Page 170 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

Before anyone could react, she turned and bolted from the room. The door slammed against the wall with a deafening crack as she vanished into the corridor.

Rain surged to his feet, ready to chase her; her wellbeing eclipsing everything else.

But the councillor seated at Snow’s right reached out, stopping him with a trembling hand.

“Please,” he said, voice shaky as he clutched his tie. “Stay and finish what you came here to achieve.”

There was more behind his plea; Rain understood instantly.

They weren’t asking out of protocol.

They were asking out of fear.

Fear of Azrien.

Fear of being left alone with him.

Fear of what he might do without Rain’s presence to counterbalance him.

Rain inhaled deeply, steadying himself. He nodded once, pushing aside the instinct to chase after Snow. His personal concerns had to wait; the council represented every mortal in the realm. They needed him now and it is what Snow would want.

He turned back to face his father, spine straightening, expression hardening into something resolute and unshakeable.

With a strength he didn’t entirely feel, he cleared his throat.

“The council has come to a decision,” he announced, his voice carrying through the hall. “With my added support.”

A ripple of tension swept through the room.

“They believe it is in the best interest of our people—whom we are duty-bound to serve—that we remove all enforcement's placed upon the people of the South Region and bring our troops home. We will surrender the territory back to the Red Kingdom.”

The words dropped like stones into still water.

Behind him, soldiers gasped, a sharp intake of breath, disbelief etched across their faces. But after witnessing Snow’s storm, none dared speak. Fear held their tongues.

At the head of the table, Azrien’s composure cracked.

His fingers laced together so tightly his knuckles blanched.

His jaw clenched.

His eyes darted, searching for control he no longer possessed.

Rain pressed on.

“I suggest we send aid and supplies to counter the effects of our disgraceful invasion,” he continued. “In the hopes it will soften Drazier into accepting our offer of peace. Ending this war once and for all.”

Azrien’s head snapped up, outrage flashing in his eyes.

“Absolutely not! What of your offer—”

Rain cut him off sharply.

“My offer remains,” he said, voice low. “Though that is confidential and shouldn’t be voiced within present company.”

Azrien’s mouth snapped shut.

He realised how close he’d come to exposing something he shouldn’t.