Page 86 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

“Don’t tell me you’ve gone shy on me, Rouge.” Rain tapped his bare ass playfully and kissed him as he wriggled closer.

“It wouldn’t be so bad if you were naked too. Or if I hadn’t fallen asleep on you.” Jay groaned. “That was… hot, though.”

“You tasted as delicious as you look,” Rain whispered, his cock twitching for attention.

“Stop!” Jay blushed, burying his face in Rain’s chest. “What are you reading?”

“A book of prophecies. Dedicated to me.” Rain showed him the cover. “It seems we were meant to stumble upon that bookstore today.”

“Yeah, about that. What the freak was that all about? She’s your aunt. Isn’t that weird for you?” Jay rested his chin on Rain’s chest.

“It was… surreal. I’ve never met any of my relatives, nor such an elderly aetherial for that matter. Our aged tend to spend the second half of life within our own communities, sharing wisdom with the younger generation. Unless you’re King or Queen, I suppose.”

“I always wondered where most of you hide away. The only aetherials we ever see are Royals or politicians.”

“You’d be surprised. They’re among you every day. It’s the Royal lines that are corrupt and entitled.” Rain toyed with a rebellious curl near Jay’s ear. “Most aetherials are of service; spreading calm, helping nature grow, recording data, serving as priests and priestesses. You name it, there’s an Aetherial for it. Or there’s supposed to be.”

He sighed, heart aching for the state of the realm.

“It’s my duty to ensure any aetherial under my rule uses their gifts wisely, to bring order to the gifts bestowed upon us. Most who reign today have forgotten that. My father certainly has. With power weakening, royalty seeks strength outside themselves; abusing mortals, expecting them to fight our wars, destroying life instead of preserving it.”

Jay reached up and poked the crease forming between Rain’s brows.

“Ambrosia called you the Rainbow King,” Jay said softly. There was a question behind the words; several, actually. Rain felt them all:

What does it mean?

Will you still love me when you’re king?

Can we truly be together?

Is it safe to love you?

Rain hated that he didn’t know the answers. Hated even more that Jay’s fears mirrored his own. To prevent delving too deeply into the impossible, he scrambled for another topic.

“Oh… I may be betrothed again.”

The words slipped out before Rain could consider the implications. A result of his spiralling thoughts.

“Huh? Ivy came back?”

Jay shot upright—too fast—and immediately moaned in agony as his rib seized. He braced himself, breath hitching. Rain reached instinctively to take the pain, but Jay pushed his hand away.

“Don’t.”

Rain obeyed, watching him carefully until Jay’s body eased enough for him to continue.

“It isn’t Ivy,” Rain said softly. “The Pink King and Queen have proposed I marry their princess. In return, I’ll be given commanding authority over their forces.” He hesitated. “I’d appreciate it if you kept this between us.”

“I won’t tell anyone.” Jay frowned. “That’s… a good offer, one you would be stupid to refuse but I don’t understand. What do they get from this?”

“My thoughts exactly.” Rain exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face. “Their heir is empathic. They want me to spend time with him and help him the way I was helped.” His voice dropped. “Jay… I may need an army under my control to oppose my own kingdom.”

“To overthrow King Azrien,” Jay said quietly, piecing it together with the little knowledge he had. “Okay.”

He slid off the bed, covering himself with one hand as he grabbed his underwear and jeans. Without another word, he headed for the bathroom. His aura seething with hopeless betrayal.

Rain let out a long, slow breath, fingers dragging through his hair. The tension between them suddenly felt heavy and unspoken. Another worry added to the growing list. Another truth neither of them knew how to hold without hurting.