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

it was not the sight of Kaily in an unconscious heap that stopped his heart. It was the destruction that lay around her in a perfect circle. The destruction extended beyond his training site. The ground was scorched as if a fire blazed white hot. Large trees lay flat on the ground, push over with no effort at all. The exposed side burnt crisp while still green on the underside lying on the ground. Charred splinters strewn throughout the area. From the pattern, a great force erupted and blasted them clean, severing them from their roots. It appeared the center of that destruction was the very spot his Kaily lay unconscious. He didn't see anything like it in his entire life. He swallowed hard, pushed his fear aside, and hurried to her.

Despite his effort to push his emotions aside, his heart raced, and the fear he held at bay gripped him. Thoughts and questions surfaced. He pushed those to the back of his mind. He didn't want to think about what happened to cause such devastation where once his training clearing stood. When he first learned to control his abilities, he destroyed things here and there. All Kahoali new to their abilities had at one point or another, but not like the destruction in front of him. He cursed for letting her obtain a talisman. While he didn't want to believe his Kaily had been the one responsible for what he saw, neither could he deny it. The evidence to the contrary lay before him. He pushed his troubled thoughts to the dark recesses of his mind as best as he could. The strength of his fear could not be denied or dismissed. He must for Kaily's sake.

He reached Kaily and rolled her onto her back with care. He patted her from top to bottom, front to back checking for injury and was grateful to find none. He didn't find her talisman either, but it was the least of his worries. "Kaily," He grasped her by the shoulders and gave her a light shake.

No response.

He patted the side of her face. "Kaily," He said her name louder.

Still no response.

Panic crept in with the fear that coursed through his veins. "Please, little one, wake up!" He looked up as two portals opened. Shimani stepped from one, which didn't surprise him. Although, Shimani didn't open a portal in front of him and always asked him to open one, Moto suspected Shimani possessed the ability. The second portal was a different matter altogether. Sari stepped from that one. He only ever saw her open the portals at Crystal Lake and that didn't count. All Kahoali, even those who didn't claim their heritage, could open those portals. Neither did he see her use her abilities much at all. He knew she possessed them for he saw her talisman, but she didn't use them, which they argued about on more than one occasion. For him to witness abilities he didn't know she possessed was unsettling. He watched as they both hurried to him and Kaily.

"Moto, I need you to step back." Sari knelt by Kaily on the opposite side that Moto occupied. "You too, Shimani," Sari said when he knelt beside her.

Shimani stood and stepped back.

"I'm not leaving her side."

Sari's gaze locked full force with Moto's. "You will obey me." She said. "Now!"

A fire shown in the depths of her eyes and something else Moto never noticed. He sat back on his heels in shock. Sari's eyes always held the hazel coloring that came with her ability to harness the energy, as with all Kahoali that could harness the energy of Ki. Her being Shanees made the hazel coloring deeper, but not like they appeared at that very moment. Sari's eyes were the deepest fiery hazel he had ever seen. They glowed with amber light in their depths. Not even the Queen's eyes held the depth that Sari's did. But, what shocked him were the silver flecks within the depths of her fiery hazel-amber eyes. It was the gift and telltale sign bestowed on the one destined to be the next Queen of the Kahoali people.

"You think her eyes are something, you should see her talisman." Shimani said from where he stood. Amusement infused his tone.

Both Moto and Sari spared him a stern glare.

Shimani held up his hands in surrender.

"Moto, I need room to examine Kaily." Sari said with a measure of restrained patience. "Did you find her talisman?"

Moto shook his head, stood and took a step back. Not quite as far back as Shimani stepped. "Why?" He could feel the urgency growing in Sari and it troubled him. She was not easily rattled, not quite as laid back as Shimani, but close.

"Because of this," Sari said. She waved her hand to indicate the charred clearing.

"Kaily didn't do this." Moto adamantly denied the truth of Sari's words. He knew a part of him believed she did, but he didn't want it to be true. He needed it to not be true. Not many other Inhabitants he came across in his travels to other worlds could harness the kind of energy required to do such damage. Only one came to mind and that thought he immediately rejected.

Sari didn't reply. Her focus remained on Kaily. She laid a hand palm down on Kaily's forehead and her other hand on Kaily's abdomen just below her breasts. She closed her eyes. Lines of concentration creased her brow.

Shimani made his way to stand beside Moto. "Kaily will be okay." He said as he laid a hand on Moto's shoulder.

Sari shushed him without opening her eyes.

Moto didn't reply.

Shimani dropped his hand.

Moto's focus and eyes stayed glued on Kaily and Sari, and what Sari did. He could feel the intake of energy as Sari drew in energy from Ki. He thought he could see a faint glow radiating from her hands. He frowned and filed away what he saw Sari do for later contemplation. They would have words about her hiding her