Page 69 of The Last Syphon

Anger pumping in her veins like a bad, never-ending headache. Inara lashed out with her magic, sending wave after wave of her shield into the walls of her bedchamber. Furniture crumbled under the onslaught of her power, and yet she did not stop. She was far too furious. Far too enraged.

Felix sat upon her bed, eating a bowl of sweets he’d taken from the dining hall, watching the chaos unfold without a hint of judgement in his umber eyes. After the revelation that she would indeed have to now protect and guard the Crowned Prince or serve a year in the Arelian dungeon, Inara had been in a foul mood—a mood not even food could fix, and that was saying something.

Food had always been the answer to all of her problems.

Had a bad day? It was nothing a big, hot, creamy bowl of ox stew couldn’t fix. Or a pouch of sweets full of enough sugar to rot one’s teeth.

But, unfortunately, none of the food overflowing the tables in the dining hall could quell the anger inside her.

Princess Phaedra had tried to explain herself, but Inara wasn’t interested in what she had to say. Although they hadn’t known each other long, she had grown to like the princess. Would have even gone as far as to say she had begun to somewhat trust the woman.

How ridiculous that suddenly seemed now.

“You know, you should really eat something.” Felix threw a sweet into his mouth, a smirk curling the edge of his lips. “We both know how ill-tempered you get when you’re hungry.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“After all that magic you expended, yes, you fucking are. Stop being so petulant.” He was lying on his side, leaning back on an elbow with one knee hiked up, making himself completely comfortable on her fucking bed.

“I am not being petulant. I was hustled. The princess hustled me.” Inara called on her magic to take form in the shape of a long, impenetrable rope, and then whipped it harshly. “And I have no”—whip—“idea”—whip—“why!”

“Well, if you had let her speak, you would know why.”

She spun, glaring at him.

“Don’t give me the face,” he said sternly. “You know I’m right.”

Inara grunted before turning back around and continuing to whip her rope shield at the wall. In truth, she felt a little bad about the damage she was causing, but Princess Phaedra said everything in the room now belonged to her.

Unless she had lied about that as well.

Felix sighed, adjusting his position until he was lying on his stomach, holding his weight up with both elbows. His legs swayed back and forth in the air lightly, a thoughtful look on his face. “Can I ask you a Syphon question?”

Inara fumbled. For one fleeting moment, she had completely forgotten about the fact that Felix now knew her deepest, most darkest secret.

Actually, that wasn’t true. He’d known for a long time. She just didn’t know it.

“Oh. Uh…” Inara couldn’t help but look around the room, searching for prying ears. She’d never spoken about that side of her. Not a lot anyway. It was only ever with her mother in the comfort of their own home, in the dead of night with nothing but darkness surrounding them.

Her whole life had centred around not talking about. It would take a while to adjust to it.

“Sure,” she finally answered.

Felix’s head tilted to the side in curiosity. “Can you take power from anyone?”

“Yes.”

“Even if they are a Powerless?”

Inara nodded. “Even without magic, there is still energy within one’s soul. I can draw on that energy and take it for myself. But it’s dangerous. Taking energy from someone’s soul drains them of their life force. Makes them age.” She hadn’t done it much. Perhaps only once or twice. She’d only come across a few Powerless—people who did not possess any form of magic—in her life. The effect of her syphon ability on them had been devastating.

“What about creatures? Animals?”

Inara nodded again. “There is energy in almost everything. The land. The seas. The air. It’s everywhere, and I can draw on it and take it from myself.”

Understanding flashed in his eyes. “That’s what the Cursed King of Tolanaa did, right? He took the power from his land, and that’s why it turned black with rot? The land died.”

“Mm-hmm.” Everyone knew the rumours that surrounded the Dark War, but only those with the ability to syphon would understand the gravity of what the Cursed King had done. How debilitating it was for his kingdom. There would be no repairing the damage he had caused.