The Throne of Broken Gods (Gods & Monsters, #2)

by Amber V. Nicole

My form was larger than before. Every kill, every drop of blood had created the damned beast Kaden had so desperately wanted. And the one he would soon regret.

I was fury and desolation. Vengeance and hate. Beginning and end. I was death incarnate.

Even Samkiel’s grandfather couldn’t kill me. So, what makes you think you will?” “Call it arrogance.” Tobias smiled and attacked.

Samkiel wanted an equal, and by the old gods, they had delivered.

What you have? What you are, it’s not enough. Not alone.”

You caught me?” It was a whispered question as if she couldn’t believe it. “Always.”

I assure you. I have the best intentions for you, Dianna, and the realms. In as much as I am allowed to interfere, I will do what I can for all of you.”

You will have a choice. One you must make. Choose out of selflessness, and the path is set. Choose vengeance, and well, the outcome will be devastating. Roccurem’s voice echoed in my head.

“I was right the first time I saw you. All teeth, claws, and fury. Definitely a riztoure beast.” He leaned closer. “Pure hellcat.”

I didn’t know if I wanted to kill or kiss him, and I hated wanting the latter for even a second.

You’re right that I don’t get to dictate how you heal, but gods, Dianna, you could’ve used me. I would have let you, and you know it. Anything you desired, whenever you wanted, any way you wished. All you have to do is ask.”

You’re a fool if you think I would be happy in a world where you did not exist.”

I loved the whole ‘she’s mine’ comment,” Cameron said, launching another triangle at Xavier. “So hot, it even made me hard.”

I told you before I would show you eight ways to make you forget that hideous friend word. Tease me again, and I shall show you twelve, and after your little display, we’ll start in the bathroom,”

Don’t you ever get tired of flirting?” I snapped. “With you? Never. You are fun to play with, Dianna.”

Told you,” Cameron quipped, tucking the coin away. “Absence makes the dick grow harder.”

My brow lifted. “Didi?” Cameron nodded and poured another shot, passing it to Xavier. “Yeah, that’s your new nickname. Everyone gets one. Welcome to the family.” Family.

Roccurem’s six opaque eyes opened, and he gazed into the distance. “It is a delicate task to heal a heart so damaged and broken. I am afraid that even with all of Samkiel’s powers, Kaden may have succeeded quite thoroughly in his plan to tear them apart. It is still not enough. I will have to intervene a little further.”

I realized there is no limit to what I am willing to do for you.

So here he was again, laying his heart open and bare, waiting for me to claim it and heal it, but I feared all I would do was damage it more, breaking him like I was broken. Maybe him saying he was scared and me saying sorry were two truths we both needed to admit.

Kaden fractured her into a million pieces, and I am afraid I may not be able to pick them all up.”

Gods, Dianna, why is it so hard for you to believe that someone just genuinely cares about you?” “Because they don’t!” I shouted, my voice breaking. “They don’t. I have lived a thousand years as someone’s weapon, someone’s thing. Everyone wants something from me, and the only person in the whole world who didn’t is dead!”

A truth whispered toward me, knowing without a doubt that with him, I’d never be lost again. I reached out and placed my hand in his, finally ready to at least try. For him, I would try.

To be loved by the great Dianna would be a gift beyond imagining. Anyone to receive your love and be claimed by you would be lucky.”

While your anger is a force that may frighten lesser men, it does not scare me. I told you, you never scared me. I have only been afraid for you, not of you. All

Samkiel said he couldn’t fix a broken heart, but how could I tell him he already was?

I could have sworn he had held me, and for once, it didn’t feel like my entire world was broken.

Solo activities, Dianna? Tsk, tsk. You know, gods are very possessive. Samkiel would be oh so very hurt if he learned you’d rather take care of yourself than let him.” I dropped my hands and glared at him. “Well, he seems all too happy to be occupied at the moment.”

“No!” he practically shouted. “He said the next time I was with you, I needed to clarify my intentions. You left me so easily the last time I was this close to you, Dianna. I cannot do that again. I refuse to risk losing you. We will not do this without you knowing what it means.”

The second I touch you, once I take you completely, there will be no other. I will not share you. There will be no other lovers. I am not Kaden. I will demand you and only you. Do you understand? You mean too much to me. If we do this, you are mine, and I will not share you.”

“You deserve to be worshiped like the goddess you are,” he said, pressing another kiss to my brow. “I’m not a goddess.” “You are mine.”

His eyes met mine, and I didn’t need my powers to know that something monumental between us was about to change. It felt like the world knew it and held its breath in anticipation.

“Tell me what you crave, what you need. Tell me what you like so I can do it better than anyone you’ve ever had.”

“I can barely breathe without you, Dianna.”

“You are very special to me. No one feels like you. No one else can ruin me so completely. I know without a doubt that if I had an amata, even if they were alive today, I’d still choose you. It will always be you, Dianna.” I felt tears prick my eyes. “Destiny be damned?” “You are better than any destiny.”

“Is he having sex with Dianna?” Roccurem’s six eyes popped open, all white and opaque, surprised at my bluntness. He recovered quickly and closed all but two. “He is with your queen, yes.” Vincent dropped his head into his hands. “Oh, gods.” I laughed. “Please tell me that Vincent’s noise complaint, slash possible murder call from Onuna, was because of them. Please, Roccurem, give me this little speck of joy.”

You will lose so much, young hunter. You all will. I do hope you treasure your family while you still have them. I did try. Remember that.” Fear slithered down my back. “Try? Try what?” He said nothing else before disappearing from the room, his words rattling through my very being.

“Kaden was one of my father’s Generals?” “If that is its name, then I suppose.”

He made Apphellon, the one that controlled minds.” He had to be talking about Alistair. “Haldnunen was the one who controlled the dead,” Porphyrion said. Or Tobias in Dianna’s world

“It means,” I swallowed and sat back, “that Tobias was right. I was adopted.” Neverra’s eyes widened. “Oh.”

“This changes nothing. Nothing, Dianna. She still is and will always be your sister. The same one you grew up with, the same one you experienced life with, the same one you died for, lived for, and fought for. Blood is the least of what makes a family. Trust me.”

“Kaden created the Kings of Yejedin, which is why they were so fiercely loyal to him.

“Why does it excite me so when you get jealous?” “Because you’re insane, and you like pain.”

“Oh, come on, that means nothing.” “It meant something if you hid it. You knew my feelings and did nothing, or actually, you did everything but what you should have.”

“Are you in love with him?” I shouted, emotion out, ruling me harder than any storm Samkiel could conjure. My heart broke when he didn’t answer. He stared at me. Please, my heart begged, it cried, it screamed. Please don’t be in love with him. Please.

Vincent came to my side, as tense now as he was when he first started working for me. He gave Roccurem a once over, but the fate seemed to ignore him. He leaned forward, gripping the rails as he spoke.

“There is no force in this world or the next strong enough to keep me from you. Do you understand?”

“Kaden was more than a general to him?” The Higher One nodded. My hands fisted. “A lover?” “No.” She smiled widely and shook her head, her dark hair spilling over her shoulders. “A son.” Son. The word echoed through my skull. Son. My head reeled back, bile rising in my throat. “Kaden?” “Is your brother.” A vile, cruel smile played on her lips.

The words shattered my very soul. I had one. It was Dianna. It was always Dianna. Every thought, every feeling I had for her since the day I met her, why she touched every part of me, why I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Everything fell into place as if I had found a key to a puzzle, and everything finally made sense. It was deeper than love in mortal terms. Dianna was part of my soul.

“Oh gods, no. Roccurem works for your father. The other two Moirai work for the One True King.”