Page 60 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

Rain climbed onto the nearest table, knocking over empty champagne flutes and sliding plates aside. Guests gasped, staring up at him—half fearful, half enthralled.

He pulled his power inward, absorbing the energy of every Aetherial in the room. A monumental surge. Then he amplified one singular desire:

Silence.

“Enough!” he roared.

The command blasted through the estate. The room fell instantly, eerily quiet. Nobody dared move a muscle under the thrum of immense power.

Rain took a breath, glaring into the crowd as he adjusted his cuffs. His next words sealed his fate. So be it.

“I would like to regretfully inform all present that I, Prince Rain Beau Royale, heir to the Blue Kingdom—as is my right—terminated my betrothal to Princess Ivy Emerald of the Green Kingdom as of last Azday.”

Gasps rippled through the hall.

“I know, scandalous. I take full responsibility for the misunderstandings here today; it has been quite the week. I guess I forget to mention it. I would like to offer my humblest congratulations to Princess Ivy and Prince Julian on their engagement.”

Ivy stared at him in horrified confusion. Julian looked like he’d been slapped. He had given them both a lifeline, despite their complete disregard for him and his feelings.

Rain smiled at them, then turned his attention to his father’s thunderous glare.

“I suppose we shall discuss this over dinner.”

He winked at his father. Azrien’s jaw clenched at the challenge. Boiling rage poured off the king, almost brimming over the edge of his tightly strung control.

The room buzzed with electric excitement.

“Now,” Rain said lightly, “Let’s continue this spectacular evening of reunion and celebration and not allow this… minor inconvenience ruin the night.”

He hopped off the table, closed his channels and strode out of the hall onto the balcony overlooking the gardens.

Chapter 24

He wanted the darkness to swallow him whole.

The night air was cold against his overheated skin, the gardens below stretching out in a blur of silver and shadow. For a moment, he let himself lean into the quiet, into the ache behind his ribs, into the dizzying stillness that followed the storm he’d just unleashed.

“Why did you do that?” Snow’s voice cut through the night like a blade as she burst onto the balcony. Her footsteps were sharp, furiously echoing off stone. “You practically challenged Father in front of everyone. For what? You took the fall for Ivy—who betrayed you without a second thought!”

“Snow, relax. You’re—”

“Don’t you dare tell me I’m overreacting, Rain. I am under-reacting.”

“It was the right thing to do.”

“Why must you always sacrifice yourself?” She dropped into a white wrought iron chair, breath shaking with anger she didn’t know where to put. “I understand what you did. I stand by what I said earlier—you’re clever. Too damn clever. To your own detriment.”

“I love you too,” he murmured, placing a hand on her shoulder. The moment their skin touched, his power cut off again; silence slamming into him like a migraine. He winced and pulled back, groaning. “I’m far too drunk for this.”

“You prevented a world war,” she said quietly, eyes, identical to his, locked on him with a mixture of awe and fear.

“I know,” he replied softly. “And signed my death sentence.”

The balcony doors banged open behind them.

“Is he still out here?” Ivy’s voice wavered as she stepped into the moonlight, Julian and Sebastian trailing behind her. She froze when she saw Rain, shame rolling off her in a thick, suffocating wave.

“Hi,” she managed.