Chapter 39 #2
“I’m sorry I’m late,” Rain said quietly. “I was… a little tied up.”
The team stared at him, taking in his appearance with a mix of horror and confusion.
“Did you come straight from the warzone?” Wren asked, voice tight.
Rain winced. He’d been so consumed by the mission that he’d forgotten entirely about the southern offensive.
“Shit. I forgot about that. No, I wasn’t there. How bad is it?”
They all stared at him like he’d grown a second head.
“I haven’t stopped for two days,” he said, exasperated. “Forgive my ignorance. Catch me up and fast.”
“You’ve taken the entire region,” Jay said, voice sharp with accusation. “Imprisoning any surviving citizens.”
Rain’s stomach dropped. Jay’s energy stabbed at him; betrayal, hurt, fury. Rain rubbed at his sternum instinctively but kept his expression neutral.
“You mean the Blue Kingdom has,” Rain corrected, though his mind raced. Had this been his father’s plan all along? “I haven’t been in battle. I haven’t been anywhere near the southern region. And I’m not King. I’m not General. Those aren’t my commands.”
“How can you stand there and lie to us?” Jay snapped. “Do you think that little of us? You show up last minute looking like that—fresh out of battle! I’m a modern history major, Rain. There’s no way they could’ve succeeded without you. Their prized weapon.”
The words hit harder than any punch. Rain couldn’t hide the hurt in his eyes.
“I wasn’t there, Jay. I was on a secret rescue mission. I’ve spent the last forty-eight hours in the desert. I probably have sand in every bloody orifice to prove it.”
He flipped his pocket inside out, sand spilling onto the ground.
“Do you really think I’d lie to you? Do you think that little of me?”
Jay swallowed, shame flickering across his face, cheeks flushing red. Rain stepped closer, reaching for his hand but Jay shoved his hands into his pockets and stepped back.
The tension was suffocating.
The tannoy blared overhead; a blessed interruption, calling all participants to their starting positions.
“My brother wouldn’t lie to you,” Snow said fiercely, linking her arm through Rain’s. “He loves you.”
Jay’s jaw dropped, guilt flooding his aura.
“You need to change your shirt,” Snow said, tugging Rain aside and gesturing to the black t-shirt she wore.
Rain’s gaze lingered on Jay for a heartbeat before he turned to his sister.
“You were going to take my place?”
“Yeah. Of course. I couldn’t let you down while you’re off risking your life.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Can you even climb?” he teased, trying to lighten the air, though every energy signature around him was a knot of confusion.
He ripped the buttons of his ruined camo shirt, yanking it off. It suddenly felt like a target painted on his back.
“I have limbs,” Snow said drily, handing him the clean shirt. She held up his charred uniform. “What happened?”
“I’ll explain later. Turns out I’m fireproof.”
Her eyebrows shot up. He gave her a look that said don’t ask.
He pulled on the black t-shirt and fell into line behind his team. Purple padded walls funnelled them toward the starting zone. The first challenge: a padded obstacle course with ten hidden flags.
Thomas handed him their red team band, patting his shoulder.
“It’s rough for us Blues today,” he whispered. “Everyone’s looking at us like we’re the villains.”
Rain sighed and positioned himself behind Jay; just as they’d planned.
“I’m still allowed to touch you on the course, right?” he murmured bitterly into Jay’s hair. His heart clenched painfully. “Or is that off-bounds too?”
Jay stiffened. Wren shot Rain a glare. He didn’t blame her; he was being an ass.
“I just need to know if I’m carrying you through this like we planned. If not, fine.”
“Yes,” Jay said stiffly. “I’m still injured. I can’t take my full weight on my arms or climb the heights unassisted.”
“Okay. I’ve got you.” Rain leaned close. Jay’s energy fluttered; attraction sparking beneath the anger.
Rain hated it.
Hated the contradiction.
Was he supposed to fight for him or walk away?
The alarm sounded.
They surged forward.
Jasmine and Wren sprinted up the steep slope. Thomas, Rogan, and Sean dove into the tunnels. Rain followed the girls, using his power to push the team upward. At the top, he waved them on.
Jay stared over the drop; pale.
“Trust me,” Rain said, handing him the rope. Jay nodded, sitting on the edge.
“Drop off. I’ll take your weight with my power and ease you down. Just walk your hands.”
“Okay, I can do that” Jay whispered, more to himself than Rain.
“Yes, you can. I’ve got you.”
Jay’s breath shook. Rain squeezed his hand.
“Let’s win this. Then we’ll figure everything else out.”
Jay bit his lip and eased over the edge. Rain guided him down gently, then turned to the towering frame above.
Jasmine and Wren were already scaling it. Rain’s target was higher.
He climbed the ladder, then balanced on the top beam. Four diagonal poles formed a pyramid above him. Other teams were shimmying up the sides, but Rain positioned himself dead centre.
He inhaled deeply.
Bent his knees and jumped.
He caught the narrowing poles with both hands. His shoulders screamed. The crowd roared; to them, it looked like he’d narrowly avoided a deadly fall.
He climbed the rest of the structure, alternating grips until he reached the peak. He paused, scanning the maze below; Jay and Emily grabbed a flag at a dead end.
Then he snatched the highest flag, tucked it into his waistband, and launched himself downward, sliding along the poles and dropping onto the ladder.
Jasmine and Wren met him at the maze entrance, waving their flags triumphantly.
Rain grinned; breathless, adrenaline sharp in his veins and guided them toward the others, following the familiar pull of his team’s energy.
“Go to the platform. I’ll get the boys through the maze,” Rain ordered, passing Jasmine and Wren his flag. They nodded and sprinted off without hesitation.
Rain turned back into the maze, ready to scale the wall; when Rogan launched off the ledge above him.
The man dropped like a stone, catching the rope at the last possible second. His body slammed into the wall with a sickening thud before he slid down beside Rain.
Rain barked a laugh just as Thomas and Sean came flying after him, all three scrambling to their feet in chaotic unison.
“Follow me,” Rain called, adrenaline sharpening his senses. He led them through the maze at breakneck speed, cutting corners with instinctive precision until they burst onto the platform where the others waited.
First place.
The crowd roared.
Purple team arrived seconds later.
Julian stood two platforms away, glaring daggers.
Rain smiled sweetly and waved.
Thomas elbowed him. “You’re such a menace.”
“Okay,” Wren said, gathering them in. “When the next team finishes, we’ll get buzzed in. Remember—if any of us fall, we all go back to the start. Rain, can you make sure none of us fall?”
“Yes,” Rain said. “Just don’t spread out. If you go too far ahead, it’ll be harder for me to focus.”
He didn’t add that he was already pushing past the limits of his mental endurance.
“Right. Move together. Help each other,” Wren confirmed.
They all nodded, pairing off.
Jay lingered beside Rain, chewing his lip.
“You, okay?” Rain asked softly, though he already knew the answer.
“Yep,” Jay said too quickly.
Rain pressed his lips together, swallowing the words he wanted to say.
“When the alarm goes, jump on my back and hold tight. Tell me if anything hurts. I’ll ease it as best I can, but my focus will be stretched thin.”
“Okay,” Jay murmured, shifting nervously.
The alarm blared.
Jasmine launched forward, swinging across the bars with effortless grace.
Jay grabbed Rain’s shoulders, hesitated; then jumped, wrapping his legs around Rain’s torso.
Rain caught his thighs, hitching him higher like he weighed nothing.
Jay’s chest pressed against his back, arms instinctively circling his neck.
Rain stepped onto the bars, letting their combined-weight swing gently as he moved across.
Ahead, Emily’s grip faltered. Rain pulled up on the bar to see over the others. The muscles in his back flexed, brushing against Jay’s body. Jay’s thighs tightened involuntarily.
Rain forced himself to focus.
He lifted Emily’s weight with a controlled burst of power, helping her secure her grip until she reached the dangling hoop.
Rain dropped into a hanging position. Jay’s attention sharpened again; Rain felt it like a hand on his spine. Jay’s energy tugged at him, hungry for reassurance, for closeness.
“All right back there?” Rain asked, breathless.
“Yeah. I’m good,” Jay said lightly; too lightly. Rain’s heart clenched at the shift.
More teammates struggled. Rain manifested a cushion of energy beneath their feet, guiding them to the next phase. They moved into the hoop section, each pair sharing a large ring.
Daphne clung to Rain’s hoop.
“I didn’t doubt you,” she whispered.
Rain smiled. Jay huffed behind him.
The first four crossed easily, but Emily and Rogan lagged, blocking the rest.
“Pull her across, Rogan!” Rain shouted. “I’ll handle the rest.”
Rogan obeyed. Rain kept Emily suspended until she reached safety. The crowd gasped; another team must’ve slipped.
Finally, they reached the final stretch: a tightrope leading to a tunnel slide.
One by one, they hooked their arms and legs around the rope, shuffling toward the tunnel. Easy for everyone…
Except Jay.
His ribs wouldn’t survive the angle. Even with Rain absorbing the pain, he wouldn’t be able to move.
“You’ll have to swivel onto my front,” Rain said. “It’ll be awkward, but I can do it.”
“You want me to face you?” Jay asked, voice small.
“Yes. You’ll be against my chest while I pull us across.” Rain smiled as Jay’s heart kicked into overdrive. “Unless you have a better idea.”
Daphne reached the other side and dropped into the tunnel.