Free Heart Fate by Robin D. Owens Page B

humming. His new lullaby. Lord and Lady.
    â€œDon’t call it ‘Tinne’s Lullaby,’ ” he said.
    â€œI won’t.” She smiled at him, and he noted she looked much older than she had a couple of days before.
    â€œCall it ‘SecondSon’s Lullaby,’ ” Holm said.
    Tinne opened his mouth for a return insult, expecting to see Holm’s twinkling eyes. They were dead serious. Despite his light manner, Holm was suffering along with the rest of them, sorry for Tinne’s hurt. Tinne had the horrible suspicion that if he gave in to his own feelings, everyone would weep. Awful.
    Then his father said. “This whole mess is my fault. I apologize. I . . . I . . . You cannot know how deeply I regret my actions.” He blinked rapidly, though his taut face held a stony expression. Then he straightened his shoulders. “I received word from the Healers that you need time in the HouseHeart.” He waved a hand. “It is scheduled for the next two years.”
    Tinne wanted to wince at the decree that depressed both of them, but nodded. “Thank you, I’d like to sleep there tonight.”
    â€œDone,” T’Holly said.
    His Mamá looked at Tinne. “Why didn’t I think of that! Your rooms must be redecorated immediately. And Gen—and the other suite. We should have done that last year. Perhaps that will help.”
    Keep them together? He didn’t think so. But his Mamá continued, “I’ll scry Mitchella D’Blackthorn for a decorating consult. We can do this today. We’ll mine the storerooms and attics.” She squeezed his father’s hand. “We have work to do.”
    â€œWe certainly do.” T’Holly sounded a little more cheerful at the thought of moving furniture all day. A distraction both physical and Flaired. “We can bring back the rest of the hunting cats now that Ilexa has returned, resume training. It’s good to have plans.”
    Lark opened her mouth.
    Tinne figured he knew what she was going to say. The Healers had recommended pink.
    â€œNothing pink!” he called to his parents as they left. “Not one pink thing. And leave my drums alone!”
    Lark sniffed.
    â€œThe glider awaits to take Tinne to T’Heather,” the Residence said.
    Ilexa ran toward him, food on her whiskers.
    Lark said, “I’m sorry, Ilexa, it wouldn’t help Tinne to have you during the tests. He must get through them on his own.”
    Holm said, “You look different, Ilexa. Perhaps it’s time for a visit to T’Ash for a new collar. Tinne can afford it.”
    After hugs all around, they all walked away.
    â€œYou should meet our FamCats,” Lark said.
    Relief flooded Tinne, time with his Family was over. Now he only had the ordeal with the Healers. Four tests left.
    Horrible.
    Â 
 
Lahsin awoke and stretched with a singing heart. She was free. Shadowy dream threats had haunted her sleep, but they were nothing like the reality she’d lived through, so she brushed them aside. Only to be expected when she’d changed her life so and coped with so many new experiences the day before: the surge of her Flair that would soon be freed, her confrontation with the Hawthorn guard, that was scary, the miraculous luck finding this garden, and then the dog.
    The dog that was laying next to her in the warmth she’d generated with her spell. Staring at her. She groped for the pruners, and her foot touched them.
    The dog rose, looking a little stiff. He limped heavily, dragging a back foot, to the door that was still open, letting in bright winter sunlight. He turned his head toward her and said, I am not yours. I am my own.
    Lahsin’s breath shuddered out of her. That was something she should have said to T’Yew. And gotten “punished” for it. But she could say it now. “I am my own. I am free.”
    She went out into the sunshine. The air was warmer than