Close Remembrance Read Online Free Page A

answering smile, Mia approached them, noticing the way the K’s eyes examined her from head to toe. Her palms began to sweat. What was this gorgeous woman thinking? Was she wondering how her son had ended up with a human?
    Pausing a couple of feet away, Mia smiled wider. “Hello,” she said, uncertain if she should reach out and brush the K’s cheek with her knuckles. She’d learned in the past couple of weeks that it was the customary greeting among Krinar females.
    Korum’s mother had no such reservations. Raising her hand, she gently touched Mia’s cheek and smiled in return. “Hello, my dear. I’m so glad to finally meet you.”
    “Riani, this is Mia, my charl,” Korum said. “Mia, this is Riani, my mother.”
    “It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Riani.” Mia was starting to feel more at ease. Despite the woman’s luminous beauty and youthful looks, there was something in her manner that was very soothing. Almost motherly, Mia thought with an inner smile.
    “Where’s Chiaren?” Korum asked, addressing his mother.
    “Oh, he’ll be here soon,” she said, waving her hand. “He was delayed at work. Don’t worry – he knows you’re here.”
    Chiaren had to be Korum’s father, Mia decided. It was interesting that he called his parents by name, although it made sense too. As long-lived as the Ks were, the lines between generations were probably much less defined than for humans. Although Korum had mentioned once that his parents were much older than he was, she guessed that the difference between two thousand years and a few thousand years was not all that dramatic.
    A quiet whoosh interrupted Mia’s musings. Turning her head to the side, she saw the wall opening again. A darkly handsome Krinar man walked in, dressed in typical K clothing. Swiftly crossing the room, he raised his hand and touched his palm to Korum’s shoulder, greeting his son.
    Korum reciprocated the gesture, but he seemed much more reserved than he had been with his mother. “Chiaren,” he said quietly. “I’m glad you could make it.”
    Something in the tone of his voice startled Mia. Was there some tension between father and son?
    His father inclined his head. “Of course. I wouldn’t miss your visit.” Then, turning his attention to Mia, he cocked his head to the side and studied her with an inscrutable expression on his face.
    Mia swallowed, needing to moisten her suddenly dry throat. Chiaren’s posture, the slightly mocking curl to his lips – it was all very familiar to her. Korum might’ve gotten his mother’s looks, but he’d definitely inherited some personality traits from his father as well. She found the K to be intimidating, with his cool dark gaze and lack of visible emotion. He reminded her of Korum when they’d first met.
    “Chiaren, this is Mia,” Korum said, stepping toward her and putting a proprietary arm around her back. “She’s my charl. Mia, this is my father, Chiaren.”
    The K smiled, suddenly seeming much more approachable. “How lovely,” he said gently. “Such a pretty human girl you’ve got there. How old are you, Mia? You seem younger than I’d imagined.”
    “I’m twenty-one,” Mia told him, aware that she probably looked like she was in her late teens. It was a common problem for someone of her petite build – a problem that would now never go away.
    Chiaren’s smile widened. “Twenty-one . . .”
    Mia flushed, realizing that he thought her little more than a child. And compared to him, she was. Still, she would’ve preferred if he hadn’t looked quite so amused at her age.
    “Mia, dear, tell us a bit about yourself,” Riani said, smiling at her with warm encouragement. “Korum mentioned that you’re studying the mind. Is that right?”
    Mia nodded, turning her attention to Korum’s mother. She wasn’t certain how she felt about his father yet, but she was definitely growing to like Riani. “I am,” she confirmed. “I started working with Saret this summer.