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

by Amber V. Nicole

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.

“Logan thinks it was broadcasting not just to us but beyond Onuna.” Logan sneered at Vincent. “I’m not wrong. It spiked, and to a degree that made it accessible to not only every TV and radio in this realm but farther.”

“I count every second you’re gone.”

When I burn this world to embers, and you paint me as the villain, remember, I really did try to be good… once.”

And the simple truth was I was terrified on so many levels I didn’t know where to start.

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.

“I thought the dress was a good idea. I just wanted to see if he looks at her like Kaden does?” “And how is that?” “Like a prize to be won, a slab of meat.” Ethan exhaled a stream of smoke before tapping his cigar on the ashtray in front of him. “And how does the World Ender look at her, Brother?” “Like I looked at Seraphine all those years ago, and how you look at Naomi.” Ethan met my stare. “As if the world doesn’t exist without her.” Ethan’s eyes darted from mine. “I hope for the sake of the world you are right.”

True love is worth it. It’s worth fighting for. Remember that.”

“Kaden has her. You just have to find him. Look where the world opens.”

“Devil,” he whispered, and to him, maybe I did look like the demons from his legends. I wore a red pantsuit with a matching jacket and heels, my hands covered in my own blood. “Actually, it’s Dianna.”

“I never once said that I was good. That is just a fable you all tell yourselves, I suppose. You tell yourselves that I will show mercy. You believe that to be the law and govern the realms, I have to at least be neutral, but sometimes a king has to be a monster.”

“I am a creature born of chaos, born to destroy you.” She lifted her blade, pointing it at me. “You are the protector of all twelve realms and every dimension in between. Shall we be what we were always destined to be, lover?”

“Look at that. Gods do know how to bow.” “If you wanted me on my knees, Dianna, all you had to do was ask. You know that.”

“I see different realities, one per second. No matter the reality, your sister was supposed to die in every single one of them. Some sooner than others. In this reality it is how it had to be for you to ascend to power. You were always the catalyst for worlds to burn.”

“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.”

“And before you become erratic, I have answered these questions already. Some things you must endure yourself. Some things are meant to happen. 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.”

“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.”

It was preconceived that if Samkiel could not find his mate, his soul tie, then he would marry. There must always be two rulers for the realms. Two leaders. Two monarchs. It was just how it was done at that time.”

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.

“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.”

“I need you all to evacuate the city.” Vincent jerked in surprise. “Why?” “Safety precaution. I am going to piss her off.”

What is the inbetween?” My father was quiet for a moment as if deciding if he would explain. Finally, he said, “The inbetween is neither light nor darkness. It exists but does not. It is a place out of time and space. Rules do not apply, nor is there enough known about it to explain. I learned about it during my travels. Mostly legends passed down. Some say that long ago, it was where shadows went to hide, but it is that of myth. Nothing of that power lives any longer.”

I felt her through time and space, a heartbeat that matched my own.

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.”

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.”

So, I sought information from the fates. They said that one was born but did not survive.

Make her a weapon so we can kill him and go the fuck home.”

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.” I stood, placed the coin back into my pocket, and strode around the long obsidian desk. “We just need to meddle a little more with that spell for it to work. Don’t you agree, Azrael?”

I let her in during the worst part of my existence, and now she is in my bones.

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

“Seek revenge for the sister that was not even of your blood.”

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

“But you just made it home.” “Well, you know what they say. Home is where the heart is, and you kindly ripped mine out.”

A lock on a door in a house rattled, and I let it open a fraction.

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

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.”

“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 ran my hand over the thin strap of the cami I wore. Samkiel’s eyes followed my every movement, a moth drawn to a flame, and I wanted him to burn.

“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,”

It won’t be easy, and there will be days you will feel like you don’t want to get out of bed, but I want to be there for you. Every day if you will let me.”

“A whole beach?” I shook my head. “You’d give me a whole beach?” “The world, if you wish.”

No matter how mean I was, how cruel, vile, and hateful, Samkiel saw me, and he cared.

“Okay, how about this, then? I would rather have my reputation be one of blood and death than for anyone to touch someone I love again. I don’t want just power. I want fear so that anyone even thinking of messing with those I care about thinks twice.”

“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.”

I have seen the best of you, Dianna, and now I have seen the worst. I am not leaving. You do not scare me.”