Page 136 of The Last Syphon

Inara noticed a few people pointing at Prince Walder, and she wondered if perhaps his cover was blown. That they knew who he was. But she didn’t have any longer to think on it because Billie handed Prince Walder the ball, and he took stance, preparing to run.

“I knew she’d give it to him,” Thaso grumbled under his breath.

“Don’t worry about it. Trust me, he won’t get past me. Just focus on your player.”

Thaso cracked his knuckles. “Oh, I am.”

Tension skyrocketed across the field as they waited for the bell. Her body felt jittery. Restless. Anticipation filled her chest. Fates. She had to expel some energy.

The bell rang.

They all took off, running towards each other. She had to clear the end zone quickly so she could use her powers, and she had to get there before Prince Walder. If he got there first, he would be able to jump clear across the field, right near the end zone.

She couldn’t allow that to happen.

Having to rely solely on her own physical strength and ability was different from anything she’d ever had to experience before. Far different than she had anticipated. There was a small part of her that was screaming to use her magic, almost as if not doing so was to not use an arm or leg, but she was determined to follow the rules and win.

Inara pumped her legs as hard as she could. Her eyes stayed locked on Prince Walder across the field. He was running, but more so running at a leisurely pace. There was no urgency in his movements, almost as if he was running in a light jog. His gaze moved around him, assessing. Taking in what was going on in his surroundings. The ball was tucked firmly underneath his arm.

Inara smirked. He didn’t know it, but Prince Walder had made a grave mistake not going all out straight away. She crossed over into the magical zone. She summoned her magic and it came to call, hot and heavy and eager to serve. She swung her arm in an underarm throw and sent her shield out in a powerful rush. It shot ahead, zooming forward at such speed that it tore up the ground in its wake as it went racing down the field.

Prince Walder’s eyes widened. He wasn’t in the magical zone yet, and her shield was travelling far too fast to avoid without magic. It slammed into him so hard that it sent him flying, hurtling back. Inara focused, jumped, and appeared just before the magical zone ended. She had managed to time it just right.

Prince Walder landed in a heap at the end of the end zone. Inara could hear his groan of pain from her position. There was no hesitation in her movements. Taking off quickly, she crossed into the end zone and ran as fast as her legs could go.

The ball had escaped Prince Walder’s grasp and was a few feet from his body. He rolled, face contorted in pain, and his gaze locked on the ball. His head whipped to her, but it was too late to possibly stop her.

Not slowing down, Inara swept the ball up into her hands and sprinted, not stopping until she reached the goal. The moment she reached it, she turned, raising the ball into the air and letting out a victorious war cry.

Her teammates joined her, raising their arms in solidarity.

Inara’s heart beat wildly in her chest, her breath coming out in short, quick pants. A rush of adrenaline filled her up inside, and she felt utterly exhilarated.

According to the rules, whoever scored the point got to start with the ball the next round, so Inara kept it tucked under her arm as she began walking back to her side. She passed Prince Walder, who was still on the ground—more so in shock than anything else, she was sure.

She stopped and stared down at him, cocking her head. “You look good on your back. Perhaps you should just stay there,” she teased, a smirk curling on her lips.

His eyes flashed, and he jumped, going from lying flat on his back to being on his feet in the blink of an eye, right in front of her. Right in fucking front of her. He was so close it would take the simplest of movements to brush her chest against his.

And why the Fates am I thinking about that?

An evil look crossed his face, but it didn’t scare her. No. Far fucking from it.

It excited her.

“You have no idea what you have just unleashed,” he said slowly, his voice rough and deep. It sent shivers racing down her fucking spine.

She was the first to step back, but it was a lot harder than she thought it would be. “Bring it on, my Overlord.”

His eyes flashed once again, this time a startling blue that mixed beautifully with his violet orbs. She continued to walk backwards, not taking her eyes off him, and his gaze did not move from her, watching her every moment as if he were a predator about to pounce on her.

Why does that thought exhilarate me?

When she made it back to her side, Inara was met with words of encouragement and high fives.

“Holy fuck,” Thaso exclaimed, his face alight. “That was amazing. How did you do that? You cleared that whole field in less than a second.”

Inara simply smirked. “Magic,” was all she replied with, voice soft and assured.