Page 152 of The Last Syphon

“Who is ‘he’?”

Once again, her gaze moved to the door across the hall.

“Wait…Kronan is the reason you are not together? But he loves you! I don’t understand.”

“I told you it was complicated.”

“Yeah. Complicated, not fucking stupid. Why would he not be with you if he loves you?”

“He believes I deserve better. That he cannot give me the life I deserve. That someone like him has no right being with a princess. That my life here, among all these riches and luxury, would be a far better life than any life he could possibly offer me.” Each word was drenched in sadness, and Inara knew they must have had this same conversation a thousand times. “He does not understand that all I would need is him to be happy.”

Inara shook her head. “Men.” She scoffed. “I swear, sometimes, they need a good donk on the fucking head to knock some sense into them.”

A small smile appeared on her lips, but it was still tinged with sadness.

Inara reached for her hand again, and this time, the princess took it, clasping both her hands over Inara’s, taking the support she was offering. “I’m sorry. I can’t imagine what it must be like, having the object of your affection within your reach and not being able to do anything about it. Might I offer a suggestion?”

“Yes. Please.”

“Show that idiot what he’s missing.”

The princess frowned. “I do not believe I understand?”

Inara ran her eyes up and down the princess’s long and lithe body. “Show him what he’s missing,” she repeated. “Tease him. Make him lose control. He is only a man, after all. A man that is so hopelessly and so desperately in love with you that you are the only one he looks at. The only one he sees. He cannot resist you.”

Her face flushed.

“He just needs a little help pushing through whatever fear is weighing him down.” Inara had seen it a lot over the years. People who let their fears consume them so much that they would rather live a miserable life than risk the chance to live the life they deserve. One with all their wishes and desires. One with happiness.

Inara had no idea what demons plagued Kronan. What was holding the man back. What she did know was that Kronan and Princess Phaedra loved each other, and to be honest, that was all she needed to know. It was the only thing that mattered.

Kronan stomped across the hall and back into her bedchamber, anger permeating every step. “I told you, I do not care which pair of pants make your ass look better—” He came to a screeching halt when he saw the princess, and all that anger disappeared, replaced with overwhelming concern. “What’s wrong?” He grunted. His gaze snapped to Inara. “What have you done to her?”

Inara threw her hands up in a show of surrender. “Nothing! I swear.”

Princess Phaedra jumped to her feet. “Everything is fine,” she assured the man, but he didn’t believe it for a second.

“You are upset,” he said softly, eyes running over her face slowly. His hands twitched as if he wanted to touch her. Reach out and offer her comfort.

But something stopped him.

Inara saw it. Princess Phaedra saw it.

It cut the princess deeply.

She stood taller, all emotion vanishing from her face in an instant. “Everything is fine,” she repeated, voice strong.

Inara admired that strength. That ability to shut off that pain, to put it to the side and deal with it later. She wished she could do that.

“We best get going. It is quite late.” Princess Phaedra turned, but before she could take a step towards the door, Inara said,

“Actually, could you possibly do me a favour?”

The princess paused and glanced over her shoulder. “Yes?”

“Can you let your brother know that he will need to find a replacement for on the morrow? I’m…uhm”—she coughed dramatically—“I’m suddenly not feeling well. I think I need to take the day off.”

Princess Phaedra frowned, confusion streaking across her face. Inara wasn’t sure if the woman believed her⁠—