Chapter 41
Darkness met Rain as his eyes blinked back into awareness; thick, velvety, and still.
For a moment he didn’t move, letting the quiet settle around him like a blanket.
His body felt heavy, boneless, the kind of exhaustion that seeped into marrow.
The room was empty, but faint murmurs drifted up from below: soft voices, gentle laughter, the crackle of a fire.
His eyes adjusted slowly.
Snow had folded clean clothes neatly at the foot of the bed.
His boots were gone; she must have slipped them off without waking him.
He’d been dead to the world.
He pushed himself upright, limbs stiff, and padded into the en-suite. The bright light stabbed at his eyes, making him flinch. He twisted the shower faucet and stepped under the steaming water, letting it beat against his skin until the last of the desert grit and heartbreak washed down the drain.
When he finally emerged; scrubbed raw, hair damp, dressed in soft grey clothes, he felt marginally better.
He descended the stairs slowly, letting his power drift ahead of him like a soft pulse. It guided him toward the living room.
And the sight that greeted him made something in his chest loosen.
Snow sat perched on the edge of an antique studded couch, gently combing through Scarlet’s loose auburn curls. Scarlet sat between her knees, back straight, hands folded neatly in her lap, looking impossibly small and impossibly proud.
Rose was curled in a rocking chair by the fireplace, legs tucked beneath her, a mug of hot chocolate cupped in both hands. The firelight painted her in warm golds and soft shadows. She was smiling, as she spoke animatedly to Henry, who listened with the patience of a saint.
Rose spotted him first. Her smile somehow grew even brighter.
“Rain!” she chirped, her voice like sunlight through stained glass.
Everyone turned.
“Hey,” he said sheepishly, moving to sit on the corner of the couch. “It’s good to see everybody settled in.”
“I haven’t lost control at all!” Scarlet announced proudly, bouncing onto her knees and spinning to face him.
Rain’s smile came easily; the first genuine one since the bar.
“Wow, that’s impressive. Is that the longest you’ve gone without losing control around others?”
“Yep!” Scarlet nodded vigorously. “If I see people too close, then… roar.”
She flung her arms out dramatically, mimicking flames bursting from her chest.
A flicker of sadness brushed her aura, but it vanished as quickly as it came. Rain knew that sadness. The weight of lives lost by accident. The guilt that never fully left.
“Then that is more than amazing,” he said softly. “I’m so proud of you.”
Scarlet beamed and settled back between Snow’s legs. Snow stroked her hair gently, but her eyes were fixed on Rain; worried, searching.
“How are you feeling?” she asked quietly.
“Well rested,” he lied with a tight smile.
His chest still felt bruised. His heart still clenched at the memory of Jay’s voice breaking. But he shoved the thoughts down, burying them deep where they couldn’t spill out and scorch the room.
Focus on them.
Not yourself.
“Rose,” he said, turning toward the rocking chair, “how was your day?”
Snow’s worried gaze lingered, but he ignored it.
Rose lit up like a lantern.
“Great!” she sang. “The waterfall baths are the best. Snow helped me, she looks just like you, but pretty and female-like.”
Snow snorted. Rain choked on a laugh.
Rose continued, dreamy as ever.
“You’re pretty too. Especially now you’re clean. Oh! And we ate… what was it called?”
She stared up at the ceiling as though the word might be written in the plaster.
“Lasagne,” Henry supplied with a chuckle.
“Yes! Lah–zanya,” Rose repeated, tasting the syllables like they were candy. “It was tasti–liscious.”
“There’s a plate in the fridge for you, Your Highness,” Henry added.
Rain’s stomach growled loudly, betraying him.
“I’ll heat it up,” Snow said, starting to rise.
“No, it’s alright. I’ll get it. You’ve got your hands full.”
He slipped into the kitchen.
The fridge light spilled over his face as he stared blankly inside.
Jay’s voice echoed in his mind.
His expression.
His tears.
His energy; that awful mix of longing and certainty.
Rain gripped the plate until his knuckles whitened.
Jay had kissed him.
Mid-air.
Dangling above a drop.
He’d kissed him like he wanted him; like he needed him.
So why…
Why had he walked away?
“Did you find it okay?”
Rain startled, slamming the fridge door shut. Henry stood in the doorway, concern radiating from him like warmth.
“Yes,” Rain said quickly. “Sorry. Lost in thought.”
He set the plate down too hard, the ceramic clattering loudly. Henry didn’t comment. He simply took the dish, uncovered it, and slid it into the oven.
“No problems today,” Henry said as he worked. “Everyone’s in good spirits. They all slept while you were gone. The little ones built a fort; they’re asleep in it now.”
Rain smiled faintly.
He’d check on them later.
“And Snow,” Henry continued, “she gets things done. Clothing arrived within hours. She helped each of them wash up, asked what they needed. You’re both very good with them.”
The oven beeped and Henry handed Rain the steaming plate.
“Thanks,” Rain murmured. “That’s her talent. If you need anything, she’ll make it happen.”
Henry leaned against the counter, studying him.
“It’s wonderful to see,” he said. “I can see why my cousin rates you so highly. There’s something different about you both.”
Rain sat on a bar stool, forcing himself to eat despite the knot in his stomach.
“Different how?” he asked around a mouthful of pasta.
Henry rubbed his stubbled chin in contemplation.
“It’s more of a feeling,” he said. “You both feel like… more than. Or other. I’m not explaining it well.”
He tried again.
“When I was your age, I travelled between kingdoms. Balls, banquets all of that political nonsense. I’ve been in rooms with kings; including your parents. None of them felt the way you do. You feel like a true leader. And you carry yourself like one.”
At that exact moment, a glob of pasta sauce slid off Rain’s fork and splattered onto his shirt.
Henry snorted.
Rain stared down at the stain, then let out a breath that was half-laugh, half-defeat.
Of course.
Even destiny had a sense of humour.
“Yes, clearly,” Rain chuckled, and Henry laughed with him, tossing him a dish cloth.
“I’m being serious,” Henry said, leaning his elbows on the counter. “Your energy commands loyalty and respect. Yet you don’t demand it. You don’t feel entitled to it.”
Rain dabbed at the sauce, listening.
“Instead,” Henry continued, “I’ve watched you carry your burdens without complaint. I’ve watched you sacrifice yourself to fulfil your duty, while also making the hard decisions to protect people less fortunate than you.”
“That’s very nice of you to say,” Rain replied, “but what would you know about that?”
Henry’s expression softened.
“Your kingdom is at war with Red. And you—specifically you—are a feared enemy of theirs. Anyone else in your position would have seen what you stumbled upon as an opportunity.”
Rain frowned, shaking his head.
Henry pressed on gently.
“I hate to say it, but the version of you your father likes to exploit would have slaughtered those girls in their sleep and left feeling like a war hero. Drazier’s daughters dead, the Red Kingdom thrown into chaos, their people enraged and desperate for revenge.
It would have been the perfect spark to ignite their fury. ”
Rain’s stomach twisted.
He couldn’t imagine doing something so monstrous.
“Alternatively,” Henry said, “most would have left them there. Let their king decide their fate. But you… you risked your life. In more ways than one. And I imagine you haven’t even considered the negative consequences that will come of this.”
“Because the consequences don’t matter,” Rain said simply. “Those girls deserve better. I’ll take whatever comes my way, so they don’t suffer again.”
Henry smiled knowingly.
“There you go. Proving my point. You make necessary, noble sacrifices because it’s the right thing to do. Now name any other king or prince alive who would do the same.”
Rain sighed.
“Okay, I hear you. None of them would do the dirty work themselves, never mind act selflessly. Perhaps King Taffy would? He seems fair from what I’ve seen. Dare you speak freely of your cousin?”
Henry snorted.
“He is kind and remarkably wise—please never tell him I said that—but no, he wouldn’t have intervened. If I’m honest, Your Highness, the only reason he even got out of bed at that hour was because you requested an audience.”
Rain blinked, surprised.
Henry continued, voice warm and candid.
“We Pinks are… self-serving. We love beauty, art, comfort. We keep to ourselves. We make alliances only for self-preservation. We don’t pick sides. We don’t get involved.”
“Sounds like everyone else,” Rain said dryly.
“Precisely. But very unlike you.”
Henry’s gaze softened with sincerity.
“I wanted you to know that you have my complete respect. And I look forward to serving you.”
Rain swallowed, touched despite himself.
“Thank you, Henry. And thank you for the lasagne. It was delicious.”
When they returned to the living room, Scarlet was perched on the couch, listening with rapt attention as Snow told stories from their childhood.
Storied of mischief, chaos and accidental disasters.
Rain realised she was doing it intentionally: showing the girls that losing control didn’t make them monsters.
That even the strongest aetherials had once been frightened children with unpredictable gifts.
Scarlet listened like Snow was telling her the secrets of the universe.
Rose rocked gently in her chair, humming, eyes drifting dreamily toward the ceiling as though imagining the stories like constellations.
Rain leaned against the door frame, observing quietly.
He monitored their powers instinctively.
Rose’s influence drifted like soft perfume; subtle, sweet, but potent if left unchecked. Aetherials resisted it better than mortals, but Rain still felt the tug when he wasn’t actively channelling. Teaching her discipline would be… a challenge. She lived half in her own head, half in the clouds.
Scarlet, though; Scarlet he could help.
She wanted control.
Needed it.
And she listened well.
“Scarlet,” Rain said gently when Snow finished her story, “would you like to sit with me outside under the stars?”
Her flame centre flickered in excitement, darkening a small circle on her dress — she didn’t notice.
“Yes!” she chirped, scrambling to her feet.
“Do you have a jumper? It’s colder here than Burgundy.”
“Yes, you do,” Snow said. “We hung them in your closet.”
Scarlet nodded and ran upstairs, Rose floating after her like a curious shadow.
Snow stood and stretched.
“I should head back to the palace. It’s late, and Father will be growing suspicious.”
Rain placed his hands on her shoulders.
“If he questions you, we were celebrating at a club with my friends. I acted like nothing happened. My attendance at the games will be all over the broadcasts. Then I went home with a lover; he’ll believe that. Act shocked when you hear about the princesses. I didn’t confide in you. You’re hurt.”
“I know the drill,” she said, rolling her eyes affectionately before pulling him into a hug. “Are you sure you’ll be okay without me? You’re hurting. I know you are. Maybe you should come home with me? Father will certainly give you an outlet for your frustration.”
They both laughed; a soft, tired sound.
Their father had always been a distraction from emotional pain.
But Rain knew this time was different.
This pain was too deep, too raw.
“I’ll be fine,” he said. “I have plenty to occupy my mind.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the pouch of red aetherchrome, placing it firmly in her hand.
“Don’t open it near the girls. It’s Red Aether. When I held it, I felt… renewed. Like something inside me activated. It wasn’t until Scarlet engulfed me in flames that I realised it must have awakened another power. I want to see if it affects you too.”
Snow’s eyes widened.
“That’s what you meant by being fireproof. Wait—did Scarlet almost roast you alive?!”
Rain winced.
“Hey, I’m fireproof. She barely caused a sweat.”
He paused.
“Okay, that’s a lie. I was sweating balls as my life flashed before my eyes. But I doubt the Gods would go to all this effort to reveal everything to me and call me the true king only for me to end up barbecued in a derelict tower.”
Snow didn’t laugh.
“Well, they have a backup Rainbow-blooded royal right here,” she said, but her voice wavered. “Just… be careful. You’re my brother before you’re anything else. I need you. And I love you.”
Her voice cracked.
“I’m proud of you though. For all of this. You did the right thing. I couldn’t be prouder.”
She pulled him into a tight hug, holding on like she could shield him from the world.
Rain closed his eyes and hugged her back, letting himself feel; just for a moment, the comfort of someone who loved him without condition.
“I love you too,” Rain murmured, squeezing Snow tightly before letting her go.
Scarlet and Rose came bounding down the stairs to say their goodbyes, Scarlet now bundled in several mismatched layers over her dress; sleeves too long, hems uneven, everything slightly askew in a way that made her look impossibly endearing.