Free Sapient Salvation 1: The Selection (Sapient Salvation Series) by Jayne Faith, Christine Castle Page A

hold on to that thought.
    He lifted his hand in a little wave and then turned and tucked his chin against his chest, already back in his own thoughts, as he strode away.
    I turned toward my own neighborhood and set off at a quick pace, hoping to catch up with Mother and Lana. For some reason, the thought of them arriving home without me tore at my heart. One last time, we should all go home from Feast Day together.
    When I saw them up ahead, strolling with their arms linked, my breath rushed out in relief. I caught up to them and went to Lana’s other side. My hand found the crook of her elbow.
    They both turned to me, curiosity on their faces.
    “Orion was so good to me before. I just had to tell him thank you,” I said. I brightened as an idea came to me. “Do you think you could do something for me after I’m gone?”
    My heart dipped as I heard myself say the word. Gone . But I was trying to follow Orion’s example, trying to be frank about it.
    “Of course,” Lana said.
    “Anything,” Mother echoed.
    “I think it would be nice if you could visit Orion’s parents. He has no brothers or sisters. I think, well, I think they might find comfort in your company. Or maybe not, I don’t really know them. Perhaps I shouldn’t presume . . .” I trailed off, suddenly uncertain.
    “No, I’d like that,” Lana said.
    Mother nodded, and a faint smile passed over her face. The energy between the three of us seemed to lighten. It took me a moment to realize that my suggestion had given them something to focus on. Purpose . It was so important to feel a sense of purpose.
    What had my purpose been, before the Selection? My life before felt like a faded, years-old memory. Before the Selection, my purpose had been Court. Yes, marrying Court and living my dream of a future with him.
    In the space of a day, I was losing Court, my family, my life on Earthenfell, and my future.
    One of the things that cut deepest was the knowledge that being an Obligate meant I’d lost any control over the path of my life right when I was on the verge of being able to make meaningful decisions about what kind of life I wanted. I no longer had the freedom to choose a husband, create a home of my own, or have a family.
    I turned my eyes to the sky, and my gaze hardened. My new purpose would be survival, proving myself to Lord Toric so that he would take me into his harem. But I didn’t want only to survive. I would find a way to gain some sort of freedom. There was no point in surviving if I had no control over my own life. I would find a way.
    *
    I stared into the wide eyes of the black-clad young woman in Mother’s narrow mirror, my stomach gripped into a tight ball. It still did not quite seem real. How could that be me? How could I be standing in Mother’s room, wearing Departure black and readying myself to leave Earthenfell for Calisto?
    Obligate Maya. That’s what the people offering me prayers throughout Feast Day had called me. Every time, the phrase had dropped like a weight into my ears. Every time, I had the urge to turn and say, “You’ve made a mistake. Obligate Belinda is the one you’re looking for.”
    But Belinda was dead, and I was wearing her black dress and her white cord looped around my waist. As I’d expected, the hem of the dress dragged too long on the floor. I’d have to walk carefully, perhaps gather the fabric in my hands and hold it up to keep from tripping.
    It was odd to think that her family had been preparing to lose her for months, years. But instead of passing through the portal to Calisto with the other fifteen Obligates, Belinda would remain on Earthenfell, but gone from life. I’d heard she would be buried the next day.
    Part of me wondered: was Belinda’s fate preferable to mine? Only nineteen years of life, but at least she didn’t die in a strange alien land.
    There was a rap at the door.
    “Maya?” Lana’s soft voice interrupted my macabre thoughts, and I was relieved to have the