Salene's Secrets Read Online Free PDF

to know that you’ll be living here, on Jasan, where I can watch your children grow and be a part of their lives.”
    “It’s not selfish to want to see your grandchildren, Sharali ,” Garen admonished gently.  “And don’t forget, the journey from here to Garza has shortened a great deal thanks to Faith.”
    “I know,” Lariah said.  “But Berria is still closer.”
    “Actually, we won’t be in Berria,” Rayne said, her eyes sparkling.  “I haven’t seen it yet, but my Rami tell me that they purchased land and built a home not far from here so that we can be close enough to see each other as much as we want.”
    Garen watched Lariah’s face light up and swallowed the lump that rose in his throat.  Their daughters had been through so much of late, and there’d been little they could do other than worry.  This news brought some much needed happiness to their lives.  He stood up and clapped Landor on the shoulder. 
    “Thank you for this, Landor,” he said in a low voice.  “Having our daughter and granddaughters so close is a gift beyond measure.  This will allow us to truly take part in their lives rather than be seen as just visitors.”
    “It’s our pleasure, Highness,” Landor said.  “We’ve waited a long time for this, and we will do everything we can to insure Rayne is as happy as we are in all ways.  This was a simple thing to do.”
    “Seeing to the health and happiness of one’s Arima is any male-sets’ highest honor and most solemn responsibility,” Garen said.  “But you have put joy in Lariah’s eyes, as well as Rayne’s, and we will not soon forget that.”
     
     

 
     
     
     
    Chapter 4
     
    Salene wandered through her mother’s garden, touching a flower lightly here, brushing a leaf there as childhood memories rambled through her mind.  She and her sisters playing tag, chasing butterflies, picking bouquets for the dinner table, having tea parties among the roses and, later, when the boys were old enough to walk, keeping them out of Pater’s flower beds. 
    It was so odd to be alone in the house with her parents.  She missed her brothers, but the absence of her sisters made her feel as though a part of herself was missing.  Two parts.  Two very vital parts. 
    It was so ironic.  She’d been the first of them to find her future Rami.  By three years .  And yet, here she was, completely alone.  Alone .  The word itself felt strange in her mind.  She told herself repeatedly that she’d get used to it.  Eventually.
    This was only her third morning home and she’d thought she was doing a good job of behaving normally whenever she wasn’t in her room.  Apparently she’d overestimated her acting ability, as Jareth’s visit the evening before had illustrated.  For her parents’ sakes she had to try harder.  They’d see through her of course, she had no longer had any doubts about that.  But at least they’d know she was trying .  They’d been through so much in the past couple of months, first with Tani going missing from EDU-12, then with Rayne’s sudden and shocking trip back in time one year, barely alive and all but starved to death.  The last thing she wanted to do was give them more to worry about.
    So far she’d managed to get out of bed shortly after sunrise, take a shower, get fully dressed, and walk in the garden while reminiscing on her happy childhood.  How utterly sappy , she admonished herself wearily.  Then she lifted her chin.  Thinking back on my childhood is better than thinking of…well, other things, she told herself .   Especially three tall, blond men who were no longer hers and never would be again.
    Never .
    She flinched at the thought, then took a long deep breath in an effort to ease the seemingly permanent tightness in her chest.  That, and the strange yearning sensation that had taken up residence somewhere inside of her just recently.  She didn’t know what it was, or what it meant, or even why she had it.