Page 82 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

The old woman; female, an aetherial, shuffled forward. Rain hid his shock. Normally he could sense another Aetherial long before theywere close enough to see, but this ancient-looking female had somehow masked her energy signature entirely.

Instinctively, he reached for her energy. It took effort, but eventually a faint flicker allowed him entry; only for him to be kicked out immediately. The woman let out a devious chuckle.

“My dear boy, I see they haven’t taught you any manners in that gigantic palace of yours. Then again, Azrien is your father.” She croaked as she hobbled around the counter. “Let me see you. Oh my, yes, you are even more handsome in person.”

She reached up to touch his face. Rain instinctively pulled back, bemused.

“I don’t bite. Those eyes; you must have inherited them from your mother. We don’t have green eyes, no we don’t. But my, what a very handsome nephew you are.”

Rain stilled. Nephew?

He racked his brain for the names of his father’s sisters and came up empty. Dammit—he knew he should’ve paid more attention.

“Come on, boy, speak! Now that you’re here, I don’t have many days left to live.”

Jay shifted awkwardly, stuffing his hands into his pockets, his energy nervous.

“Don’t worry, I’m three hundred and eighty-five years old, dear mortal child. It is my time, as foretold.” She turned back to Rain. “Do people always assume you’re going to kill someone?”

“Actually, yes,” he laughed. “Forgive my ignorance, but who are you?”

“Auntie Ambrosia!” she beamed, her weathered face brightening.

“The fifth daughter,” Jay added shyly.

Rain shot him a puzzled look.

“I told you I was doing my boyfriend research. You don’t share, so I reach for the books.”

“Boyfriend?” Ambrosia echoed with a delighted smile. “Azrien mustn’t be ecstatic about that.” She cackled.

“He doesn’t know about me. I’m a secret. He likes females too,” Jay blurted too quickly.

Rain side-eyed him, sensing a storm of drama behind those words, and redirected.

“Ambrosia, what is your power? I can barely sense you, which is unusual.”

“I can sense life force; very helpful in emergencies. I used to assist our wonderful emergency services up in Azurien Falls. Beautiful place. Have you ever visited?” Rain politely shook his head, he had sadly seen more of the Green kingdom than he had his own. With understanding in her eyes, she continued. “You should, it is the home of the Blue Aetherchrome source, a must visit for a Blue prince don’t you think? As for my shields, you can’t feel me because I trained with The Order for many years. I can feel when someone is trying to take what is mine. You really should practice some decorum.”

Her eyes sharpened as she scolded him.

“Sorry,” Rain said sheepishly. “In my defence, it hasn’t always been something I can control.”

“Perhaps that used to be the way, but it isn’t anymore, is it?”

He tilted his head, considering her words. Since his powers had returned, he hadn’t lost control; not even in lust.

“I think you’re right.”

“I am,” she said bluntly. “Rain, I am happy to finally meet you. I’ve anticipated this moment since they announced the birth of you and your sister. It is a shame I never had the chance to meet her.”

Her gaze drifted to the book tucked in his arm.

“I see you found the book. Marvellous.” Her smile softened into nostalgia. “Please take good care of it. Shahariar was a dear friend of mine. Oh,how I miss him. He was envious the day he told me we would meet…the Rainbow King, my nephew.”

She beamed again, warmth radiating from her pale blue eyes. Without warning, a rush of pride and genuine fondness filled Rain; Ambrosia had opened her channel to him. He smiled and nodded, unsure how to express how deeply the gesture touched him. He had never known relatives outside the palace. He’d assumed they were all bitter like his father. Ambrosia proved otherwise. The realisation was unexpectedly healing.

“Now, I won’t keep you males any longer! Oh my, this is part of the research?” she asked Jay as she sifted through his pile of books.