Corrupted: An Epic Dragons and Immortals Romantic Fantasy (Fallen Emrys Chronicles Book 1) by E.E. Everly (motivational books for men txt) 📕

“Are you leaving Kelyn without a goodbye? He’ll be heartbroken. And my mother and father, Tiwlip and Brenin? You can’t leave them.”

My face pinched. I didn’t want to leave them without goodbyes, but I was afraid my bravery would falter and I couldn’t tear myself away. “Tell them I loved them. Truly.”

He rubbed Seren’s shoulder. “Where are you going?”

Seren reared, and Kenrik stumbled backward. She leapt into the sky, feeling my ache for a swift departure.

“Home.” I turned my eyes away from Kenrik’s miserable face.

“NIAWEN!” His voice stabbed through me.

As Seren gained altitude, the roar of my name, over and over, caused me to glance back.

Kenrik had fallen to his knees. He arched his back, expanding his chest as he lifted his head to the sky. Every muscle in his neck was taut. Tears streaked his red face.

He was a tortured man, who screamed my name until he grew hoarse.

I turned away once he curled into a sniveling mass on the cobblestone.

Even though his vocal cries ceased, his voice continued to thunder throughout my head.

NIAWEN!

Oh, Deian. I was destroying him.

THIRTY-FOUR

Relief swallowed me as Seren flew closer to Eirwen Mountain. I would soon see the entrance.

I’ll appeal to the High Emrys. She’ll understand I’m not corrupted. I’m not, am I?

No, Niawen. You’re not corrupted, Seren said.

I acted in fury. I remember clearly that, though I was buried under rage, I carefully calculated my attack so I wouldn’t harm anyone who was innocent.

You’re a good person, Niawen, with good intentions, and you help others. You don’t go around wishing destruction on people.

No, I don’t.

The mountain ledge grew closer. To my dismay, someone was standing outside the entrance.

Who’s that? I asked.

I zoomed in with my dragon sight on a young man dressed in a midnight blue guard uniform. Ieuan. Why’s he standing there?

When Seren landed, I slid down and strode forward, determined not to be held back.

Ieuan had projected a shield of light around his body to protect himself from the cold. He stood at attention, but as I drew closer, he crouched into a fighting stance, blocking the entrance to Gorlassar.

“Out of the way, Ieuan,” I said.

“I can’t let you pass, Niawen.”

I wanted to laugh. “I’m stronger. Don’t make me fight you.” I had taken Ieuan down in many sparring matches. Although he was well toned and agile, the approach of attack and my determination gave me an advantage whenever I fought.

Ieuan flinched as if he was going to lunge at me. I jumped, and he sneered. “You’re not getting in.”

Light exploded from my palms. Ieuan blocked my shot with his shield, and the rebound flared in a sunburst around him.

“You’ll have to do better than that,” he said.

I rushed at him, yelling. I gripped his shoulders and heaved him off balance. My light bolstered my strength as I envisioned a lion tearing into his prey. Ieuan and I rolled in the snow. He pinned me, but I twisted my legs, breaking his hold and shoving him off.

I blasted him in the face, but he held on, wrapping himself around my waist as I crawled toward the entrance. Finally, after much scuffling, I knelt on his arms, straddling his chest as I smashed his head into the snow.

“You’re crazy,” he hissed. “I didn’t want to believe it, but the mortals have defiled you.”

“I just want to go home.” I grunted as Ieuan pushed against me.

Three men emerged through the rift, my father, Caledu, included. Every hope I had was crushed as I glared at his pointy nose.

“Restrain her,” my father huffed.

Seren reared. Caledu lifted his hand, and a heaviness descended over her, feeding into me. I drooped even as the men lifted me by each arm. Seren cowered, held at bay by my father’s light.

“Father, you don’t understand—”

He frowned. “I understand perfectly well. You’ve forsaken your guardianship. You left the realm. You made the choice to entangle yourself in the lives of mortals.”

I strained against the hands that held me. “I’m ready to come home. I’ve learned my lesson.”

His expression changed to an unfeeling mask, accentuating his long face. “The sentence is given. You’re forever exiled from the dragon realm. You will relinquish your stone to pass to another rider. You’re not worthy.”

I threw my light at him, trying to read his emotions, but he blocked me. “Your own daughter can’t return! Do you even love me? You’ve been so cold and stern. Why can’t I see into your soul? What are you hiding? My heart may be blackened, but I don’t hide. You’ve always read me!”

Caledu stared, unmoving.

“Corruption comes from within!” I screamed. “You don’t have to associate with mortals to brand darkness on your own heart. What ugly, malformed emotions do you conceal? What perverted justice allows you to consider my exile?”

Panic vibrated through me. Failure sucked into my heart-center, creating a vortex. “Let me in, Father! I’m your daughter!”

Even the guards felt awful. Ieuan showed a flicker of compassion. My suffering was abominable.

“I am repentant! I am remorseful!” I jumped into the air and twirled as I flipped so the guards’ hold on me broke. They staggered in the snow from the force of my move. I held my arms out, holding them off with a shield. “I ask for forgiveness. Let me petition the High Emrys. Take me to Meinwen. I am pure!”

“Pure? Pure!” Caledu stormed closer, pushing me with his energy. “What do your emotions reveal now? Shame. What have you done that brings this distress? What rakes your conscience? What misdeeds have tarnished your heart-center?”

My knees buckled, but I pushed against my father’s bullying might.

“Oh, that’s right. Murder. How many men did you slaughter?”

I wailed