Goddess of Legend Read Free Page A

and the mist automatically thickened, swirling magically around her as if anticipating the spell.
    From the depths I call my power,
lake, sea, rain, mist, dew—hear me at this hour.
My will is to find a unique soul;
an outlander is my goal.
    The goddess paused, remembering Merlin’s warning that a life cannot be displaced from its own fate. She considered ignoring her lover’s words and dealing with the consequences later. But no. The drawing spell must be perfect. She would get only one chance. Already events were spiraling out of control in Camelot—soon it would be too late to affect the future, if it wasn’t already.
    No! She wouldn’t think like that. She was a goddess, and through the magic of her watery realm, she would change Arthur’s fate and save her lover.
    Viviane refocused, pulling her power from the depths of the lake that spread like waved glass at her feet.
    Bring me a mortal
through my divine portal.
Her fate must mean she is free,
her life thread broken so she may come to me.
    The goddess closed her eyes, concentrating so hard that beads of sweat broke out over her smooth brow.
    Her eyes should be able to see
her heart’s desire—love it should be.
Her mind sharp and true,
willing to see the world anew.
Encroaching darkness she’ll cure;
life and love are her allure.
It is her soul my thread will find,
with water and sight I bind.
Lake, sea, rain, mist, dew—search and discover
the mortal through which Arthur’s heart will recover!
    Tossing the ball of light that had been building between her hands as she created the spell, Viviane threw her arms wide and hurled her will, her power, her divine magic out and into the lake. Instantly the waters changed color from a deep, sapphire blue to a silver so bright that had a mortal been unlucky enough to glimpse the transformation, he would have been forever blinded by its brilliance.
    She must be beautiful, she must be bright.
She must instantly recognize our plight.
She must be happy, she must be smart.
And ’twould help a great deal if she’s a bit of a tart.
Now go! Do my will!
My command you must fulfill!
    The glowing surface of the lake swirled around Viviane, and then tendrils of light began to lift. Fingers of radiance snaked over the water, thin and searching.
    “Go!” the Goddess impatiently shouted her command, and the threads of light lifted, lifted, lifted . . . and then shot off into the morning sky to disappear from this reality to times unseen—places unknown.
    Viviane stared into the sky long after her magic had dispersed. And then, with a sigh, she walked forward, letting the comforting water enfold her while she floated down to her palace made of pearl that rested deep beneath the waves. Now she must wait and hope that the drawing spell lured the perfect mortal fish into her divine net.
    If only I can discover the right woman, the goddess mused as she entered her palace and impatiently brushed away the naiad hand-maidens who surrounded her, singing their desire to serve her every need. And isn’t that always the way of the world—the right woman is often the only thing that can dislodge those gods-be-damned Fates ...

CHAPTER ONE
    ISABEL decided the morning couldn’t be more perfect. Well, possibly better if she was sore from a great night of sex, but that wasn’t in the cards. Not today, probably not tomorrow. Probably not in this decade. Nonetheless, a beautiful day.
    She finished adjusting the tripod that held her favorite camera and then straightened, drawing in a deep breath of the sweet Oklahoma air. She didn’t peer through the camera lens as would most photographers. Of course she would eventually, but Isabel trusted her naked eye more than any lens, no matter how clear or magnified or uber-telephoto. So she studied the landscape before her as she sipped from her thermos of Vienna roast coffee.
    She caught a glimpse of herself in the silver of her thermos. Distorted as it was, she could tell she was