Page 13 of Tortured

“Yes. Typical of an emrys. What else?”

“Premonition. I see what to do before it happens.”

“Really?” Her green eyes brighten, actually brighten with light. “That is quite amazing. I sense that your body is not done with its transition. You may yet notice more enhanced capabilities as time passes.”

What more can I expect? “Am I immortal? I didn’t take Niawen’s immortality, did I?”

“As for your mortality, I cannot say. As for her immortality . . . her light will return. Slowly, but it will.”

“How’s that possible when she gave all of it to me?”

“Our heart-centers constantly regenerate light. Even if we take out all that we currently possess, new light will enter and fill the space. It takes time, but she will be whole once more.”

“Her light is the source of her immortality?”

So I might be immortal. I might not age. I’m not sure how I feel about that, especially after seeing how Niawen didn’t like watching her loved ones die.

“Her light is what regenerates her body. She’ll be quite vulnerable for a time. She’ll even age a bit, not much that anyone will notice.” The High Emrys winks.

Relief practically overwhelms me. “All I want is her safety.”

“I know, dear.”

“What of the bonds between Caedryn and me? When I took Niawen’s light, her bonds with him transferred to me.”

“Yes. This is very interesting. It was a theory I suspected, but no one in Gorlassar has ever tested it because no one has ever willingly given up their light and transferred it to another.”

“Can I break the bond? Can I get rid of this light?” I almost reach out. I almost grab the High Emrys to shake her, to make her understand how badly I want to sever my connection with a mad man.

“Caedryn and Niawen bound their lights together when they were united through marriage.” The High Emrys holds her palms in a cupping position. “Two lights together became one, inseparable.” She brings her hands together. “Light can’t be divided once it is mixed, but it can be split, so each person carries a portion of the conjoined lights. And since your light fused to you, you cannot take your light out as Niawen had. You will be bound to Caedryn unless he takes his light out to remove the bond.”

“So I am at his mercy.”

“Indeed.”

I stare off into the distance, not wanting to believe the truth. I speak with measured words, wishing the trees would swallow me up. “I’ll never be rid of him. Everywhere I go, I’ll endanger those I love because Caedryn will stalk me. He’ll continue to send his assassins, day and night.”

She touches me then. Her delicate hand closes around my wrist, raising it between us. Her middle finger traces the veins in my wrist and swirls circles in my palm, bringing back a memory between Niawen and me.

I traced the veins in her wrist, trying to convince her she was just as human as I was—because of her emotions—her compassion—her guilt.

You bleed as I do. You breathe as I do. You sin just as I do. The Creator made me just as he made you, I told her.

She was so hurt after killing those men.

“I’m sorry I can’t take this from you,” the High Emrys says.

“Is my future doomed to be one of torment?”

“Not forever. You will find peace, but it will come after much tribulation.”

“Where is Niawen now?” I ask. “Is she safe? Do you know what’s become of her?”

“You can learn that yourself.”

“How?”

“Tell me, have you been able to sense her?” she asks. “To see her?”

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