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

"Yes, my Queen." Moto bowed low towards his Queen.

"Dismissed," Queen Shakti said. She sat on the bench.

Moto bowed again before he left. He walked back to his hut without speaking to anyone. Too many emotions running through him and thoughts he couldn't make sense of, not yet. Once he reached the sanctity of his hut, he paced. Too much pent-up energy and emotions that he could not sit still. He considered opening a portal to Kaily's hut but discarded the thought. He didn't want to put her in more jeopardy. He opened a portal to the one place and person he could vent to. Sari would need to know of his conversation with the Queen anyway. It would be better she heard the news from him. He adamantly hoped her plan would work. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Sari's chance for true happiness.

Chapter Twelve

Kaily dangled her feet in the water of Crystal Lake as she sat on the edge. Although, she saw the sand, as she did the first time, she wasn't fooled a second time by the illusion. She was well aware it was an illusion. The edge was a sheer drop much like the drop at the deep end of a swimming pool would be. She could feel the sand beneath her hands and with her eyes closed believed she buried her hands in the wet sand of a beach. When she opened her eyes and looked, her hands rested on top of the illusion. She began to understand Crystal Lake with an insight of awareness she didn't see the first time or in the many times she dreamt about this place. Her eyes slid to the waterfall on the far side of Crystal Lake. She could see it, but at the same time, she couldn't distinguish where it originated. The mist at the top and bottom obscured details. She noticed the rock behind the waterfall seemed to be there as a solid rock face. Yet when she blinked and looked again it was not there at all.

She turned her gaze to the surrounding meadow. It looked vast, but she knew the walk to each of the six portals was a relatively short walk. Now, thanks to her conversation with Shimani, she knew what brought her to Crystal Lake. She knew how to identify the stationary portals by the difference in the air temperature. The difference was subtle, and it took some doing, but eventually she figured it out and found all six portals. She didn't enter any of them for fear of where they would lead and the trouble she might cause or get in to. She felt almost certain she would be able to identify the portal back to Center Village, when she wanted to leave. She didn't. She swung her feet back and forth and went back to staring at the gemstones at the bottom of Crystal Lake. She became lost in contemplation and the decision before her.

Three days since her first, and until now, only visit to Crystal Lake, if she didn't count her dreams. Three days since her conversation with Shimani. Three days to gather enough courage to find her way back. Part of the reason for the three days to gather courage was due to Shimani. Moto had been true to his word and sent Shimani to her after they came back wet from Crystal Lake. She grilled Shimani for answers and while she got some of her questions answered, not nearly enough. He refused to take her to Sari and asked her to be patient. He assured her all would be revealed in good time, whatever that meant.

She learned that day the only way in and out of Crystal Lake was through stationary portals. The fact she not only found one, but used it was unusual, to say the least. It was why Moto questioned her about how she got to Crystal Lake in his not so clear way of asking. Shimani then proceeded to list all the dangers of what could happen if Moto hadn't been there to save her. Apparently, Crystal Lake itself could be a portal of sorts, and if she wasn't careful the consequences could be worse than death. He wouldn't say how but impressed upon her not to go back to Crystal Lake again unless Moto accompanied her. Shimani stressed under no circumstances should she enter the water without Moto being one hundred percent in agreement and present. He kept stressing that Moto had to be present. Which irritated her and somehow set Shimani off. Kaily didn't expect that kind of reaction from Shimani. It reminded her of how Moto might react.

By the time Shimani finished with her, she was reluctant to ever go back to Crystal Lake let alone dive into the water again. The reluctance subsided. Three days later and she sat on its edge. It wasn't just her fear subsiding. She felt a pull to Crystal Lake she couldn't explain. She would be damned if she asked either Moto or Shimani about it. Not that she could find Moto to ask. Which became the second reason. Moto pulled a disappearing act, literally. She hadn’t laid eyes on him once in the three days.

She took every opportunity to question Shimani as much as she dared about Moto's whereabouts, and about Moto himself. Shimani wasn't forth coming. He did not shed any more light of understanding on the mystery of Moto any more than she determined for herself. All Shimani would say was that a relationship with a Kahoali male, especially one such as Moto, was complicated and she should be patient. Moto would disclose what he wanted to disclose in his own time. She could almost strangle the both of them. She felt too frustrated with the whole situation. She responded with relationship? What relationship? They didn't have one! Shimani tried to stifle a laugh and changed the subject.

She wanted to skip the repasts,