Page 78 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

Snow froze mid-step, confusion clouding her features. Rain tugged her, desperate to get her out before anything else happened, but her feet remained rooted.

“Your brother caused drama over dinner again. He attacked me unprovoked. You saw that, didn’t you?”

“I did,” Snow whispered, her voice hollow; his influence taking hold.

“No!” Rain’s heart clenched. He couldn’t bear to watch his father twist her mind.

“See how he defies me,” Azrien continued, “even when we offer him a way to fix his embarrassing behaviour.”

Rain let fury consume him, letting it radiate through the room. He stormed toward his father, refusing to let him speak another word. Azrienpaled, trying to move away, but Rain held him in place with sheer force of will.

Rain didn’t speak. He simply cocked his fist and drove it into his father’s jaw. The crack echoed. Azrien’s body flew backward, blood splattering the wall as he collapsed.

Olivis, Snow and Navy screamed. A guard burst into the room, sword drawn, scanning for danger.

Rain flexed his hand, shaking off the pain as he turned and strode toward the exit.

“Put that away before you hurt yourself,” he ordered the guard, brushing past him, dragging Snow out of the room. Behind them, the guard called for servants to tend to the king. Azrien would heal; physically, at least. His ego was another matter.

Snow yanked her arm free, glaring at Rain. “Why did you do that? He’s going to kill you. You laid your hands on him. Rain! And… Dad is right. You have a chance to redeem yourself. This could be the support you need.”

“What are you talking about? Dad? Since when has Father been Dad?” Rain stopped in the corridor, staring at her like she’d grown a second head.

“I— I don’t know.” She bit her lip, confusion twisting her expression.

“Father used his power on you. That’s why I knocked him out. Before he could cause more damage. I have a feeling he’s done this often without your awareness.” Rain held her arms, channelling his power through her, trying to separate her energy from Azrien’s influence. He couldn’t. It infuriated him. “Withoutmyawareness.”

“Rain, I can’t recall what happened.” Snow’s voice trembled, panic rising; a common reaction when someone realised their mind had been tampered with. “I remember Mother and Father telling us you’re engaged to Candy and then… that I… Am I a consolation if you reject the proposal?” Her eyes widened as fragments resurfaced. “Then it gets foggy. You attacked Father because he said you overreacted… Wait—he’s surrounded by snow.” Her eyes nearly bulged. “I attacked him? No. I wouldn’t dare. Would I?”

“I’m as shocked as you are,” Rain said, scanning her energy again and again, ensuring she was stable.

Snow’s eyes filled with tears, panic fluttering in her chest. “Did I just put you in more danger?”

“I think we’re beyond that.” Rain pulled her into a hug. “Hey. We’re the Rainbow Twins, and the Pink Kingdom just offered me an entire army. Whether I choose to go along with this proposal or not, it’s a good sign they may be willing to support us when the time comes.”

Chapter 29

Asharp whirring sound sliced past Rain’s right ear. A flicker of motion skimmed his peripherals as a breath of displaced air brushed his skin; followed by a solid thud as metal embedded itself in the wall behind him. Too close. Far too close.

He dropped into a low side-squat lunge just in time to avoid the next throwing star aimed for his head. His leg swept around in a spinning arc, forcing his body into constant motion. His heart leapt into his throat as he nearly moved straight into the path of another star, jumping at the last possible second. Raymon laughed as it shot cleanly between Rain’s legs, missing his crotch by a miracle.

“Fuck!” Rain panted. “Touch the baby makers and you’ll end my reign before it’s begun.”

Another dodge—left rib—then immediately another—right side. He barely kept ahead of the barrage.

“I swear you’re trying to kill me.”

“If I wanted you dead, I’d have killed you five throws ago,” Raymon retorted. “Though I am concerned at how close you let that one go. It’s almost as if you aren’t that attached to your manhood.”

He launched another star with brutal force. It glided faster than the others, slicing through Rain’s T-shirt as he twisted away.

“Now that one I suspected would draw blood. Your reflexes are on point.”

“I should’ve expected you to play dirty.” Rain tore at the shredded fabric, ripping the ruined shirt off his shoulders. He bounced lightly on his feet, waiting for the next assault.

“One mention of your manhood and you start stripping. For the millionth time, I am not into males, Royale,” Raym taunted, spinning twice before releasing the next star.

Rain dropped smoothly to the floor, letting it whistle overhead.