Read Online Heart Fire (Celta Book 13) by Robin D. Owens - Free Book Online

FamCat?”
    The cat’s half ear twitched.
Just today, We became Fams. A Very Important Day.
Again his tail thrashed.
    Antenn’s lips twitched. “No doubt.”
    We will go in.
The Fam stopped, expecting Antenn to open the heavy doors for him. Glancing down, Antenn considered. He’d never seen a less impressive cat. One who thought the world revolved around him. Even Zanth, T’Ash’s Downwind Feral Fam, was somehow more civilized than this one.
    “I don’t think
we
—” Antenn started, then broke off as he received a telepathic communication.
    Greetyou, GentleSir Blackthorn-Moss. This is High Priest Alb T’Sandalwood; please come in, and, ah, escort the cat.
    As you wish
, Antenn said. Before he could open one of the doors, they swung in.
    *   *   *
     
    D espite the High Priest’s efforts to make her relax, his own innate peace, and the flatsweets, Tiana remained tense throughout their interview. Now and then she’d grab futilely at a thread of grounding calmness, only to have it unravel. She felt that the great man was very aware of her miserable efforts to be composed.
    They’d touched on her ambition again, the fact that the other forerunner for High Priestess was Lucida Gerania, that Tiana wasn’t HeartBonded with her HeartMate and didn’t, in fact, know who he was.
    Worst of all, she had to admit, once more and aloud, that she hadn’t managed to forgive GraceLord T’Equisetum. She nearly squirmed in her seat.
    The High Priest contemplated her under his bushy black and white eyebrows, then waved the topic aside and pushed the plate of flatsweets toward her. “If we didn’t care for you, see great possibilities in your career should you open yourself more, we wouldn’t both have spoken with you today.” His lips curved up. “Neither of us wanted to yield the career interview to the other.”
    She supposed she should feel well supported by them, but instead felt battered and couldn’t regain her normal confidence. “No one else had an interview with both of you today?” Like Lucida Gerania.
    His smile deepened. “No, only you.”
    Tiana was so lucky.
    “Ah . . .” Lines had dug into T’Sandalwood’s face and his smile had vanished. The caff pot on the sideboard drifted over to Tiana’s cup on a tiny table next to her and refilled it. She’d have to use a little Flair to steady her hands before picking up the delicate china cup in the form of an open flower blossom.
    Arching her brows, she said, “You have something else very important you want to say.” Which was why he was adding a dollop of white mousse to the top of her caff, to break it a little more gently. She did love her white mousse.
    He nodded, serious, the instant’s hesitation gone. “The Lady High Priestess and I think that the destiny stone is pointing in your direction.”
    “Fateful events are moving around me,” Tiana said by rote. She didn’t know what divination the High Priest and Priestess did privately, but she knew of omens.
    GrandLord T’Sandalwood watched her with an intense gaze until Tiana gave voice to the correct conclusion. “Fate will be moving me.”
    “That’s right.” He dipped his head, his expression went slightly remote. “And the High Priestess and I will be finessing it along.” He paused. “You should drink your caff.”
    She remained stiff with shock when his long, mobile face turned curvy with another smile, dimples on the sides of his mouth, eyebrows high and rounded. Tilting his head, he obviously sent a telepathic thought to someone. Then he leaned back in his comfortchair that conformed to his body and intertwined his fingers over his flat middle.
    “We’ll wait a moment, why don’t we?”

Six

     
    T iana had no clue what he was talking about, but he was the High Priest and not to be questioned unnecessarily. Again she deliberately loosened her muscles. She’d had no idea the day would be so trying. When she’d awakened this morning, she’d had such high hopes!
    There