Chapter 19
It is the day of the qualifier tournament, and Rain woke expecting to find Ivy curled against him.
To his own surprise and irritation; disappointment hit him when he realised, she wasn’t there.
A flicker of panic rose until he reached for her energy signature and found her across the hall with Snow.
Both felt like their usual selves. Thank the gods.
He didn’t have time to hunt her down this morning; he needed to be on the move.
He showered, dressed, and was out the door within minutes, downing the protein shake Neel had left for him.
Determination thrummed through him. He refused to let his team down today—especially after missing the practices they’d organised.
Thomas had relayed his excuses, but guilt still gnawed at him.
This determination had nothing to do with avoiding the abnormal level of attachment he now felt toward his betrothed.
Nope; denial was his greatest ally in that department.
As the palace shrank behind him, so did the distractions of the last twenty-four hours.
In their place came the weight of the last nine days, settling like a stone in his throat.
The palace walls had been a cocoon for his nervous system—a temporary reprieve.
Now, outside them, everything flooded back.
Dread seeped into his bones. The attachment to Ivy felt like a shackle once more and his confusing feelings for Jay resurfaced with a vengeance.
Part of him couldn’t wait to see his team again, to sink into the comfort of their easy camaraderie.
The other part was suddenly, painfully aware of the mess he’d made in regard to Jay and Ivy.
Facing Jay’s open, trusting face suddenly felt like the worst idea imaginable.
Ridiculous as it was, the Verday incident was starting to feel like the easier of his recent catastrophes.
It was always going to be complicated, getting involved with Jay; especially when everyone knew Rain was betrothed to Ivy.
But now he was beginning to understand just how irresponsible he’d been.
Anxiety surged through him at the thought of seeing devastation in Jay’s eyes. It made his stomach twist violently.
Every instinct told him to turn around, to hide, to avoid the fallout. But he refused to be a coward. He’d learned long ago that the world didn’t stop just because something terrible happened––especially when you were the terrible thing. Rain was used to being the villain in someone’s story.
So, he would put on his big-boy pants and face whatever was coming.
The driver pulled up at Greys Water station.
Rain would have to take a fifteen-minute train ride to reach the stadium; the only permitted method of entry.
No road or foot traffic was allowed; every person had to scan their identifier when boarding the train and again at the stadium gates.
Anyone who refused could be denied entry or even arrested.
The Shadow Guard were infamously strict, which was why the stadium remained the safest zone in the realm and the only territory where all kingdoms could freely mingle.
Rain chose the Royal compartments at the front of the train.
Normally he preferred the mixed shuttles at the back, blending into the crowd.
Those carriages were designed for cross-kingdom groups or for anyone wanting anonymity.
Most people still rode in their segregated carriages, sticking with their own for comfort and safety.
But today, Rain didn’t want to risk being recognised too soon after the incident.
The air already felt thick with unease, layered with distrust, tension and fear.
Understandable, given the recent attack and the kingdoms’ escalating declarations of war.
No one would dare confront him, but that didn’t stop the emotional knives of their worry from cutting into him.
It was hard enough being out in the open with his own nerves fraying.
If his team turned against him today, he might just combust on the spot.
When the train arrived, he let others board first. Most passengers were already onboard from earlier stations; this was the final stop before the stadium. Anyone boarding here was either running late or staying nearby for the games.
He scanned his pendant to enter the carriage, then again at the door of an empty compartment; extra protection for aetherial passengers.
As it opened, the lighting strip along the ceiling shifted to UV blue—his kingdom’s colour.
He sighed internally. The whole cabin glowed like a beacon announcing Blue Prince on board.
Another reminder of why he preferred travelling among mortals.
As a royal, he couldn’t escape his reputation.
Fifteen torturous minutes later, the tannoy chimed.
“End of the line. Arrival at Greys Water Stadium. Please be ready to scan your identifier as you exit in an orderly manner. Thank you.”
Rain was already at the exit, leaning against the rail.
His nerves had driven him to pace the corridors instead of staying in his compartment; much to the annoyance of a few other royals.
They wouldn’t dare say anything, but he felt their glares.
He wasn’t popular among the royal circles; some envied his power, others feared it. Either way, the feeling was mutual.
The doors slid open. Royal carriages always unloaded first, giving them priority through customs. Rain had no intention of going through yet. He’d rather wait for his team and walk in with them or, if they wanted nothing to do with him, slip back onto the train and disappear.
After what felt like the longest minute of his life, the rest of the carriage doors opened and hundreds of people spilled onto the platform, all eager to reach the gates.
A tidal wave of energy slammed into Rain—excitement, nerves, curiosity, a few sharp stabs of hate or fear from those who recognised him.
The platform was packed, yet a clear ring of space formed around him, like an ant circle avoiding something hazardous.
He kept his head high, scanning faces, searching for anyone from his team.
“Rain! You made it!”
A small, sprightly figure fought her way through the crowd, nearly trampled as she bobbed and weaved between bodies.
Rain helped, parting the crowd with a gentle push of energy, creating a brief pathway for her.
A few people panicked at the sudden shift, but he sent out a calming pulse to counter it.
When he was in control, he could do a lot of good without causing chaos.
Emily launched herself at him, arms wrapping around his waist, completely ignoring his moody composure.
Being from Blue, she’d been raised to adore him politically, but she also had a naturally warm, ocean-like energy: cool and inviting, yet wild and unpredictable.
Barely five feet tall with blonde waves and ocean-blue eyes, she was fast, light, and fearless; a perfect asset to the team and never shy about telling them what to do.
“Hey, Em. Is everyone with you?”
“Yes, of course! We didn’t ride together, but we all boarded at the same station. We figured it was safer than risking the mixed shuttles with the way things are between the kingdoms right now.” She squeezed him once more before letting go. “How are you, honestly?”
“Yeah, I’m good.” He cleared his throat. “Is everyone… okay with me being here today?”
“What!” She smacked his chest with her tiny hand.
“Don’t be ridiculous! We need you. You’re one of us.
We’re all team Rain. We know you better than that.
You don’t do anything without a reason, right?
And while we don’t know exactly what happened, we know you.
But Red propaganda is insane right now. Jay and Wren told us what they’ve been hearing during practice and the rumours are so far from the truth it’s laughable.
I knew you royals exaggerated for your own agenda but wow. ”
Rain winced. It didn’t take much imagination to picture the media messages and whispers. He’d seen it all before. The “green-eyed predator,” the fearmongering campaigns warning soldiers to protect their wives from the Blue Prince’s seductive influence.
“Sorry,” Emily said quickly. “You’re not like the rest of them. Ah—I didn’t mean it like that—”
“Stop. It’s okay.” He placed a hand on her shoulder, offering a small smile. “Thank you for trusting me. It means more than you know.”
“Aww, you big softie!” She threw her arms around him again. Rain stiffened, unsure how to reciprocate. Friendship like this still felt foreign; like something he wasn’t entirely sure he deserved.
“Rain!”
The familiar voice he’d been dreading cut through the noise.
Relief and panic collided in his chest. He scanned the crowd and spotted Jay and the others struggling against the crush of bodies, being pushed toward the gates.
Some of the crowd—specifically a cluster of Red citizens — were deliberately blocking them, shoving harder once they realised who they were trying to reach.
Frustration surged. Rain nudged Emily behind him.
“Stay behind me.”
He stalked into the crowd. People froze the moment he approached, parting instinctively without him needing to lift a finger. Fear had its uses; sometimes it made people behave better than they otherwise would. Sad, but true. And today, he would use it to protect his own.
Two large Red men were shoving Jay, their backs to Rain. His powerful presence thrummed through the air as he approached. Sensing the shift, they spun around, courage draining from their faces as Rain squared up to them.
A new worry flickered through him: would his friends face consequences after today? Would their own kingdoms ostracise them for standing beside the “devil prince”?
The men backed away with their hands raised, fear radiating off them.