Page 68 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

“Good. We’ll do that every time,” Rain said. They nodded, falling into push-ups.

From then on, the three of them moved as a unit, waiting for each other, encouraging each other, then climbing together. Meanwhile, Jay, Thomas, Daphne, and Wren began to falter, limbs shaking, technique slipping. Rain didn’t help them. Not yet.

By the time Rain’s trio finished all twenty-five sets, only Rogan and Jasmine had beaten them. The rest were still struggling through their final rounds.

“Any help?” Jay rasped, clutching his ribs, breath ragged. He’d slid down the ramp again.

“Sure. All you had to do was ask.” Rain jogged up, lay flat on the platform, and held out his hand. Jay hesitated, exhausted, then grabbed it. Rain pulled him up; Jay released him instantly, like Rain’s touch burned, and dropped into his last push-ups.

Rain almost asked if he was okay but Jay struggled through his last set, so he held his tongue.

“Anyone else need a little teamwork?” Rain called from the platform.

“Yes—please,” Wren wheezed. “Two more times.”

He helped her, then Daphne. Thomas finished alone.

When they finally collapsed onto the benches, sweaty, defeated, and gasping, Rain sat opposite them.

“Okay. That was severely disappointing.”

“It isn’t our fault,, we did ourbest,” Daphne protested.

“Really?” Rain arched a brow. “Explain to me how it isn’t your fault that you tackled that exercise as individuals instead of a team.”

Silence. Realisation sank in.

“We are a team. And we need to start thinking like one. If one of us falls, we all fall. I started last. Two of our members couldn’t make the height. But the moment the three of us worked together, we beat most of you. We encouraged each other. We finished together. That is how we should be performing.”

He let the words settle.

“Do you think Purple will make mistakes like this on Velday?”

Thomas scowled. “Okay, we get it. We suck.”

“That isn’t it at all,” Rain countered. “Thinking like that won’t get us closer to a win. We need to learn how to work together, and that’s what this week is for. I realise we may have to rely on my power for certain things. Sean isn’t going to scale heights as easily as the rest of us, and he’s not exactly small enough to carry like Emily. So, I think it’s worth getting you all used to the feel of my power, just in case.”

He opened his channel, scanning the group wanting a read on his suggestion. They looked exactly how they felt: exhausted, frustrated, disappointed in themselves.

That’s when he felt it; Jay’s energy flickering, thinning, turning hazy.

Rain was on his feet before he consciously decided to move. He reached Jay just as he fell backward, catching him with his power and then in his arms. He lifted him from the bench and lowered him gently to the ground, rolling him onto his side.

The team rushed in around them.

“Jay! Jay, can you hear me?” Rain pressed two fingers to his pulse, already scanning his energy. Jay was breathing, but his heart hammered too fast, and his skin was clammy. Rain felt a sharp echo of pain in his own ribs as he traced Jay’s aura.

He lifted Jay’s crimson shirt and the entire left side of his ribcage was a storm of bruises. Gasps rippled through the group.

“Fuck! Why didn’t you say something?” Rain breathed, voice tight with fear. He leaned down, resting his forehead against Jay’s. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered, kissing him gently.

Jay’s eyes rolled, his body twitching as he fought to stay conscious.

“I’ll get water. Jaz, come with me,” Wren said, already sprinting off.

“Everything’s okay. I’m here,” Rain murmured, keeping his voice steady even as Jay’s pain tugged at him like a hook. Rain pressed his hand lightly over the bruised ribs, isolating his power. The bone was broken. Something inside him—instinct, memory, he wasn’t sure, but it felt ancient—pulled at him to siphon the pain.

He shouldn’t be able to do that.