Page 197 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

“I was wondering if I heard you right,” she said. “Hmm… what was it you said?”

Rain arched a brow, unsure where this was going.

“That’s right,” she continued. “You said our rowdy customer was predictable, slow, and limp—suggesting you were anything but. What would that make you, exactly?”

Rain nearly choked on his drink.

Her flirtation caught him off guard; a reminder of how much he relied on his power to read people. Without it, he was flying blind.

He cleared his throat and leaned in, closing the space between them until his words brushed her skin.

With a smirk, he murmured:

“Wild, fast, and excruciatingly hard.”

Her plump mauve lips curved into a slow, flirtatious smile.

Perhaps the night was about to take a brighter turn after all—

A cloth snapped through the air, whipping toward the bartender, pulling her away from the moment with a jolt.

Eden’s smile widened mischievously just as Elijah swooped in, his voice cutting through the moment with a subtle warning and a flicker of unmistakable possessiveness.

“Eden, people are waiting,” he said, tone deceptively light but edged with a protective undertone.

Eden rolled her eyes dramatically at him, snatching a cloth from the counter with a huff. She shot Rain an apologetic look—a silent sorry, another time—before turning her attention to a waiting patron.

Elijah stepped into the space she’d left behind, grabbing a bottle of whiskey and refilling Rain’s glass with a practiced flick of his wrist. The gesture was quiet, deliberate, and oddly intimate; a silent claim, or perhaps a boundary.

Rain lifted the glass, studying Elijah over the rim.

“Is everything alright? You’re usually more than eager to share,” Rain asked, curiosity threading through his voice. He took a slow sip, letting the burn settle in his chest as he watched Elijah’s reaction.

Elijah was proudly, unapologetically polyamorous; a trait Rain had always enjoyed and admired. His energy was sensual, fluid, magnetic. He moved through the world with a confidence that made people orbit him. Rain had been drawn to that ease, that freedom, that lack of emotional entanglement.

It was exactly the kind of distraction Rain usually sought.

But tonight, Elijah’s energy was… off.

“Babe, Eden is my sister,” Elijah said pointedly.

Eden, still within earshot, glanced over with a smirk as she worked the tap.

Rain exhaled slowly, offering Elijah a sheepish grimace.

“Got it. Hands off,” he said lightly, though the resignation beneath the humour was unmistakable.

Eden’s disappointment flickered across her face; brief but visible and Rain felt a matching pang. She was beautiful, bold, and exactly the kind of uncomplicated company he usually welcomed.

Disheartened, he tipped back his glass, draining it in one smooth motion. The warmth of the liquor spread through him, dulling the edges of his thoughts, softening the sharp ache in his chest. Elijah kept thewhiskey flowing between customers, attentive in a way that felt almost protective.

Rain welcomed the distraction.

“Is there some kind of event I’m unaware of?” Rain asked as Elijah poured another generous measure. The bar was packed; more than usual, even for tournament season. Something felt… off.

Elijah nodded, mirroring Rain’s confusion.

“I know, right? It’s crazy. It’s always busy around tournament time, but nothing like this.” He leaned onto one hip, scanning the room with a practiced eye. Even in jeans and a simple t-shirt, Elijah radiated flamboyant confidence; the smoky eyeliner framing his dark eyes only amplifying the effect.