Page 232 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

Inside the sphere, Rain finally allowed himself to breathe.

Jay’s eyes met his—wide, terrified, pleading—and Rain’s fury crystallised into something cold and deadly.

Drazier would pay for this.

Chapter 60

Within the safety of the energetic shield, Rain released a heavy breath of relief and rushed to Jay’s side. “I’ve got you. You’re safe now.” His voice was firm, steady, a lifeline in the chaos. He pressed a soft kiss to Jay’s forehead as he pulled the gag away, his fingers lingering just long enough to brush aside the fresh tears tracking down Jay’s dusty cheeks.

“You shouldn’t have come,” Jay choked out, sniffling back a sob. His gaze followed Rain’s hands as he worked to untie him. “It’s a trap. They’re going to kill you.”

Rain’s jaw tightened. He dragged Drazier’s blade through the rope bindings in one swift motion, freeing them from the pole. The red aether embedded in the dagger’s handle pulsed against his palm, replenishing his energy in steady waves. Thank the gods Drazier kept his weapons charged; maintaining the shield was already draining and with the attack, hammering at it, Rain needed every scrap of power he could get. They wouldn’t be able to stay like this for long.

Jay twisted toward him, hands still bound behind his back, glaring up at Rain with stubborn defiance; as if sheer willpower could transport him out of danger. Rain hooked a finger beneath Jay’s jaw, tilting his face up until their eyes met

“I know it’s a trap,” Rain said quietly. “I simply don’t care. I told you before—I will always be there for you. And I can’t think of a more crucial moment to prove that.”

Jay’s lip quivered, his resolve melting. Rain’s thumb brushed over his bottom lip, lingering in a moment of silent reassurance.

A soft, muffled sound broke the intimacy. Jay’s mother. Rain dropped his hand immediately, the urgency of their situation snapping back into focus.

“Turn around so I can release your hands,” he instructed. Jay obeyed with a shuddering sigh, twisting his wrists forward once the rope fell away. He flexed his fingers, coaxing blood back into them, colour slowly returning.

Rain moved to Jay’s mother next, approaching her with a gentleness that contrasted sharply with the violence outside. He removed her gag with careful hands, mindful of her distress.

“Thank you,” she sobbed as he began untying her wrists.

“Don’t thank me yet,” Rain murmured, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder. “I still need to get you out of here safely.”

His gaze flicked past the shimmering dome, assessing the battlefield. A deafening eruption of gunfire hammered against the shield. Rain braced as the roar intensified, bullets striking the barrier in relentless waves. Sparks skittered across its surface, each round deflecting and falling, forming a growing ring of crushed metal around them.

He held the shield firm—for now—but its strength was finite. He prayed the attackers were emptying their ammunition in this first onslaught, though he knew better. Time was slipping through their fingers. Soon he wouldn’t have the strength to maintain the barrier, let alone defend against whatever came next. They needed to move, to find cover, gain distance, anything.

He sensed that Drazier and company had cleared the field, watching from a distance with smug confidence, believing themselves safe. Rain almost smirked at their delusion. They were not safe from him. Not even close.

Determined to demonstrate his inescapable power, He pushed into Drazier’s mind with brutal force, abandoning all subtlety. He wanted the king to feel him — to feel the weight of what he had provoked. Drazier’s fear spiked instantly, his mental defences crumbling as panic swallowed him. Rain sifted through his thoughts with ease.

Five minutes.

Drazier planned to launch another attack in five minutes; one he believed would kill Rain.

Satisfied, Rain withdrew, but not before sending a wave of pure hatred through the connection, a promise carved into Drazier’s mind:

I am going to kill you.

“We can’t stay here,” Rain said, turning back to Jay and his mother. “We need to make our way down the mountain.” His main priority was to get them to safety; he would get his revenge regardless.

Jay nodded, trying to appear brave for his mother, who clung to his hand so tightly her knuckles had gone white. She stared at Rain with open horror, unable to hide her fear.

Rain hesitated. Winning her trust was now their greatest obstacle. She needed to believe him; believe in him, if they were going to survive.

He softened his tone. “I apologise. I had hoped to meet you under different circumstances. As you know, my name is Rain. Please feel free to address me informally. May I ask your name? Referring to you as Jay’s mother feels… inadequate.”

She blinked at him, terror and disbelief warring in her expression. Rain could feel the deep-rooted hostility in her — a lifetime of fear andprejudice clashing violently with the reality that she now depended on him.

“Jacklynn, my name is Jacklynn” she replied warily, as if giving her name somehow handed him more power over her. Jay squeezed her hand offering her reassurance as Rain’s jaw clenched in frustration, he didn’t have the time or patience for this.

Rain fixed her with a serious, unwavering stare. “Jacklynn, I know what you think of me and I understand why. Under better circumstances, I would take the time to prove I’m not the evil you’ve been taught to fear. But we don’t have that luxury. I need you to trust me and do exactly as I say. Your survival and your son’s, depends on it. Do you understand?”