Read Dera (Celtic Fae Legend Book One) (Lloyd Sisters Trilogy 1) for Free Online Page A

Isolde turned a cheerful smile his way. "I hoped you would get my message, I see you got to Dera okay."
    Hawk turned and looked between Isolde and Isobel who was also smiling kindly at him and cleared his throat nervously.
    "Umm, Hi Isolde. Isobel."
    Isolde let out a peal of laughter and he winced again. "Relax Hawk," she said amusedly, both Isobel and I are aware you've spent the night with Dera and we're fine about it. She's a grown woman and she makes her own decisions about who she sleeps with."
    Hawk breathed a sigh of relief. "So I'm not about to lose my head then?" he asked cautiously.
    "Certainly not, and you have your powers back now as well." Isolde waved her hand muttering a spell and Hawk felt the empty space he'd had inside him for the last couple of days fill up again with the essence he'd missed so much. He sat down with a groan of relief.
    "Isolde what's been happening, why did you send me here to Dera?"
    Isolde waited whilst Dera handed out the tea and had sat down herself before she continued.
    "I'm sorry I tricked you Hawk, but in truth it was necessary at the time. Geraint and I had no idea if there was a traitor in the Council and I had to deal with you harshly for whoever it was to realize we meant business. We had to know who was using the gate without our knowledge and for what purpose. We were so worried there was civil unrest."
    "As it happens it was all a false alarm, we discovered who had been using the gate without our knowledge, it was Councilor Bryce Dean. Apparently he's fallen in love with a mortal woman and has been secretly visiting her. For some reason he didn't think Geraint and I would approve of their relationship which seems strange as we have three half mortal granddaughters. But after he saw me deal so harshly with you he came to us and confessed about what he'd been doing."
    "You should have let me in on the plan Isolde, I thought I was going to lose my head at one point. And why did you really take my powers if it was only a cover?"
    "To teach you a lesson Hawk," she replied briskly. "Most of what I said in Aberlone is true, you do flout our laws for your own ends and you are arrogant at times, I wanted you to see what it's like to manage without your gift. I hope you learned the lesson well." She smiled as she took his hand, "I also wanted you to meet my granddaughter Dera on a more equal footing. I had an idea you'd be a perfect match for each other and looking at her blush it seems I'm right."
    "Grandmother are you telling us you set Hawk and myself up?" Dera was indignant as she realized what her grandmother was saying. Isolde waved an imperious hand, "I was right, wasn't I?"
    "That's hardly the point Isolde," hissed Hawk, he was furious at being set up by the imperious Isolde. Had Geraint been in on the plan as well he wondered.
    Isobel's gentle voice interrupted what was fast becoming a very tense atmosphere. She took both Dera's and Hawk's hand in hers and looked at them sternly.
    "Let's forget about whether my mother has manipulated you or not, though we will be having a discussion on that later, Mother," she raised a stern gaze to Isolde who quickly turned away. Good; thought Hawk with satisfaction, that's made Isolde think. It was rare the gentle Isobel ever put her foot down but when she did; it looked as though even her mother took notice. Hawk filed the snippet of information away in his mind for later contemplation.
    Isobel continued, "What's important is how you feel about each other. Dera, I lost the love of my life when your father died, and I'd give nearly anything to have him back. Hawk," She squeezed his hand, "don't throw away the possibility of loving Dera because you think Isolde has manipulated you. My mother is imperious and bossy but she loves my three daughters very much. I'd take it as a compliment if I were you that she thinks your good enough for Dera."
    Hawk looked over at Dera and smiled, Isobel was right; he'd found his soul mate and there was no way