Page 97 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

Two guardians sprinted toward the alarm posts.

Two bodies dropped instantly beside columns two and three. Pain free, quick deaths.

But Rain felt each life extinguish; a cold punch to the chest that stole his breath for a heartbeat. He kept moving, jaw tight, senses scanning for intent.

Two guards from the first hut fired at them. Rain flicked his hand, deflecting the bullets skyward in a glittering arc. Short shifted behind him, suddenly aware of how exposed they were. She had been orderednot to kill; her job was to guard Rain’s back and ensure the squad’s positions remained uncompromised.

Hamish rounded the central structure, grabbing a lone guardian from behind and slicing her throat in one swift motion. Rain felt the life leave her body; another cold shock channelling through him but he forced himself onward.

He needed their attention on him.

He lifted his hand dramatically, though he didn’t need to. His mind did the work. The nearest guardian rose off the ground, limbs flailing as Rain suspended him mid-air. The display was deliberate; a reminder of who the Aetherial was here.

The dreaded Blue Prince.

Deep in Red territory.

Undetected until now.

More gunfire. Rain deflected the bullets again, then snapped both shooters’ necks with a twist of his power. Their bodies dropped like discarded dolls.

He shuddered.

Six deaths felt.

Two by his hand.

It always hit differently.

Another guardian fell; Glass’s shot clean and precise.

Rain hurled the airborne soldier into the tower wall, knocking him unconscious. Several guardians fled into the huts. Rain gestured sharply to Vass, who circled around the back while Rain entered through the front.

A woman screamed and bolted out the rear door; straight into Vass’s arms. He jerked, ready to kill, then hesitated.

“She’s too hot to kill,” he muttered, knocking her out instead and slinging her over his shoulder.

Rain grit his teeth but kept moving. He dragged another guardian from hiding and felt a sudden shift at his spine.

Someone was watching him. The prisoner of tower one. Her energy was sharp, furious, begging for the death of the man Rain held.

Rain felt and understood her reasoning and gladly obliged.

He felt no remorse killing a predator.

He killed the remaining two guardians of tower one as well; their energies tainted with the same rot. He suspected they all knew exactly what happened inside that tower and it fuelled a fire of vengeance within him.

“Damn it; overkill!” Short shouted, counting bodies.

“Intentional,” Rain said, voice like steel. “Those fuckers deserved it.”

“I trust they did.”

Short exhaled slowly, adrenaline still pumping through her veins.

“Three alive,” she added.

Rain nodded and left them to secure the survivors.