Excerpt: Cornerstone by Kelly Walker

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coornCornerstone
(Souls of STones, #1)
By: Kelly Walker
Publisher: Self-Published
Published: Nov. 30, 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance

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Epic Fantasy combines with Young Adult romance in this stunning new adventure set in a richly developed medieval world.

When Emariya Warren learns enemy forces have captured her father, she’ll do anything to save him. Anything. Even marry a mysterious prince she knows nothing about in order to rally the strength to arrange a rescue. During her journey to Torian’s foreign castle, Emariya comes face to face with her mother’s killers–and a deadly secret.

Not only does Emariya possess a powerful but unexpected magical gift passed down through each of her families, the prince she’s promised to marry possesses a third, and an ominous prophecy has warned the three gifts must never be combined.

If she breaks her promise to marry Torian, she won’t be able to save her father and if she keeps it, she may bring a curse upon everything she holds dear. Determining which choice is best won’t be easy, but when she meets the gorgeous prince who may desire more than just her heart, she realizes she will have to fight just to have a choice at all.

Her heart wants him desperately. Her head begs her to run. If she doesn’t want to share her mother’s fate, she’ll have to find a way to untangle the truth from the lies in time to save herself.

Discover the heartbreaking betrayals, fascinating magic and fated love of Cornerstone.

Excerpt
The man who had found Garith in the woods spoke again. “Imagine someone with all three Gifts. The ability to hear the future. The knowledge of the past, as well as the guidance of the spirits. And the ability to harness the earth to your will. Someone with the power of all three Stones would be unstoppable.”

The man across from them spoke quietly, and solemnly.

“Souls of the Stones, their sights we bear,

Sounds of the Stones, their secrets we share,

Will of the soil blood will flow,

Should three Stones one ever know.

What once were one split thrice,

Over whispers and sights,

Soil prevails, behold its might,

Blood and Stones as one brings darkest night.”

Their leader spoke up again. “For years, we have worked to ensure that just such a union doesn’t occur. If Lady Warren weds Prince Torian, all of the Three Corners will be at risk. Son, do you understand why we can’t let that happen? That prophecy has been passed down for generations. Like our fathers before us, we have been dedicated to ensuring that it isn’t fulfilled. Our mission is to see to it that the Bloodlines stay separate, and that never again is there a union like there was between Valencia and Oren. It’s just too dangerous.”

“Emariya couldn’t have known,” Garith said sadly.

“Maybe not. But Prince Torian surely knows. It may be that he is intentionally trying to bind the lines, to harness the power to unite Eltar and Sheas to Thalmas by force. With the three Gifts at his disposal, he could do exactly that,” Russell insisted.

“If Emariya knew, she would never marry him. No matter what, she would never want to jeopardize the safety of everyone in Eltar.”

“Then we’ll tell her. It sounds like she is being used unknowingly. If she is truly innocent in this, once we tell her, she will return home. Will you come with us?”

Garith nodded. On his own he’d never find her, and now more than ever he was desperate to get to her. These men seemed to know the woods well. His best bet was to stick with them, and hopefully along the way he would learn more about the Stones. It would be fine, he told himself.

They would find Riya, tell her of the lore of the Cornerstones, and she would choose not to marry the prince after all.

 

authorkelly

Kelly Walker is a YA and NA author of several romantic titles, including the Souls of the Stones series. She has an unhealthy appreciation for chocolate, and a soft spot for rescued animals. Her best lessons on writing came from a lifetime of reading. She loves the fantastical, and the magical, and believes a captivating romance can be the most realistic magic of all. Kelly, her husband and her two children share their Virginia home with three dogs who walk her, and two cats who permit her to occasionally share their couch.

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