Robin D. Owens - Heart Duel

Table of Contents

Praise for HeartThief

I loved HeartThief! This is what futuristic romance is all about. Robin D. Owens writesthe kind of futuristic romance weve all been waiting to read; certainly thekind that Ive been waiting for. She provides a wonderful, gripping mix ofpassion, exotic futuristic settings, and edgy suspense. If youve been waitingfor someone to do futuristic romance right, youre in luck, Robin D. Owens isthe author for you.

Jayne Castle

Returning tothe planet Celta, the world of psychically gifted people first introduced inthe RITA Award-winning HeartMate, Owens spins an entrancing tale...Although the setting is fresh and totally captivating, it is the well-developedcharacters, both human and animal, that make this story memorable. Craftyvillains, honorable, resourceful protagonists, and sentient pets drive the plotof this fast-paced, often suspenseful romantic adventure. As have others beforeher (e.g., Anne McCaffrey, Marion Zimmer Bradley), Owens has penned a stunningfuturistic tale that reads like fantasy and is sure to have crossover appeal toboth SF and fantasy fans.

Library Journal

Owens hascrafted a fine romance that is also a successful science fantasy yarn withterrific world-building. The second in a series, following HeartMate(2001), Owenss latest stands on its own.

Booklist

A tremendousscience fiction romance that affirms what many fans thought after reading theprequel (HeartMate): that Robin D. Owens is one of the sub-genres giantstars. The story line is faster than the speed of light, but more important isthis worlds society seems so real that psychic powers feel genuine... [a]richly textured other planetary romance.

BookBrowser

Praise for HeartMate,winner of the 2002 RITA Award for Best Paranormal Romance by the RomanceWriters of America

Engagingcharacters, effortless world-building, and a sizzling romance make this a novelthats almost impossible to put down.

The RomanceReader

Fantasy romancewith a touch of mystery... Readers from the different genres will want Ms.Owens to return to Celta for more tales of HeartMates.

Midwest BookReview

HeartMateis a dazzling debut novel. Robin D. Owens paints a world filled with characterswho sweep readers into an unforgettable adventure with every delicious word,every breath, every beat of their hearts. Brava!

Deb Stover,award-winning author of A Moment in Time

A gem of astory... sure to tickle your fancy.

Anne Avery,author of Alls Fair

It shines andfans will soon clamor for more... A definite keeper!

TheBookdragon Review

This story ismagical... doubly delicious as it will appeal to both lovers of fantasy andfuturistic romance. Much room has been left for sequels.

PNR Reviews

Titles by RobinD. Owens

HEARTMATE

HEARTTHIEF

HEARTDUAL

Ifyou purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book isstolen property. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher,and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for thisstripped book.

This is a workof fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product ofthe authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance toactual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales isentirely coincidental.

HEARTDUEL

ABerkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author

PRINTINGHISTORY

BerkleySensation edition / April 2004

Copyright 2004 by Robin D. Owens.

All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in anyform without permission. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this bookvia the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisheris illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electroniceditions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy ofcopyrighted materials. Your support of the authors rights is appreciated. Forinformation address: The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Group(USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

eISBN: 978-0-425-19658-8

BERKLEYSENSATION

BerkleySensation Books are published by The Berkley Publishing

Group,a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

375Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

BERKLEYSENSATION and the B design

aretrademarks belonging to Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

http://us.penguingroup.com

To Mom

With yourvignettes and running stories,

you made me awriter

Love, Robin

Acknowledgments

My first-draftreaders, critique buddies, and proofreaders: Kay Bergstrom (Cassie Miles),Janet Lane, Liz Roadifer, Sharon Mignerey (www.sharonmignerey.com), StevenMoores, Judy Stringer, Anne Tupler; Leslee Breene (www.lesleebreene.com), Sue Hornick,Alice Kober, Teresa Luthye, Peggy Waide (www.peggywaide.com);Abbey Adams (www.hometown.aolcom/abbeywrite/index.html.); Charlotte Ballard, Leslie Dennis (www.leslieanndennis.com),Terry Hennessy, Janet Miller (www.janetlynnmiller.com),Margaret Marr (www.margaret-marr.com),Wendy Onizak, Pam Payne (www.pamelaarden.com),Shelby Reed (www.geocities.com/shelbyreed34/),Delyn Eagling, and Rose Beetem.

Nicole Spencer,who took time to help me with fight scenes even before we knew Id publish.

Mary O., RedOak, and Morgan who helped with the Healing scenes.

My Webmistress:Lisa Craig (www.lisacraig.com).

The folks whohelped me with Labyrinths at: The Labyrinth Society (www.labyrinthsociety.org/).

VeriditasThe Voice of the Labyrinth Movement (www.gracecathedral.org/labyrinth/index.shtml).

Those who madethe labyrinth in the carousel house of the old Elitch Gardens.

And, Mom, when Ibegan writing this, I really didnt anticipate drawing orange tabby Mama catand seven orange tabby kittens into our lives. But now you have Wilbur theWonder Cat.

Visit me at www.robindowens.com or www.robinowens.com, where the kittens canbe admired.

One

DruidaCity, Celta, 403 years after Colonization, Summer, Month of Holly

Theaudio page shrieked into Lark's bedroom, wrenching her awake."Lark, teleport to Primary HealingHall now!"

MayblossomLarkspur Hawthorn Collinson teleported to the HealingHall intake, instinctivelychanneling her adrenaline rush from being jerked out of sleep into her psipowerHealing Flair. Agony encircled her. Her nose twitched at the smell ofblood and other spilled bodily substances.

Larkstumbled into a cleansing tube and croaked her name. A spell whirled aroundher, whipping her quilted pajamas, sterilizing her. The door opened.

AnotherHealer grabbed Lark's wrist and hustled her to a body, placing Lark's hands ona trembling, bloody body. "Heal!" she instructed.

Larkfocused on her job, her vocation, the reason she'd survived after her husband'sdeath. The present abdominal wound was deep and deadly. Even as she stopped thebleeding, started closing the awful slashes, she knew she felt a broadswordcut. "Blood here!" she ordered.

Hernose quivered again, now noticing the whiff of flesh burnt by blasers. Ragerose with her gorge. She swallowed the reaction and used her fury to pumpenergy into the dying man.

Aduel. A terrible, senseless duel! From the moaning around her and the twelvebroken auras she sensed, it had been more than just one-on-one. A melee, astreet fight. She mentally listed the four feuds going on. As her eyes adjustedto the light, she looked down at the colors the man wore, dark gray and greenamember of the T'Holly household.