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

and dropped to my knees. “I don’t know! Dozens! I was surrounded. I thought they killed Kelyn. They were destroying the village and killing people. I had to choose their lives or the lives of the innocent. I chose those with evil in their hearts.”

“Which is what you have now.”

“I’m an Emrys of Light. A dragon guardian.”

“You’re stripped of that honor,” he said. “Take her stone!”

“No, Caledu. I forbid it.” A new voice joined us on the ledge.

Aneirin had stepped from the portal and pushed his way past my father, whose eyes were filled with outrage. Aneirin crouched in front of me and tilted my chin up. His pupils grew as he took me in. I saw deep sorrow. Breaking sorrow. He blamed himself.

“Aneirin, don’t,” I whispered.

“Niawen. Forgive me.” He pulled me to my feet.

I gripped his arm, hoping to portray my feelings, sending him peace. Sending him understanding—I knew and accepted my mistakes. “None of this was your doing.”

“How dare you interfere?” Caledu snarled. “Aneirin, you have no jurisdiction here. I don’t care what you’ve cried to your parents about. I’m enforcer. Only a council can overrule the law. Niawen cannot enter. And no council would admit her with darkness in her heart.”

“Her dragon is my dragon’s mate. They must be permitted to enter,” Aneirin said.

“Seren may return, but Niawen is banished.”

“It doesn’t have to be this way,” Aneirin said.

“It shouldn’t have been this way.” Caledu raged at Aneirin, with his hands clenched into claws. “Had you loved her, had you told her yes, none of this would have happened!”

“It’s not Aneirin’s fault,” I said. “He couldn’t pretend to love me. That’s not how love works.” If I had learned anything from my time with the mortals, it was certainly this.

“Look at her,” Caledu said to Aneirin. “I know you aren’t blind. See the damage to her heart-center. You hammered the first spike, and the damage escalated from there. Her light has dimmed. It has blackened.”

I covered my chest, knowing full well that my action wouldn’t keep Aneirin from discerning my shrouded light.

Aneirin really looked at me, and his concern morphed into despair. “Niawen, we’ll fix this.” He turned to my father. “The ruling can’t be absolute, Caledu. She can heal.” Even as Aneirin said it, he felt hopeless.

“There’s nothing she can do to erase the stain on her heart-center,” Caledu said.

“Please don’t blame yourself,” I whispered to Aneirin. “Don’t listen to my father. You had nothing to do with my blemished heart-center.”

“Her corruption took root from her actions,” Caledu said. “She cannot turn back time and erase what she’s done.”

“I am not corrupted.” I shook as I yelled. “I am not corrupted. I am not corrupted!” The pressure of my light pounded in my chest. I felt heavy.

I felt explosive.

“You are. And you are exiled,” Caledu hissed.

“The shroud doesn’t affect my light. I heal just fine. I project with ease. The mark is only a record of my misdeed, a blotch that can be eradicated with forgiveness!” At least this was what I hoped—that Kenrik was right. I believed him.

Caledu scowled. “Take her stone.”

“No!” Aneirin stepped between the guards and me, but Caledu threw out his light, which wrapped around Aneirin’s ankle. As my father whipped his arm back, Aneirin fell headfirst into the snow. He struggled to his elbows, spitting snow from his mouth and swiping his eyes. He was beaten. Caledu would never let him intervene. Aneirin’s crestfallen face told me this moment would haunt him forever.

The guards advanced, throwing a cage of light around me.

My heart broke as I regarded Aneirin one last time. The world seemed to still as I forgave him for everything that was ever wrong between us. I’d hold on to this, knowing that Aneirin and I had something beyond love—a bond that was indescribable and unsurpassable in comprehension. I mourned for one brief instant the damage I had caused when I read the imprint of his soul. But that didn’t matter anymore. We would part as friends. “Tell Cephias that Seren will return, Aneirin. I swear it.”

The will to preserve every part that was me, including my dragon, launched a starburst from my core.

Blinding light obscured the snowy ledge as the cage shattered like raining glass. Where my fury had once killed, it propelled away those who hindered me. The four standing men bowled over. I used their confusion to run to Seren.

For the second time, she flew me away from Gorlassar.

THIRTY-FIVE

I have nowhere to go. My fingers curled into talons, with the muscles so taut they ached. Furious. I was furious! Thrown out by my own father! I rubbed my eyes and dragged my hands down my face. I should have felt more rejected, but I was at the point of hysterics.

“I am desolate!” I tossed my arms up and shouted to the world. The image of how I left Kenrik flashed through me. I laughed—delirious, consuming laughter—until my eyes watered.

And humiliated. Humiliated by my father. Disowned. He had barely looked at me. I sickened him.

The irony. I obtained exactly what I was running from and more. Heartache. Disappointment. Love. Adventure.

And a beginning—once again, Seren murmured.

Oh, Seren, what should I do?

She angled her flight toward Cynwrig.

No. Go west. Or north. I’m not returning. My place is not with Kelyn or his people. I can’t go back.

Seren flew in circles. She didn’t move with haste but waited until I made up my mind.

The sea was in the west, as was Owein. He presented the same problem. Mortality. Death. Disease. Frail bodies and simple emotions. The allure of the physical.

I couldn’t help but smile over how delighted he had been with me on his arm. I was a beautiful immortal trophy.

Which is what