Page 132 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

The man dropped like a stone, catching the rope at the last possible second. His body slammed into the wall with a sickening thud before he slid down beside Rain.

Rain barked a laugh just as Thomas and Sean came flying after him, all three scrambling to their feet in chaotic unison.

“Follow me,” Rain called, adrenaline sharpening his senses. He led them through the maze at breakneck speed, cutting corners with instinctive precision until they burst onto the platform where the others waited.

First place.

The crowd roared.

Purple team arrived seconds later.

Julian stood two platforms away, glaring daggers.

Rain smiled sweetly and waved.

Thomas elbowed him. “You’re such a menace.”

“Okay,” Wren said, gathering them in. “When the next team finishes, we’ll get buzzed in. Remember—if any of us fall, we all go back to the start. Rain, can you make sure none of us fall?”

“Yes,” Rain said. “Just don’t spread out. If you go too far ahead, it’ll be harder for me to focus.”

He didn’t add that he was already pushing past the limits of his mental endurance.

“Right. Move together. Help each other,” Wren confirmed.

They all nodded, pairing off.

Jay lingered beside Rain, chewing his lip.

“You, okay?” Rain asked softly, though he already knew the answer.

“Yep,” Jay said too quickly.

Rain pressed his lips together, swallowing the words he wanted to say.

“When the alarm goes, jump on my back and hold tight. Tell me if anything hurts. I’ll ease it as best I can, but my focus will be stretched thin.”

“Okay,” Jay murmured, shifting nervously.

The alarm blared.

Jasmine launched forward, swinging across the bars with effortless grace. Jay grabbed Rain’s shoulders, hesitated; then jumped, wrapping his legs around Rain’s torso. Rain caught his thighs, hitching him higher like he weighed nothing. Jay’s chest pressed against his back, arms instinctively circling his neck.

Rain stepped onto the bars, letting their combined-weight swing gently as he moved across.

Ahead, Emily’s grip faltered. Rain pulled up on the bar to see over the others. The muscles in his back flexed, brushing against Jay’s body. Jay’s thighs tightened involuntarily.

Rain forced himself to focus.

He lifted Emily’s weight with a controlled burst of power, helping her secure her grip until she reached the dangling hoop.

Rain dropped into a hanging position. Jay’s attention sharpened again; Rain felt it like a hand on his spine. Jay’s energy tugged at him, hungry for reassurance, for closeness.

“All right back there?” Rain asked, breathless.

“Yeah. I’m good,” Jay said lightly; too lightly. Rain’s heart clenched at the shift.

More teammates struggled. Rain manifested a cushion of energy beneath their feet, guiding them to the next phase. They moved into the hoop section, each pair sharing a large ring.