Page 189 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

Rain didn’t move.

Didn’t speak.

Didn’t dare breathe too deeply.

He just held him.

Until Rain’s pocket vibrated.

Jay jerked back, startled.

“Are you… vibrating?”

Rain groaned and fished out the shiny golden rectangle; the Connekt the Duke had sourced for him.

He stared at it like it was a cursed relic.

“Ah shit,” he muttered. “Snow was supposed to show me how to use this.”

Jay’s lips twitched; the faintest smirk breaking through the remnants of his tears. Rain caught it and shot him a playful glare, relieved to see even a flicker of light return to Jay’s expression.

“I can figure it out,” Rain insisted, tapping the screen with far too much confidence.

The device immediately prompted a chip request.

Rain smirked triumphantly and tapped his pendant against the screen. It unlocked with a soft chime.

His triumph lasted exactly three seconds.

When he stared at the unfamiliar icons like they were hieroglyphics.

Jay’s amusement grew, his smirk widening as Rain’s confidence dissolved into confusion.

“Would you like any help?” Jay asked softly.

Rain hesitated; pride warring with practicality, then reluctantly held out the device.

Jay didn’t take it.

Instead, he stepped closer, leaning comfortably against Rain’s arm as he guided him.

“See here,” Jay said, tapping an envelope icon marked with a cursive M. “This is your message bank. You can access mail, direct messages,voice mail, group chats. This one is for voice calls. And this model can make holographic calls; which us common folk can only do from a wired receiver.”

Rain stared blankly at the screen.

Jay glanced up and burst out laughing.

Rain grimaced. “You lost me at direct messages.”

Jay shook his head, still smiling. “You have a voice message. I’m guessing whoever Henry is knows you don’t know how to use this and tried to make it easier for you.”

There was a subtle edge to his tone; a hint of jealousy Rain didn’t miss.

“He’s my Captain,” Rain clarified, tapping the message.

Henry’s voice crackled through the speaker:

“Your Highness, I was just apprehended by your father’s army just south of Romandy Point.