Page 183 of The Last Syphon

“Ow!” She yelled. “That hurt! You little⁠—”

They lunged for each other at the same time, their arms stretching through the bars.

Inara tried to choke him.

Felix pulled her hair.

“Ow! Let go!” She shrieked.

“You…let…go!” He choked.

“You started it!”

“I did not! You hit me first!”

Inara stiffened. “Oh. Yeah, I did.” She shrugged and continued to strangle him.

“Oh, my.” A light, feminine voice gasped.

Felix and Inara stilled. Their gazes shot right, her hands still securely wrapped around Felix’s neck and his hands pulling her hair so hard her head was stretched almost all the way back. Princess Phaedra stood in the hallway in front of Inara’s cell, a hand to her chest in shock. Kronan, as usual, was right behind her.

“I don’t think she’s your type, so let me do the flirting,” Felix whispered out of the side of his mouth.

No. Princess Phaedra’s type was the big, brooding Shielder behind her. Felix didn’t stand a chance.

They broke apart at the same time. Inara ran her hands through her hair, trying to straighten the frazzled strands, and Felix fixed his clothes, clearing his throat.

He put on a dazzling smile and stepped forward. “Princess⁠—”

“She is not here to talk to you,” Kronan cut in, a murderous glare on his face.

Felix’s smile didn’t fade, still as bright as ever. “Well, she’s missing out. I’m a delight to talk to.”

Princess Phaedra chuckled softly. “I am glad to see your current accommodations have not sullied your light, Felix.”

He clutched his chest with both hands. “Say my name again.” He sighed dreamily.

The Shielder growled.

Princess Phaedra patted Kronan’s arm without looking at him, and the man instantly relaxed. “Are they treating you well?” she asked them both.

“As well as one can be treated in a dungeon,” Inara answered. “What are you doing here?”

The Princess was quiet for a moment, as if trying to pick her words carefully. “I heard what happened before the court.”

So, she knew Inara was a Syphon. Word sure did travel fast within the palace walls.

“And?” she said briskly, her defences quickly rising. There did not seem to be any fear on her face. None on Kronan’s, either, but that could have been because Inara couldn’t use her powers even if she wanted to.

“Did you mean what you said?”

Inara said a lot of things. Most of the time, she meant them. “You’ll have to elaborate.”

“You said you would do anything to save someone you care about. Did you mean that?”

Inara’s gaze moved to Felix and back. “Yes. I did.”

“Do you care for my brother?”