Page 138 of The Last Syphon

Seconds ticked away. Inara tried not to fidget. Come on, come on, come⁠—

The bell rang. Inara bolted. So did Prince Walder. They were both tired, but still, they both put 110 percent into it, running as hard as they could. He reached the magical zone first and jumped.

She was prepared for it. He appeared in front of her, and she jumped, materializing behind him. She ran forward, jumping again. He followed her. They jumped around the field, Prince Walder always a step behind as they blinked in and out of existence. He chased her, never allowing her to get too far.

Jump left. Jump right. Jump left again.

It didn’t matter where she jumped; he was right there, less than an inch behind her the entire time, almost breathing down her fucking neck.

She couldn’t go to the end zone. The second she crossed out of the magical zone, he would catch her. He was too fast. So Inara continued to jump around the field, trying to lose him, but it didn’t work. She was firmly locked in his sights, like a lion chasing its prey. No matter what she tried, she could not shake him, his tantalising presence always a step behind her.

Her foot slipped out from underneath, and she tumbled. Prince Walder landed on top of her, his chest plastering to her back, the air whooshing out of her lungs.

“Caught you,” he breathed into her ear.

Her whole fucking body shivered.

She struggled beneath him, but he weighed a Fatesdamned ton. She quickly glanced around the field. Everyone was engaged. Feario was fighting off two, using blasts of his telekinesis to send them flying. Thaso was locked in battle with Billie, Pria with Rosemary, and Ky with Avina.

That only left…

“Eli!”

The little boy snapped his head to her. Inara commanded her shield to wrap around the ball, and she used her mind to fling it out from underneath her and into his hands. Prince Walder tried to catch it, his arm reaching out, but it was too late.

She continued to struggle, and his attention went back to her, trying to keep her down.

“Run!” she called out.

Eli hesitated, his gaze whipping around the field. Fear lit in his brown eyes.

Inara summoned a shield around his body to protect him.

“Run!” she yelled again.

Avina broke free from Ky and shot a stream of sludge at Eli. Eli braced, covering his face. The sludge hit her shield and slid down, having no effect. Ky locked his arms around Avina’s throat from behind, and the two of them locked into a wrestle.

Eyes wide, Eli realised he was safe. Protected.

He ran.

“Go! Go! Go!’ Inara cheered.

As she fought Prince Walder, she kept her gaze on Eli, keeping the shield around him as he sprinted down the field. The other team tried to stop him, but their attacks bounced off her shield, never touching him.

Prince Walder spun her around so she was now on her back. She tilted her head back so her eyes stayed on Eli. Prince Walder slammed his hands over her eyes. She switched to her syphon sight instantly. Eli’s spectral energy came into her mind, and she focused on it and it alone, commanding her shield to stay around the energy and never waver. Never lessen.

Her magic rushed to obey her.

Inara only knew when Eli made it to the goal because the spectral energy stopped moving. Screams erupted from the crowd and her team.

Prince Walder removed his hand from Inara’s eyes, and her vision returned. Her heart stopped dead in her chest. She hadn’t realised the position they were in until right then. He was on top of her, his entire body flush against hers, his face only a hair’s breadth from her hers.

Wonderment blazed on his face, his eyes burning with such heat she was sure it would sear her.

“How did you do that?” Prince Walder breathed out in what Inara thought might be reverence. Even wonder.

Inara swallowed thickly, her eyes locking onto his lips. She’d never noticed before how nice his lips were.