Page 17 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

“At all and you have spoiled me rotten my darling, with incredible, mind boggling, intense sextipades. This on the other hand was mediocre by your standards.” She shifted to lay on top of him, her hands taking her weight either side of his head as she peered down into his eyes. “I am concerned, but also a little disappointed... ok, extremely disappointed. Ihaven’t had you for days.” Her tone was sulky; she was evidently offended by the experience or lack thereof.

He had never been able to shield himself during sex with Ivy, not with the addition of her power, which meant she had always shared his pleasure alongside her own. Their time together had always ended in multiple orgasms that lasted until they were both wrecked with exhaustion. Then there was the added factor that Rain could feel his sexual partner enjoying themselves and was guided by their emotions instead of having to do the guess work. Wait, his mind faltered in horror––was this the first time he was bad at sex?

“You’ll get wrinkles if you keep frowning like that my beautiful boy,” Ivy mused, tracing his brow, though they both knew neither of them would start to show any distinct signs of age for at least another two hundred years.

“I’m sorry, I guess I’m a little broken today.” He deflected, knowing he couldn’t confide in Ivy about his missing power, it would be better if she focused on his bruised ego. “Was it really that terrible?” He groaned, ashamed that he even had to ask.

“Baby, you have been broken for a very long time,” She grinned, flicking her fingertip to the tip of his nose. “It's ok, I forgive you. You have been through a lot today and it was not in the slightest bit terrible. I still came three times, which might be an accomplishment for some, but we know you can do better. I do expect you to make it up to me when you’re back to your usual self.”Rain groaned internally, his mood sobering, reality quickly setting in.

“Ivy...” Rain sighed, slowly coming back to his senses. He linked their fingers, lifting her right hand to his lips and softly planted a kiss before resting her palm against his cheek. Selfishly he still craved touch, while he didn’t want her to get the wrong idea, he couldn’t help but savour these last moments before ripping them away. “I... ah, I want to thank you for today, but...”Ivy inhaled a sharp breath, tensing above him as she sensed the shift in his demeanour.

“Hush, no thank you needed.” She quickly shifted her weight forward and pressed her lips against his before he could reply. He didn’t return the kiss. Guilt gouged at his chest as the realisation of his cruelty hit him like a blunt force trauma to the head. He had willingly dived between her legs and practically begged her to help him escape torment, without considering any of the implications. He hadn’t cared enough to consider how Ivy would interpret this, he realised now that she would see it as a sign. A renewed hope that he would come around to the idea of their union. The thought triggered memories of Jay, the one he really wanted and the realisation that he hadn’t paused to consider him at all.

“No stop, we can’t. I can’t do this,” He rolled out from under her, removing himself from her embrace, standing nude beside the bed. “I need to be honest with you Ivy and you’re not going to like it.” Her face fell flat as if she had half expected this conversation. “I truly, appreciate that you stepped up for me today, it is more than I deserve. I really wouldn’t be able to hold myself together right now if you hadn’t come to my rescue and for that I am grateful. Your touch was a welcomed escape; I need you to know that before I say what I have to say.”Ivy sat up taller, cradling her knees to her chest.

“Must you ruin this moment for us? You’ve had a terrible day; can’t we just forget about the world and spend the night together?”

“Ivy, this isn’t healthy for either of us and we both know that it isn’t fair to you. Soon the guilt and resentment will kick in, and I will feel the same as I always do. I have told you countless times that we can’t be together, that I don’t feel the same way as you. You need to stop coming to my bed and find someone who wants you in return, without you needing to manipulate them. You deserve that much.” A scowl twists at her lips, her narrowed eyes instantly making him regret the implication.

“By the Gods Rain, you’re so delusional! We are betrothed. Whether you like it or not you are mine and I am yours!” She jabbed a finger at him to get her point across. “When you finally come to realise that and embrace US, the better it will be for everyone involved. I don’t know why you must make everything so Gods–damned difficult.”

“I cannot keep having this conversation with you. I can’t be with you; I can’t be who you want me to be.” Ivy’s eyes flared with anger as she stared him down, her glare unwavering, refusing to accept the finality in his tone. The tension in the room thickened, neither willing to back down nor accept defeat.

Frustration seeped into Ivy’s voice as she snapped back, “Why do you always have to ruin a good moment, why can’t we just enjoy each other’s company without the melodramatics?” Her accusation stung, even if Rain knew she had a point. Still, the irony wasn’t lost on him—drama seemed to follow Ivy everywhere she went, but he had been the one to start it this time.

He hesitated for a moment, then blurted out, exhausted, “Ivy, I am seeing someone else.” The statement was blunt and bare, the effort behind it clear in his weary tone.

“No, no you’re not!” Ivy shot back quickly, her face twisting in frustrating denial. She shook her head, unwilling to let the truth settle in. “You ‘see’ other people, it’s nothing serious. Which is fine, like always I understand that you need a little extra from others. We. Are. Fine.” Rain could only scoff in response, throwing his hands in the air out of sheer exasperation at her refusal to acknowledge the reality between them.

“Do you even you hear yourself? This is not love.”

Ivy let out a scream of frustration, her voice rising as she hurled the question at him, “Pshh, and what is love? What do you know of love, Rain Royale? Huh?” Her words echoed sharply in the tense room. She clambered off the bed in a huff, throwing a pillow at his head as she stood,he instinctively blocked the attack with an energetic shield causing the pillow to thump at his feet. His eyes widened in surprise, shocked that his physical power worked; thank the Gods he wasn’t entirely powerless. Ivy interpreted his shock as a reaction to her questions and shot him a smug look that read––exactly.

Refusing to continue the conversation, Ivy stomped across the room towards his closet, grumbling to herself under her breath. “Telling me I don’t love you,” she muttered, barely audible. She disappeared and the sharp noise of hangers aggressively sliding across the clothing rack cut through the air; her anger manifesting in the abrupt, forceful gesture. She returned, sliding her arms into a blue silk shirt, it was oversized on her yet clung to her curves as she buttoned it up. She continued to glare daggers at Rain as she snatched her underwear from the floor, despite her anger she still managed to look outrageously attractive. Rain couldn’t help but try to soften the argument.

“I don’t wish to hurt you, Ivy. Despite how it looks, I do care about you. You know I do. And I hate that I needed to use you to numb my pain and I hate that I treat you this way. You have no idea of the amount of guilt I feel for wanting this, and even more so that I don’t. I’m sick of being the source of everyone’s pain. This shouldn’t have happened between us, and it needs to stop happening because I will end up destroying you, like I do everything else.” She scoffed at that and threw her panties at his face. He let them meet their target, catching them in his hand as they dropped away.

“You’re spiralling. I don’t need to hear any of this. I’m going home, give me back my underwear.”

“I really am sorry.” He sighed, balling the underwear in his fist. “I know it isn’t fair for me to say any of this right now. I really do appreciate you for standing by me, but my heart just isn’t with you.”

“Uh, why are you such a dick?” She marched up to him, grabbed her underwear from his hand and with them still in her grasp pointed in his face. “Your Red toy boy is not going to like you after today's events and yet you’re still burning bridges with the one and only support you have in this world.” Rain stilled, mentally cursing his sister for overstepping, there is no other way Ivy would know of Jay. “Yes, I know you were there to see him. Now think long and hard about what you want baby, because one day I will believe you when you tell me to go. Who will be there for you then?”

She quickly pulled on her underwear and stormed out of the room, slamming the heavy door behind her. Rain slumped back onto the bed; she was right of course. Jay was never going to forgive him for the massacre, nor should he. Add on his infidelity before they had even begun; were they official yet? He supposed it didn’t matter anymore. Ivy was right, he really was a Dick.

He flopped back onto the crumpled silk sheets of his king-sized bed, staring hopelessly into the shadows that dwelled in the corners of the room. The comfort Ivy provided left with her, causing heartbreaking anguish to consume him once more. Images of the day clogged the forefront of his mind––so much blood. As tears welled, he wondered if this would be the incident that resulted in his demise. That the uncontrollable darkness would finally consume him and bring his suffering to an end. He hoped to the Gods that it would, and that frightened him more than anything.

Chapter 6

This chapter contains brief mentions of sexual incidences involving a minor.

Aloud clattering sound startled Rain, dragging him from a deep sleep. He groaned as he disentangled himself from the bed sheets, yawning through a thick grogginess that protested the disruption. His dreams had been a chaotic turmoil of war and Aetherchromes, making him feel as though he had barely slept at all.

“Sorry, Your Highness. I didn’t mean to wake you. I was only switching out your meals in case you decided to stir,” Neel said softly, concern threading through his voice.

Neel was the only person assigned to serve the prince. He had been employed at the palace for eleven years, chosen specifically for this role. During the years when Rain struggled to control his abilities, it had become nearly impossible to find anyone willing to tend to him. Most of the palace staff avoided his entire wing, terrified of what they might be exposed to if they ventured too close. It took a particular kind of person to accept such a position; someone patient, open-minded, and unafraid of the unpredictable.

Neel had been exactly that blessing.