Heart Search Read Online Free PDF Page B

three minutes, then mentioned something about “taking a peek around, maybe at D’Ash’s famous Fam Adoption Room” and slipped out the door.
    Camellia glanced at her timer, wondered whether she should wait, but she didn’t want to alienate a FirstFamily lady. Nor did she want to return another time.
    When she couldn’t stand it any longer, she opened the door, glancing down the short hallway for Glyssa. She didn’t see her friend and tentatively walked to the mainspace. The room was empty. Apparently the teenaged boy who’d been at the desk was helping his mother. A reddish light still pulsed in an alcove that held the huge teleportation pad. The indicator showed it was in use. Camellia touched the button to clear the pad in case it was needed for another emergency.
    There were four large doors. Which one would Glyssa have gone through?
    Camellia opened one and passed through. Her feet sank into thick carpet. An atmosphere of wealth and luxury—peace—enveloped her. Her nose wrinkled. The air smelled rich. Furniture oils and unique incense or perfume—maybe even spells. Expensive spells that would cost the amount she’d make in a month.
    Or maybe it was just the knowledge that she was in a true, intelligent Residence, a FirstFamily home, even if it had been rebuilt—or the aura of such a being. Camellia shivered and turned back.
    A door opened a long way toward her right. “Thank you for your kind words about my daughter,” T’Ash’s deep voice rumbled.
    Another man answered, “Not kind, though you should be proud. I’m factual. Give her the gilt to work with, T’Ash, she’ll double or triple it, I assure you.”
    Something about that man’s voice hit her like a blow, disorienting her. Wrenched something open inside her that she never wanted open, had suppressed until she’d forgotten about it.
    She knew that voice.
    No, she didn’t! Remembering that voice would be hurtful to her heart. Threaten her present life with one she couldn’t have. No.
    She turned and ran, stumbling, back to the examination room, shut that door.
    Dizzying darkness pressed on her and she folded over, bracing her hands against her legs, panting, forcing back unconsciousness. Her skin was clammy.
    No. She wouldn’t let a past realization emerge that would shatter the life she’d crafted.
    No.
    The door opened and D’Ash and Glyssa were there. The lady was splattered with blood. The men stopped outside the door.
    Camellia’s breathing hadn’t steadied before Glyssa and D’Ash entered together.
    “That was just amazing!” Glyssa enthused. “You saved that horse’s life.”
    Camellia stared. The emergency had been a horse?
    “Thank you.” D’Ash was beaming. She shook her head and went to a hook to pull down a pale blue over-tunic. Sickness washed over Camellia as she saw D’Ash’s pastel green sleeves showed streaks of the deep and gleaming red of blood.
    Turning her head, she sagged against the counter with the bedsponge, heard small noises as the GreatLady stripped away the old over-tunic and donned the new.
    “Uh-oh.” Glyssa was there, putting an arm around Camellia, stroking her back, helping her to a bench. “It’s all right. The horse is fine.” Then Glyssa tsked. “She doesn’t do well with blood.”
    Yes, that had to be the reason Camellia felt so bad. Not the shadows of the men near the door. One of the men.
    She would ignore them. Had to.
    Camellia dropped her face in her hands, hiding from the sight. Hiding from her friend and the GreatLady, hiding from the men.
    Hiding from herself.
    “Give us a few minutes,” D’Ash said to the men.
    “We’ll wait right here,” her husband said.
    The lady shut the door gently. Camellia lifted her arm and wiped her forehead with her sleeve.
    D’Ash gestured and a spell whisked through the small room, leaving the scent of fresh and soothing herbs, banishing the faint tang of blood that had layered on Camellia’s tongue.
    “Cat,” Camellia said.
    “Yes,