Page 135 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

“Bullshit.”

The word cracked out of her like a whip—sharp, unexpected, and so unlike her usual composure that Julian actually flinched. For a moment she sounded exactly like her brother, all steel and bite.

“You are not a child,” she continued, stepping forward, chin lifted. “Heavens, you’re two decades older than us. Start acting like it. And you are the Crown Prince of the Purple Kingdom—supposed allies. Your lack of respect for us and for our Kingdom speaks volumes about the future of your people.”

She paused, letting the silence stretch, letting him feel the weight of her words.

“Or perhaps I should say our people,” she added softly, dangerously. “Because I would like to remind you who the most powerful Aetherial of our time are.”

Her eyes glowed faintly.

A warning.

A truth.

“You,” she said, voice dropping to a lethal whisper, “are no competition to us.”

Rain slowly began to clap, each strike of his palms deliberate, mocking, proud. He had never loved his sister more than in this moment.

Julian looked horrified.

Terrified.

Utterly speechless.

“Are you both threatening me?” he finally managed, voice cracking.

“Julian, come on,” Rain said, rising to stand beside Snow. “You know us better than that. The Royale twins don’t threaten.”

He leaned in, smile razor-sharp.

“We caution.”

Snow’s presence at his side amplified the effect; two forces aligned, twin storms converging.

“Now,” Rain said softly, “be a good little irrelevant prince… and kindly fuck off.”

Gasps and snorts erupted from their teammates. Julian’s face went blotchy with humiliation. He growled—actually growled—and stomped away, purple cloak flaring behind him like a wounded peacock.

Snow exhaled shakily once he disappeared. The team drifted closer, forming a loose protective circle around the twins.

“Wow,” Rogan said, leaning on the rail Julian had vacated. “You two are terrifying when you team up.”

“Fierce is the right word,” Jasmine corrected, eyes wide with admiration.

“I’d say Princess Snow is more bad ass than Rain,” Thomas added, failing miserably to hide the awe in his voice.

Snow sank into her chair, worry creasing her brow. “I shouldn’t have said any of that. He just riles me up — always bullying you, always acting like a smart-ass.”

“What you did,” Rain said, lowering himself beside her, “was stand your ground against a traitor.”

Snow’s head snapped toward him.

“He just admitted he has inside intel on what I’ve been doing; information that isn’t public. Father will only just be learning the full scope of it as we speak. That’s how deep inside whoever Julian is talking to is.”

Snow’s eyes widened, fear and curiosity spiking through her aura.

“What did you do?” she whispered.