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

by Amber V. Nicole

“Why do you smell of mortal blood?” Her smile was downright venomous.

“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 couldn’t find her, but I tried. I assumed you had, but your face tells me otherwise.”

I should have just stayed with you there instead of begging whatever god that would listen to save you. Then, Drake wouldn’t have found us, and we wouldn’t have ended up before Kaden.” My lip curled, remembering that very day. Mer-Ka was my birth name. Ain was Gabby’s, and Eoria was the home where we knew peace so long ago.

“And now?” “I don’t remember you being this cowardly before.” I turned toward her and rolled my eyes. “Calm your stupid heart. I’m not going to kill you. You brought her back to me. As long as you do what I say, you’ve just earned yourself immunity.”

“Oh, hey. If you’re calling for Logan, he is not here,” Gabby said. I heard her take a bite of something, the crunch loud in my ear as she chewed. “And why has Logan abandoned his station?” Her laugh echoed through the phone. “Dianna is right. You talk funny.” Her comment made my chest react in a strange way. A small flutter, like a bird’s wings, spread warmth through me. “Dianna speaks about me?”

“Do you plan to do that with my sister?” I nearly dropped the phone. “Ms. Martinez, I can assure you that is not my intention,” I managed to choke out, even if the dream from last night told me otherwise. Gabby said nothing as she chewed, the crunch coming through the phone. “Why? Do you think she’s ugly?” “Absolutely not.” “Too loud?” “Never.”

“Oh, so it’s because you think she’s a monster?” “I never… Why are you questioning me on my intentions toward your sister so thoroughly?” She chewed once more. “I’m just checking.” “My intentions are clear. They always have been. We are to find this book and then secure it. No more.” I looked up, hearing her feet move across the floor. “No less.” “Hmm, well, that sucks. My sister has been through a lot of bad things. Some of those things I had to help her crawl out of, and I wasn’t always sure she was going to make it. It would be nice to have someone with good intentions in her life.”

“Also, here’s a piece of top-secret information while you guys work together. She will never ask for help, trust me. She is headstrong and will go into things without thinking. Dianna thinks she is invincible, so please watch out for that too. She’s hard on herself and thinks she messes up when she doesn’t, which is annoying because I think she’s perfect, but whatever. Also, never tell her I said that. She has this face she makes where she scrunches her nose when someone tells her something sweet. It's hilarious. Oh, and watch her if she gets quiet. Usually, that means she is planning something extreme. She likes to lock herself away in her head. She always has.” “All of this is very valuable information,” I said with a small smile and stood.

“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.

I shrugged. “I mean, it’s not like I am ever going to fight you or them.” “No, but I’d still like you to be prepared for whatever is coming.”

“You will not defeat us, Ig’Morruthen. We were trained by Samkiel,” he said, all traces of the easy-going warrior gone. Now he was a pure death dealer, and he had me in his sights. “Trained by Samkiel?” I snickered. “Funny story. So was I.”

I spun in a tight circle and side-stepped, my blade flashing. Xavier’s eyes went wide. Cameron halted, his next breath a gurgle. I smiled at Xavier, Cameron standing between us, cerulean blood trickling to the floor and pooling between his feet. Cameron’s sword clattered to the floor, and he grabbed at his abdomen. “Careful, don’t drop your organs,” I said.

“Queen of Yejedin.” “I hate that name.” “Daughter of⁠—” “Stop.” I held up my hand. “Can we skip the names? It’s stupid.”

“You are here to end me as well, I suppose. For the death of the one you call sister.” I nodded and rocked back on my heels. “Smart creature.”

“I told you everything that’s to come. You did not listen. Instead, you clung to The World Ender with defiance on your tongue.” I squeezed a fraction harder, and the head that watched me joined the others, continuing to spin. “Now look at you. You have come fully into your own power. You could burn stars, conquer worlds, all of it if you should wish it. And all must happen appropriately to ensure what’s to come.”

You were always the catalyst for worlds to burn.” My heart dropped, and whatever was left of it shattered.

“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.”

“What did you do?” “I freed you,” I said and stood. All three of his heads turned toward me in shock. “This place isn’t you. It is just an illusion to keep you chained. They locked you here for thousands of years because of Samkiel’s father. Well, he’s dead, and you are no longer trapped. No more prisons, Roccurem, for either of us.”

“What happened to the room?” Imogen asked, tucking a small device into her bloody tunic and glancing behind me. “Vincent made Samkiel mad again,” Cameron said as if I had not just scolded them all. “The usual.”

“Cameron, you need to go home and rest for a few days. Vincent, get them updated on the rest.” “Wait, why am I out? Vincent is the one who opened his mouth and pissed you off, not me.” “You need time for your organs to heal,” I said with another weary sigh. He opened his mouth to argue but then shrugged and nodded. “That’s fair.”

“I am not her boyfriend or a replacement for Samkiel.”

He still hadn’t shown up, and I was running out of people to kill. I needed Tobias. If I could find Tobias, I would find him. “It seems that killing Elijah and the others did not bring you joy.” “Nothing brings me joy, Reggie.” I lowered my blood-stained hands, sighing.

“Jealousy is a powerful emotion, too. An indicator of another.” A small snarl left my lips, and I glared at Reggie. “I am merely doing what you requested. You asked me to keep an eye. I have kept several. I know the current whereabouts of The Hand if you wish to know.”

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.

Gabriella and you are no exception. You may have prolonged her life once, but her name was still on the list. You only delayed the process.” “Stop.” I raised my hand, my migraine roaring back. “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.”

“Gods, I miss you.” “What do you want?” “You.” He moved his hand as if he would touch my hair. “Always you.” “Me? Or are you here about the ship at the bottom of the sea?” Not even a hint of surprise crossed his features. “I will admit, I am glad I am the only thing on your pretty mind. Is Samkiel jealous?”

“A king must always have a queen, and you are not his.

“I would merely suggest you be more careful with whom you spend your free time. Gods, like Ig’Morruthens, are very territorial beings. To put it lightly, your attempts to drown yourself in men and women every night to erase the taste of Samkiel are in vain. It will not deter him. He sees past your illusion. I would not be surprised if he even feels your pain on some level.”

“I think this act you portray will only suffocate you. Burying feelings hurts no one but yourself. You will drown in the tide you are trying to subdue, slowly and painfully. You will end up truly numb. That will be a grand mistake and not only just for you.”

“I know you hear me perfectly, yet you refuse to listen. I understand your grief for your sister, but why does feeling for Samkiel hurt you as badly? What else have you buried?” The hair rose on the back of my neck, his words crawling over my skin.

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

“You know, back in the ruling era, monarchs would meet to try to bridge peace before battle?” “Well, I am not a monarch.”

“Their creation was forbidden. An ancient ritual crafted from the darkest form of magic and chaos to help end the war of wars. One ruled all. He was the first to shift, to walk on two legs. His blood could make harrowing beasts, and he and his kin were feared among realms. Some of his creations ruled beneath the ground, their forms so large they could block out the very sun. Some had no legs, others far too many. Kaden’s classification is very powerful. Before The First War began, they only created two because that was all they needed from his line. They ruled the skies above, giant winged beasts known as dragons by the mortals, although the name came from a word long lost. They were made to fight Primordials, Titans, and Gods and succeeded dangerously well. If a dragon took the field, warriors were not needed. One creature alone was destruction and ruin. Wings were heard from above, and cities were left in embers. You must realize how powerful they are, how strong, and how much I fear what she is going through.”

“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.”

Dianna cocked her head to the side, a slow smile spreading over her face. She reached up and took it down, the inky dark mass falling in waves around her shoulders. A small blade hit the table. She shrugged. “Okay, I’ll give you that one. Maybe I had one weapon.” She waved a hand, the long sleeves of her dark jacket dancing with the movement. “Now sit.”

Dianna merely rolled her eyes. “Of course he is. How’s your stomach, by the way? Organs feeling better?” “Yeah, thanks for that.” I took a sip of my drink. “We should have a rematch.” She smiled, the tip of her canines showing. “The next time we fight, your light will dance across the sky.”

“Dude, I said, set my nose, not break it further!” Cameron’s voice bellowed from the conference hall. I turned toward it, Imogen right behind me. Cameron let out a loud grunt. “Stop being a baby,” Xavier quipped. “What is this?” Xavier dropped his hands guiltily, and he and Cameron swiveled toward us. “Cameron and I ran into your girlfriend again.” “Dianna.” Why did her name always feel like a benediction when it fell from my lips? “Yup,” Cameron said, wiggling his nose into place. “She taught me again that it is a bad idea to bait her.” “What happened? Where is she?” Cameron

Samkiel glanced down and nodded before exploding into motion. Grabbing Dianna by the throat, he lifted and slammed her against the countertop. Dianna reached up, grasping his wrist, twisting beneath his hold as she kicked and struggled.

“You also forgot about Dianna’s jealousy. She lit the forest of your island on fire because of a mere kiss. She would be beyond rage, thinking I had a betrothed and had lied to her. Imogen wouldn’t have made it past the front door.” Imogen’s throat bobbed, remembering the last time the two of them had met.

Her knee came up, connecting with my groin. Pain shot through me, my gut twisting with nausea, and I released her. She spun and kicked me through not one but two walls. My back skidded across the dry floor. I was in an entirely different part of the building. No flames or sprinklers erupted here. I took a few deep breaths, willing the pain to ease, and bumped my head against the floor. “Smart, Samkiel, so fucking smart. Teach her how powerful her legs are so she can kick your ass.”

“It hurts, doesn’t it? To think of someone else touching or being with the one you care about the most.” Another sharp growl ripped through the air. “Now, you know how I feel.” “I feel nothing.” “Terrible liar, Dianna. You always were.”

We can do this dance until this world burns and the next takes its place, but I will still choose you.”

“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.

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.” “Wha—” She stared up at me. “I’m going to help you as I promised. Your burdens are my burdens, remember?” Her eyes met mine, emotions swimming in their depths. Finally, I had reached her, at least for a moment.

Dianna. I dropped my sword and rushed forward, catching her falling form. Her body jerked at the landing, her hair spilling across her shocked face. She was filthy, covered in bruises and cuts, some still open and bleeding. The scent of her blood made me feral. She was battered, dirty, and pale, so pale. “You caught me?” It was a whispered question as if she couldn’t believe it. “Always.”

I weighed my options: keep him talking and try to summon a portal or create a big enough distraction to get us all out. I settled on the latter. It would take every bit of strength I had left to do what I had planned. A part of me didn’t care if I burned up and died, but I wanted them to survive.

My gaze traveled up the strong column of his neck, caressing the hard line of his jaw, before staring into the clear beauty of Samkiel’s eyes. He looked exactly how he did on Onuna, not Rashearim. He wore no armor, no long wavy hair, or shrouds of guards around him. “Why is this still happening?” My heart thudded in my chest, and dread filled me, forcing me to step back. “I don’t want to dream of you anymore. I can’t,” I said, my voice shaking.

“I would have followed you anywhere, Dianna. All you had to do was ask. Instead, you used me. You used every single bit of knowledge you had on me to hurt me, my family, and my friends. You threw things I confided to you back at me without a moment’s thought. I have been stabbed, tortured, and nearly decapitated. All in service to my home and kingdom. But nothing has hurt me as you have. Nothing.”