Page 179 of The Last Syphon

“Because of my carelessness, Larissa found the last piece of the puzzle that helped her figure out what you are. There’s no debate about it. It is pure fact. She had her suspicions about you, yeah, but she had no idea you were a Syphon until she found that fucking book in my hands.” He looked down at said hands and squeezed them into tight fists, making them tremble with how hard he was squeezing. “I was meant to protect your secret⁠—”

Inara reached through the bars. “Give me your hand.”

He didn’t hesitate, slipping his palm against hers. She pulled him closer until they were both almost hugging the bars that separated them.

“I don’t give a fuck about my secret, you hear me?” she whispered. “All I care about is that you’re okay. I would have let them kill me if it meant you got to live. Larissa had it out for me. She never would have stopped hunting for something to pin on me. It was only a matter of time before she found something out. She’s far too cunning not to.”

Felix refused to hear it. Refused to believe her words. He just simply closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the bars. Inara did the same.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I won’t let them kill you. I’ll figure out a way to get us out of here. I will.”

Inara smiled. She wanted more than anything to believe it, but the cards were stacked against her. With no magic, no power, there was no way for them to escape without help.

The door at the end of the room opened with a loud creaaaaak. Heavy footsteps pounded against the harsh stone as a figure walked down the small hall and stopped right in front of her cell.

Inara’s heart leapt.

Blazing violet eyes moved between her and Felix, a flash of blue sparking in his irises. His jaw clenched, and he folded his arms across his wide chest. “Is there ever a moment where you two are not touching?”

Inara let go of Felix and turned to face the newcomer, mimicking his stance. “It’s called comfort. Ever heard of it before?”

“Don’t piss him off, Nara. We need his help to get out of here.” Felix stepped forward and bowed low at the waist. “Your Handsome Eminesce.” He breathed out in reverence. “Thank you so much for bestowing us with your divine presence, and might I say, that is a lovely…um…hair upon your head. Very dark and luscious, and it looks nice and shiny. Do you…clean it regularly?”

“What are you going on about?” she whispered out of the side of her mouth.

“I’m trying to compliment him and build a rapport,” he whispered back, keeping a bright, beaming smile aimed Prince Walder’s way.

Based on the glower on his face, Inara didn’t think it was working.

“Leave us,” Prince Walder demanded, glaring at Felix.

“Leave—uh—” Felix looked around the eight-by-ten cell. “Um, okay.” He went to the back wall, keeping his back to them as he placed both hands over his ears. “How’s this?!” he yelled.

“It will have to do⁠—”

“I can’t hear you so I’m going to guess it’s good! You guys talk! I’ll just stand here! Don’t mind me! Inara, be nice!”

Inara shook her head, her eyes rolling, but she was helpless to keep the small smile off her face. One of the reasons she loved him was because of his innate ability to make her laugh.

Her eyes moved to Prince Walder. Silence reigned between them. Inara wasn’t sure what to say. They were only a few feet away from each other, and yet, the bars separating them made it feel like they were realms apart.

“Thank you for what you did,” she eventually said, finally filling the silence. “I know the High Council wanted to kill me, and things would have gotten really bad if they tried. You stopped that, so.” She coughed, clearing her throat. “Thank you.”

There. That was nice. Never let Felix say she could not be nice.

Prince Walder didn’t respond. If it wasn’t for the slight crease of his brows, Inara would have thought he did not hear her.

“You should have told me.”

Inara blinked. Out of all the things she thought he might say, that wasn’t one of them. “Told you?”

“Yes.”

“That I’m a Syphon?”

“Yes.”

Okay.