Chapter 45
As Rain approached his room, Snow stood in the doorway like a sentinel; arms folded tightly across her chest, shoulders drawn up, posture rigid with tension.
Her eyes were wide, bright with unspoken questions, worry etched into every delicate line of her face.
She looked as though she’d been standing there for some time, waiting, bracing.
Rain slowed instinctively.
Despite the storm still raging inside him, he softened for her.
He reached out, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into a brief, grounding embrace. Snow melted into it for a heartbeat, her breath catching, before she stepped back.
“Everything is as it should be,” he murmured, voice low, steady. “He’s going to accept my offer. The girls are safe.”
He motioned toward the room, silently pleading for this conversation to be quick. His grey trousers clung to his legs like a cold second skin, heavy and uncomfortable, and he longed for the relief of warmth and dry clothes.
Snow slipped past him and curled into the armchair, tucking her feet beneath her. Settling in. Rain groaned as he unfastened his belt, disappearing into the closet to strip out of his soaked clothes.
The room was quiet except for the soft rustle of fabric.
When he re-emerged, dressed in warm joggers and a dry shirt, Snow’s eyes tracked him with unwavering focus. She didn’t blink. Didn’t look away. Her posture was tight, her fingers anxiously twisting the ring on her index finger; a nervous habit she’d had since she was ten.
Rain dragged a chair opposite her and sat.
The tension in her body was unmistakable; he had better get comfortable.
“You really told him you’re going to finish Drazier?” she asked, voice low, urgent, almost breathless. Her energy revealing her concern for him, for what he was agreeing to.
Rain met her gaze, expression steady.
“Yes, I know you’re worried for me, but your concern is misplaced. I am to be the only King of our realm,” he said. “Certain people will need to be taken care of. Drazier just happens to be our first hurdle”
The words were calm and measured but the truth beneath them was sharp enough to cut.
Snow inhaled sharply, her throat bobbing as she swallowed. Rain could feel her anxiety prickling at the edges of his empathic sense; a tight, fluttering pressure, like wings beating frantically against a cage.
The truth was simple: no king relinquished power willingly.
No throne changed hands without bloodshed.
Rain had accepted it and now Snow must.
“Drazier’s cruelty toward his daughters tells me everything I need to know about his values,” Rain continued. “He deserves retribution. I want justice for them. I’m furious on their behalf. And now I have the chance to act.”
He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, lowering himself to her level; a gesture of intimacy, of honesty, of grounding.
“But you know I’m not reckless, Snow. I’ve weighed every risk. Every outcome. This isn’t a decision I’m making lightly.”
Snow’s fingers tightened around her ring, twisting it so hard Rain worried she might snap it. Her breath trembled. Her eyes glistened with fear she refused to let fall.
Rain pressed on gently.
“By killing Drazier while he has no heir, his throne becomes vulnerable. And I intend to take it.”
Snow’s breath hitched; a small, sharp sound she tried to swallow.
Rain felt her fear.
Felt her love.
Felt her terror of losing him.
He wanted to soften the truth, to cushion it, but to what end?
Snow deserved honesty.
“This is our first step toward rebuilding the Rainbow Kingdom,” Rain said, voice steady, purposeful. “We always assumed our journey would begin here, that I’d inherit the Blue throne first. But now I see it. Every sign, every event, has been steering me toward the Reds instead.”
He leaned back, settling into a posture of quiet certainty, shoulders relaxed, hands resting loosely on the armrests, gaze unwavering.
“I am the rightful heir to the Blue Kingdom. I don’t need to defend that. I don’t need to cling to it. My future—our future—depends on forging a new direction.”
His eyes narrowed with determination.
“Once I become the Red King, I can heal my relationship with their people from within. Right now, they fear me more than anyone. This is my chance to turn that fear into alliance. To secure our foothold in the Rainbow realm.”
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.
Snow stared at him; her brother, her twin, her other half and Rain felt her emotions shift.
Fear didn’t vanish.
But it made room for something steadier.
Something braver.
Because Snow knew him.
Knew his heart.
Knew his sense of justice ran deeper than blood, deeper than duty, deeper than fear.
And she knew; even if it terrified her, that Rain was right.
He paused, a thoughtful expression softening the sharp lines of his face as he shifted the conversation.
“I intend to invite the princesses to sit upon a reformed Red council,” he said.
“If they’re willing to accept the responsibility.
As we reshape our world under a unified Kingdom, they’ll have a key role — so long as they have adequate support around them.
We can use the Red kingdom as the foundation, reshaping from within- giving human and aetherial a platform; a voice, under my reign”
Snow sat forward, elbows resting on her knees, her brows knitting as she absorbed his words. Her mind was always quick; Rain could feel the gears turning, the way she sifted through possibilities, risks, consequences.
“I can see the bigger picture unfolding,” she murmured. “It’s a bold move. With our enemy no less.”
She exhaled slowly, lowering her feet to the floor, grounding herself.
“I really don’t give you enough credit,” she admitted, a small, rueful smile tugging at her lips. “You are as incredible as I am.”
Rain snorted softly, but Snow wasn’t finished.
“But Rain… you are not alone in this.”
Her voice wavered; not with weakness, but with the weight of truth.
“You don’t have to be the only one making sacrifices. A good king rallies his support and uses them effectively.”
Her fingers twisted her ring again; a nervous habit, but also a sign of her resolve.
“You’re noble. And stubborn,” she said, eyes narrowing affectionately. “I know that if every king of each realm must die, you’ll want that burden on your own head. But that’s not how it should be.”
Rain’s chest tightened.
She knew him too well.
“You have the Pink army at your disposal,” she continued, “and whatever army the White Kingdom has for you. Your goal is unity—so unite them. You’re meant to be the figurehead for peace, for change… make sure your actions speak as such.”
Rain’s lips curved, dimples appearing for the first time that day.
Her words hit him in the centre of his chest; grounding, steadying, reminding him of who he was beneath the rage and ambition.
“And that is why I need you by my side,” he said earnestly. “You are my voice of reason. Put on this aerth to keep me on the right path.”
He leaned forward, reaching out to squeeze her knee; a gesture of gratitude.
“I promise to keep your advice at the forefront of my mind,” he said, voice thick with sincerity. “And act only with integrity. You’re right. I must approach things differently. Thank you for reminding me.”
Snow’s expression softened, pride and relief flickering through her aura.
“You’re very welcome. Now, my turn!”
She perked up, excitement bubbling through her energy like champagne. She scooted to the edge of her seat, rolling up her delicately patterned ink-coloured sleeves with theatrical flair.
“Hold out your arm.”
Rain blinked, caught off guard by her sudden shift in tone, but he complied. He extended his arm, watching her with cautious curiosity.
Snow twisted his wrist gently, holding it steady in her left hand while her right hovered above his skin.
“Don’t move,” she warned, eyes sparkling with mischief. “This will sting.”
Rain fought the instinct to pull away. He trusted her implicitly but the anticipation prickled along his nerves.
Snow closed her eyes, lashes fluttering as she focused. Rain watched, faintly amused, until—
A sharp sting seared his wrist.
He hissed softly, brow furrowing, but he didn’t move.
“Ta-dah!”
She pulled her hand away, revealing his wrist.
Rain’s eyes widened.
He yanked his arm closer, inspecting the skin beneath the pad of his thumb.
A delicate white snowflake was embedded into his skin; intricate, crystalline and impossibly detailed.
Snow’s confidence faltered.
“We can get it healed off if you want,” she said quickly. “It just seemed like the best way to show you my new power.”
Her voice wavered, uncertainty clouding her aura. She searched his face, bracing for regret or disapproval.
“No,” Rain said immediately. “I love it. May it serve as my reminder to heed your wisdom.”
He twisted his wrist into the light, mesmerised by the tiny frost-etched design.
“How did you do this? Did you burn me with ice? It’s so detailed—how?”
Snow giggled, delighted by his confusion.
“Yes! I guess it’s frostbite. Or like… a dry-ice burn? I don’t know.” She shrugged, grinning. “Because of my affinity for snow, my burn manifested this way. I have the same mark.”
She lifted her left wrist; an identical snowflake glimmered there.
“I meditated with the Red Aetherchrome,” she explained. “The Gods came through for me, like they did for you. They must have sensed my hesitation about having a power that seemed harmful. They showed me the beauty in it. How to wield it.”
She beamed, pride radiating from her.
“And I created this on my first attempt.”
Rain brushed his thumb over her mark, admiration warming his chest.
“Very impressive,” he said and meant it. She was remarkable.
“I had another vision on Velday,” he continued. “After you left. I led Scarlet into meditation and joined her. The Gods spoke again; told me to seek out the remaining Aetherchrome. I think each one may activate more power within us. Which is absolutely fucking crazy.”
Snow’s eyes widened, mirroring his awe.
“They said I’ve already activated Blue, Red, and White,” Rain said. “I don’t recall ever handling White Aether. Maybe Isarion was sneaky during our sessions. Did the Gods confirm anything for you?”
Snow shook her head, listening intently.
“Then we aim to possess one of each,” Rain said. “Even the ones we’ve touched before. It’ll be easier once I’m king but if any opportunity arises before then, we take it.”
Snow straightened, determination sharpening her aura.
“Actually… Mother, Navy, and I are visiting Aunt Igna on Verday. She’s hosting a ladies’ breakfast to reveal her new gardens. We’ll be travelling down the day before.”
She met Rain’s gaze, eyes bright with resolve.
“While I’m there, I’ll try to obtain some Green Aether. It can’t hurt to try.”
Rain’s expression sobered.
“Just be mindful of who you talk to. And what you say.”
Snow tutted, rolling her eyes.
“Sometimes I think you forget who you’re talking to.”
Rain lifted his hands in surrender, laughing softly.
“Okay, okay.”
He leaned back, expression shifting.
“Hey, when I was meditating, the Gods brought me into Scarlet’s mind space. They spoke to her, or rather Cyrrax spoke to her? I don’t know it was bizarre. He told her I was the Rainbow King. Helped her like the Gods had helped me. And afterward, she was renewed. Confidently prancing around.”
He smirked.
“She’s become pretty annoying, actually.”
Snow leaned forward, intrigued.
“She’s no longer fearful of her power? And how is that annoying?”
Rain chuckled, shaking his head.
“Oh no—her confidence is brilliant. Not an ounce of fear left. It’s just that now, since her vision, they all insist on calling me Rainbow King. There’s no convincing them otherwise.”