Page 115 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Sergeant?”

His voice cracked like a whip, raw and furious.

He didn’t wait for an answer.

“And you!”

He snapped his head toward Hamish, who stood frozen, wide-eyed.

“Why did you have a gun pointed at a child’s head? A princess, no less?”

Hamish’s gaze dropped to the ground, shame radiating off him in thick waves. Rain’s anger pressed around them like a suffocating fog. The conscious princesses whimpered. The soldiers stayed silent; except for Vass and Glass, who groaned in agony from Briar’s lingering power.

“Your Highness,” Short said, stepping forward despite the tension slicing through the air. “It was Vass’s fault, Sir.”

“Well-a-fucking-ware,” Rain spat, closing the distance between him and Vass.

“What was your intention, Sergeant?”

Venom dripped from every word.

Vass; usually all swagger and bravado, paled. His breath hitched. Rain’s power held him immobile, pinned so tightly he couldn’t even flinch.

“ANSWER ME.”

“F-fuu—” Vass stuttered. “I just… I wanted to check on Princess Rose.”

“With your cock?” Rain snarled.

“No!” Vass choked, horror flooding his aura. “Not at first. I didn’t mean to—I didn’t realise her power would—I didn’t mean for that to happen. You have to believe me. Rain, please—”

“It is Your Highness to you.”

Vass nodded frantically, sweat dripping from his nose. Completely aware of the danger he had found himself in.

Above them, Scarlet’s earlier explosion roared through the treetops. Embers rained down like burning snow. The canopy glowed orange, flames licking upward, devouring leaves.

Rain’s attention snapped upward.

They needed to move.

Now.

“Everyone, grab your packs and move!” Rain barked. “Hamish; grab Scarlet. She’s unconscious. If she stirs, drop her to her feet immediately and point her away from your body. Understood, Corporal?”

“Yes, Sir!”

Hamish sprinted into action.

Glass tried to stand but collapsed, gasping as pain stabbed through her torso. Briar’s power seemed to hit mortals harder; the lingering agony would take hours to fade.

“Short, help Glass. Renn; move with Hamish. We don’t stop until we clear the forest.”

Renn nodded, Ember crying over his shoulder as he ran.

Rain turned to Rose.

She stood in a daze, arms wrapped around herself, mesmerised by the flames dancing above them.