#bonus chapter

“Something sparked in Azriel’s chest, but he only nodded his thanks and left. He could picture it, though, as he ascended the stairs back to the House proper. How Gwyn’s teal eyes might light upon seeing the necklace. For whatever reason…he could see it. “

Or

“He hadn’t gotten that far with his planing, certainly not beyond the fantasies he pleasured himself to.”

Merry thing you celebrate or not (Eve), everyone! ^_^

As my gift to you, here's a little teaser of Chapter ☼ - Always Another Rainbow, the bonus chapter from the upcoming Rain Volume 7. It follows after the events of the Final Chapter of the main story, and features all the main kids in the friend group. It's also much longer than any other bonus chapter to date. I'm very proud of this one, so I hope you'll like it.

As for when you can get your hands on it, it's looking very likely to be sometime next month. Please look forward to it.

BONUS SCENE

They were a tangle of limbs and sweat and lazy satisfaction. Max on his stomach, arms folded under the pillow, Charles tucked against his side with Oscar draped half-over both of them like the sweat cooling against their skin was a balm.

For once, no one was rushing toward sleep. Just drifting.

Until Oscar said, way too casually, “So, I bent Charles over his Ferrari in the garage earlier.”

Max blinked.

Then turned his head slowly toward Charles, “You did what?”

Charles groaned, attempting to hide his face in Max’s shoulder.

“I hate you,” he muttered at Oscar, muffled by cotton and muscle.

Oscar just grinned, “You didn’t hate me then.”

Max sat up, dislodging both of them, like someone had just hit the DRS button on his brain, “Hold on. You’re telling me you fucked him. Over the car. Like—over the actual Ferrari?”

Oscar stretched, “He was practically draped over the cockpit. His hands gripping the halo and everything. Not the only white-knuckling he does in that car, but I'm sure the most satisfying. It was very poetic.”

Max’s mouth dropped open in mock horror, “Taking him on hallowed Ferrari grounds? That’s disgusting. I’m so proud of you.”

Charles shoved a pillow over his face as he attempted to roll away from them, “You’re insufferable. Both of you.”

Max leaned down, clearly enjoying every second of Charles’s embarrassment, “Did you moan for him, schatje? Right there in the garage? All bent over like a good little—”

Charles launched the pillow at his head, but Max caught it easily and tucked it under his arm to stop a further assault.

Oscar snorted, “He was gorgeous. Helmet still on the floor. Race suit still half-off. Didn’t even get to take my time. The sight was unbelievable, Max.”

Max made a sound like he was physically restraining himself, “God. That’s so hot I’m going to have to ban you both from Ferrari.”

“You sound like your just dying to have been in Osc's place,” Charles said dryly, rolling onto his back to glare at the ceiling.

“Oh, I wish,” Max said. “What I wish for more though, is to have been about to see him bend you over to take care of you and fuck you in all the ways Ferrari can't.”

Oscar was howling now.

Charles groaned again, dragging a hand over his face, “This is why I didn’t tell you.”

“I want a video next time,” Max completely ignoring Charles. “Jesus.”

Oscar propped himself up on one elbow, eyeing Max, “You think you wouldn't get an invite?”

“I better,” Max’s grin was absolutely unholy. “But we need something solid that we can go back to again and again to remind Charles of the only thing that car is good for.”

"Oh?”

“Ferrari has fucked him over too many times, when he should be fucked over one instead.”

Oscar raised a brow, “Keep talking like that and I'll have to have a mellow dramatic breakdown after a race too.”

“So now you want a turn,” Max said, voice smug and certain. “You want to be bent over your car, in your garage, while Lando’s doing his Sky interview twenty feet away?”

Oscar blinked, “Well… When you put it that way...”

Charles made a strangled noise, “Can’t we go one race weekend without threatening to fuck on company property?”

Max leaned in close, all teeth and delight, “Not when you keep making it so easy.”

“I hate you,” Charles mumbled.

“You love us,” Max corrected, kissing the corner of his mouth. “Are you saying you wouldn't want me to watch Oscar have his way with you in your garage? Or you wouldn't want to watch me put the championship leader in his place?”

Charles turned scarlet.

Oscar just grinned and dragged the blanket up over all three of them like it might save any of them from what they’d just started.

Spoiler: it wouldn’t.

-

I didn’t have this ready in time for Canada and thought I could stick it in at the beginning of the Austria chapter, but sadly, it messes with the flow.

"You have your mother's hands," Pomfrey observed, quietly. "Lily was good at this. She had the focus for it. Most people cast healing charms at the injury. Lily cast them into the injury. The distinction matters."

Harry looked at his hands. His mother's hands. The hands that had held wands and caught Snitches and pulled basilisk fangs. Hands that were now, apparently, suited for healing.

"Will you teach me more?" Harry asked.

"Every term," Pomfrey confirmed. "When you are in my wing, which appears to be a recurring event, we will use the time productively." She looked at him with the specific warmth of a woman who had held this child as an infant and who was now watching him learn to put people back together instead of taking them apart. "Your father will be pleased."

"He won't say so."