Heartmate by Robin D. Owens Page B

exhaled with relief.
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Zanth curled and overflowed the small velvet corner chair, watching customers come and go through slitted eyes. T’Ash had to admit that his Fam wasn’t calling any attention to himself and was behaving well.
    An hour after the store opened, Tinne Holly entered. He walked with more swagger in his step than his older brother Holm. T’Ash measured the youth. T’Ash had judged correctly, the main gauche should be proportional to the young man’s stature.
    Tinne was seventeen and, from the power and Flair emanating from him, more than ready for his second Passage.
    T’Ash shuddered as he remembered his own second Passage. It had been triggered by the young Holm Holly, caught in Downwind during his Passage. Holm had been bouncing erratic energy, Flair, and emotions all over the place. T’Ash first got caught in the tide, then swept into the whirlpool, shooting into a raging inferno of fire and lightning that sundered all his beliefs, large and small. Passion had seared him, passion for living and for vengeance.
    It had ripped him apart emotionally, nearly driven him insane.
    Holly had fought almost every hour. Passage brought deathduels for Hollys. Now the danger menaced Tinne.
    T’Ash continued to study Tinne from under lowered eyelids and suppressed a sigh. The silver-haired youth could not stand still for two microns.
    He prowled the shop, looking at the wares and waiting until T’Ash finished ringing up sales. A mannerly boy.
    He didn’t look stupid, and he didn’t look as if he would appreciate a weapon imbued with strong disciplinary and protection spells. He might need a little distraction when he tested the main gauche for balance.
    T’Ash wanted no argument with a hotheaded Holly if Tinne discovered spells in the blade.
    Finally the last customer ready to purchase something was served and Holly approached the counter.
    â€œGreetyou. I’m Tinne Holly, my brother said you wished to see me about a weapon?”
    T’Ash offered his hand. The FirstFamilies were often superficially friendly and quietly cutthroat, but Holm Holly was T’Ash’s friend and nothing in Tinne’s demeanor said he’d be any less honorable. Less stable, less dependable, less sensible, but equally loyal.
    Tinne’s eyes widened and he clasped T’Ash’s hand. Wild, hot energy surged up T’Ash’s arm. He didn’t let the shock show.
    â€œYour brother commissioned a main gauche for you.” T’Ash brought the long dagger from under the counter and handed it over.
    Tinne took it, jerked a little, and squinted down the fuller groove of the blade.
    Distraction needed. “Tell me, Holly. What would you consider a good opening line for a scry to your beloved?” T’Ash asked casually, congratulating himself for combining two purposes at one time. He was diverting Holly from testing the weapon with his Flair, and was getting some masculine advice.
    Tinne shot a surprised gaze at T’Ash, then grinned. Tinne had the Holly charm, in abundance.
    Tinne placed the main gauche carefully on the glass case, but traced the gold wire in the shape of a holly branch along the main gauche’s hilt to the smoky-quartz pommel.
    He looked deeply into T’Ash’s eyes and lowered his own lashes in a sensual look T’Ash didn’t think he’d be able to master in a few short hours.
    â€œDarling delight,” Tinne purred better than Zanth, “did you miss me?”
    T’Ash didn’t think that would work for him. “Try something else.”
    The young man’s smile flashed again, revealing a dimple. Damn but these Hollys had life, and women, easy. Tinne fondled the pommel of the main gauche. “Compliments on eyes or a smile are always good.”
    Pleasure filled T’Ash at the thought of Danith. “My lady is beautiful.”
    Tinne blinked. “A Lady? You?”
    T’Ash’s face