Read Online Heart Search by Robin D. Owens - Free Book Online Page B

must keep it. Those were the rules.
    Nivea only followed others’ rules when she wanted.
    Had she really taken his HeartGift to the party? Had she left it there or had someone sensed something about it and taken it? Now that he seemed to be coming closer and closer to actually finding it, he yearned to know.
    What had happened to his HeartGift?
     
     
    C amellia was aware when T’Hawthorn left. She couldn’t have missed it since Mica, who she cradled in her arms, yelled telepathically, My friend Brazos is going home now. His FamMan is very pleased with him. Brazos found a treasure.
    Camellia shared a glance with Tiana; they were both sure there was nothing in the room that could be called a treasure to T’Hawthorn.
    Glyssa snorted, stroked the cat’s head with a couple of fingers. “Not much here of interest.”
    I liked the stuffed fish.
    “No,” Camellia said. “We are not having a stuffed fish on the walls. It’s revolting.” She thought it was a real fish, but the whole thing was a nasty shade of pink. The eyes had been creepy, like they were real and dead and bespelled, not glass. She avoided looking in that direction.
    “There wasn’t any interesting china here for Camellia,” Tiana said.
    “Or interesting books, ledgers, memoryspheres, et cetera, for Glyssa,” Camellia said.
    “Or pretty jewelry for Tiana.” Glyssa stared again at the nearest table full of sad trinkets.
    “We didn’t do well tonight, and the crowd seems, ah, scruffier.” Tiana turned a slow circle.
    “It’s changed,” Camellia said.
    “It’s probably been changing all this time and we didn’t notice,” Tiana said.
    “It has changed since Feam Kelp has taken charge.” Glyssa squinted as if prodding her memory. “How long has that been?”
    “Not sure,” Camellia said. “But there wasn’t anything worth a second glance on the tables tonight. No wonder that vase T’Hawthorn brought was snatched up.”
    “Was it incredible?” asked Glyssa.
    “I didn’t see the pattern close up, but it didn’t impress me. It appeared to be expensive, though.”
    “Of course it would be,” Glyssa said. “Let’s go. There’s nothing here for us anymore.” There was a hint of mourning in her voice.
    “It used to be fun.” Tiana sighed.
    They strolled toward the teleportation pad in the corner.
    Wait! Mica rolled from Camellia’s grasp and landed on her paws. Since no one is getting a gift, may I? Her tail flicked back and forth in excitement.
    “You found something you liked?” Glyssa said with indulgent amusement.
    Mica lifted her nose. Gifts for all My new friends.
    Camellia looked at Tiana and Glyssa. They all shrugged together.
    Better for hands to take instead of paws. Mica trotted off and the women followed. She stopped. No Fams here tonight, except Brazos.
    “Also true,” Tiana murmured.
    Mica leapt onto a table and tapped a grimy object that looked no more than a smoothly rounded rock. Smells right for FamWoman. For FamWoman from Me, she said with pride. Slowly, Camellia reached out and took the hand-sized stone. Dirt slid under her fingers. She kept her smile curved. “Thank you.” She held it, wasn’t about to drop it into the cream-colored lined pocket of her expensive gown.
    “What is it?” asked Glyssa.
    Is a sculpture of a Cat. Looks a little like Brazos. Mica sniffed.
    Tiana peered at it. I’m sure it will be lovely when we clean it up.
    “Yessss,” vocalized Mica.
    Tiana held out her hand and Camellia gave her the stone. With two crisp Words from Tiana, sparkles surrounded the item, a wave of her hand and she held a black rock. There were simple, fluid indentations that showed a curled cat with closed eyes and smug expression.
    “A little crude,” Glyssa said.
    Mica sniffed. Kit made it.
    “A cat? I don’t think so.” Glyssa frowned.
    Tiana snorted. “A young sculptor carved it, a boy or a girl. Obviously, but I think it shows talent.”
    Smells and feelings and Flair from it mostly