Druidess Found (Druidess Trilogy Book 1) by Machelle Hanleigh (interesting novels to read txt) 📕

she came face to face with the Mistress, a vile woman who looked like her. Before she could run or figure out what to do, armed men surrounded her. Just when she thought her life over, her dark warrior appeared out of nowhere.

A soft smile touched her lips. Her illusion, made real, at least, she thought he was real. She didn't know for sure. Somehow, she had gotten out of the courtyard unharmed. Maybe she would be safe, she hoped anyway. She lifted her head and looked around. At least she lived, no longer sane, but alive.

Her fear subsided when her dark warrior wrapped his arms around her and said she was safe. She somehow felt safe despite the fact that armed guards surrounded them. But then what? Where was she? Where was he? What happened? She frowned as she looked around the empty hut. She couldn't remember what happened after that. One moment he embraced her, and the next she woke up in a tiny, empty hut with a dirt floor, alone.

"Figures," she said to herself.

She remembered the feel of his arm encircling her and for once in her life she felt safe, for real safe. Even now, she could almost feel the heat of his arm penetrating her skin. She could smell the earthy scent which surrounded him and permeated her senses when she turned her face towards his muscular chest. No illusion could make that kind of impression. Yet, he wasn't there. Where was he? Had she dreamt the whole thing? Maybe she did lose her mind after all.

Kaily startled as the door opened. Two warriors entered the building. The space felt tiny before, but it became far too small with their presence. It didn't help that they shut the door behind them. Couldn't they just leave it open? The warriors appeared similar to her dark warrior. Same build, well-defined muscles as if they spent a lot of time in a gym. She suspected from how they carried themselves that it more likely they spent time in actual combat training if not combat itself. There was something different about men who trained for combat. It had nothing to do with their physic and well-honed muscles, but everything with how they carried themselves and the look in their eyes. Her assessment took in the similar strange eyes her dark warrior possessed. The coloring appeared close but not an exact match to his. They possessed the same silver spider like webbing covering their irises. Unlike her dark warrior, she was not attracted to either one of them. Nor did she feel safe, far from it, in fact.

She pushed her back harder against the wall with wide eyes as one of them approached her. He knelt in front of her, within touching distance, but kept his hands at his side. He looked back at the other one who looked less friendly, if possible. They both presented imposing figures and Kaily felt trapped. The one still standing looked older than the one in front of her. He said something to the one standing, but she couldn't understand what he said. She couldn't even distinguish between words. Her language skills gave her the ability to do at least that much. Her parents said she had a gift for languages and could learn them fast, when she applied herself. She learned a couple, but then lost interest in it. Nothing held her attention long except being with her parents. She loved sitting in their lab listening to them chatter about one discovery or another. She pushed the sad thoughts aside. Her parents would know how to handle her circumstances better than she did. They loved to explore. She preferred stable, routine, boring.

She focused her attention on the two warriors and the words passing between the two men before her. She didn't like the tone, and she didn't like not understanding what they said. She guessed they conversed about her, which irritated her more. They could at least possess the decency to speak a language she could understand!

Suddenly the one standing approached her and knelt beside the other one, and he didn't keep his hands to himself! Before she knew what, he intended, he placed his hands on either side of her head just above her ears his palms touching her temples. Even if she possessed enough courage to protest or break free of his grasp, she wouldn't be able to. His hold on her prevented movement. Her heart lodged in her throat as she struggled to breathe. Panic rose and threatened to overwhelm her.

He let go of her as fast as he grabbed her and sat back on his heels. She heard a high-pitched ringing in her ears. The pain in her head intensified for an instant before settling back into the same stabbing pain she felt before he grabbed her. The other one held a cup in his hand she didn't notice when he first approached her. He spoke to her and attempted to hand the cup to her. She shook her head to clear the ringing in her ears. She felt dizzy and sick to her stomach. She felt sick to her stomach already, but it intensified when the other grabbed her head. She wanted to close her eyes and wake up in her own bed.

"I thought you cleared the barrier." The younger one said to the other male.

Kaily stared dumbfounded, surprised she could understand what he said.

"I did," the older male said. "Either she will do what you tell her, or she will not. Bring her when she is well enough," he stood, "and don't be long about it. The Queen's patience has limits." He strode out of the building and secured the door behind him.

Kaily looked back at the younger male.

"This will help your head feel better." He made a drinking motion with his hand.

Kaily slowly shook her head back and forth. She covered her mouth with both hands for good measure.

"It will help." He said and held the