Page 74 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

Rain could almost see the lessons in her eyes; history etched into memory. Families rising and falling. The most powerful families ruled. Some firstborn sons passed over.

“..It happens even now; the yellow King, Reece Sulantice for example; his older brother could barely channel influence. Reece is telepathic. His father chose power over birth order.”

Rain exhaled slowly. “So, something fractured the realm. Every new kingdom is thrown into chaos as they're forced toward segregation. There’s power struggle, manipulation and even murder.” He moved to sit on the arm of Snow’s chair, needing the grounding of her presence. “Why does it feel like we are about to fall into a similar chaos?”

“Do you think there are others like us? Unaware of the blood within their veins.” Snow asked, not wishing to contemplate the hard times ahead.

He didn’t hesitate. “I think we’re the first in a millennium,” Rain said. “Queen Skylar somehow suppressed our bloodline with an enchantment meant to last exactly one thousand years. We were born right at the end of that timeline. The spell broke. Our bloodline resurfaced. Fate aligned to bring twins—us—back into the world.”

Saying it aloud made the air feel charged, as if the room itself were listening.

“We didn’t just inherit our blood,” he said quietly, having to repeat himself to allow the truth to sink in. “We inherited thetwin gene the Gods gifted our kind. Our powers are the strongest recorded in centuries. And we have multiple gifts.” He swallowed. “It’s a relief to understand why. But it’s also terrifying. ate has placed a great responsibility on our shoulders.”

Snow swallowed, throat bobbing. “I agree. But what are we supposed to do?”

“I have to find this realm,” Rain said. “Find answers. It’s on me to save our people.”

“Gods no! We are in this together.” Snow sat up sharply, smacking his leg hard enough to sting. “The one true King” She made dramatic air quotes “can go ahead and keep the crown. I don’t want it. But I’m your twin. This destiny is mine too. We are a pair. You are not excluding me with your self-righteous, overprotective crap.”

“Okay, okay—you’re right.” Rain raised his hands. “Don’t get your clouds brewing. It’s you and me against the world. Always.”

He leant back, his mind was already moving: visions, maps, possibilities. The lost realm… “We’ve always been told there’s nothing far south but ice and death. But the lost realm must be there. Could you pull some books from the library? There has to be something that mentions a thorned barrier. I’ll read what I can around my schedule. I still need to speak with the General about the war and come up with a strategy to switch Fathers focus. I’m sure there is something I can do to piss him off. As much as I want to punish certain Red citizens right now, we need to stop this war before it starts.”

“NO.” Snow slapped him again; harder this time, the crack echoing off the stone walls. Rain stood, startled, more from her fury than the sting. Snow rarely raised her voice, let alone her hand. Her eyes were blazing. “Throwing yourself under the bus to manage Father is not a strategy. If you’re close to overthrowing him, you need to think long-term.”

He rubbed his jaw, guilt threading through his voice. “I know.”

“Good. Now, tell me, why do you want to punish Red citizens? What happened?”

The answer punched out of him. “Jay was attacked on the train yesterday.”

Snow gasped, hand flying to her mouth. “Did they find out he’s dating you? Rain, that’s dangerous. He’s mortal. They break easily. Is he okay?”

“He says he is. He isn’t.” Rain’s voice softened, the edges fraying. “He has a broken rib. Severe bruising. And mentally… he’s struggling. He won’t admit it, but he can’t hide it from me.”

A wave of longing hit him; sharp and aching. His chest tightened as if someone had reached inside and squeezed. He wanted Jay in his arms; to keep him safe and protected. To take him far from the cruelty of Red Kingdom.

“I’m worried.”

“Yes. It’s very concerning.” Snow’s expression gentled, though tension still pulled at her features. “We’re not meant to be romantically involved with mortals. We’re supposed to protect them. Do you think you should break it off? If Drazier or Father finds out…”

Her voice thinned, the end of the sentence dissolving into the charged air between them. She didn’t need to finish it; the threat lingered like a shadow creeping across the room. The unspoken possibilities of punishment, execution, for him to be used as political leverage, hung between them like a blade.

Rain’s jaw clenched. The idea of letting Jay go felt like tearing out a piece of himself. Snow saw it in his eyes and winced, regret flickering across her face, but she didn’t take the words back. She couldn’t. They were true, and they both knew it.

“I can’t.” The words came out small, almost boyish, stripped of the authority he carried everywhere else. He rubbed his thumb along the edge of the table, grounding himself on the cool, carved wood.

“I know I should. I know what the wise choice would be. I fight with it constantly.”

His gaze drifted to the window, where the late afternoon light fractured across the glass in pale gold. Dust motes drifted lazily in the beam, suspended like tiny stars. He looked at them as if they might offer an answer

“But he’s the first thing I’ve ever chosen for myself. The first risk I’ve taken that wasn’t for the realm or the crown. The first person I’ve shared a real piece of myself with.”

His throat tightened. The confession felt like peeling back armour he’d worn his entire life.

“I can’t let others take that away from me. Not yet. And I can’t bear the thought of breaking his heart, even if it’s the wisest thing to do.”

A darker note slid into his voice. “And if Drazier so much as breathes in his direction, it’ll be his throne I take first.”