More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Read between
July 30 - August 1, 2023
no, Samkiel was who I was, who I would forever be, and Liam died with whatever part of Dianna’s heart fractured that night.
“When I burn this world to embers, and you paint me as the villain, remember, I really did try to be good… once.”
shock washing over me as the sister she loved so much burned between us. She stared into the crackling flames, their tips reaching, seeking more fuel. I feared my home would burn with us in it, yet as I watched, they never once licked the ceiling.
Mer-Ka was my birth name. Ain was Gabby’s, and Eoria was the home where we knew peace so long ago.
“You have taken someone from me with your actions—someone very precious to me. And now you have helped a lunatic corrupt her already damaged heart, shattering it into a million pieces. They are pieces I will pick up and fix, but what you have done is unforgivable. I plan to make you suffer for that transgression. Death would be a kindness, and you deserve none.”
Years of war had steeled my stomach to gruesome atrocities, but seeing her so casually holding the head of Ethan’s wife in her palm had my gut twisting.
She is still the girl who likes flowers and pretty gifts from overbearing god kings. She is sweet, kind, funny, and loves with her entire being. That’s why she is like this. She’s hurt. She’s in pain. If you love her, truly love her, don’t give up. True love is worth it. It’s worth fighting for. Remember that.”
“Do you know what Oblivion is, Santiago?” I moved the tip of the blade closer to him as he struggled against my invisible, vise-like grip. “It’s a weapon I made long before you were even a thought. It was meant to be an instrument of peace, formed at my accession. Only I carried too much anger and grief at the time. Feelings I couldn’t control spilled over, and I created this instead. It is every horrible emotion a god should not feel, yet here it is. It is a true death blade. There is no peace, no Astheroth, no Iassulyn, no nothing. It makes you into particle matter to be reused as the
...more
We swore that no matter what happened, we would try to bring her back because if Samkiel loved her, she was also ours. He had finally chosen for himself. He hadn't been coerced or chosen out of duty. We would be damned if we lost him like so many gods before.
took it from me. I turned in my seat. “How
“Do it.” I angled the tip of her blade above my heart. “If you are truly gone, I refuse to live in a world without you, so you’ll have to angle it farther to the right. That’s where a god’s heart lies, and mine already belongs to you, so do with it what you will.”
“They will be drawn to each other like magnets. I’m surprised they stayed apart this long, being in the same realm. But you know they cannot be together. If they even get close—”
“The King agreed to let me keep her, which changes everything. I will make her love me again, erase what I’ve done. It will be easier once Samkiel is permanently out of the way. I’ll make sure of it.”
The long-feared Celestial of Death stared blankly ahead, his arms behind his back. I patted his shoulder as I strode out of the room.
He was known as Tobias on Onuna, but on Rashearim, we knew him as Haldnunen.
I saw it then. Saw why Samkiel loved her so damned much, even if he refused to say the words. He risked his crown, his throne, and the damned world for her because Dianna was a queen worthy of any king.
cared for her more than I wanted to admit to myself, and I had even told her. The words had left my lips of their own accord. I knew I shouldn’t because it would cause more harm than good, but I couldn’t control it, nor did I know if I wanted to.
“Please wake up. I don’t care if you hate me, are angry, or yell and scream. You can wish death upon me, but I need you to wake up. I need you here with me.”
That was when the pieces clicked, and my breath hitched. Samkiel hadn’t remade this massive palace for himself. He’d made it for me. A warm feeling I thought I’d buried with Gabby stirred. And a lock on a door in a house rattled.
“You’re a fool if you think I would be happy in a world where you did not exist.”
Remember that I love you. Always - Gabby P.S. Because I know you, be nicer to Liam.
whim and loves flowers even when she tries to deny it. I have seen the best of you, Dianna, and now I have seen the worst. I am not leaving. You do not scare me.”
“Dianna,” he cupped my cheek, the heat of his palm rough against my skin, “there are no ugly parts or pieces of you, and I care about them all, broken or not.”
“Dianna,” he paused, seeming to gather his words, “there is no life with you in it that would be horrible. Horrible is living without you.” A lock on a door in the house we stood in faded.
That’s what this was? “I need you to understand what you’re doing. What you are asking for. I know what I said before about you using me, but I lied. 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.”
“Good girl.” He fell on me, feasting, demanding everything from me.
“I can barely breathe without you, Dianna.”
“I used to dream of what my destiny would be, my future. Everyone has an amata. It was written before the universe had form.” He rose above me, his hand cupping my jaw, his thumb running across my cheek. “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.”
He didn’t turn toward me, but I suspected those damned white eyes were out. “It will be painful.” I grinned. “Eating? Highly unlikely.” “But it is necessary for what has to occur. I wish there were another way, but it seems even that cannot be avoided. 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?”
“You’re so beautiful, Dianna.” “Hmm, you keep saying that.” “I mean it,” he said, then his mouth descended onto my pussy.
Three born from blood—one that sheds it, one that bends it, and one that consumes it.” One that consumes it—that was Kaden. But who were the other two?
The Higher One looked at me curiously. “Who? Your amata?” My heart stopped. “My what?” “Your amata. You know, this beautiful being,” she said, gesturing toward the facade of Dianna she wore. “You know, I really thought The Order killed her as an infant, but here we are. Kind of funny, huh? She’s definitely your type, though.” My entire world shifted. The Higher One grinned. “You truly didn’t know?
“The same thing I did with him.” I could feel the color drain from my face. I never thought I’d see this person again. His eyes and skin burned cobalt blue, his hair falling well past his shoulders, a few thin pieces curling around his face. He had changed, but I would remember that broad nose, bronzed skin, and power anywhere. He was one of the oldest, most powerful celestials in existence, and we’d all thought him long dead. “Azrael.” My body broke out in a cold sweat. “You’re still alive.”
crawled toward the end of the bed, knocking the sheets off as I went. A tower of presents lined the foot of the bed, and I couldn’t stop my squeal of excitement. I picked up the closest box. It had a flower and a small note attached to it. I brushed the petals of the flower against my cheek before reading the card. You spoke of gifts as a tradition, and I could not decide on just one thing to get you, so I got you a few of your favorite things. Yours truly, Samkiel
Xavier and a man who looked oddly familiar stepped from the darkened hallway. Tall, lean, and built like the celestials, but time had carved deep lines at the edges of his eyes. His hair was as dark as mine, falling well past his broad, strong shoulders and curling at the ends. I inhaled sharply, not because his eyes glowed celestial blue but because I had spotted the book he held cradled in his hands. The same book Samkiel and I had searched for, the one I’d been willing to die for.
“Say hello to Daddy,” Kaden gloated as my blood turned to ice. Azrael.
Kaden disappeared down that damned hall with my father.
head. “I won’t choose Samkiel over Xavi. I can’t. I’m sorry, Dianna.” And there it was—the absolute, soul-shattering truth.
“I never left you.” A small smile played on her lips. “I am always with you, and I always will be. You’re my sister. Our bond is stronger than blood or any stupid paper that says otherwise. Remember, I love you.” Her hand slipped from mine as she stepped back. “And hey, if you are going to be a monster, at least be a damn good one.”
