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

way back to his hut or not, Moto couldn't say. He wanted to reach to Kaily, but he didn't dare. There was so much turmoil inside him he didn't want to increase Kaily's fear more than she already felt. The remnants of her fear from his last mental contact with her beat at him.

"Focus on me!"

Moto hardly heard the words.

"Moto! Focus!" Sari's stern tone began to register and penetrate Moto's distant thoughts.

Sari stood in front of him with her hands holding his head, and she stood nose to nose with him or as close to it as possible. She was not short, by any measure, but Moto was still taller. His vision cleared and Moto forced himself to focus on Sari.

"Better," Sari said. "We will figure this out together. Whatever happens we won't let any harm come to Kaily. Do you hear me?"

Moto nodded.

"Good," Sari said and dropped her hands from her hold on him. "You have to hold it together for a while longer. Understood?"

Moto nodded again.

"I promise I will do everything I can to keep Kaily safe." Sari said.

Moto pulled her into an embrace. "Thank you." He could barely speak the words. There were too many emotions running through him.

Sari didn't reply. She let Moto hug her and gave him what comfort she could under the circumstances. Moto felt grateful to have her on his side. He didn't know what needed to happen to keep Kaily safe other than he needed to make sure she was not sent to Celtan. Even if it meant he would take her back to her home world. It would be a small price to pay if it meant she would be safe, and out of reach of the Druids.

Chapter Fourteen

 

Kaily stood frozen in place near the portal which would take her back to the path behind the Queen's hut. Moto's voice in her mind stopped her. The last of his message froze her in place. She held the stone in her hand. Indecision clouded her sound judgment, if she possessed any in the first place. She doubted it. If she did, she would have demanded Moto take her back home the moment she became aware he could. Instead, she stood, froze in place lost and confused. What should she do? Moto's words echoed in her mind.

She stepped back from the path and turned towards one of the other portals She faced the direction she knew the closest portal would be located. Moto told her to go back to her hut, but something inside her told her to run. She was in danger. Before she decided, she felt a coldness touch the back of her neck. She knew the portal behind her, the one which lead to the Queens hut, was about to open. Kaily reached under her dress and put the stone some place she hoped no one would dare search. It would have been easier to drop it back into Crystal Lake, but she couldn't bring herself to part with it. She closed her eyes and hoped it would remain in place. Something in Moto's tone told her, more than his words, it would be very bad if someone found the stone in her possession. Just as she finished placing her stone in her safe place, and smoothing her dress back in place, she turned to find the portal opening. It wasn't long before Baridi stepped out of the portal into the meadow of Crystal Lake. Fear gripped her and cold fingers ran down her spine. She reached for Moto in her mind but encountered only silence. She glanced to where the closest portal was located.

"Don't!" Baridi ordered.

Kaily looked back at him. She frowned. How did he know what she thought? Or did he? She didn't know. He stood too close for her to make a run for it anyway, and she didn't want to risk the stone falling out from where she secured it. It would take a great deal of concentration to keep the stone where she hid it. It slipped in far easier than she expected. If it wasn't for the warm pulse, she felt emanating from the stone, she wouldn't even know it was there. She took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her beating heart. It didn't help.

"Show me the talisman," Baridi's tone remained harsh.

Kaily opened her mouth to reply.

Baridi stepped close to her, so close she could feel his hot breath on her face. "Don't lie to me by acting like you don't know what I'm talking about. Show me the talisman!"

Kaily resisted her immediate, instinctive response to step back from him. She had to lie or at least as close to it as possible. She never lied well, but she couldn't tell him the truth. Even if Moto hadn't told her to keep quiet about the stone, Baridi's hostility towards her did. "I told Moto I would put it back." She said. She cursed her slip. She shouldn't have mentioned Moto. She didn't know why, but something in Baridi's reaction told her she said the wrong thing. She forced herself to remain silent. She wouldn't make matters worse if she could help it.

Baridi's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized her. "Did you?" Baridi held her gaze for so long Kaily felt sweat beading on her forehead and trickling down her back. His angry glare looked her up and down as if assessing her truthfulness.

Kaily held her arms outstretched from her sides, "search me," she said as she slowly turned in a circle. Her bravery was false, but she hoped Baridi wouldn't know that. It helped she no longer stared into his hate filled eyes. He hadn't been friendly or welcoming to her, but she didn't before notice that much hate from him either, until now. She dropped her arms back to her side as she came to face him again. "I said I would." She repeated for good measure. It would have been easier to just say yes, she put it