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

and Sari the privacy they needed to talk about her proposal, and why she wanted him to choose her. He admitted it was an intriguing idea, but it was also dangerous. He did not like the possible consequences if they were discovered.

To his knowledge no one ever faked a bonding in the entire history of the Kahoali people. He knew that such a thing would be considered so egregious Queen Shakti would have no choice but to banish them both if they were discovered. The thought of banishment was so disturbing to him that he couldn't even imagine what it would be like to endure. To never be able to see another Kahoali again for the entirety of his life, to never spend another night beneath the stars on the edge of Crystal Lake, to never step foot again upon the soil of Ki, all of it was unthinkable. How could he allow Sari to suffer that kind of consequence? The fact was, he couldn't. He could not ever put Sari in that kind of danger. At the same time neither could he live with the alternative. If he didn't choose Sari, it would need to be one of the other Shanees.

Sari laid out a good argument. The fact that it was never attempted was in their favor. No one would suspect and as she pointed out, how would anyone prove it? He didn't know an answer to that point, but he didn't like tempting fate either. From Sari's perspective, going through the bonding with her, fake as it would be, would give him time. He would be able to live in her village away from scrutiny of the Queen and the other two Chosen. He would gain time to decide what he wanted, time to choose someone that would be a true bonded mate to him.

What they both avoided saying, it would give him time to come to terms with the affects the girl had on him. Because they both knew it was that cursed girl he desired as a bonded mate. The ever-present problem, she wasn't Kahoali. Moto didn't think it even possible to bond with her. On the other hand, he couldn't ignore the signs present with the girl. A connection existed between the girl and himself. He couldn't explain it. He couldn't ignore it. He needed time to understand what existed between them.

Neither could he ignore the potential consequences to Sari. She told him there wouldn't be any consequences, even if their ruse were discovered. She had a reason for it, but she wasn't prepared to disclose it to him. They knew each other since childhood. Moto knew how futile it would be to try and get her to disclose what reasons. Sari would tell him when she was ready to and only when she was ready to. Nothing he did or didn't do could persuade her to tell him. She was as stubborn as he.

The problem with choosing the girl as a bonded mate, assuming it was possible, would mean dire consequences he didn't want to endure. The girl was not Kahoali, and it was not only the impossibility of bonding, but the understanding of what being a bonded mate meant. She wouldn't understand. How could he explain to her what being a bonded mate meant? It was one thing to explain it in words, but so much more to it. He didn't think he could even begin to make the girl understand what the impact would be to both of them. To the Kahoali, choosing a bonded mate existed as a part of their being that no one needed to explain or teach them what it meant. Not even to their children. Some knowledge among the Kahoali existed as innate knowledge embedded into their core being long before birth. Bonding was such knowledge. It was known in a way that could never be explained to an outsider. He felt the pang of that thought stab his heart. The girl was an outsider. How could she ever understand?

Sari tried to impress upon him in the strongest ways she knew possible he needed to decide before someone decided it for him. She didn't need to tell him that 'the someone' she referred to would be the Queen. Queen Shakti said as much. Make a choice or she would. He didn't know if the Queen would choose what she thought he wanted or what she thought he needed. She would probably choose the latter, but who that would be he didn't want to consider.

He wasn't fool enough to believe the Queen didn't know of the attraction he felt towards the girl. In truth, it was probably apparent to everyone. Not even his pretending she didn't exist when others were around would dissuade others from feeling it. Not with empaths. Even if Kahoali didn't possess empathic abilities, the fact that he brought the girl to Center Village would be enough to know. And now, he had to choose a bonded mate.

Did that mean he could bond with the girl? Why else would Queen Shakti force the choice on him? It didn't make sense. Nothing in their history that gave precedence to forcing a choice. Each male always was allowed to choose a bonded mate in his own time. It was unusual for a male at his age to not have already chosen. A Kahoali life span was not as long as some Inhabitants on other worlds, but neither was it short. Most lived to be around 200 years, and those with abilities could live longer, if the stories told held truth. Most Kahoali males chose a bonded mate well before their fiftieth year. He was five years past that time. He didn't feel any kind of connection towards anyone in any of the Kahoali villages. Nothing, no connection at all, until the girl.

How could the Universe do that to him? Moto sat up. He rubbed his hands over his face and through his braids in irritation. How could