Chapter 39 #3
“Okay, so I just…” Jay breathed. He didn’t finish the sentence as he wrapped his legs tighter around Rain’s waist. Figuring out the manoeuvre while Rain held them suspended, Jay pivoted, gripping Rain’s shoulders, twisting until they were face to face.
Jay’s eyes flicked to Rain’s lips.
“Rain,” he whispered. “I’m sorry. For blaming you. I was angry at the situation, and I took it out on you.”
Rain didn’t trust himself to speak. Instead, he pressed his forehead to Jay’s, grounding them both.
Then he got back to work.
After three swings, he caught the rope with his feet, shifting his grip. Jay rested his head against Rain’s chest, trying to stay still. Rain pushed them along, muscles burning, mind flickering back to Verday night, of the electric fence.
He shook it off.
Jay was here.
An anchor.
Safe and warm.
His boots tapped the end of the line. He let his feet fall, both of them dangling from a great height.
“Okay. You first. I’m right behind you.”
Jay nodded but didn’t move. Instead, he pulled himself higher, searching Rain’s eyes for permission.
Rain hesitated, surprised but gave it.
Jay kissed him; a soft, desperate, apologetic act.
Rain kissed him back, tongue sliding between Jay’s lips, a longing groan escaping before he forced himself to pull away. Wrens’ energy was cursing them from the finish line.
“Erm… we should finish before the others kill us for stalling.”
Jay flushed scarlet and dropped into the slide, wincing as he twisted. Rain followed, catching him at the bottom and hauling him upright. He linked their hands and dragged him toward the platform.
The team erupted into cheers, pulling them into a group hug.
“We did it!” Emily squealed. “We came second!”
Jay paled. “Oh no—did I cost us first?”
Wren and Jasmine laughed.
“No! Purple finished before Rogan even made it across,” Jasmine said. “We’d have been second anyway. Your little hanging smooch didn’t change anything.”
Thomas elbowed Rain. “Pretty impressive, though. I’d have fallen to my death the second someone kissed me mid-air.”
“Well, they don’t call me the promiscuous prince for nothing,” Rain joked, sticking his tongue between his lips.
After confirming their invitation to next week’s games, they went to find Snow.
Julian had beaten them to her, leaning over the railing, deep in conversation. Rain climbed the rail and dropped into the seat beside her, pretending to be fascinated.
Julian sighed dramatically.
“Why must you always show up and ruin the mood?”
“Now, now, Tyrian,” Rain drawled. “We both know my face brightens your every day.”
Julian scoffed and straightened.
“I heard a rumour. Care to clear it up? There should be no secrets between allied nations after all.”
Rain yawned theatrically. “Do spit it out.”
“A little red birdy told me something precious was taken last night. Four very precious somethings.”
Julian’s smugness was nauseating.
Rain leaned forward, voice low and dangerous.
“Watch your words, ally. But please—tell me more about this little birdy. I’m very interested in your connection to our rivals at such a pivotal time.”
Julian froze.
Realisation dawned in his eyes.
He’d said too much.
“Surely,” Rain continued softly, “after we so generously forgave your kingdom for stealing our beloved betrothed, you’re not also fraternising with the enemy. Are you, Julian?”
“How dare you? You are the definition of fraternising with the enemy!” Julian snapped, pointing at Jay. “Or do mortal playthings not count?”
Rain surged forward, but Snow pressed a hand to his chest.
“Enough!” she snapped, rising to her feet. A cold wind curled around her ankles. “My brother is right. Where do your allegiances lie, Julian? Because your attitude is despicable. Are we friends or foe?”
Rain smiled—slow, cruel, razor-sharp—his glare pinning Julian in place.
“I… Snow, my issue is with Rain, not you.”
“Bullshit.”
The word cracked out of her like a whip—sharp, unexpected, and so unlike her usual composure that Julian actually flinched. For a moment she sounded exactly like her brother, all steel and bite.
“You are not a child,” she continued, stepping forward, chin lifted. “Heavens, you’re two decades older than us. Start acting like it. And you are the Crown Prince of the Purple Kingdom—supposed allies. Your lack of respect for us and for our Kingdom speaks volumes about the future of your people.”
She paused, letting the silence stretch, letting him feel the weight of her words.
“Or perhaps I should say our people,” she added softly, dangerously. “Because I would like to remind you who the most powerful Aetherial of our time are.”
Her eyes glowed faintly.
A warning.
A truth.
“You,” she said, voice dropping to a lethal whisper, “are no competition to us.”
Rain slowly began to clap, each strike of his palms deliberate, mocking, proud. He had never loved his sister more than in this moment.
Julian looked horrified.
Terrified.
Utterly speechless.
“Are you both threatening me?” he finally managed, voice cracking.
“Julian, come on,” Rain said, rising to stand beside Snow. “You know us better than that. The Royale twins don’t threaten.”
He leaned in, smile razor-sharp.
“We caution.”
Snow’s presence at his side amplified the effect; two forces aligned, twin storms converging.
“Now,” Rain said softly, “be a good little irrelevant prince… and kindly fuck off.”
Gasps and snorts erupted from their teammates. Julian’s face went blotchy with humiliation. He growled—actually growled—and stomped away, purple cloak flaring behind him like a wounded peacock.
Snow exhaled shakily once he disappeared. The team drifted closer, forming a loose protective circle around the twins.
“Wow,” Rogan said, leaning on the rail Julian had vacated. “You two are terrifying when you team up.”
“Fierce is the right word,” Jasmine corrected, eyes wide with admiration.
“I’d say Princess Snow is more bad ass than Rain,” Thomas added, failing miserably to hide the awe in his voice.
Snow sank into her chair, worry creasing her brow. “I shouldn’t have said any of that. He just riles me up — always bullying you, always acting like a smart-ass.”
“What you did,” Rain said, lowering himself beside her, “was stand your ground against a traitor.”
Snow’s head snapped toward him.
“He just admitted he has inside intel on what I’ve been doing; information that isn’t public. Father will only just be learning the full scope of it as we speak. That’s how deep inside whoever Julian is talking to is.”
Snow’s eyes widened, fear and curiosity spiking through her aura.
“What did you do?” she whispered.
Rain looked at her; at his team; at the arena buzzing around them.
And for the first time since this mission began, he felt the full weight of the truth pressing against his ribs.