Free Heart Duel by Robin D. Owens Page B

mental, then spiritual. In their bond he’d experienced qualities that drew him to her—her willingness to spend her energy to Heal, her compassion. And her sense of honor as strong as his own. Most of all he liked the deep serenity that soothed him. Serenity he could ruffle, passion he could ignite until all they’d think of was loving.
    Bed. Bélla. He tensed at the idea. How soon could he win her, even moving fast? He recalled now the news that she could be moving to Gael City. That was a problem, but it didn’t bother him as much as his own failings.
    He teleported home and to the conservatory.
    After many laps in the pool and a call to D’Rose to order a gift, Holm was calm and refreshed enough to satisfy his curiosity. He lay on a longchair with Meserv snoring beside him and contemplated the ever-expanding verdant flora.
    â€œResidenceLibrary,” he said. “What is the punishment for telling a person you are HeartMates?” He fought his nature on this, trying to be patient.
    And he was scared. Opening himself to another, sharing all his thoughts, emotions, experiences, even for the short time of the HeartBond, was enough to daunt the bravest.
    The ResidenceLibrary spoke in somber tones with an edge of warning. “The punishment is a five-year courtship of the person or until the wronged one states in front of three heads of FirstFamilies that she or he accepts the HeartMate status—”
    â€œPuny Earth years or long Celtan years?” asked Holm.
    In even more disapproving tones, the ResidenceLibrary answered, “HeartMates, HeartGifts, and HeartBonds were unknown on Earth. They are Celtan phenomena.”
    â€œAh.”
    â€œTo continue, the wronged one must make a statement that she or he accepts the status, and repeat it five times.”
    â€œRepeat it five times? Why five? Five isn’t a magical number,” Holm grumbled. “Not good.” Not for an impatient Holly.
    A few seconds of silence passed, then the ResidenceLibrary said, “Laws of Celta, topic twenty-four: the origin and philosophy of HeartMate laws—”
    â€œStop,” Holm ordered. The ResidenceLibrary obviously had a two-hour lecture in its memory. “What is the punishment for HeartBonding with a HeartMate without telling her?”
    â€œIt is not known whether the HeartBond can be forced—”
    â€œNot forced! Ah, persuasion, seduction, uncontrolled passion—”
    â€œMy interrupt feature is now engaged since the topic is Celtan law. It is not known whether the HeartBond can be forced,” ResidenceLibrary said in a volume that echoed off the glass panes. “However, punishment of a nonconsensual HeartBond is exile of the offending party from within eighty kilometers of the victim for a period of five years—”
    â€œAfter they have been HeartBonded? After they are mates and their feelings and minds melded?”
    â€œCorrect.”
    â€œThis is impossible,” Holm said, still feeling the semiarousal of his encounter with his Bélla. “I will never last.” The blue pool lapped and reminded him of something else. “Close ResidenceLibrary. HollyHeir addressing the Residence.”
    The atmosphere around him changed in an aspect he couldn’t define, and the voice of the Residence, deeper even than T’Holly’s, addressed him. “Here, HollyHeir.”
    â€œPlease set the temperature gauges on my personal waterfall fifteen degrees cooler.”
    â€œDone,” T’Holly Residence said.
    Holm could not depend upon his control with Lark, and to push her would be to lose her—if not forever, at least for too long of a time for him to endure. He smiled grimly. It had reached the point where just a few hours spent away from her set an irritation humming along his nerves.
    To keep his control, he’d have to bolster it with meditation, autosuggestion, internal bonds. He sighed. The sleep-teleporting