Siren Burn — Hannah West

Inara's hiding place has become a safer, less tropical version of the Flowery Isle. She's secure in a realm she understands but still trapped. Aaron's need to protect her is borderline militant and she's starting to question if he should have helped free her at all. Her Siren side grows daily: a malevolence filling her with impulses she's too afraid to admit. It's getting painful to hide from everyone and she's riddled with guilt at the deception. But she's terrified the icy darkness will eclipse her sunlight and Aaron will see the monster she's become. She questions their relationship for this reason. He's risking his life for her when all he knows are the parts, she's allowing him to see. Nobody understands what she's going through, until Dante. He's the only one who can empathise with her problems because he has them too. She can be herself around him without fear of judgement and it's a relief to finally have a friend she can talk to. When her past finally catches up with her, Dante is the one that picks up the pieces. He shelters her from the brewing storm but she can't bring herself to love him the way he wants. The only love she needs is the one she never asked for and least expected, and she'll protect it until her dying breath.