Heart Thief by Robin D. Owens Page B

brightening the stars in the sky as she moved toward him with inherent grace and elegance.
    She pushed the cowl back off her head with a fine-boned hand and her serious blue-gray gaze met his. A touch of his previous euphoria returned. She’d come to see him.
    Samba moved closer to Ruis, setting a portion of her considerable rump on his boot-toe.
    D’SilverFir stopped a meter from them. “Merry meet, Ruis Elder,” she murmured, “Greetyou, Fam.”
    Samba lifted her nose. I am Ssssamba.
    D’SilverFir’s brows lowered as she tried to decipher the cat’s words. “Samba.” The GrandLady dipped her head politely.
    Samba twitched her whiskers in regal response.
    D’SilverFir studied the cat, and amusement flashed across her face. “I’m glad D’Ash gave you the Fam,” she said to Ruis.
    Now he bent his head in courtesy. “Me, too.” His sense of drama and contrariness welled up. “Didn’t you mean to address me as Ruis, calling himself ‘Elder’?”
    A flush pinkened her cheeks. She stood straighter. “I reviewed your case, the Herald’s report, and read the notes T’Reed took of your trial—he has a famous memory.”
    â€œAnd you judged me guilty.”
    â€œNo, no—” She stepped forward and placed a hand on his arm, then swayed.
    Ruis grasped her shoulders, but to his amazement she leaned inward, against him. “D’SilverFir?”
    She mumbled something against his chest.
    â€œD’SilverFir?” he asked again.
    She looked up at him with wide eyes and trembling mouth. “This effect—this thing—”
    â€œMy Nullness,” he said harshly, tightening his grip around her shoulders to set her aside.
    She clutched the wide lapels of his shirt, then shivered. “No. Don’t. It’s strange—but comforting. Wonderful.”
    â€œMy Nullness is wonderful?” he stated, expressionless, fearing to believe she meant her words.
    â€œOne moment.” She sucked in a breath, then took a small step away from him.
    He’d been stationary for several minutes, so his Nullness would be spreading out from him, affecting about a meter radius. She was within range, yet showed no signs of strain. Amazing.
    â€œThe effects of your Nullness are interesting,” she said.
    He crossed his arms. “And terrible.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œAs I am terrible.”
    â€œNo,” she said.
    He raised his brows. “So you didn’t judge me guilty?”
    Her gaze searched his face. “Did you steal?”
    â€œTo survive. Always to survive.”
    Though her features froze into a sterner aspect, an aspect natural to a judge, her voice was soft. “I understand.”
    â€œNo, you don’t.” He uncrossed his arms and stared down at her. “You can’t possibly understand my life. You’re D’SilverFir, chosen to be the head of your Family when a baby. That means you have exceptional Flair—because that’s how heirs are designated. So you’re very powerful.”
    An unamused smile twitched on and off her lips. “In Flair, yes. Nothing else. I’ve always known my duties and responsibilities to my Family as D’SilverFir must come first.”
    â€œWhat kind of Flair do you have?”
    â€œTelempathy.”
    â€œI understand,” he replied, using her own phrase. He could no more understand her Flair—feeling the emotions and thoughts of others—than she could understand his life without it.
    Her eyes met his and he thought of mist, and the loneliness of being lost in it.
    â€œIntellectually,” she said, “I know being a Null molded you, how it defined your life, the hardships you must have faced.”
    He shrugged, but was impressed she was still with him, and showed no indication of being disturbed by his Nullness.
    She leaned in and sniffed at the skin exposed by the open collar of his