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

took one last look back at the lake. The sand sparkled and her gaze followed it deeper into the depths of the water. Gem like stones lay at the bottom of the lake that she could see in the morning light. She forgot about Moto and the need to get back before the villagers woke up. The gem like stones appeared to gleam in the light. The sand looked inviting. She took a step forward to step onto the wet sand. She wanted just a moment to feel the sand beneath her feet and touch the gleaming gem like stones just below the surface of the water.

Kaily suddenly felt the sensation of falling before the realization of what happened registered in her mind. She fell deeper into the water and well below the surface when she realized she was in trouble. She struggled to break the surface. She saw it just out of reach. No matter how hard she kicked and paddled upward she could not break the surface. Just like a bad dream. The surface remained just out of reach. Panic set in. She was a good swimmer, but it didn't matter. She couldn't swim hard enough to bring the surface within her reach. She ceased struggling and let herself sink deeper. Just as the last of her breath left her lungs, she felt herself thrown on to the moss carpet of the meadow by the edge of the lake. She lay on the side and coughed as she struggled to expel the water from her lungs and replace the air she desperately needed.

She felt Moto pull himself out of the water and kneel beside her. He turned her on to her side and pounded on her back. He cursed at her the whole time. When Kaily drew breath again, he helped her to a sitting position. "What did you do that for? What were you thinking? Do you have any idea what could have happened to you?" He yelled at her.

She held up her hand as if that action would stay his anger. "I didn't do it on purpose!" Kaily yelled back as best as she could. She still found difficulty catching her breath. Her throat felt raw and her lungs burned. "I just wanted to feel the sand."

"What sand?"

"That sand!" Kaily pointed to the ground. She frowned as she noticed she sat on the edge. There was no sand. The carpeted moss of the meadow went all the way to the water's edge. She would have sworn she saw sand. The water no longer appeared crystal clear. "But," she started. She turned confused eyes towards Moto.

His scolding words stopped, and his expression softened. He helped her to her feet. "Here," he said wrapping a towel around her shoulders she swore he pulled out of thin air. He took several calming breaths before he spoke. "Crystal Lake is tricky." He said as calmly as possible. At the moment didn't seem all that calm to her. "You have to be careful around it and don't ever go in it again." The last part came out harsher than she thought he intended. She almost smiled when he took more calming breathes. He pulled her roughly into his arms.

"I didn't mean to fall in." Kaily said defending her actions.

"I know," Moto said. He stepped back and looked at her with a frown. "How did you get here in the first place?"

Kaily rolled her eyes. "I walked." She tried to pull away. Did he have to be so annoying?

"I mean how did you get here to the meadow of Crystal Lake?"

"I walked!"

Moto let out an irritated sigh. "Never mind!"

Kaily shook her head. "Thank you for the towel." She said instead of what she really wanted to say. She felt just as irritated as he seemed to be, and her tone echoed it. She turned and started walking in the direction she thought she came from and then stopped. She turned in a circle and looked around. Everything looked the same and she couldn't tell if she went in the right direction "Which way?"

"This way." Moto said. He guided her in the right direction. She could tell he suppressed a smile. She glared at him before allowing him to show her the way out. He did smile at that.

Kaily glared at him. His swift emotional change gave her a headache.

They walked in silence and Kaily felt the same moment of shifting and dizziness that she felt the first time. She looked at Moto with the intention to ask him about it, but he frowned again. She shook her head and maintained the silence that settled between them. She focused on the path back to the village. She heard Moto curse under his breath as they rounded the Queen's hut.

Kaily looked around to see what upset him this time. She saw some villagers already getting their morning repast, including the Queen. She looked up at Moto. She expected to still see a frown, but instead all she saw was a stone mask blank of all emotion. It was the same one she saw the previous night. Although he had been very good at keeping his back to her, he had not been perfect at it. She frowned and looked back in the direction of the Queen who signaled for Moto to join her. He inclined his head towards the Queen. While his head bowed, he whispered under his breath so low Kaily almost didn't hear him. "Go back to your hut. I'll send Shimani as soon as I can." He left her without another glance and walked towards the Queen.

She stared after him as his words registered and passed through the confusion that dulled her mind. She knew he told her about his orders to stay away from her, but would it be that big a deal they walked back from, what did he call it? Oh yeah, Crystal Lake?

GO! Moto's command startled her. She stared after him. She could swear she heard him