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trying to lull your mother into letting me sweep you away to worlds unknown.”
    “Lull Kema Washley? Oh dear, your brain froze during the journey.” She tutted and swung her bag over her shoulder. “This way to the Three Fountains.”
    The streets of Corial were quiet. A few tea vendors had their shops open, but there was almost no traffic on the street.
    “Why is it so quiet?”
    Kes laughed. “Because you spent more than five hours with Senzer. It is three in the morning now. It will be much more lively in the morning.” He ducked his head. “It was fun to talk to another botanist. I apologize if it is too late to meet your mother today.”
    “It isn’t too late, it is too early. I will leave her a message, and she will call you in the morning.”
    “You will leave her a message?” His brow furrowed.
    “Of course. I don’t want to wake her or Eera by turning lights on in the house. I will head to the hostel and nap until dawn.”
    They walked down the silent streets. The warm lights of the active businesses were puddles of clarity in the dimness.
    “How far under is Corial?”
    “Sixty feet of ice over our heads, held in place by the strongest in shielding and bracing technology. The light is brought in with tubes drilled almost to the surface with reflectors catching and redirecting the sunlight.” He grinned. “I read the brochure. I was just curious. Teckaro is far closer to the surface.”
    “Fifteen feet below and set in the side of a glacier. It is a different setup entirely.” She chuckled and pointed at the bright lights on the edge of the street. “That is the Three Fountains.”
    “Come in with me. We can have some tea, and you can tell me how best to approach your mother.”
    She frowned but the tea was tempting, so was spending more time with him. Kes called herself a thousand kinds of fool, but she liked him.
    It went beyond him being the first non-Wanlian who had any interest in her, he was her own kind, and he knew what she was. There was no hiding from that. There was also no ignoring the delicate touch that he used on the plants and that he used when he touched her. He treasured life, and it radiated from him in every gesture and action.
    Plants excited him, not crushing his people beneath his heel.
    “Tea would be nice.”
    His smile was brilliant, and he took her hand in his as they walked into the lobby of the most luxurious hotel in Corial.
    He checked in and the concierge gushed about the accessibility of the spa pools, even at the pre- dawn hour. Nothing was too good for the guests of the Three Fountains.
    “Does your companion require a key?” Lorvik nodded. “Please. I wish her to be free to come and go as she pleases.”
    The concierge looked a little surprised but quickly smoothed his features into a pleasant expression. “Enjoy the facilities, miss.”
    “Thank you.” Kescu knew the man. She had run a heart from Heesin City for his nephew.
    Lorvik took her hand again, and together, they entered the lift that took them further down, under Corial.
    “Have you ever gone to the hot pools?” He frowned. “No. How hot are they?”
    “The Wanlians can tolerate them, so they are not too bad. Would you like to try them?” He looked down at her. “You really want to, don’t you?”
    She chuckled. “After our trip, you will enjoy this. Trust me.”
    “I trust you.”
    Her heart pounded in her throat as she heard the earnestness in his voice.
    They found his room, and she went to the bathroom, returning to him with two robes. “We either change there, or we change here. Your choice.”
    He took his robe and inclined his head. “I will change in the bedroom.”
    As he walked off, she called out, “Don’t wear anything under it. We have co-ed public bathing here.”
    He paused and then continued, closing the door behind him.
    She laughed and retired to the large bathroom, peeling off her runner suit one piece at a time. By the time she was down to her skin, she was