Page 161 of The Last Syphon

Her eyes closed as she shook her head in utter disbelief. “One,” she breathed out. “One vote difference. Are you fucking kidding me?”

He moved his gaze to the ground, watching his boots crush the black, desolate soil.

Suspicion zinged down her spine. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“This was not the first attempt. Over the last three years, this referendum has been brought before the High Council for debate three times. Once every year. It was originally six against. Now it is only four. And I…I fear…”

“That the next time this is proposed, it will be passed.”

He nodded, every part of his body tense as stone. “If it passes, it will only be the beginning. They will move on to the next ability and the next ability until all the power is in their hands.”

“Are you doing anything to stop it?”

He gave her a sideways glance. “Do you think so little of me?”

Was that…hurt in his voice?

“What?” She frowned. “No. Of course not.”

“Then why ask?”

“Perhaps I just like talking to you.” She internally winced. Why did I say that? Inara wished she could say it wasn’t even true.

But it was.

Inara did like talking to him.

When he wasn’t being a giant, pig-headed asshole, that was.

A dark chuckle fell from his lips, but thankfully, he did not acknowledge what she said. She blew out a massive sigh of relief for that.

“Myself, Lady Niya, Lord Odami, and Lord Tevi are the parties not accepting the plebiscite⁠—”

“Another big word I do not understand, but continue.”

“And I do not think any of them will switch their vote. However, I thought that last time. Lord Villani was the one to propose it to the High Council, and he has been the active voice behind the change, so I’m working to have him removed from his seat.”

“Good.” Inara clapped her hands together. “He’s a dickhead anyway.”

“Unfortunately, his son is not any better, and he would be the one replacing him.”

Understanding lit her eyes. “Ah. So you need to figure out who is the lesser of two evils?”

“They’re both as evil as each other.” He scoffed. “It would not surprise me if they concocted this whole plan together.”

He was probably right. Inara had not met Lord Villani’s son—at least, not in person. She had seen him around the palace a few times, and he was just as much as, if not a bigger dickhead, than his father. The man was rude to everyone he encountered, and spoke down to anyone who serviced him, whether it be his Shielder or a Server. And she was pretty sure she saw him kick a dog once.

Like Inara said…Dickhead.

“There’s something else plaguing my mind, though.” She stopped just short of the borderline into Tolanaa, turning to face him. “These referendums…playbabysides⁠—”

“Plebiscite,” he corrected with a chuckle.

“Yeah, that,” she said, waving a dismissive hand. “They were only brought forth a few years ago, but you’ve been hiding the fact that you’re a Bloodborne all your life, so it wasn’t because of them.”

“No,” he agreed. “It was my father’s idea. People fear that which they do not understand. That which they cannot control. The actions of one should not condemn them all. The Cursed King did what he did because he was an evil person who wanted more power at the expense of others, not because he was a Syphon. But because of his actions, he doomed all of his kin. The fear he caused the realm was so damaging, so detrimental that the moment another exhibits a powerful ability, everybody fears it will happen again. This is not the first time this issue has been brought before the High Council. It was just the first time since I have been on it.”

The implications of his words terrified her. Since the Cursed King’s death, there had been people pushing to outlaw all kinds of abilities in some twisted preemptive strike to stop the same thing from happening again. It begged that question, though…Where would the line be drawn?