Page 151 of The Last Syphon

“So? Do you know why he put Felix in another room?” Inara asked, crossing her legs.

“I heard you two had a disagreement,” she stated, switching the subject.

That was fine with her because, if she was being honest, she was dying to talk to someone about what happened. “That is putting it mildly. He’s incredibly pigheaded, your brother.”

“Yes.” She chuckled. “He can be. He also mentioned that he…lost control.”

It took a while for Inara to understand what she was referring to. Then it clicked. “You mean the”—she lowered her voice to barely above a whisper—“Bloodborne thing?”

She nodded grimly. “I hope…Well, I hope you will guard this secret as well as you have guarded mine.”

“Of course.” She frowned. “Wait, are you afraid I’m going to tell people?”

Princess Phaedra avoided her eyes.

Inara leant forward, placing her hand on top of hers. “I would never,” she said sincerely. “I can’t say I know exactly why he’s hiding what he can really do. Being a Bloodborne is still legal. But if he’s choosing to hide it, of course, I will respect that.” She didn’t say it, but Inara understood exactly what it was like to have a power feared by everyone. She would never reveal such a secret. “Even if he pisses me off.”

“He is trying his best,” Princess Phaedra defended instantly. “There is a lot of pressure on his shoulders right now. A lot of eyes on him, and a lot of people who would love to see our family fail. He needs to do things right, or he risks having his position stripped from him.”

Was that why he was so uptight about the laws? About following the rules? If he didn’t, would he lose his title?

“Are there vultures in the High Council?” Inara asked.

“There are vultures everywhere. Around every corner. The worst ones, the ones to watch out for, are the ones who don’t look like vultures at all. The ones that act like friends.”

Inara agreed with that wholeheartedly. A very angry and frustrated voice echoed in her ears. It was Kronan, growling something at Felix.

Inara pulled her hand back and adjusted in her seat. Her gaze flicked from the room across the hall and back. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“You and Kronan?”

Princess Phaedra stiffened, almost involuntarily, and then relaxed quickly. “What about us?”

Her head tilted in sympathy. “How long?”

“How long what?”

Inara shouldn’t have been surprised that the princess was avoiding answering the question. She did not know much about the politics of the higher classes, but she had a feeling that a princess and her Shielder was something that wasn’t particularly accepted. Perhaps even frowned upon.

“You love him.” She did not phrase it as a question because it wasn’t one. “And he loves you.” Anyone with sight could see it. The way he looked at her…The way she looked at him. There were feelings there. Inara was sure of it.

A sad sigh escaped her lips. Her gaze moved longingly to the door across the hall. To where Kronan was, and that sadness increased tenfold. “It can never be.”

“Why?” she whispered softly. “Why not?”

“It’s complicated.”

“I’m sure you could dumb it down for me.”

Still, Princess Phaedra hesitated.

“I can see how much you care for one another. Is it because you would receive judgement from the other Royals?”

Fire lit up her violet eyes as they snapped back to her. Inara had never seen such a visceral reaction from the woman before. “I do not care what they think!” she hissed with venom. “If he would allow it, I would renounce my status, my royalty, and flee with him to the furthest city in Arelia.”

If he would allow it.