Page 102 of The Last Syphon

Prince Walder suddenly grasped her arm, shocking her. “What have you heard of this?”

“What?” She looked down at his fingers wrapped around her skin and back up again, still in shock. “Nothing. It’s just rumours from travelling merchants. Traders love to talk. Most of it is bullshit, but every now and then, there will be a little bit of truth in whatever they’re spouting.”

He blinked, as if emerging from a trance. His eyes moved to where he was holding her, and realisation lit his features, almost as if he hadn’t been aware of the fact that he was touching her. Holding her. The prince released her immediately and took a giant step back.

“Is there truth to it?” she asked, her curiosity piqued at his reaction.

He cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair. “We should return.” His gaze drifted upwards. “The sun will rise soon.”

Inara squinted, scepticism shooting through her. That was deflection if she’d ever seen one. But that was okay. She would allow it. Because he was right. Morn was fast approaching, and if Inara was hoping to get even a little bit of rest, she needed to turn in.

However, she would file that information and that look away for the future.

Prince Walder began to walk away, and Inara could not help but call out, “Wait. You never answered me. What were you doing out so late?”

He stopped mid-stride and glanced over his shoulder. He stared at her for a moment before his eyes moved up to the stars, gazing up admiringly at the darkness. “I like the night too.” Bright violet orbs returned to her, and there was a sense of understanding shining within them that Inara had never noticed before. Then he turned and walked away.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Inara trudged behind the Crowned Prince, her limbs achy and heavy. It wasn’t from training or fighting, like one might have thought. No. It was from a lack of fucking sleep. Which, in her opinion, was a lot worse to endure.

After she’d spent half the night with Prince Walder in front of the lake, Inara had only just managed to catch an hour or so of rest before she was required to meet him at his bedchamber for guard duty.

As Inara expected, she regretted not trying harder to sleep.

Not that much, though. It had been worth it to learn a new skill.

Felix was still fast asleep when she awoke. Her best friend could sleep through the harsh sounds of battle without even once stirring. Inara hadn’t had the chance to show him what she’d learnt, but planned to when eve came.

He was going to lose it. She was sure of it.

Prince Walder marched down the gilded halls of the main palace, checking there wasn’t a single thing out of place in preparation for the Grand Ball on the morrow. For the past few hours, she’d walked behind him, watching silently as he picked colours, tableware, furniture. As he directed how he wanted the main dining hall decorated. He was very involved and incredibly particular about how he wanted everything. Inara was actually quite surprised by the whole thing. She never would have thought he’d handle such matters. Then again, it made sense. From what she’d observed of him, the prince liked to be in control. He liked to be on top of everything going on.

“I thought you didn’t like balls?” she asked, studying the tapestries being hung upon the walls. Her hands were behind her back, trying to maintain a professional manner despite the fact that she just wanted to collapse on the floor and rest. She was dressed in her usual attire of long red and black floor-length robes, moulded to her body. They were both comfortable and stylish at the same time.

“Why would you say that?”

“Do you always have to answer a question with another question? You do it a lot.”

He sighed, finally glancing up from the parchment in his hands, quill poised in the air. “I don’t like balls. They’re tedious affairs that require immense planning for very little reward. You never know who you’re allowing into your home. What they’re going to do.”

“You’re talking about the assassination attempt on your father?”

He simply grunted. “These kinds of balls have an open invitation to the neighbouring kingdoms. Royal families from both Pregon and Roylan often attend, and I am forced to make idle chit-chat with them for the sake of decorum.”

“Fates forbid you be forced to converse.” She chuckled under her breath. Knowing what she did about him, it was easy to understand why making conversation would be so tiresome for him. He was not remotely the talkative type.

His head cocked to the side in assessment as his penetrating gaze ran the length of her body. “I have recently come to discover that it is…not so bad,” he said slowly.

Her heart leapt in her chest for some odd reason, completely unknown to her.

“This time will be a little bit different,” he began, focusing back on the parchment. He marked a few things off before gesturing to a few of the workers nearby to fix and straighten things up. “There is a private meeting that will be conducted with the High Council representatives in attendance concerning a very pressing issue.”

“What kind of issue?” she asked curiously.

He hesitated briefly, his gaze flicking to the people around them. “You will be informed prior so you will be better prepared.”

Her hand touched her chest. “I’ll be there?”