Inara entered the classroom, donning a deep purple and gold brocade dressing gown, a jewel toned satin negligee visible through the sheer material. To call the elegantly decorated space a classroom was almost an insult to her mind. A large bed sat prominently in the center, lush earth toned pillows adorned with jewels and embroidery sat ready and waiting for a patron. A small amphitheater looked down on the bed, plush cushions and pillows spread out on each tier for the dozen or so novices to have a perfect view.

This lesson was one of the hardest for her to teach. Not least of all because it required the use of all her skills as a Companion, but because she simultaneously had to explain each of them as they were used. It often acted as a distraction to her model, which could ruin the lesson completely.

She moved to the bed, trailing her recently manicured nails along the rich silk, inhaling a deep breath to gather her thoughts, exceptionally scattered by the landing of Serenity just twenty-four hours ago.

No matter that she had ample warning that they were coming, seeing Mal again, after so long was a shock to her system. And as unwelcome as the distraction was, she could never quite bring herself to wish he hadn’t come. It was reassuring to see him alive and well, his eyes darker and deeper than she remembered, but the smile, the corner of his mouth quirking into that irresistible smirk, still made her heart tumble over in her chest.

It had been a blessing to see the others as well, never far from her thoughts. She hadn’t had to look hard to see the wear on each of their faces, known that things had gotten harder for them. The jobs had gotten further and farther in between, Kaylee had told her when they had a moment alone.

Mal had said they had a contact at the training house and Inara wasn’t surprised. She had a sinking suspicion that the Head Priestess had called upon Serenity for a job merely to meet the pirate captain who’d stolen her heart, or so said the persistent rumors. It was no ma