Page 76 of The Last Syphon

“I thought I was to report to the High Council Hall for my assignment as a Chosen in the morn?” Inara asked instead.

“Yes. That would usually be the case, but this is a highly unprecedented situation. You are under contractual obligation to fulfil your duties as a personal Shielder, therefore, you will instead report there. There are other Chosen who can take over whatever duty you were assigned.”

Rubbing her temples, Inara groaned. “This is far too complicated.”

“I told you to read the scroll before you signed it,” Felix sang, rocking back and forth on the heels of his feet, hands behind his back.

It left him wide open. Inara punched him in the stomach. He choked, falling to his knees and clutching his middle.

“Oh, my,” Princess Phaedra exclaimed, hand to her chest.

“Get him, Fraener,” Inara ordered. Her dragon jumped at the command, pouncing on him. He scurried up Felix’s body, biting him here and there as Felix shrieked and yelped, trying to fling him off.

“You should go.” Inara led the princess and Kronan to the front door. “I apparently now have to be up very early.”

“Yes.” The princess cleared her throat. “Of course.”

“Inara! Inara! Call him off! Ow! Stop it!”

She opened the door and leant against it. “Have a good night.”

“Y-yes. You too.”

Felix rolled around the floor, desperately trying to escape the tiny dragon. “Inara! For fuck’s sake!”

Inara smiled brightly and waved at the princess and her Shielder, closing the door.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Inara’s feet dragged as she climbed the stairs of the tower, her limbs achy and sore. Her arms dangled at her sides, her neck hanging down, producing a terrible hunch in her back, but she did not care.

She was so tired.

No, actually. So tired would be a drastic understatement. She was ready to collapse right here on the stairs and rest for the remainder of the day tired. What was even worse was that the day hadn’t even begun. It was just getting started. She had no idea how the fuck she was going to make it through her first day as personal Shielder to Prince Pompus Prick.

When she reached the next level, she panted, bending at the waist to catch her breath.

Fucking Fates.

She glanced at the guard behind her. He was no worse for wear.

When Inara had awoken, she’d found him standing outside her room, waiting to escort her to the prince’s tower. Clearly, she still wasn’t to be trusted, which was fine with her.

Smiling awkwardly, she gave him a thumbs up. He just frowned at her.

Standing up straight, she wheezed out what little air was in her lungs, trying to catch her breath. Inara had not realised she was so out of shape. Then again, she did just climb a thousand bloody stairs.

Clearing her throat, she swiped the sweat from her brow and proceeded forward. The Crowned Prince’s tower was about what one would expect. Grand. Luxurious. Although the decor was quite different from everything else she’d so far witnessed in Arelia. Instead of an abundance of natural light, warmth, and gold, Inara was greeted with dark colours, black and greys, and coldness. Like ice.

The walls were black. The staircases were black. Any decorative item was grey or either…Yep, you guessed it, fucking black. The air itself was so cold that every time Inara released a breath, she could see it form in the shape of a cloud before her eyes.

It was dim and gloomy.

She wore beautiful, highborn robes eerily similar to the ones she’d seen Larissa dressed in when guarding the prince. They had been dropped off to her bedchamber shortly after Princess Phaedra had left, and like all the other clothing she had been given, they had been enchanted so they would fit her perfectly.

They were black, long-sleeved, with an intricate pattern etched into the fabric that ran up her arms and across her bodice, stitched in red. They also came with a cape, but Inara actively chose not to put that on. She didn’t like it.

Fraener sat upon her shoulder, resting. He was fucking resting. How, she had no idea. His claws dug deeply into the fabric on her shoulder, and his head lolled to the side. It could not be comfortable in the slightest, and yet, she knew he was deep in slumber because of the soul-link.