Page 89 of The Last Syphon

It always came back to that stupid dark voice.

She had to find the earliest opportunity to get into that damn librarium. It was a long shot, but she was desperately hoping there was something in those pages that could tell her what the Voice was and, more importantly, how to fucking stop it.

A long table that spanned wall to wall was off to the side and filled with an abundance of food. She made a beeline right for it. At one point, Inara realised she was actually meant to be watching Prince Walder, and she stopped, turning around⁠—

A heavy body slammed into her, making her stumble forward. “Hey!” She glared. It was the prince. He had run into her. “Watch where you’re bloody going.”

“What are you talking about? You just stopped walking!”

“Because I was looking for you. Next time, make some noise when you walk.” Inara hadn’t even realised he’d turned and begun following her when she walked away. For such a big man, he sure moved with stealth.

He huffed in annoyance. “You are the worst Shielder I have ever had.”

She smiled. “Shouldn’t have given me a seven, then.”

“Believe me, I have regretted that decision since day one.” He seethed.

“You won’t when I end up saving your ass from an assassin.”

He stiffened, his entire body going rigid. Coldness swept over her. “What have you heard?”

“What? Nothing.” She studied him closely. “Oh my Fates, are there assassins trying to kill you?” Inara had only been joking, but the look on his face told her she had hit a little too close to home there.

The stiffness in his body vanished. He relaxed ever so slightly. “I am the Crowned Prince, Heir to the Arelian throne. There is always someone trying to kill me. That is why you are here.”

Inara wasn’t sure how she felt about that. While yes, that was her job description—she was literally tailing him every second of every day to protect him in case something or someone tried to harm him—but she didn’t actually think something like that would ever happen. Who in their right mind would try to target him?

An idiot. That’s who.

She loaded a plate with all different kinds of meats and vegetables and handed it to him before doing another. After gathering their food, she stared out at the dining hall, looking for a place to sit.

Her gaze clashed with blazing yellow eyes, burning with anger. Larissa. Ugh. The woman was sitting at a table on the far left. On either side of her was one of the identical twins, their glare equally filled with anger, and Inara felt compelled to roll her eyes.

Prince Walder took the lead, walking down the aisle that ran between two long tables, heading for another table at the end of the hall, sitting on raised steps. Inara fell into step behind him.

Larissa’s angry gaze shifted from her to Na-ri. The red-haired woman was sitting one table over by herself. Her head was down, shoulders slumped, mouth twisted in nervousness and anxiety. The plate in front of her had nothing but a bread roll on it.

Inara’s eyes narrowed.

Slowly, with shaky hands, Na-Ri reached for the roll⁠—

Larissa’s mouth moved. Na-Ri flinched. Inara couldn’t hear what she was saying. She was too far away. Damn it.

She’d been able to access Fraener’s advanced hearing before. She just had to do it again. Focus. She needed to focus. As if on autopilot, her body followed behind Prince Walder while her mind focused on Larissa.

“...huh? Did I say you could eat?” Larissa’s voice echoed in her ears.

“N-no,” Na-ri responded softly.

“So why are you reaching for your food?”

Na-Ri’s hand returned to her lap. Her shoulders slumped even more.

The twins laughed.

Larissa’s tone turned condescending. “How many times do I have to tell you, Na-Ri? It’s like you want to sit over there by yourself.”

“I-I’m sorry. I’ll do better.” The sadness in the woman’s voice broke Inara’s heart.