Page 142 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

A flicker of sadness brushed her aura, but it vanished as quickly as it came. Rain knew that sadness. The weight of lives lost by accident. The guilt that never fully left.

“Then that is more than amazing,” he said softly. “I’m so proud of you.”

Scarlet beamed and settled back between Snow’s legs. Snow stroked her hair gently, but her eyes were fixed on Rain; worried, searching.

“How are you feeling?” she asked quietly.

“Well rested,” he lied with a tight smile.

His chest still felt bruised. His heart still clenched at the memory of Jay’s voice breaking. But he shoved the thoughts down, burying them deep where they couldn’t spill out and scorch the room.

Focus on them.

Not yourself.

“Rose,” he said, turning toward the rocking chair, “how was your day?”

Snow’s worried gaze lingered, but he ignored it.

Rose lit up like a lantern.

“Great!” she sang. “The waterfall baths are the best. Snow helped me, she looks just like you, but pretty and female-like.”

Snow snorted. Rain choked on a laugh.

Rose continued, dreamy as ever.

“You’re pretty too. Especially now you’re clean. Oh! And we ate… what was it called?”

She stared up at the ceiling as though the word might be written in the plaster.

“Lasagne,” Henry supplied with a chuckle.

“Yes! Lah–zanya,” Rose repeated, tasting the syllables like they were candy. “It was tasti–liscious.”

“There’s a plate in the fridge for you, Your Highness,” Henry added.

Rain’s stomach growled loudly, betraying him.

“I’ll heat it up,” Snow said, starting to rise.

“No, it’s alright. I’ll get it. You’ve got your hands full.”

He slipped into the kitchen.

The fridge light spilled over his face as he stared blankly inside.

Jay’s voice echoed in his mind.

His expression.

His tears.

His energy; that awful mix of longing and certainty.

Rain gripped the plate until his knuckles whitened.

Jay had kissed him.