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GreatLord T’Ash, GreatLord T’Hawthorn. Excuse us, we must be on our way.” She waved a hand. “Business, you know.”
    The men bowed.
    Camellia curtsied, too. “Greetyou and farewell.” She turned to D’Ash. “Thank you for Mica. Let me know how much—”
    “Mica is a gift,” D’Ash said firmly. “Since I don’t know her heritage. She just strolled into the adoption room last week.” The GreatLady handed Camellia a rolled papyrus.
    I was ready for FamWoman, Mica said. Knew Black-Brazos on the street. Told him to go to his Sire. Now we have FamPeople.
    Now I am Brazos Hawthorn, a great noble, the black cat projected.
    Mica’s tail flicked. See you later, when you are unstunk .
    Aiming a false smile at the lords and sliding past them, Camellia was out of D’Ash’s office and into fresh air in two minutes.
    Mica tumbled down Camellia’s front, snagging the cloth of her tunic on the way. Good thing it was only a work tunic, but it was a nice work tunic. Camellia looked at the slubs and shook her head.
    Glyssa held up a small, round sphere. “Instructions from D’Ash. Spells on how to attach your cat to your shoulder in a “safe” and “stay” spell. How to mend cloth and, um, other things.”
    Camellia thought of all the china in her house—cups, porcelain boxes, delicate figurines.
    Who are you? Mica muttered. Her gaze fixed on Glyssa.
    “She’s one of my best friends, GrandMistrys Glyssa Licorice, Heir to the PublicLibrary Licorices.”
    “And we’re going to a round temple so you can meet our other best friend,” Glyssa said, waving her arm toward the end of a small parking area. A big, old, red-black Family glider moved toward them. “Her name is Tiana Mugwort and she is a priestess of the Lady and Lord. I think you should meet her before we do anything else, because you are now another best friend.”
    Mica preened. I am a FamCat friend.
    “Yes,” Camellia said.
    Does Tiana have a Fam?
    “No,” Camellia and Glyssa said together.
    Good, then I am First. Glyssa will get a FamFox kit, but I will always be First. She rubbed against Camellia and smiled sweetly.
    Camellia laughed with Glyssa and let the disturbing memory of meeting T’Hawthorn dissipate. She felt better and would continue to do so. She would not think of T’Hawthorn, had managed to suppress thoughts of him for a long time. With a little spell, she banished him from her mind.
     
     
    D anith D’Ash eliminated the perfume clinging to Brazos in under a minute. She spent another ten praising the tom and getting his particulars for her lineage of Fams, then assuring Laev that his FamCat was in excellent health.
    At the same time, T’Ash casually leaned against the examination counter and consulted his HeartMate about his decision to give their daughter a quarter of their capital to invest. After a few cogent questions and a promise to read Laev’s report, D’Ash agreed, humming with pride.
    Laev had asked about Jasmine’s brother, Nuin, and was told with beaming smiles that he’d weathered the last fever fugue of Second Passage. Laev didn’t ask whether Nuin had linked with his HeartMate.
    In fact, Laev began to feel uncomfortable. When he’d entered the room with the two women a few years younger than he, something about their attitude ruffled his Flair. They certainly left as soon as they could, with as minimal a greeting as he’d ever received. Now the strong and loving bond between T’Ash and D’Ash stirred envy inside him.
    He’d wanted that loving bond, had married a woman thinking he’d gotten it. Even when he’d discovered Nivea wasn’t his HeartMate, he’d done his best to work at a good marriage. He’d always treated her with the courtesy his wife deserved. Never broke his marriage vows, even after they were estranged.
    Lord and Lady knew the sexual attraction between them had been great, and the first couple of years of marriage had been . . . good. Until Nivea wanted to move back to the capital city