Page 109 of The Last Syphon

She smiled sadly. “I know. I feel the same.”

People were everywhere. Behind her. Beside her. Fucking above her. It was overwhelming, to say the least, and Fraener was a lot like her. He didn’t like to be surrounded on all sides like that.

“Don’t worry.” She sighed understandingly. “I’m sure we’ll be able to separate from the masses soon.”

At least, she hoped.

Her gaze locked on a somewhat familiar set of icy blue eyes far across the room. Balthus stood next to a table against the wall, champagne glass in his hand. He saw her and raised his glass in greeting, that same sly smile upon his face.

She smiled and waved.

“Inara?”

She snapped her gaze to Prince Walder. There was a small frown on his face. She wasn’t sure why. He was now standing up on the dais, waiting for her to join him. The people he had been talking to were now gone. She hadn’t even noticed them departing.

Whoops.

“Sorry,” she said, clearing her throat and quickly joining him.

He took his seat in the red throne chair in the centre of the dais. Tydus sat promptly on his right.

Inara took note of the other Shielders positioned behind Lady Ophera and Lord Villani and took a similar stance.

Larissa sneered at her. Inara chose to rise above, not acknowledging her hostility.

“This is such a lovely affair. I have to say, being your Shielder is actually so much fun,” she said brightly to Prince Walder.

He glanced over his shoulder, arching a brow in surprise.

Larissa growled, and her glare turned positively evil.

Inara smirked. Ha. Ha. Rise above her baloney. Where was the fun in that?

Her gaze wandered. For the first time, she saw Lady Ophera’s and Lord Villani’s Guardians, both in their miniature forms. A teal-coloured dragon rested at Lord Villani’s feet. It lay on its belly, head resting on its crossed arms, eyes closed. Lady Ophera’s beast was perched on her shoulder, its wings flared, squawking and chattering away, causing a smile to pull at the older woman’s lips.

Inara wasn’t sure why she was surprised. She knew, of course, that the royals were the ones to soul-link with Guardians. And as High Council members, they were the most royal out of the lot. She’d just never seen their dragons before.

She stood behind Prince Walder for she wasn’t even sure how long. Numerous people approached the dais but never stepped up onto it. Never encroached on the prince’s space. They would bow, say a few polite words, to which Prince Walder would offer minimal pleasantries in return, bow once again, and then depart, taking their leave for the next round of people to take their place.

Her gaze moved over the sea of people before her. Over all the smiling faces and beautiful gowns. Over all the luxuriousness of it all. And Inara wished more than anything that she could participate in it fully.

Fates. She wasn’t even wearing the dress she’d wanted to wear; a beautiful black ball gown with long lace sleeves and a lace bodice that ran all the up to her throat.

No.

Since she was working and was a reflection of the Crowned Family’s Line, she’d been required—forced—to wear her personal Shielder robes that depicted the Line colours.

Inara liked her robes, sure. But part of the reason she had been so excited for the ball was the opportunity to wear a pretty dress.

Inara loved pretty dresses.

Off to the right, she spotted something that made her smile. There was a space sequestered for dancing. A dozen or so people were on it, moving and dancing with a fluidity Inara admired. She noticed Princess Phaedra straight away. There was no mistaking her. Tall. Elegantly beautiful. Dressed in a floor-length, long-sleeved white gown with a diamond tiara on her head. She was dancing with Kronan, the two of them swaying and spinning just as magically as Inara had seen them before. There were other couples dancing all around them, but none of them held a candle to Princess Phaedra and Kronan.

“Inara.” Prince Walder signalled for her to come forward.

She stepped up to his side. “Yes, my Overlord?”

He glared. “Are you going to call me that forever?”