbers on my watch. There’s loud ringing in my ears, and my legs feel like Jell-O. Now, I can’t feel my hands, fingers, or toes.” Eddie’s eyes closed, and he collapsed on the floor. He rolled over onto his back. When he opened his eyes and turned his head to the side, my golden heels were facing him. “Kat, my vision feels like it’s returning.” I knelt next to him and rubbed both sides of his face with my hands. “Oh, poor Eddie doesn’t feel well.” “What did you give me?” He stuttered out in broken words. Picking up the empty bottle, I dangled it in front of his face. “You’re about to get everything coming to you, Eddie Luciano,” I said, pointing at the bottle. “I’ve known about your disloyalty for a long time and never said a word. Plus, you’ve been so cruel to me, since we’ve been together. I was searching for the perfect solution for you. Finding that little shop was it! I knew you would take the bait so easy.” Frowning at me, he screamed out, “What the hell did you give me!” “Just a little gift that you can never give away.” “What are you talking about?” “That little worm you ate is going to change you. You’ll never cheat on me, or hurt anyone else again!” His body began to shake, then his eyes rolled back. “What’s happening to me?” he begged in a shivering tone. “Let me help you out. That little worm you consumed is called El Gusano Verde, The Green Worm—it’s an assassin. They were specially designed for monsters like you—cheaters and heartbreakers. The curly antennae are called proboscis. They impaled one or more of your inner organs and injected a lethal venom inside you.” “I promise you, Kat, if I make it out of this, I’m going to kill you…” he said as foamy, bloody saliva flowed out the sides of his mouth. “Stop talking, Eddie, you’re not going to do anything to me. It’s paralyzing you. Soon, it’ll liquefy all your organs and slurp up its dinner. After that, it’ll hike up your gastro tract, throat passage, and then crawl out of your mouth.” His body started twitching and his eyes rolled back again. He clenched his fists. A pale, greenish tone covered his face. In a deep, gargled voice, Eddie spoke his final words, “You won’t get away with this…” “Yes, I will. The club always gets away with it. According to Mrs. Codona, the shop owner, your demise will be ruled a strange, allergic reaction with little to no explanation to why your insides dissolved. The evidence is going with me.” I carefully placed the wiggly, full El Gusano Verde in its padded case and slid it inside my purse to return back to Mrs. Codona to gift to a new member. “By the way, Eddie, you remember Mrs. Codona, right? Prue’s mom—she told me about you two, and how the police located Prue’s car in another state, but never found her. It’s been over five years, now. I know I would’ve been your next victim, but not after tonight.” He glared at me, until his eyes froze. “Don’t worry about the party. I’ll let your friends know that you didn’t feel well and needed to stay in. Karma is alive and well.” Blowing out the candles and exiting the scene in the plum dress I chose for me, I locked the door behind me, and descended the stairs. Goodbye, Eddie, I whispered to myself, as I sung, I Am, into the night air as snowflakes began to fall. THE END  Miracle Austin is a Texan gal who works in the medical social work arena by day and in the writer’s world at night, including weekends, as a YA/NA author. She loves horror, collecting T-shirts, Stranger Things, Wednesday, Marvel & DC, sparkles, unicorns, 80s music, and daydreaming up stories.
|
Monthly Newsletter
Categories
About the Author:S. K. Gregory is an author, editor and blogger. She currently resides in Northern Ireland. “Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.” 
Archives
April 2025
Categories |
||||||||||||||||||
RSS Feed
© 2024 S.K. Gregory
Proudly powered by Weebly