Page 212 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

Rain sat opposite her, quietly observing the way she fidgeted with the chain at her wrist. Her dark eyes softened, vulnerability flickering across her features; a stark contrast to the confidence she had shown before. Justthen, Elijah appeared beside them, his manner breezy and polite, a relaxed smile spreading across his lips as he regarded the pair.

“Darlings, would you like me to get you a drink?” Rain’s full glass was still resting where he had left it; Elijah had come to scope the situation. Eager to determine if his night of fun had been invaded by this beautiful intrusion. There wasn’t any jealousy within Elijah’s aura, but there was perhaps a touch of pending disappointment. The momentary vulnerability had slipped away from the female’s eyes, replaced with the defiant confidence she displayed before.

“I’ll have whisky, please.” Rain watched her intently, noting the way her teeth dented her bottom lip after the request, revealing her nerves.

“Make that two please, Elijah.” The bartender nodded, brushing his fingers over Rain’s shoulder as he turned back to the bar. The female watched attentively, judging through narrowed eyes. “So, may I know your name?” he asked, leaning his elbows against the wooden table between them. Her lip slipped from her teeth as she pressed them firmly together, evidently, she didn’t want to reveal her name.

“How did you know I was a princess?” she deflected. Rain smirked, he hadn’t known until just now, but it had felt fitting to call her that. Even though the image before him didn’t appear very princess-like, she also didn’t appear to be in costume; her leathers moulded her figure perfectly, worn many times before.

“It was a feeling,” he replied, trying to read her energy, coming up short again. He could sense her, feel the underlying current of her mood, that was the best he could explain it. Which only revealed that he made her nervous, intriguingly so. “An orange princess?” The air shifted with her as she attempted to school her features; she hadn’t wanted him to know where she was from.

“Yes,” she offered a little too quickly, moving her attention toward Elijah who had returned with two short glasses of copper liquid. Theyboth thanked him and he bowed, theatrically twirling away, sassily shaking his hips as he stalked back to the bar. Rain paid him no attention, aware that she was watching him every time Elijah approached, as though she expected him to flirt without shame.

“Ok orange princess, I’m ashamed to admit that I am not familiar with your royalty. Perhaps that makes me a terrible prince.” He looked at her pointedly as she didn’t react to his admittance, “Clearly you’re aware of who I am.”

“Everyone knows who you are, Prince Rain; it was incredibly easy to identify you. What with you brooding in a dark corner, dressed in black with your disturbingly bright eyes,” Rain scoffed, interrupting obnoxiously.

“Don’t you dare try to pretend my eyes aren’t captivating. They’re undoubtedly one of my best features.”

“You say that like you have many,” she shot back, enticing more excitement out of him.

Oh, she’s a fun one, he thought, the corner of his mouth twitching with delight.

“As I was saying, even those of us who don’t associate with the likes of you, are aware of you and your reputation,” she delivered the sentence like a bite, she wanted to bruise his ego. All it did was serve as a delightful distraction, enticing him to tease more out of her. He leant back in his seat, clasping his drink, letting the liquid slosh against the glass.

“My reputation, you say, I have quite an extensive reputation that differs from kingdom to kingdom. Care to enlighten me as to what the Orange kingdom has to say about me that repulses you so?” Her face contorted into embarrassed irritation, filling him with satisfaction.

“You’re right it is extensive, it would take all day to delve into specifics.” She lifted her chin sanctimoniously. “Anyway, I suppose you’re proud of flirting with everything that moves,” her eyes shooting toward the bar. “When you’re not using violence to entice fear out of everyone that is.” Her words hit a bit deeper than he expected they would, though they were predictable, triggering his annoyance

“Hmm, I suppose flirting is a code word for fucking. Am I right?” His words sharp, her deep brown eyes flickered with the same vulnerability he had sensed earlier, a flush evident in her cheeks, surprising him a little. “Ah yes, my sordid reputation as the Promiscuous prince. Watch out for my eye’s princess,” He leant forward, holding her gaze. “It is said that they’ll have your panties dropping to your ankles before you get the chance to whisper a single word from those beautiful lips of yours.”

She spluttered on her drink, nearly inhaling her first sip. The drink had been a deliberate attempt to distract herself from Rain’s piercing stare, but it backfired as the liquid caught in her throat. Rain’s lips twitched with amusement, though he didn’t allow himself to fully smile. Instead, he leaned back in his seat, keeping his attention fixed on her while he lifted his own glass and took a slow, deliberate sip. He savoured the burn as it slid down his throat, the moment stretching out between them.

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat but refused to back down, clinging to a mask of confidence that, to Rain, was beginning to appear more and more like an act. The inability to read her as he did with others was infuriating, but he wasn’t willing to admit his frustration aloud. Silence settled between them, growing heavier as it became clear she had no intention of continuing the conversation. Her mouth was set in a stubborn line, jaw clenched with determination, making her resistance even more apparent.

Realising the intensity of his own gaze, Rain finally dropped his eyes, aware that his staring was likely bordering on uncomfortable. He broke the silence, his tone measured. “Princess, not everything we hear in court is as it seems. I will not do myself the disservice of defending gossip andpropaganda.” At his words, she inhaled sharply, the fire inside her clearly stoked by the implication.

She scoffed, her frustration boiling over. “Oh please, don’t tell me you expect me to believe that everything said about you is false. I suppose you’d have me believe that you’re a harmless victim, powerless even. I saw you with my own eyes, flirting with that bartender and even now you try to manipulate me with your charm.” She plonked her glass down on the table, the sound sharp, dragging his attention back to her narrowed glare as she crossed her arms over her chest. “But it won’t work on me.”

His jaw clenched, finally affected by her sanctimonious attitude. Gulping down the rest of the liquor he placed his own glass down a little too heavily as he responded.

“So, you saw a friend of mine, who I happen to know very intimately, being affectionate toward me. How scandalous. And of course, you have witnessed my volatile nature firsthand, right?” He tilted his head pointedly, “Forcing you to sit and endure a drink with me, how wicked. As for manipulating you, manipulation is my father’s tool, not mine, if you find me charming then that is on your own merit. But Princess don’t be mistaken,” His eyes locked onto hers as he punched out his next words, “there is nothing powerless about me.”

Her eyes widened, and she clenched her teeth, clearly struggling to maintain control over her emotions. Despite appearing as though she might get up and leave at any moment, she stayed rooted in her seat, her stubborn defiance the only thing anchoring her there.

After a long moment she seemed to find her composure, asking him curiously. “Do you prefer the company of males?” He straightened in his seat, a visible crease of confusion appearing across his forehead as he processed her question. For a brief moment, he considered asking her outright why she was so interested, wishing to understand the motivationbehind her inquiry. Yet, despite his uncertainty, there was a persistent feeling—an instinct deep within—that urged him to answer honestly.

“I do not have a preference,” he said truthfully, pausing to think for a moment before adding, “I guess I am attracted to energy, the way a person feels, the way they love, all the things that make them uniquely– them. That is incredibly attractive to me.” Her face shifted into contemplation as she considered his words, her eyes searching his face from a new perspective.

“And your view on relationships? I have heard that you like to share, is that true?” She bit her lip nervously as she awaited his answer. To Rain, the gesture read as a sign of her inexperience, a subtle vulnerability that seemed to contradict the air of confidence she so carefully maintained. He found himself grappling with the notion that despite her striking beauty and assertive presence, there was an innocence about her, particularly when it came to matters of romance. This unexpected juxtaposition piqued his curiosity further, deepening his desire to unravel the layers she kept so well guarded.

“You are a curious one, I hadn’t penned you as an adventurous type.” He teased, resting against his fist, the playful glint returning to his eyes, enjoying the little squirm she tried to hide.

“I don’t share what is mine, Princess.”

To his surprise she blushed, shy-eyed and rosy-cheeked. Intrigued by her reaction, he decided to expand further. “I won't lie; I dabble and have my fun… with friends.” He glanced over to the bar before returning his gaze back to her, “But when I love someone; let’s just say I would rather cut out my own heart with that pretty little dagger of yours, than to share myself or my partner with anyone else.”

A peculiar sadness flickered in the princess’s eyes, an emotion so fleeting it threatened to disappear if Rain looked away. She shifted her focusuncomfortably, eyes dropping to the copper-coloured liquid swirling in the glass she gripped tightly between her fingers.