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

by Amber V. Nicole

“It was always so funny to me that he claimed to not care about her, yet he destroyed anyone who even attempted to get close to her.” “It’s more than that. More than I am allowed to say, but in simplest terms, Gabriella was her heart, Samkiel is her soul, and Kaden has orders to destroy both. I am afraid he has accomplished his task.”

“She wants this, and I know you know what for.” “A final decision.” “Are you going to tell him?” His brow lifted as he regarded me. “I know where you go when you phase from here.” “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.”

The air in the room shifted. I drew a blade, the steel tip resting at Roccurem’s throat as the fate solidified. “One move and your blood will decorate this table. Am I clear?” The fate stood very still. Xavier leaped to his feet, his weapon appearing in his hand. I had felt Roccurem’s arrival, but Xavier had not, and he was none too happy about it. Xavier flanked me on my left, ready to defend his king. Papers settled as the air rectified itself. “You will not find your queen in articles or by questioning mortals with poor eyesight.” My hand flexed on the handle of my blade. “Where is she?” “She plans to siege the city.”

“She is starved for affection.” Blood raged in my ears at even the mere mention. “I am telling you now to watch the next words that pour from your lips, for they may well be your last.” “You are the problem.” My lip curled as I damn near drove the blade through his throat. Roccurem did not flinch as it pressed into the flesh between his collarbones. “She fell in love with you as you did her. That is the problem for so many.”

“Kaden spoke to her. It created another fracture in an already damaged psyche.” “If he touched her, I will⁠—” “He did, but not physically, and yet his words cut sharper than any blade.” “Is she hurt?” “Deeply, but you can feel that can you not? Your concern is not only for her physical well-being but mental as well.” “I know what solitude can do to a damaged mind and heart. I also know that Kaden uses his words to push her farther away from me. What did he say to her?” He only nodded, ignoring the blade digging into his throat. “Dianna knows about your father’s plan for your betrothal.”

“Kaden used a portion of your past to further drive a wedge between any progress you have made.” I felt sick to my stomach, my heart hammering in my chest. “But Imogen and I never… It was null and void. War broke out, and there was no need for a union.” “She does not know that.”

“You need not beg me, god king, for she will come to you. You merely must let her in. She seeks an item you have, and she will take it, but if you can somehow trap her instead, maybe, just maybe, there is hope for a better future—a better outcome than what I have seen. She has constructed a wall of armor around herself and her emotions. You simply need to find a crack, a way in.”

“Kaden took her family from her. Give her one back.”

Xavier chewed the inside of his lip. “Do they think she is as bad as the one they call Kaden?” “Absolutely. Especially after she gutted me.” His fork stilled. “You know what I mean.” “She’s very bad and not just in the hot can summon fire with a wave of her hand kind of way. Something inside of her makes Samkiel weak in the knees, and they are terrified of that kind of power. But she gave her life for her sister, and that deserves respect. That’s why she is all fire and blood, according to Samkiel. That counts for something in my book.”

can make a spell in two seconds. A sleeping one that will keep her out long enough for you to subdue her. You just have to get it into her bloodstream.” “You wish for me to poison her?” Samkiel all but roared. “No, I only wish to help fix what I’ve done, okay? I know I can’t be forgiven, not by her, by anyone, but I’m so tired of this.” Camilla’s eyes glazed over. “I just want to help.”

Samkiel ran his thumb along his bottom lip and said, “I have a better idea, actually.” “Care to explain?” I asked. “I need you all to evacuate the city.” Vincent jerked in surprise. “Why?” “Safety precaution. I am going to piss her off.”

The night The Hand landed on Onuna, we made a pact. He was drowning himself in research and the need to find her. We swore that no matter what happened, we would try to bring her back because if Samkiel loved her, she was also ours.

Imogen

“That’s your plan?” Imogen sneered below me. I had landed to protect her in case the building fell next. It was not her fault, nor would I let anyone in my family get hurt for me. Never again. “Lie and piss her off about us?” “I needed to see.” “See what? Pure blinding rage?” Imogen asked. I lifted off of her and stood, offering her my hand. “If she is still my girl.” Imogen’s face softened, a corner of her lips curving up. “That was the most insane way to test that theory.” “I’ve done far crazier things for those I care for.” I hauled

“Smart, Samkiel, so fucking smart. Teach her how powerful her legs are so she can kick your ass.” I pushed up as she stepped through the hole my body had made, the forsaken blade in hand. “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.”

“You ruin everything,” Dianna hissed, her lithe form landing in a crouch before me. “You will have to be more specific, akrai, on what exactly I ruined. Your mood?” I taunted her. “Your panties, perhaps?” Her brow furrowed, and I saw the shock in her eyes at hearing me call her my heart in Eorian. Satisfaction filled me and made the time spent learning the ancient language worth it.

“How many do I have to kill for you to give up on me?” There it was, a final split in the armor she built so diligently around herself. Her expression twisted, and I could see that she hadn’t meant to respond, the words slipping out. “You could make a river of blood run down these streets, and I would still try because I know you, the real you, not this version he created.” She lowered her blade just a fraction and huffed. “You’re wrong.” “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.”

“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.” She glared down at me, her chest heaving. “You can’t, can you? You cannot truly hurt me.”

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.

“Wouldn’t your betrothed be upset if you kissed another woman?” “There’s my jealous girl.” “I’m not jealous,” I hissed, jerking forward hard enough that the chains bit into my wrists. “Very convincing.” Samkiel lowered his head toward me. I pulled back but didn’t get far, his breath tickling the hairs near my ear. “Gods, you have no idea what it does to me to know you care just as strongly for me as I do for you. What’s that word you like to use so much? Oh, yes. You fucked up, Dianna. You kissed me back, which means my Dianna is still in there, buried under all that grief and hate. I will stop at nothing to have you back again. Nothing.”

“You can’t hurt me anymore with words, Dianna. I know the heart that still beats beneath your breast. I’ve held it. You might as well surrender now because you cannot scare me away. You never could.” My teeth ground together, my jaw clenching at his words. I cursed his retreating form, that simple truth rattling me to my core. 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.

“The council sees a detriment to your rule if you do not marry. So, I sought information from the fates. They said that one was born but did not survive. They are dead, Samkiel. Whoever your amata was to be has perished. It would make sense, given that others would seek to stop the union if you had an equal. Your power alone is far too…”

“You can seriously look at her, see what she does and not fear her? Fear for others?” “Yes,” I said honestly. “Gods, if I didn’t see the mark on your finger, I would think she had you whipped too.” “You know why I can look at her and not fear her?” He shrugged. “Enlighten me.” “Her sister.” I leaned back, folding my arms. “Neverra and I lived with her for months while they were off looking for that book. The stories Gabby told us, the pictures she showed us. Her eyes lit up when she spoke of Dianna and their adventures together. She was mortal once, and the change only affected her physically, not emotionally, not her heart or soul. Gabriella loved her with every part of her. Dianna would have died for her sister, and Gabby’s death broke her.”

“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.

My eyes stung, holding back emotions I didn’t want to process. By the time Samkiel woke up, I would be long gone. I didn’t know why, and I knew I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t keep from pressing my lips to his. It was a soft, quick goodbye kiss to the man who, regardless of everything, kept trying to save me. “Maybe in another life,” I whispered before pulling away.

“A thousand plus worlds he has seen, yet when he dreams, he dreams of you.”

“Not a monster, god king, only broken,”

“They are called the Baku, god king.” Roccurem’s voice was far away and distorted as if he hid from them too. From her. “A race evolved from the Deskin, the dream eaters.” “How can they hold me?” “They cannot. I am helping them keep you detained.” “Why?” I shouted, the lights beneath my skin beginning to hum. I felt them rising toward my eyes, my power, thick and heavy, threatening to consume them. I would kill them all. “For her.” The lights died, and the room stopped shaking. I looked around the dark empty space, the screams and howls ending. “For her?” “I need her to see and feel before the One True King comes. Otherwise, there will be no realm left, even for you.”

Love has the power to touch even the untouchable. Use it.”

“I believe with enough pressure that anything can break.” I had already attempted to use my powers to no avail, but maybe I hadn’t used them all. “Love has power. Use it.”

“Dream eaters will make you see your worst nightmares, forcing you to remain under enormous pressure while they feed off the agony of your memories.” I didn’t need to look at Cameron to know his face had paled. We both knew what Xavier dreamed. “The sovverg cave.”

“Hey, you’re fine. Xavier, you’re here.” I patted him on his shoulder as his eyes adjusted to the room and reality. “I saw.” He panted. “I know, but you’re not there.” “No,” his voice cracked, a shine filling his eyes, “I saw her.”

“I was happy.” The words left my lips without me realizing it. “I was happy for the first time in my long existence.” “What?” “I know I didn’t seem like it when I first came back. Thousands of years of emotions are stacked inside my head, things I never wanted to share with anyone until her. Then, she came crashing in like she did everything. It wasn’t anything at first. We could barely stand the sight of one another, but somehow, she snuck behind every defense I had and got under my skin. It was the most intense thing I had ever felt. All she did was talk to me, hold me through the worst of my nightmares, and she got in. She is everything I am supposed to protect you all from, and a part of me knows I cannot live without her.” “Do you love her?” Logan asked, his eyes filled with understanding.

He was known as Tobias on Onuna, but on Rashearim, we knew him as Haldnunen.

“Everyone does,” Logan said, “and they always find each other.” I snorted, “I’m sure they do.” “I am telling you the truth, Dianna. It doesn’t matter the distance or time. It’s inevitable, even if it takes a thousand years or more.” “Please.” I rolled my eyes so hard I was afraid they’d get stuck. “Don’t tell me you think Samkiel’s my mate.” Logan shrugged. “I don’t. We all know his amata died, but you two are something.”

Tobias’s eyes raked over me. “Hurts, doesn’t it? Not healing.” “What did you do to me?” “Nothing. You are the one who charged head-first into Yejedin, thinking you are invincible. We can only be mortally wounded in our true forms. We are the weakest at our strongest. Nature’s little failsafe.” He smiled. “This will make keeping you here for Kaden so much easier.”

“Can’t get up, can you?” He snickered. “I told you. Hurt in your true form can be debilitating. But I will give you credit. It was a valiant attempt, even if it was a stupid one.” I said nothing as I tried to push myself up again, my shoulder screaming. “Seek revenge for the sister that was not even of your blood.” “What does that mean?” I sneered.

“You’ll see soon enough.” He smirked at me. “I cannot wait to kill your boyfriend and leave this world when the realms open.”

“You were supposed to leave,” I hissed as he dragged me to my feet. Logan looked at me as if I had grown three heads. “I think you’re in desperate need of new friends if you think we would ever leave you behind.”

“You are arrogant, like your World Ender, Dianna.” His lipless mouth turned up in a wide, serpentine grin. “And you will die like him, too.” I raised my blade between us, every bit of defiance that burned in my soul reflected in my voice. “You first.”

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.

“You’d stay?” “Yes,” I said without hesitation. Neverra nodded. Dianna looked at us in disbelief. “Even after everything?” “Friends don’t abandon friends,” Neverra said, a small smile softening her face. “And you definitely need new ones.”

“We won’t abandon you, Dianna,” Neverra said gently. “We are not them.”

“Why have you ignored me? I tried to summon you after the dream eaters, and you blocked me. You keep secrets that could help me save her. You⁠—” “Your judgment of me and my intentions are not misguided, but the chemical imbalance in your brain when it comes to her overrides your logic, god king. Anyone in this room can feel the waves of power wafting off of you, begging to claim what’s yours. She is an integral element for what is to come, as are you. I am merely a vessel from the ones far older and far larger than you.” “Where is she?” “I cannot speak of that.”

“I cannot. No matter what you threaten or how you torture me. It must happen this way, or there will be no future for you or anyone. I forewarned you. Her choice must be her own. The path she determines shapes the world, and you nor I can intervene.” “Why?” I bit out. “Because fate dictates it?” “You are right where you need to be, god king. I only apologize for what else you will lose.”

Neither looked at me, their eyes wide and transfixed, locked on the portal. I looked up, feeling her before I saw her. 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 feel it best for her to stay here. Until she is better, at least, and until you and the council have made your final judgment. She will be safe here. No one knows of this place except The Hand, and they would rather cut their own throats than betray you.” “Still an advisor to the gods, Roccurem? Even after all this time.” “Yes, it appears so. I will admit it is peculiar to see you so enamored with one living being. It would seem it took a fiery temptress to tame the untamable.”

“You can return to the council, Roccurem, and let the others know I’ll be there after she wakes.” “Are you going to tell her of your dreams?” I looked at him. “No, and they don’t need to know either.” “Even if it is a premonition of your inevitable demise?” “Even then. If it is to happen, I need them ready.” My eyes returned to her, always to her. “All of them.” He didn’t speak for a minute, and I knew he was scanning to see what outcome my decisions would make. He didn’t move. “She will be furious once she learns.”

As soon as the air settled from Roccurem’s departure, I leaned forward, resting my forehead against hers. “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.”

“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.” I lowered my gaze, unable to face his pain. “If you want an apology from me, you won’t get it.” “I don’t. I can take your anger and hate. All I want for you is healing. I know the path you are on, and as difficult as it is, the only way out is through. And if I have to be the one who shows you that, then so be it because I will not sit by while you tear yourself apart.”

“What, are you judging me now on how I decide to heal?” “Judge? Not at all. The things I have done to keep myself from feeling far outnumber yours and forever will. Trust me. You’d have to live a millennium to catch up to me.” He scoffed. “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.”