Page 196 of The Last Syphon

She may have won this battle, but the threat was far from over.

Inara took a moment to process what had happened. Silence surrounded her. She looked at her hand, still glowing bright gold, like her whole body.

This magic wasn’t hers. It didn’t belong to her.

The black, rotted land beneath her boots caught her attention, and a thought overcame her. A desire. Almost a…compulsion. She didn’t know why, but she knelt, placing both hands on the ground. Closing her eyes, she willed the power that was given to her to defeat the Cursed King be returned to the very land he had killed. She wasn’t even sure if it would work.

Slowly, much to her surprise, the land began to heal. The darkness receded as vibrant, green grass returned, sprouting up almost as if it were stretching towards the sun. Gold washed over the land, spreading out as far as the eye could see.

The power faded from her with each passing second. The gold glow vanished from her body. Fatigue sank deep into her bones, but Inara didn’t stop. Behind her closed eyes, she could almost see the land spread out before her, see the magic racing across the Borderlands and into Tolanaa, purging the rot and evil away, replacing it with plush, radiant vegetation.

It wasn’t until she was sure all the magic she’d syphoned, and every inch of that dark, devastating rot was gone that she finally let go.

Her entire body sagged. Strong arms circled her instantly, catching her, stopping her from falling. She looked up, her gaze ensnaring on bright, wild, violet eyes.

Inara smiled. “Fates, I love your eyes.” Even though she would have preferred not to say that, her words were true. She loved not only their colour but the concern they often held within them.

Concern for her.

Her words and movements felt sluggish, as if she had drunk too much wine.

“Inara. Inara.”

She loved his voice, too. Deep and baritone.

She couldn’t see anything, and realised that her eyes were closed.

“Inara.” Prince Walder touched her face. The skin-on-skin contact sent a tantalising thrill through her, and she couldn’t help but push her face into his palm. “Inara, open your eyes.”

It was a struggle to do as he asked, but she somehow found the strength.

Felix was there, too, as was Fraener, her Guardian hovering over her with worried gold-and-black eyes.

“Mmm?”

“You need to run.”

His words pushed her mind to fight through the hazy fog overtaking her. She blinked, licking her dry lips.

“What?” His hand was still on her face, holding her almost tenderly.

“You need to run,” he repeated, staring deep into her eyes. “I cannot save you from the High Council. Not until I get the law overturned. You need to run.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” Felix blasted. “She almost died saving everyone!”

“The High Council will not care!”

Inara had never seen him so upset before.

“They will order her trial the moment we return, and then she will die!”

“Stop yelling. I don’t like it when you yell.” Every word still came out sluggish. She noticed the effects of magical depletion easily. She was going to pass out.

Prince Walder’s face softened, as did his voice. “Please. I will not be able to save you from them unless you run. Now, get on the back of your dragon and fly away. Do not stop until you are far away from this place.”

Inara looked at him, overwhelmed with a barrage of emotions. “But I don’t want to leave you.” Magical depletion came with lowered inhibitions. She was sure she would come to regret this conversation later.

A torn expression crossed his face, and he leant forward, pressing his forehead against hers. His eyes closed. So did hers.