The Isle of Destiny (The Druids of Destiny Series #2)

The Isle of Destiny
Book Two of The Druids of Destiny Series
Northern Wales, Ireland, 1146

Caradoc the Black Hawk rescues novice nun Morgaine from a murderous band of cutthroats. Caradoc tries to return the beautiful young woman safely to her convent, but her enemies have burnt it to the ground, leaving her completely at Caradoc's mercy.

Demanding answers from the lovely but mysterious woman who sets him on fire, the scarred and battle-hardened warrior is shocked to discover his companion is none other than the legendary Morgaine of Yns Draiocht, said to be descended from both King Arthur and the great wizard Merlin.

Caradoc believes that Morgaine is being used as nothing more than a pawn in her neighboring lord Yestin's bid for power over the magical island of Yns Draiocht, the most sacred of all druid strongholds.

Morgaine's father Gawain is being held to ransom by Yestin's Viking allies in Dublin. Morgaine is willing to trade herself for her father, but Caradoc refuses to allow her to make the bargain. He knows they will keep Morgaine a prisoner forever, and destroy all that she as a druid is sworn to protect.

Despite his being half-blind as a result of his deliberate maiming at the hands of rogue royal prince Cadwalader, Caradoc is determined to rescue Morgaine's father and remove Yestin's threat to the druid isle forever. As he travels to Dublin to rescue her father, and finds himself falling in love with Morgaine, he is willing to make any sacrifice to keep her safe, and stop Cadwalader from overrunning all of northern Wales.

Morgaine is stunned at the depth of her feelings for the handsome but badly scarred Caradoc. She determines to trust him with her life and love, and teaches him how to use the power she can sense within him to control the four elements. Their torrid passion and deepening love give both the strength and confidence to do battle with the forces of darkness.

But the mystical forces underlying Yns Draiocht are nothing if not seductive. Will Caradoc uses his new found magics for good or evil? And can this practical man of the world ever believe in magic, or that he is worthy of the love of so powerful a princess?


Chapter One

Merionedd
North Wales, June 1145

Morgaine bit her trembling lower lip and told herself not to be such a goose. She gathered her reins more firmly in her hands and tried to keep her eyes on the road. There was no need to feel so restless and uneasy. There was nothing sinful in feeling glad to be going home.

Nor would anything happen to her on the journey there. She had several stout male companions, and three of the good sisters to accompany her. Anglesey wasn't that far away. She would see her beloved sea again, and her father--

She heard a hiss through the air and felt a sharp thump and vibration under her. Her horse trembled and screamed. The dusty earth hurtled up to meet her. Morgaine fell hard on both her elbows and lay winded as the dreadful swishing sounds continued.

Arrows.

The clash of steel on steel joined the deadly susurration.
Sister Arwenna cried out sharply. Father Rhodri gave one surprised grunt before the blood began to cascade down the front of his black robe.

Panic froze Morgaine for an instant as she watched the horrifying tableau unfold before her:

Sister Winifred, stabbed in the side, her final breath a long groan. Sister Elyn, kicking at the man trying to drag her out of the saddle while her horse neighed and reared.

"No!" Morgaine mouthed, still struggling for breath.

But no one could hear her...

Word Count=118,000, approx 385 8.5 x 11" pages
Rating: Very sensual