Book description:
A convenient omnibus edition of the three main works of the Souls of the Stones series.
Contains: Cornerstone, Second Stone, Broken Stone.
Souls of the Stones follows Emariya Warren as she navigates the three divided lands of her world, as well as the three families striving for control. The series incorporates traditional fantasy elements such as prophecy and magic with a love story that transcends genre and time. Books 1-3 are included.
Cornerstone - 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. So does the prince she's promised to marry, and an ominous prophecy has warned their 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.
Second Stone - In the second installment in Souls of the Stones, the stakes are higher, the romance is hotter, and Emariya's power as a Cornerstone is growing.
Determined to make sense of the betrayals, lies, and her undeniable attraction to Torian, Emariya and her prince begin the journey to Sheas to confront her uncle and bring her father home.
Broken Stone - Unable to avoid her destiny any longer, Emariya has become the leader her mother always envisioned. Before she can focus on embracing her gifts to unify her three lands, she must first stop her own land from dissolving into civil war.
Kelly Walker
Souls of the Stones – Bonus
Copyright 2013 © Kelly Walker THIS IS FOREVER
(Torian’s POV from the end of Second Stone)Torian silently pleaded with The Three and whoever else might be listening. Please let
her wake. We didn’t come so far to lose her now. He’d sat on this stool beside her since he’d
carried her here, and he wouldn’t leave until she woke.
The way her still-damp hair fanned out around her on the bed of dry straw reminded him
of the first time he’d laid eyes on her. Then, she’d been on the harsh and rocky Thalmas ground.
Now, she lay on her back, wrapped in the warmest blanket they’d been able to find. Then, just as
now, he’d thought she might possibly be an angel. Though an angel of what he wasn’t quite sure.
Jessa had dressed her in a clean and dry gown, and they’d wrung as much water as they
could from her damp hair. It had been two hours, and still she hadn’t opened her eyes.
“Why won’t she wake!” he swore to no one in particular.
Garith put a hand on Torian’s shoulder, and Torian jumped, startled. He’d forgotten they
From the doorway of the tent, Blaine shrugged. “She’ll wake when she’s ready. Not
“Can you speak to Irina or Carah again? Are you completely sure her mother hasn’t
pulled her back in?” Torian could hear the desperation in his own voice. He sounded nothing like
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a prince, but he didn’t care.
“I don’t need to speak to them again, I trust they are watching over her. You should try
and do the same.” Blaine flashed him a look of disgust and left, muttering something under his
Trust. Not bloody likely. His eyes searched her pale face again, looking for any change.
The weight of Garith’s hand lifted from Torian’s shoulder, and he watched without a word as
Garith leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on Emariya’s cheek.
“Wake soon, we need you.” Garith paused, as if hoping his words would have somehow
made her suddenly wake, then sighed. “I’m going to make rounds, check in with the army. Send
someone for me if you need me.”
Torian nodded. Some far corner of his mind acknowledged the irony of Garith giving
him instructions, but it didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered, the only thing he cared about,
was waiting for Emariya to wake.
The edges of the stool began to annoy him. He’d been sitting for too long. Torian stood
and stretched, then leaned over to brush the hair away from Emariya’s face.
Her eyes fluttered, and Torian sucked in a sharp breath, waiting. A soft moan rolled from
between her lips, and his chest warmed. Someday—and soon—he hoped to elicit that reaction
Emariya’s chest rose, then fell as she took a deep breath. Confusion blanketed her
familiar blue eyes when at last they opened. He could tell the exact moment she remembered
everything that had happened before she collapsed.
Her arms flailed around herself as she struggled to get a grip on something to push herself
upward. “Where’s my father?” Her eyes darted around the tent.
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“He’s resting. Jessa’s tending to him.” Not that it will do any good.
“He’s bad, isn’t he?”
Emariya’s sob sent a wave of agony over him. How was he supposed to tell her that her
father—the father she’d crossed the entire world to find—was about to die? Torian put his hand
below her elbow to help her stand. She was so small, and such a mixture of fragility and strength.
The news might break her irreparably. Unable to find words, he simply nodded.
“How long have I been out for?” Her voice rose an octave.
Forever, or at least it felt like it. “A few hours.”
She leaned against him as if the weight of reality had at last settled on top of her and she
couldn’t find the will to stand. He watched her as her eyes closed briefly, then opened again.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
She might be sorry, but she’d never know just how afraid he’d been. He didn’t ever want
to feel that again. He couldn’t. “The magic, Emariya—I think it was too much for you. Or maybe
Her voice had regained a little of its fight as she said, “I didn’t know what else to do.”
In an odd way, her stubbornness comforted him. She’d survive this. He’d help her. But
first, he had to make her understand, so next time maybe she’d remember how much her actions
mattered to him. “You scared me.” Torian turned her to face him and laced one of his hands
through hers. By The Three, she’s so beautiful even as her heart is breaking. I’ll never let her go.
He cupped his other hand beneath her chin, trying to find the words to tell her he didn’t care
about the prophecies anymore. Nothing mattered except ensuring she was his forever.
She stared back at him, looking as lost as he felt. He leaned close, letting his lips lightly
touch hers. It took all his willpower not to crush her to himself. Once she’d had a chance to
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recover, he’d kiss her properly. Until then…
He straightened. “Let’s go see your father then.”
The walk to her father’s tent was short, but even it seemed to exhaust her. Jessa looked
up as they entered Oren’s tent.
Torian saw the relief in Jessa’s eyes as Emariya paused in the doorway as if trying to
steel herself for what she’d soon face.
“I’ll be outside if you need me,” Jessa whispered to Emariya as she walked out.
Pain was obvious in Oren’s expression as he turned his head toward his daughter. A
familiar smile turned up the corners of his lips, and Torian noted that no matter what people
might say, Emariya got at least one feature from her father.
“You look like your mother,” Oren said. “But you’re smarter than her, and even more
“Oh, Father!” Emariya ran to him.
When she buried her head against her father Torian felt a lump of pity form in his throat.
He hung back, giving them space for their reunion.
“You were so close and I didn’t know.”
“Hush now. Don’t fret.” Oren’s hand caressed Emariya’s cheek. “Listen to me now.
There are things I should have told you. Things I need to tell you now.”
“I already know of the Stones, Father.”
Oren glanced up at Torian with wide eyes. “Are you who I think you are?”
Intense nerves highly unfitting for a prince twisted in Torian’s stomach. “Torian Ahlen,
“Your sister—I have her to thank for getting me out of my own dungeon.”
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Relief that Terin was alive slammed into Torian. He swallowed hard. “Is my sister well,
Oren’s eyes said he understood Torian’s fear. “I didn’t see her myself, Your Highness,
“Why didn’t she come with you?” Emariya asked.
Torian didn’t have to wonder. Rage attempted to blind him. “The pull of the Stones.”
Oren nodded. “I wanted her to, but she was right in thinking it would be harder to escape
with her. She was very heavily guarded. And she has developed at least some fondness for my
“I will get her out soon, fondness or not.” Just as soon as he severed Reeve’s head from
“Do you love my daughter, or do you just want to use her gifts as a Stone?” Oren
Garith chose that moment to come through the door of the tent. “He loves her, Milord.”
The smile that slipped across Oren’s face gave Torian courage. Her father approved.
“High praise from you, son. I would have sworn she would marry you someday.”
Torian kept his face blank, pretending he hadn’t heard that. He liked Garith, and wanted
to keep it that way. If he dwelt on Oren’s words, he might do something he’d regret.
Garith coughed and Emariya laughed.
“I would if she would have me, Milord, but I believe she loves him as much as he loves
“Good then. Would you give us a few moments alone?”
“Of course, I’ll come back later.” Garith turned and strode out of the tent, avoiding
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Torian watched him go, tempted to force that smile off the boy’s face. Oren coughed
again, drawing Torian’s attention away from his jealousy.
“I’ll get my herbs, Father.”
“It won’t do any good, my little palomino.”
Tears spilled down Emariya’s cheeks, breaking Torian’s heart. If only he could take this
pain from her. He understood all too well what it was like to worry over losing one’s father. Her
agonized sob as she squeezed her father’s hand settled around his heart like a vise. Reeve, he
thought. Reeve is responsible for this. It is because of him that she feels this pain. He let his
anger soothed him, giving him purpose. Reeve would pay. If Torian had his way, Emariya would
never have cause to shed another tear.
“I would like to see you wed. I don’t have much time, but I want to be there for that, to
present you, and to give my blessing.”
Torian’s mind scrambled to process what he thought he’d just heard.
“But what about the prophecies, Father?” Emariya asked.
Forget the prophecies, and curse my ancestors for spreading them in the first place.
“I care. I…I don’t want to risk—”
“Emariya, it is very likely that the lines will be bound, whether you wed or not. If anyone
is going to bind them, maybe…maybe if you—my daughter who is so undeniably good and who
I am so unbelievable proud of—bind them first, it can be a good thing for our people. Rather
than something to fear. Your mother lost her life because of those that feared the prophecy. I
won’t see you give up your love because of it, too.”
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He should ask her. Torian tried to step closer to her, but his feet felt fastened where he
stood. She wasn’t sure. She might not want this. What if she said no? Torian remained in place,
Emariya was still talking to her father, but Torian couldn’t focus on her words. Her father
was giving them his blessing. This is what she’d wanted. There would never be a better time. He
had to focus on the thought of marrying Emariya, because if he thought about Reeve marrying
Locking his eyes on hers, Torian dropped to one knee while his heart pounded. “Marry
me, Emariya. I don’t want to wait any longer. For all we know, the lines are already bound, and
if they aren’t they likely will be soon. Marry me here. Today.”
She was silent a moment too long. He braced himself to hear her say no. She reached out
and took his hand, pulling him to his feet. A lone tear rolled down her cheek and then she leaned
Then, he heard the sweetest word to ever grace his ears. A soft whisper. “Yes.”
Emariya stepped away from him, and hope lit up her eyes. “I’d better go tell Jessa. She’ll
be furious that she only has today to get me ready.”
She said yes! The thought played repeatedly through his head. “Let her be. I don’t want to
wait another moment.” Torian glanced toward Oren, lying on the straw bed. Her father didn’t
Emariya hurried out of the tent, and Torian took a seat by Oren’s side. “My Lord, is there
anything I can do for you?”
“I guess you’d best fetch someone to get me a bath. But before you go, I’ve something I
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Torian’s stomach flipped. “Yes, My Lord?”
“I’m trusting you with the most precious thing I have. Don’t let me down, son.”
“You can count on me, My Lord. I’d lay down my life for her.”
Oren chewed his lip thoughtfully. “You might, yet.”
Torian nodded and stood. “I’ll send someone to help you dress. I’d like to find a pair of
clean clothes myself.” He’d almost made it out of the tent when Oren called out.
“Prince Ahlen, my son is trouble, but what’s worse is he believes himself right. He won’t
be swayed from his path, so you cannot be swayed from yours.”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“My daughter loves her brother. Yes, she is angry with him. But he was there for her
when many times I was not. She will want to believe he can change, and she might be right.
Don’t give him a chance to prove her wrong.”
Torian gave Oren a nod of understanding, then ducked out of the tent.
It seemed like hours passed before everyone was finally ready. He’d been hers from the
moment she first looked at him. He supposed the agony of waiting a few more hours, knowing
she’d soon be his wouldn’t kill him.
At last it was time. He stood on the cliffs, waiting with the sun setting over the sea behind
him. He’d traded a dusty traveling cloak for his formal silver one and Rink had managed to find
His crown which ordinarily reminded him of the weight of responsibility he bore was less
bothersome today. It served as a reminder that sometimes, with responsibility comes privilege.
Despite the less than perfect circumstances and the heartache they’d endured, Torian knew
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Reeve wouldn’t have offered his sister to him if he hadn’t been the prince of Thalmas. He’d
proudly bear the weight of a hundred crowns if it meant he could have her, but even better was
knowing she didn’t care if he bore any. Unlike all the women who’d tried to talk him into
marriage before, Emariya loved him, not the power marrying him could bring.
His heart beat faster as she started up the cliff toward him, taking his breath away with
Oren leaned forward over Torian’s shoulder. “When I saw her mother on our wedding
day, I thought she was the most beautiful bride who’d ever walk the earth.”
Without turning his head, Torian smiled. “You were wrong.”
Jessa followed behind Emariya, and when they stopped at the top of the cliffs the
handmaiden arranged the folds of Emariya’s soft ivory gown. Shear fabric blew softly behind
Emariya, carried on the breeze that also lifted her long blonde hair beneath her own crown.
The gathered soldiers from their three lands crowded in a circle around them with Garith,
Rink, Jessa and Blaine at the front. Rees Hendel worked his way through the throng of people
and took a leather bind from Emariya’s hand.
Torian searched her face for any sign she might be feeling nerves to match his own. They
wove their fingers together, then reached their combined hands toward Hendel.
Rees wound the bind around their wrists until their hands were unable to move
independently. “Who presents this woman?”
“I do.” Oren put his hand on Torian’s shoulder. “You take care of my girl, or I’ll send
him after you.” He jerked his thumb toward Garith.
Torian forced himself not to laugh at Emariya’s amused smile.
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“And who presents this man?”
Commander Plank stepped forward. “On behalf of the people of Thalmas, I do.” Plank
disappeared back into the crowd.
“Prince Torian Ahlen, what do you promise your bride?” Rees prompted.
Looking deep into her eyes, Torian smiled. “Riya.” The crowd around them tittered at the
familiarity. “I offer you my heart, and all that goes with it. My love, my life. Your hopes and
your wishes will become my hopes and wishes. I promise to give you all that I am, and more. As
the crown prince of Thalmas, I also give you my kingdom, to rule by my side.”
He bowed his head toward her.
“Let it be so,” the crowd cheered around them.
“Lady Emariya Warren, what do you promise your husband?”
Emariya glanced at her father, then her eyes locked on his, cradling him with the sincere
adoration in her words. “Torian, I offer you my heart, and all that goes with it. My love, my life.
Your hopes and your wishes will become my hopes and wishes. I promise to give you all that I
am, and more. As a daughter of Eltar, I give you our friendship and share with you our bread and
bounty.” As he’d done before her, she bowed her head.
In unison, Torian and Emariya uttered the final traditional vow, “Bond of my blood, my
Taking their bound hands in his own, Rees moved swiftly, slipping his own dagger
between their combined hands before twisting it and yanking it out in one swift motion.
Emariya gasped, but this was the one pain Torian would never want to take from her. His
own eyes watered with a mixture of pain and pleasure that she was his as three crimson drops
spilled onto the snow below.
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Then he gasped for breath, feeling the heady surge of power crash through him. The
blood of the Roths and the Warrens met his own gifted blood of the Ahlens, creating a myriad of
undeniable power. Images flashed before his eyes faster than he could focus on them. He caught
a brief sight of Emariya with her head thrown back and fury streaking her face as rocks crashed
around her. He blinked and the image faded away, replaced with his wife standing before him
with love and peace on her face. He vowed he would keep it that way for as long as possible.
Together, both of their eyes turned to the sky. He heard her laugh beside him, and the
pleasantness of it delighted him. No matter what the prophecies said, this was without a doubt
the brightest moment of his entire life. The only way it could have been better would be if his
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