Page 146 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

“Okay, that’s a lie. I was sweating balls as my life flashed before my eyes. But I doubt the Gods would go to all this effort to reveal everything to me and call me the true king only for me to end up barbecued in a derelict tower.”

Snow didn’t laugh.

“Well, they have a backup Rainbow-blooded royal right here,” she said, but her voice wavered. “Just… be careful. You’re my brother before you’re anything else. I need you. And I love you.”

Her voice cracked.

“I’m proud of you though. For all of this. You did the right thing. I couldn’t be prouder.”

She pulled him into a tight hug, holding on like she could shield him from the world.

Rain closed his eyes and hugged her back, letting himself feel; just for a moment, the comfort of someone who loved him without condition.

“I love you too,” Rain murmured, squeezing Snow tightly before letting her go.

Scarlet and Rose came bounding down the stairs to say their goodbyes, Scarlet now bundled in several mismatched layers over her dress; sleeves too long, hems uneven, everything slightly askew in a way that made her look impossibly endearing.

Chapter 42

The night air greeted Rain like an old friend. It prickled across his skin, raising goosebumps along his arms, sending a shiver down his spine that felt… cleansing. Inside the estate, he’d felt numb; suspended in warmth and comfort that didn’t quite reach his heart. But out here, beneath the moon’s silver glow, he felt alive. Present. Able to breathe.

He inhaled deeply, eyes lifting to the glimmering moon.

Questions vibrated in his chest; aching and unanswered. With every breath he exhaled, they drifted into the night like smoke.

Scarlet stood beside him, silent and steady, her aura a soft hum of hope and curiosity. Rain glanced at her. The moonlight kissed her dark skin, giving her a dewy glow. Her amber eyes shone bright and fearless, a small smirk tugging at her lips.

She looked like a creature born of starlight; someone who belonged to the night as much as he did. Someone who found comfort in the quiet, in the dark, in the vastness of the sky.

It warmed him.

It soothed him.

It reminded him why he had fought so hard to save her.

The haunted look she’d worn in the tower; that hollow, broken despair, flickered through his mind. He never wanted to see that expression again. Not on her. Not on any of them.

They stood together for a long time, letting the silence settle around them like a blanket. Rain waited, giving Scarlet space to soak in the moment, to let the night sky fill her with whatever she needed.

Eventually, he spoke.

“Let’s sit at the top of the steps,” he said gently. “I’ll explain why I brought you out here.”

He led her across the patio to the stone steps overlooking the sculptured lawn; a sea of native blooms glowing faintly in the moonlight.

“Don’t worry,” he added when her heart spiked nervously. “It’s nothing serious.”

She exhaled, shoulders relaxing.

“I want to practise some calming techniques with you. Things that helped me control my own emotions. Or… regain control, really. I think they’ll help you too.”

Scarlet nodded eagerly and sat opposite him, tucking her skirt beneath her legs and wrapping it over her knees for warmth. Rain sat cross-legged, adjusting the fabric of his trousers.

“Okay,” he said softly. “To start… can you tell me how you’re feeling right now?”

“Ummm… I am feeling… okay?” she said, confusion wrinkling her brow.

Rain smiled gently.