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

by Amber V. Nicole

“Years of love have been forgot, In the hatred of a minute.” ― Edgar Allan Poe, “To M⁠—”

stared at the empty night sky, watching her dark wings beat across the sky, her sleek form disappearing into the roiling clouds. Away from me. “You promised,” I whispered as the sirens continued to wail.

So, no, Samkiel was who I was, who I would forever be, and Liam died with whatever part of Dianna’s heart fractured that night.

“I looked for her, for Gabby, and searched for you the second you left.” Dianna paused, her false smile dropping, something festering behind her eyes. Whatever pseudo persona she wore fractured at my words. I saw the flicker of life behind those crimson eyes.

I bet he killed her and is now using her somehow, like resurrected ans enslaved to kaden

Dianna glanced toward the flickering lights, then back to me. “When I burn this world to embers, and you paint me as the villain, remember, I really did try to be good… once.”

I took a deep breath and blurted, “I have her body.” The room stilled. “I took it after it happened. They left as soon as they heard your cry.

Oh snap. I didnt expect that

Dianna reached out again, brushing the hair away from Gabriella’s face. “I thought at first that maybe I was wrong. Maybe it was a terrible dream, and I could still find her, you know? How stupid is that? Even after I felt that mark sear my palm, I had hope, but seeing her like this?” She placed a kiss on her forehead before straightening. “I really have no one left now.”

“I—” Roaring flames engulfed Gabriella’s body, and I gasped, forgetting my words of comfort. Dianna stood silhouetted against the angry glow, both hands extended, fire pouring from her palms. I stumbled back, shock washing over me as the sister she loved so much burned between us.

Mer-Ka was my birth name. Ain was Gabby’s, and Eoria was the home where we knew peace so long ago.

That was the last thing I heard before he jerked my head to the side. It was merely a snap, and yet my world changed forever.

Logan looked a bit worse for wear. He looked how I felt. His facial hair had grown thicker, along with the hair on his head. It had been three weeks since the destruction in Silver City. Three weeks since Neverra had been missing. Three weeks searching for those Dianna had sworn she would come for, leading me back to Zarall.

Whoa wait what? Missing? How....... oh shit from when gabby was taken

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.

Neverra spun toward Kaden, her swords singing through the air. It didn’t matter how many bodies she dropped. They were outnumbered. With one hand, Kaden caught Neverra by the throat, a flaming portal opening in the floor. She fought, but he was stronger. Her blades fell, and he laughed before tossing her into the gaping darkness.

Nooooo :( so she is gone forever

pain. “I can’t lose her.” My voice broke this time. “You won’t.” I glanced up at him. “What do you mean?” “I saw it when she first stepped out of the forest, a flicker in her eyes as if a part of her tried to crawl to the surface for you. I thought Gabby was the last tether, but you are. You are her only link to whatever mortality she has left. So don’t let Kaden win, no matter what she says or does. Trust me. You are the only thing she cares about now.”

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.”

Drake struggled to turn his head and look at Logan. “I’m sorry about Neverra, but she is alive.”

“You know, your reactions make sense now.” I don’t know why I indulged him, but I stopped, my foot resting at the door’s entrance. “What?”

“I lost someone. We all have. Grief is mourning, but you’re not grieving. You skipped straight to anger and revenge, and it’s because you feel guilty.” Guilty.

Only Azrael could make something from nothing, and he is long dead.” Santiago pulled his worried gaze from the blade and looked at me like I had grown horns. “Who said Azrael was dead?”

No waaay

“All I know is that it is a major celestial event, that’s all.” “When?” I asked. “That I don’t know, only that it’s soon. That’s why Kaden needed the book so quickly.” So he had a date and a plan the whole time, and I had been none the wiser. He’d kept everything from me. Had he planned to sacrifice me as well? Or did he not trust me at all? I had been so dumb to stay as long as I had, but I could do nothing about that now.

And a lock on a door in a house rattled.

My heart dropped, and whatever was left of it shattered. “So, you’re saying no matter what it’s my fault?”

“You mistake my words. Gabriella fulfilled her purpose just like you will yours one day. The universe will have its balance one way or another. That is how it has been and always will be.”

“Not even the gods could kill me.” “Well, lucky for me, I’m no god.” “No.” He seemed to register what I said with newfound respect. “No, you are not. Although your chemical makeup has similarities, you are much worse. You follow no one’s rules, not even the laws of nature. You will be a problem across the stars.”

You see death and assume it is against you, but death is natural. It is not cruel or kind. Death takes no sides. Death does not discriminate or hate. It just is and has remained since the first living being existed and will be here long after. It may hurt, but it happens to all.

“I prefer survivalist. That power is dripping off you in waves, Dianna. I bet the creatures beyond this realm feel it and quiver.” He leered, his gaze dropping to my chest. “You see me, and your heart doesn’t even falter.” I grimaced and snapped. “My heart doesn’t beat for you.” “Oh, I assume it beats for him, then?” he asked, rubbing his chin.

“You do realize that falling in love with Samkiel did not kill your sister?”

“If you ever say that to me again, I will rip you to pieces.” My voice emerged deep and rough, but Reggie only folded his arms tighter. “Now get out.”

Reggie went rigid, his head craned back. The slits above and below his eyes opened, opaque beams shining briefly from his six eyes. They closed as soon as they opened, returning to normal as he looked at me. “What?” Reggie gave me a chaste smile. “It is nothing.”

“You are a very powerful queen. It seems Kryella’s blood runs through you more than you know.” Roccurem tilted his head toward me, his six opaque eyes alight. “Kryella? The Goddess of Magic? I don’t think so.”

“You also have a long road ahead, witch queen. They will need you for what’s coming. I do apologize for what you will endure. Hold on to the light you find. You will need it.”

“What exactly is coming?” “Something far worse than Kaden, far, far worse.”

“Unir made the council before Samkiel was born. It is the only thing that has a hope of keeping gods in line so they don’t become what Nismera sought to be.

“Fucking Nismera.” I clicked my tongue. “A shame she was so hot but so evil.”

Ah satch her team up with Kaden

“If I’m wrong, then so was Gabby, and I know she wasn’t. She wouldn’t give up on you, and neither will I. We can do this dance until this world burns and the next takes its place, but I will still choose you.” She stopped.

Then she was atop me, her blade in both hands as she raised it, threatening to impale me. Even with my armor, she had the strength to do it. “I’ll carve that damned heart from your body,” she said breathlessly. “Then you’ll leave me alone.” But she stopped a fraction from my chest, her hands and arms trembling as she panted.

“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.”

I lunged up. Dianna let out a startled squeak and withdrew the blade. My hands cupped her face, taking advantage of her parted lips to slam my mouth over hers. Her fangs nicked my lip, and I groaned at the pinch of pain. She didn’t stop, but the world did as I kissed her with every bit of longing and desire I had for her. I poured all the desperate need and love I had felt while we were apart into the kiss. I gave her everything to make her see, make her feel.

I heard her blade crash to the floor, and her hands gripped my armor, pulling me closer. The taste of her and the feel of her tongue sweeping across mine were complete bliss. She pulled back slowly, her eyes wide, dazed, and confused. Her lush lips were parted and softly swollen from my kiss, the emerald magic clinging to them. It had worked. She sagged in my arms, and I cradled her against me. “It’s okay. It’s okay. I got you.”

I knew all along. He would never let me go, and the part of me I’d shut away behind a lock on a door in a house didn’t want him to.

His eyes filled with sadness. “There is no amata for you.”

returned to the plan.” “Good, to be fair, it's all your fault, really. You turned her and then decided to care for her. I gave you strict orders, but you decided to listen to your cock instead.” The mirror rippled, the voice neither male nor female but pure, unrelenting power.

“If he was so easy to kill, then he is useless to me. What of the other one?” I pondered the question, my clenched fingers releasing the edge of the dais as the tension left me. Other one? My mind raced, and then I paused. “Camilla?” “Yes,” the voice purred, “Camilla. Bring that one to me.” “As you wish.”

Ugh. I figured.

I smiled. “Of course, my king.” “One more thing, Kaden.” I paused. “Do not fail me again. We will not wait another thousand years. If I have to rip the realms apart with my bare hands, you will not like the outcome. Are we clear?” “I miss you, too.”

“We just need to meddle a little more with that spell for it to work. Don’t you agree, Azrael?” 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.

That bastard Azrael

I shook my head, trying to calm my emotions. And a lock on a door in a house rattled. “Peachy.” My power flared, and I watched the flame eat away at the photos. Our smiling images turned dark, burning to ash.

Dianna! You ASSHOLE

“A thousand plus worlds he has seen, yet when he dreams, he dreams of you.” My head snapped toward Garleglish, and he closed his mouth, glancing away.

“Other than that book, Azrael took his secrets to his grave,” Vincent said, folding his arms across his chest.

I yell out, BUT HES NOT DEAD HES WORKING WITH KADEN

“What kind of king or leader cannot contain their emotions?” I finally asked. “One with a heart.”

“A ruler cannot have a heart. My father made it clear that attachments would only ruin everything. Maybe he was right.” Logan shrugged. “No, that’s why they are all dead, and you are still here. Their logic was flawed.”