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

didn't allow the thought to fully form in his mind. It was impossible. Kahoali bonded with Kahoali. It was the only way to create a true bonding necessary for offspring. No Kahoali would bond with a Druid! Impossible! He didn't dare hope there was even the remotest possibility that Kaily might become a true bonded mate to him. Not that he believed Kaily to be Druid. That too was impossible. He would never believe it of her. If the man existed in truth, then he might be able to bond with Kaily. If she would have him. His attention focused on the Queen.

"He told me on that day that I would be Queen at a very young age and in the face of great sorrow for the Kahoali people."

"The massacre," Moto said.

Queen Shakti nodded. "He said that I would not see him again until the day of my death." She shook her head, "and I haven't."

Moto didn't know what to say. He closed his eyes and tried to gather his thoughts.

"Moto," Queen Shakti laid her hand over his.

He opened his eyes and met the Queen's gaze.

"I see the struggle within you, and it scares me."

"Why?"

"I would be blind not to see the connection between you and the girl. I see the pain this struggle causes you. If she were Kahoali,"

"You would give your blessing?" Moto interrupted. He couldn't keep the bitterness from his tone.

"She is not!" Queen Shakti patted Moto's hand. "If she were," she continued in a less harsh tone, "I would still be concerned about this connection between the two of you. It is strong even for Kahoali bonded mates. It's not unusual for there to be some kind of connection between a pair even before the bonding takes place, but the connection I see between you and this girl," She glanced away, "is like nothing I have seen before and it scares me." She finished her attention once more focused on him.

Moto looked down at the ground. What was he to say? The connection he felt toward the girl scared him. For it to be strong enough that even the Queen could see it in such a short time concerned him. He looked back at the Queen.

Queen Shakti nodded. "I see that you understand what I am saying."

"I do." Moto said. "Is that a bad thing? Isn't it possible that the Universe brought us together and we are meant to be bonded mates?"

The sadness in the Queen's eyes grew deeper. She shook her head. "No, Moto."

Moto opened his mouth to protest.

The Queen held her hand up. "Think about it, Moto, if I'm right and the man that saved me was both Kahoali and Druid that would mean that this girl is Druid."

"NO!" Moto abruptly stood. "No, she is not!" He paced.

The Queen stood. "If there is even the slightest possibility that she is, I can't allow you to bond with her."

Moto adamantly shook his head. "She's not! Druids are male not female."

"Are you positive?" The Queen asked. "We know so little about them. Can you say for certain that she is not?"

Moto stopped pacing. "She's not!" He would stand his ground on that point. Everything he saw about the girl, did not for a moment give any indication that she was one of them. He would stake his life on it. There was no way that she was one of them. "Yes, I am positive. She is not Druid."

"I'm not." The Queen said. "Why are you?"

Moto struggled with his answer. Did he disclose the truth? Would the Queen demand that he sends the girl back? He already knew the answer to that question. There were so many other possible consequences of disclosing the full truth to the Queen, but it was the thought of losing the girl that was prominent in his decision to remain silent about the whole truth of where and how he found her. "Because, she told me that the place she is from is called Earth."

Queen Shakti scrutinized Moto for so long that he struggled to remain still. "So, you are reasoning that since she is not from Celtan that there is no possibility that she could be Druid?"

"Yes, my Queen."

"I'm not convinced." Queen Shakti held her gaze locked on Moto's. "She hasn't displayed any ability to touch the energy of Ki. She hasn't shown herself to be a threat to the Kahoali people with the exception of you." She held up her hand for silence when Moto started to protest. "I don't know how she obtained access to Crystal Lake, but I doubt it was on her own so that alone does not make her a threat. She is as much a victim in these events as any of us. Until we know how to get her back to her home world, we have no choice but to allow her to stay. I will not send her out to a worse fate among the other Inhabitants of Ki than she must endure with us. Hear me, Moto, and hear me well. I will not allow you to bond with this outsider. If you don't want me to change my mind about sending her away from the Kahoali people, you will choose a mate." She stopped speaking. Moto knew she paused to give him time for the words she spoke to sink into his stubborn mind.

"In other words, I choose a mate, or you will banish the girl?" Moto's tone was tight, and he could feel his control again slipping.

"Yes, Moto, I will."

Moto remained silent. His gaze drifted past the Queen to the surrounding forest. It wasn't fair of the Queen to make such a demand. He knew that she was resolved to follow through with her ultimatum. Forgive me, he silently thought. "I choose Sari," Moto finally said. He didn't like it, but the Queen left him no choice.

"Accepted," Queen Shakti said. "I will make the arrangements and inform you when the ceremony will take place. Until then, don't do anything foolish."