Free Heart Quest by Robin D. Owens Page B

small, spiderweb-thin. Trif hadn’t noticed it at all. T’Willow would.
    Overwhelming temptation had done him in.

Six
    T hat night Trif once again had erotic dreams of her HeartMate—this time seeing the outline of broad shoulders, feeling strong muscles under her hands as she stroked him, the weight of him pressing on her as they moved in love together. It was a mature man’s body, not a young man of her own age still filling out his frame.
    She awoke sexually fulfilled but mentally and emotionally frustrated. Why wouldn’t he claim her in anything except dreams?
    Though it was just after dawn, there was no way she could sleep, so she dressed and set out breakfast for herself and Greyku. “We’re going heart questing,” she said to the sleepy kitten.
    Fun!
    It wasn’t fun for Trif. It had started that way, a lighthearted undertaking, but had become a serious quest. If she could find her HeartMate this morning, then she could beg off visiting T’Willow. She’d briefly touched her lover’s mind and knew he wasn’t of the FirstFamilies—all the men of that highest class had a different perspective. Her HeartMate hadn’t echoed with the fierce desire to carry on his line, to rule. That was something she’d learned. He could still be a Noble, but not of the highest. Which meant he wasn’t the new T’Willow, since T’Willow was of the greatest rank.
    Probably.
    And the man was in Druida. She’d sensed that too.
    She didn’t want to visit T’Willow. He’d only give her another lecture, and there was that unnamed favor she would owe him.
    As Greyku ate her breakfast and Trif nibbled on nut cereal, she unfolded her map. She liked the two-dimensional aid instead of a three-dimensional orb. She hesitated marking her route as a thought occurred to her. Was that why teleporting was more difficult for her, because she thought more in two dimensions than in three? At work, and for her home, she’d always used blueprints. With a nod of decision, she decided to force herself to become accustomed to the three-dimensional decorating spheres at work. Mitchella had one of the home the Clovers were building for Trif. Trif would ask for it and make a copy herself.
    She frowned. That would cut into her free time and teleporting with Ilex, and she didn’t want that. The lessons had become important.
    Trif looked at her map, crossed off the Ginger Residence in Noble Country, and shivered. The newsheets had announced Gib Ginger’s death and that Ilex had found him. That was why he’d sent her away. Her friends and Family were right about Noble Country. She didn’t belong there and wouldn’t go back until she’d exhausted every other section of Druida.
    Greyku gave a discreet burp. I am ready. Do We ’port?
    â€œNo.” Trif lifted the kitten to the table and pointed on the map. “This is where I’m going; it’s a street of shops and homes near CityCenter. Very safe. The shops won’t be open yet, but there will be people stirring, early risers, and I don’t know the area well enough to teleport to.”
    With a little growl, Greyku pawed at the papyrus map, crumpling it. I don’t see .
    â€œStop that!” Trif lifted the kitten and looked into her wide, blue eyes.
    â€œYou’re not that innocent.”
    Why can’t We look at homes around the Ship?
    Glancing at the map to confirm her own memory, Trif said slowly, “That may be a good idea, to work around Landing Park. The lower Nobility have estates there. It seems safe enough.”
    And We can teleport back here or run to the Ship if We need to, Greyku said.
    â€œInformation Library,” Trif addressed her personal unit. “Give me the next scheduled time for the public carrier to Landing Park and CityCenter.”
    â€œA carrier leaves for Landing Park in six minutes and to CityCenter in thirty seconds. The next carrier for