Chapter 39
Rain’s heart pounded as he watched the truck carrying his squad turn toward the Blue Kingdom.
This was it.
The point of no return.
The moment the road forked and he chose his own path; not Azrien’s, not the crown’s, not the one carved for him since birth. His.
The truck rumbled away, dust rising behind it like a curtain closing on one life as another began.
They wouldn’t notice his absence until they reached the barracks.
They were tucked in the back, sleeping, blissfully unaware.
By the time they realised he wasn’t with them, the princesses would be hidden, unreachable, untouchable.
Safe.
Henry kept their vehicle steady on the road toward Greys Water, giving Rain space to think or try to. His mind was a storm.
The clock on the dash read 9:00 AM.
Traffic thickened as they neared the city, cars streaming toward the stadium like a river of metal and anticipation. The first round of the tournament began at 10:30. He might still make it.
Jay would be there already.
The team would be there.
Waiting for him.
Expecting him.
His gut twisted.
He hadn’t had a moment to think about anything except survival and strategy. Now, with the mission’s hardest part behind him, the weight of everything he’d missed crashed into him.
The last time he saw Jay… it was awkward, tense, unfinished.
He missed him.
Gods, he missed him.
What he would give to crawl into bed beside him, bury his face in Jay’s chest, and sleep for a week.
But there was no time for that.
Not yet.
Still—if there was even a sliver of a chance to be there for the team, he would take it. The tournament might seem trivial compared to the political rebellion he’d just ignited, but it mattered. They mattered. They were the first thing in his life he had chosen for himself.
People who loved him for who he was, not what he was.
He would do anything to protect that.
They finally escaped the traffic and entered a quiet gated community; a world tucked inside the city, serene and untouched. Guards waved them through without question. An unmarked car led them along a gravel path toward a sprawling estate perched atop a grassy hill.
It was beautiful, new, empty and above all; Safe.
Exactly what he’d asked for.
Two men stepped out of the black car; one tall and composed, the other clearly a guard.
Rain hopped out before the engine fully stopped. The princesses had been briefed: stay hidden until he opened the doors. No surprises. No panic.
“Your Highness, good to see you.”
The taller man extended a hand.
“I am David Chartham, and this is my personal guard, Jason.”
Rain shook his hand firmly.
“This is… impressive,” Rain admitted, glancing at the estate. “I wasn’t expecting anything grand at such short notice.”
David smiled knowingly.
“I spoke with Elder Vaelwyn after our call. He helped me understand your situation more clearly. This property has everything you requested and more. No one will bother you here. You and your guests will be safely tucked away.”
Rain’s muscles tensed at the mention of “guests.” The idea of more people knowing about the princesses made his skin crawl.
David noticed.
“Your secrets are safe with me, Your Highness. The Shadow Guard works closely with the Order of Aurora. In many ways, we are the human extension of the Order.”
Rain raised a brow.
“Human extension of Aurora, hey?”
“We govern ourselves,” David said quietly, conspiratorial.
Rain huffed a tired laugh.
“Interesting. I’d like to hear more someday. But right now, a hot shower and a bed are calling my name. Thank you, David. I’ll find a way to repay you.”
“No repayment needed. This place is yours; call it a gesture of goodwill. Inside, you’ll find instructions on who to contact if you need assistance.
When you have time, provide us with a list of trusted visitors.
The guard are on high alert; anyone approaching will be intercepted. You have my word.”
Rain nodded, gratitude settling warm in his chest.
“I appreciate that, thank you.”
“Right then,” David said, stepping back. “We won’t waste another second of your time. Don’t hesitate to reach out.”
Rain waited until their car disappeared down the road before opening the truck.
The girls were curled together on the floor, half-asleep, blinking at the sudden flood of daylight.
“Rise and shine, girls!” Rain grinned, excitement bubbling through his exhaustion. “Let’s get you into a proper bed.”
Briar cheered, scrambling over her sisters and leaping out of the truck. Her jaw dropped as she saw the house; eyes wide, mouth open, pure awe etched across her features.
Rain lifted Ember, who clung to him sleepily, and carried her toward the front door. Henry helped Rose and Scarlet down gently.
This moment—seeing their faces light up—made every hardship worth it.
Scarlet stayed calm, but Rain kept his senses locked on her energy.
He would not let her burn the house down before they even crossed the threshold.
She hadn’t lost control since halfway across the desert; relieving themselves in the middle of nowhere had been a terrifying ordeal for her, but he wasn’t taking chances.
Inside, the kitchen was fully stocked. Rain peeled a banana and handed it to Ember, who snatched it with a delighted squeal, taking a huge bite.
Briar vanished upstairs, her footsteps thundering through the house as she opened every door and shouted her discoveries.
Rose and Scarlet lingered behind, staring at the food laid out across the counters—pastries, fruit, bread, cheeses—like it was a forbidden treasure.
“Help yourselves,” Rain encouraged. “Make yourselves at home. Eat as much as you want. Get clean. Pick a bedroom and get some much-needed rest.”
He exhaled.
“I’ll need to leave you here in Henry’s capable hands for a few hours. I hope to bring my sister back with me. Snow will be able to help with bathing and clothing.”
Scarlet leaned against the counter; eyes fixed on a tray of pastries she didn’t dare touch.
“Rain,” she whispered.
He turned toward her.
“Thanks.”
A tear slid down her cheek.
“For helping us.”
Her lip trembled.
Their bodies were finally catching up to the truth; they were free.
Rain swallowed hard.
“Guys… it’s going to be an emotional few weeks. Maybe months. I want you to know I’m here for you. I’ll do everything in my power to protect you. I’m only sorry I couldn’t get to you sooner. If I had known…”
He let the words fade.
It didn’t matter now.
He forced a smile.
“Right, what have we got here? A croissant… a Danish… oh, you have to try this one, it has egg custard inside. My favourite.”
He plated a few pastries and handed them to Scarlet, giving her the permission she needed. Rose grabbed a frosted cupcake and sat beside her.
They ate slowly; starved bodies satisfied after only a few bites, then drifted upstairs to find rooms.
Rain spent a few minutes with Scarlet, reminding her of her breathing technique, her fire-ball visualisation, what to do if panic arose. She was likely too exhausted to be a danger, but caution was better than regret.
When he was certain they were settled, he stepped outside.
He reached into his pocket, fingers closing around the Red Aether.
He let it pulse through him; warm, electric, revitalising.
He had a tournament to get to.
It was surprisingly harder to leave them behind than he had anticipated.
Rain stood on the front steps for a long moment, hand still resting on the door frame, listening to the muffled sounds of the girls exploring their new sanctuary; Ember’s soft giggle, Briar’s thundering footsteps upstairs, Rose humming to herself, Scarlet’s quiet breathing as she tried to steady her emotions.
He felt all of it.
Their exhaustion.
Their fragile hope.
Their fear of being abandoned again.
Their tentative belief that he would come back.
It tugged at him, sharp and unexpected.
He had to trust they would be okay.
He had to trust Henry.
He had to trust the Shadow Guard.
He had to trust that the house would still be standing when he returned; that Scarlet wouldn’t combust, that Briar wouldn’t lash out, that Rose wouldn’t accidentally enthral someone, that Ember wouldn’t swallow a stove flame out of curiosity.
He had to trust.
Because right now, there were others who depended on him just as fiercely.
Jay.
His team.
His friends.
His sister.
Rain exhaled, long and shaky, letting the Red Aether pulse through his veins, sharpening his senses and pushing back the exhaustion threatening to drag him under.
He stepped off the porch, the morning sun warming his bare forearms, and headed toward the waiting vehicle.
He didn’t look back.
If he did, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to leave.
The train doors slid open. Rain glanced at the station clock.
10:20.
Thank fuck.
He signed in with practiced efficiency and sprinted toward the arena, vaulting walls and barriers to bypass the crowds. He didn’t stop until he hit his mark, landing at the arena entrance with a thud. Only then did he pause, brushing dust from his clothes, trying to make himself presentable.
That’s when it hit him.
He was still in his singed uniform, covered in desert grit, soot, and the remnants of a nightmarish forty-eight hours. He hadn’t had a second to think about himself, let alone freshen up. If he had stopped, he wouldn’t have made it in time.
The crowd recoiled from him, parting like he carried the plague.
Red civilians eyed him warily, suspicion sharp in their auras.
The animosity was stronger than usual; thick, almost tangible.
Guards at the gate ushered him through quickly, bowing their heads as if eager to remove him from public view.
“Rain?”
Snow’s voice cut through the noise. She barrelled into him, arms thrown around his neck.
“Oh, thank the Gods you’re okay. I was so worried.”
“I’m good,” he murmured, hugging her back. “Just glad I made it.”
He looked past her, to his team.
To Jay.
Jay’s expression was thunderous. Rain frowned, scanning his energy for clarity, and swallowed hard when he met cold rage.