Druidess Found (Druidess Trilogy Book 1) Machelle Hanleigh (best ebook reader under 100 .TXT) 📖

"Explain."

"There is evidence of a strong fear response in her system. She is unconscious, but I was not able to determine the cause other than fear which flows through her system. I am confident she will regain consciousness after her system calms enough. She will require medicine to set her system in balance again and cure the headache she will have when she regains consciousness."

"She will recover?"

Kesho nodded. "I believe so, my Queen."

Queen Shakti turned her gaze back to Moto. She drummed her fingertips on the arms of her throne while she regarded him.

If not for his warrior training, Moto might fidget under her scrutiny.

"Shimani," Queen Shakti said not taking her eyes off Moto.

Shimani took a few steps forward so he faced her. "Yes, my Queen?"

She turned her gaze towards Shimani. "Check on the girl and bring her to me as soon as she wakes, and after the medicine she requires has been administered. Kesho, go with him. If she is well enough, remove the barriers in her mind so she may understand our language."

"Yes, my Queen." They said in unison.

Queen Shakti watched as Shimani and Kesho left to do her bidding before she turned her attention back to Moto.

"Why, Moto?" Queen Shakti asked. She leaned forward to perch on the edge of her seat. "Why would you bring this outsider into our midst?"

"I feared for her life, my Queen."

Queen Shakti stood and stepped off the dais. She stopped an arm's length in front of Moto. "What I don't understand is how you came across her in the first place."

Moto opened his mouth to reply.

Queen Shakti held up her hand. "Not a question." She turned back towards the dais. "Baridi, send word to all the available to mate Shanees that Moto will be choosing his mate. Please discover who would be interested in being considered. We will hold a feast to give Moto the opportunity to choose which Shanees will have the honor of being his bonded mate."

"Yes, my Queen." Baridi bowed and spared Moto a disapproving glare before he left to spread the word.

Moto held his tongue and focused on keeping his temper in check.

Queen Shakti turned back to Moto. "You left me no choice, Moto. Maybe your bonded mate can keep a tighter leash on you." She took several calming breaths.

Somehow, Moto managed to keep his anger from showing in his eyes. Leash? Never! Only one Shanees he could even see himself bonding, Sari, and he couldn't bring himself to do that to her. If she bonded with him, she would lose her chance at finding a forever love. He knew Sari wanted a forever love. She confided her heart's desire to him long ago. He often teased her about it but respected her for holding out for what she wanted to find.

"I'm at a loss, Moto. I have many questions and I don't think you would give me a straight answer to any one of them."

"I wouldn't lie to you, my Queen."

"No, but neither would you disclose everything, would you, Moto?"

Moto remained silent.

The Queen nodded to herself. She stepped back up on the dais and sat down on her throne. "You will maintain your distance from the girl. The others will see to her needs while I decide what to do with her."

"Is she to be left in the holding hut?" Moto asked, his anger getting the better of him.

"I haven't decided." Queen Shakti leveled Moto with her gaze. "As far as you're concerned, she does not exist. She is not your concern, nor will she ever be. Remember that part, Moto!"

Moto held her gaze for a moment. He inclined his head.

"Dismissed," Queen Shakti said waving her hand towards Moto.

He bowed low and left the throne room. He started towards his hut but stopped mid-stride. He didn't want to be cooped up. Instead, he turned to the path which led to Crystal Lake, the one place he wouldn't be disturbed while he tried to figure out what to do now. He cursed for not taking her back to her home world.

Chapter Six

Kaily woke with a blinding headache. She felt beneath her and found that she lay on a thin mat that didn't do anything to soften the hard ground beneath it. She attempted to open her eyes. She remained lying on the mat. She didn't think she could sit up no matter how much she might want to. She put a hand to her head in an attempt to quite the throbbing pain. It didn't help. She opened her eyes a small way and studied the roof above her. She squinted to bring it in to focus. It looked like bamboo but with a reddish-brown hue. She turned her head to the wall she laid closest to. The wall consisted of the same material and coloring as the roof.

What mess had she gotten herself in now?

She closed her eyes against the light, rolled to her side, and held her head between both hands. A soft glow lit the room. Despite the softness, the light hurt her eyes. She felt like tiny knives penetrated her brain just behind her eyes. She took a deep breath and forced herself to a sitting position. It took all her willpower to make it to a sitting position without emptying the contents of her stomach. Not that her stomach contained much. She scooted so her back rested against the wall. She laid her head on her upturned knees and focused on not feeling pain. At least, she tried to focus on not feeling the pain. She didn't handle pain well, and wishing it away never worked for Kaily, but still she tried.

She thought back to the last moments she remembered. She remembered Jaren telling her to run. The Mistress returned early. She ran in the direction she thought Jaren instructed her to go. Somehow, she got turned around. She ended up in the courtyard instead outside the gates as Jaren intended for her to go. In the courtyard