Chapter 16
“Hello to you too. Where have you been?” Rain hissed under his breath. It came out more accusatory than he intended or maybe he meant to accuse her. He wasn’t sure.
“Mmm. Did you miss me, Darling?” Ivy murmured, brushing her fingers along the back of his hand. A pulse of her power slid into him, causing his cock to pulse traitorously. His fork clattered against the plate. He cleared his throat, glancing around. Snow was watching them like a hawk.
“I was expecting you yesterday.” He replied, attempting to keep his tone even as he readjusted in his seat.
“Oh, you were? Why?” Her gaze pinned him.
He didn’t need to read her energy to know she was angry, but now that she was close, he couldn’t resist. Her anger was controlled, focused, not her usual reactive flare.
Sensing the seriousness of her mood, he sent her a small energetic apology, a gentle nudge of warmth.
Her energy softened for a heartbeat before she snapped, “Don’t do that.”
“My bad,” he muttered, returning to his food. They ate in silence while conversation buzzed around them.
“I’m glad to see you’re fixed,” she said at last. “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner.
I thought you’d prefer it.” She was right, under normal circumstances he would have appreciated the distance.
Normally, she ignored his boundaries anyway.
This new restraint felt less like consideration and more like punishment.
He didn’t dare voice that. He barely wanted to admit it to himself.
“Can we talk later?” he asked quietly, placing his hand over hers. Relief loosened his chest when she laced their fingers together and smiled.
A throat cleared down the table, loud enough to snag his attention.
Rain glanced up to find Julian staring at them.
No, staring at Ivy. She quickly released his hand only to catch his chin, turning his gaze back to her as she pressed a soft a kiss to his lips.
Her energy shifted sharply, highlighting that her attention wasn’t only aimed at him.
A strong desire to put on a show crept into her energy.
None of it was for Rain; it was a deliberate spike aimed at the purple prince. It hit Rain like a punch.
He let her kiss him but kept his eyes open, watching her, reading her.
Her gaze never left Julian. Betrayal tightened around Rain’s ribs like a vice.
When she finally pulled back, she caught him watching her.
Shock flickered across her face before she smoothed it away.
Her energy skittered nervously, but she held herself together.
Julian had already turned back to Sebastian, though Rain could feel the strain of his emotions—too similar to his own.
Ivy’s hand slid around Rain’s forearm, her thumb stroking gently. He ignored it and returned to his meal. His appetite was gone, but chewing gave him something to do. His stomach had been protesting earlier; now it felt hollow.
Laughter and chatter filled the hall, but Rain felt sealed inside a bubble of heartache, too aware of his surroundings.
Snow kept sneaking glances at him while politely answering Queen Juniper.
Across from him, two nobles in salmon-pink discussed their Lobster Thermidor.
To his left sat their queen, quietly observing the room.
To the right of the pink nobles, a purple-clad female listened intently to Snow and Juniper.
Ivy’s energy pressed like a boundary on his right, tugging at him whenever his attention drifted left. He could shield, but instinct told him not to. Not today. Not when everything in him felt like it was bracing for impact.
“Prince Rain,” the Pink Queen called, pulling him back into the moment.
“Yes, Queen—” He faltered. “Forgive me, my mind is elsewhere and your name escapes me.” He cringed internally, realising his disrespect.
Snow elbowed him sharply.
“Virginia Rosenthorpe,” she said warmly. “Former princess of the Orange Kingdom. And this is my husband, King Taffy.”
“Of course,” Rain said with a polite smile.
He remembered the Pink Kingdom’s fascinating tradition of naming heirs after sweets.
His favourite had always been the late King Cookie, whose reign had been as eccentric as his name.
A trait that seemed common among the Pink born royals.
Their kingdom was known for its extravagance and vibrancy, and Queen Virginia embodied it: a carousel of pinks and lime green, her bodice a swirl of silk pattern.
Even her tawny hair was fastened into fashion-towering braids and wisps of curls adorned with tiny flowers wove uniquely around a sparkling floral crown. A masterpiece.
“I was wondering if you’ve ever considered visiting the Pink Kingdom?” she asked, her energy warm with a hint of mischief.
“Yes. I’ve wanted to see the other kingdoms. I’ve longed to travel beyond the eastern quarter, ever since I was a child.”
“Oh, you must! We’ll certainly be extending an invitation to you both, I do hope you accept” Her eyes sparkled at the twins. “I think you’d get along marvellously with our children, Candy and Floss. They’re around your age.”
Snow’s hand clamped onto Rain’s thigh, warning him not to laugh.
Rain swallowed hard. Candy Floss. He was suddenly grateful his own name wasn’t a dessert.
While Rain Beau was reasonably embarrassing, he was certain he’d never be able to show his face had he been branded with a ridiculous name like Candy.
“They’re twins as well, aren’t they?” Snow asked smoothly. Her question brought his attention back from his thoughts about Princess Candy’s likely appearance. He imagined; blonde, frilly, vapid. Though the dark complexion of their father deemed that unlikely.
“Yes. And I believe there are four sets of twins in your generation? I may be mistaken.”
“No, you’re correct,” Snow said. “The last aetherial twins recorded were the Purple Kingdom’s Duke and Duchess Mesmae. They’re fifteen now, right?” She glanced at Queen Juniper, who nodded.
“We are all truly blessed,” Virginia said, though her eyes didn’t match the sentiment. Rain dipped into her energy. Guilt clung to her heart. She evidently loved her children dearly, but something was amiss, something outside of her control.
“Virginia,” he said gently, “I’m sorry, but I haven’t heard much about your children. What powers did they inherit?”
She looked to her husband; he nodded.
“Candy, she is such a courageous force, much like the two of you. She is a weather wielder—she commands the wind.” Rain felt a deceptive edge to Virginia’s words; she wasn’t being completely truthful.
It was common for royals to underplay their abilities, which lead Rain to believe Candy may be quite the powerful weather wielder.
“Oh, similar to me,” Snow said.
“Yes. And Floss is an empath.” Her sigh was heavy.
“It’s been difficult for him. He hides away most days.
Candy drags him out when she can, but even she’s rarely home these days.
I suppose it is to be expected at your ages; you’re all seeking independence.
” Her guilt sharpened. She blamed herself—her ancestry perhaps—for his gift.
Though Orange wasn’t known for empathic abilities.
However, empathic resonance ran deep within the Pink bloodlines, Rain had stumbled upon the knowledge when seeking answers for his own struggles.
“They love each other dearly, but they’re opposites in every way. ”
“Empathy can feel like a curse,” Rain said softly. “I know that better than most. Elder Isarion from the Order of Aurora helped me understand my power. Have you considered reaching out to the Order?”
“We have,” She said. “Unfortunately, Floss doesn’t do well in the company of others unless Candy is with him and neither of them responded well to the Order’s guidance.
Candy has always been fiercely independent, she thrives among friends and Floss…
well, he can’t tolerate people. It’s hard to know how to guide them when they’re so different. ”
“Sounds like you two,” Ivy muttered beside Rain.
“You said Floss can tolerate people when Candy is with him,” Snow said, practically leaning across Rain to be part of the conversation. “Does that mean she has a second ability?”
Virginia hesitated, her brows knitting. She clearly hadn’t expected that question.
“I don’t believe they have another power — that would be unheard of. Candy simply knows how to soothe him better than anyone. It’s always been part of their bond as twins.”
Rain and Snow exchanged a look. They both suspected the Pink twins might share something similar to Snow’s nulling effect on Rain’s empathy.
“That, there...What is that look?” Virginia asked, intrigued.
“Are you aware of Snow’s ability to nullify my empathic powers?” Rain asked. “Her touch has allowed me to be around people and prevented far more incidents than the ones I’m known for.”
“Her touch?” Virginia echoed, startled.
“Yes. When Snow touches me—like now for instance, every time her arm brushes against my skin—my ability flickers, like someone playing with a light switch.” He shot Snow a glare.
“Annoying, but effective. If she holds my hand, my empathy freezes entirely. I feel only my own emotions, like the rest of you fortunate souls. When she lets go, everything returns at once.”
A ripple of discomfort moved around the table. People always reacted that way when they understood the depth of his power.
“That explains why you two were always holding hands when you were younger,” the nobleman across from him said. “We always thought that was… unusual.”
“It was a temporary solution that allowed me to exist around others,” Rain replied cooly.
“Why isn’t this common knowledge?” the nobleman pressed.
“I believe it was a political secret,” Rain said with a smirk, no longer interested in protecting his father’s choices.
“You think Candy may be like Snow?” Virginia asked.
“We can’t know that,” Snow said, “but it would be interesting to meet them and test the theory. Rain has come a long way, but it’s been a journey. If they’re like us, a similar approach might help Floss.”
“I’m sorry,” the nobleman cut in again, “so Snow just has to touch you, and you have no power?” Rain leaned back, studying the man.
His thoughts were easy to read; he was beginning to question whether Rain was as powerful as his reputation suggested.
Rain decided to end that line of speculation before it grew legs.
“Only my empathic abilities,” he said calmly. “I still have other things within my arsenal.”
He lifted his fork into the air without touching it. The pink nobles’ eyes widened, clearly unfamiliar with the full extent of his legacy—proof that stories of him hadn’t travelled far into the eastern kingdoms.