The answer to the equation of what I would do now, with my new, endless life.
The easiest question in the world.
“Do I seem, Lord Vale,” I said, “like someone frightened of the unknown?”
His eyes crinkled with a smile.
“Nosy mouse,” he murmured, and this time, when I tried to kiss him, he let me. We wound ourselves around each other. My thighs opened around him. I gave him every one of my new, heightened senses, and for the first time in my life, I felt so utterly at ease with the world that surrounded me.
Vale had discarded the withered rose in favor of my skin. The petals spread around us, now nothing but decaying dust.
Unnatural life.
Rightful death.
And Vale and I, between both, beholden to neither, and everything we were ever meant to be.
READY FOR MORE?
Thank you for reading Six Scorched Roses—I hope you loved it! If you’re ready for more epic vampire adventures in this world, you should pick up The Serpent and the Wings of Night.
Human or vampire, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield, and always – always – guard your heart.
The adopted human daughter of the vampire Nightborn king, Oraya has learned to survive in a world designed to kill her. But her only chance at becoming more than prey is winning the Kejari, a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death. To survive, she’s forced to ally with a mysterious rival—a vampire who’s her greatest competition, an enemy to her father’s throne, and far, far too interested in her.
Get The Serpent and the Wings of Night now — free in KU!
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Thank you so much for reading Six Scorched Roses! This little book was a bit of a strange beast. When I originally wrote it for the Flirting with Darkness anthology, I honestly wasn’t sure how people would react to it. If you’ve read The Serpent and the Wings of Night, you know that this is a wildly different story—slower and more romantic rather than action-packed and bloodthirsty. Plus, it’s the shortest book I’ve ever written. While I loved writing it, I was also honestly prepared for readers to have some very conflicted feelings about it!
Instead, readers connected more with Vale and Lilith—especially Lilith!—than I ever thought they would. I loved seeing how many people saw themselves in her and her struggle to connect meaningfully with other people. If you’ve just read it for the first time, I hope that you loved it, and that perhaps you, too, found something relatable in Lilith’s story.
Six Scorched Roses is a part of the world of the Crowns of Nyaxia series, and Vale and Lilith play significant roles in the world from book 2 onwards. If you’re interested in following more about them, you might want to pick up The Serpent and the Wings of Night and dive deeper into this dark, vampiric world!
If you enjoyed this book, I would truly appreciate if you’d consider leaving a review on Amazon or GoodReads.
And if you’d like to be the first to know about new releases, new art, new swag, and all kinds of other fun stuff, consider signing up for my newsletter at carissabroadbentbooks.com, hanging out in my Facebook group （Carissa Broadbent’s Lost Hearts）， or joining my Discord server （invite at linktr.ee/carissanasyra!）。
I hope we keep in touch!
ALSO BY CARISSA BROADBENT
The Crowns of Nyaxia Series
Book 1: The Serpent and the Wings of Night
Book 2: The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King
Book 3-6: Coming soon!
Related Standalone Novella: Six Scorched Roses
The War of Lost Hearts Trilogy
Book 1: Daughter of No Worlds
Book 2: Children of Fallen Gods
Book 3: Mother of Death and Dawn
GLOSSARY OF TERMS OF THE NYAXIA WORLD
Acaeja - The goddess of spellcasting, mystery, and lost things. Member of the White Pantheon.
Adcova - A small farmers’ town located in the continent of Dhera. Lilith’s home. Years ago, it was cursed by the god Vitarus with a terrible, mysterious plague that has worsened ever since.
Alarus - The god of death and husband of Nyaxia. Exiled by the White Pantheon as punishment for his forbidden relationship with Nyaxia. Considered to be deceased.
Atroxus - The god of the sun and leader of the White Pantheon.
Bloodborn - Vampires of the House of Blood.
Born - A term used to describe vampires who are born via biological procreation. This is the most common way that vampires are created.
Dhera - A continent in the human lands. Vale and Lilith are currently living there.
Obitraes - The land of Nyaxia, consisting of three kingdoms: The House of Night, The House of Shadow, and the House of Blood.
Heir Mark - A permanent mark that appears on the Heir of the Hiaj and Rishan clans when the previous Heir dies, marking their position and power.
Hiaj - One of the two clans of Nightborn vampires. They have featherless wings that resemble those of bats.
The House of Blood - One of the three vampire kingdoms of Obitraes. Two thousand years ago, when Nyaxia created vampires, the House of Blood was her favorite House. She thought long and hard about which gift to give them, while the Bloodborn watched their brothers to the west and north flaunt their powers. Eventually, the Bloodborn turned on Nyaxia, certain that she had abandoned them. In punishment, Nyaxia cursed them. The House of Blood is now looked down upon by the other two houses. People from the House of Blood are called Bloodborn.
The House of Night - One of the three vampire kingdoms of Obitraes. Known for their skill in battle and for their vicious natures, and wielders of magic derived from the night sky. There are two clans of Nightborn vampires, Hiaj and Rishan, who have fought for thousands of years over rule. Those of the House of Night are called Nightborn.
The House of Shadow - One of the three vampire kingdoms of Obitraes. Known for their commitment to knowledge; wielders of mind magic, shadow magic, and necromancy. Those of the House of Shadow are called Shadowborn.
Ix - Goddess of sex, fertility, childbirth, and procreation. Member of the White Pantheon.
Kajmar - God of art, seduction, beauty, and deceit. Member of the White Pantheon.
Neculai Vasarus - The former Rishan king of the House of Night. Usurped and killed 200 years prior to the events of this book.
Nightborn - Vampires of the House of Night.
Nightfire - Like Asteris, another form of star-derived magic wielded by the vampires of the House of Night. While Asteris is dark and cold, Nightfire is bright and hot. Nightfire is commonly used in the House of Night but very difficult to wield masterfully.
Nyaxia - Exiled goddess, mother of vampires, and widow of the god of death. Nyaxia lords over the domain of night, shadow, and blood, and as well as the inherited domain of death from her deceased husband. Formerly a lesser goddess, she fell in love with Alarus and married him despite the forbidden nature of their relationship. When Alarus was murdered by the White Pantheon as punishment for his marriage to her, Nyaxia broke free from the White Pantheon in a fit of rage, and offered her supporters the gift of immortality in the form of vampirism—founding Obitraes and the vampire kingdoms. （Also referred to as: the Mother; the Goddess; Mother of the Ravenous Dark; Mother of Night, Shadow, and Blood）
Rishan - One of the two clans of Nightborn vampires. Have feathered wings. Usurped by the Hiaj 200 years ago.
Salinae - A major city in the House of Night. Located in Rishan territory. When the Rishan were in power, Salinae was a thriving hub, functioning as a second capital. Oraya spent the first years of her life, before Vincent found her, in Salinae.