The Dawn of the Cursed Queen (Gods & Monsters, #3)

by Amber V. Nicole

“The World Ender had a lover and not just a fling like in his past. They say she is a beast made of flame and hate, and she followed you lot back. His beast. The female Ig’Morruthen.” Dianna. He meant Dianna.

Samkiel was a light. He promised peace and change, and I had helped snuff it out. A part of me hoped I burned in Iassulyn for eternity for it. Another part of me knew Dianna would hunt me, hunt us all like she did for her sister. I would be lying if I said I wouldn’t welcome it.

But you know who was spotted? Eyewitnesses said a large, dark, scaled Ig’Morruthen flew across the sky before landing. She then proceeded to dismember my loyal soldiers and spread their remains across the field in a warning.” I swallowed the lump in my throat, along with the hint of amusement and the tiny flame of pride at just what she could still accomplish.

“Fuck,” I gasped. “You’re supposed to be eating breakfast.” Another swipe of his tongue had my body bucking with helpless pleasure. “I am,” he practically purred against my swollen, wet flesh.

If he was the sun, by the old gods, she was the moon. Powerful, dark, and overbearing at times. She never left him, nor he her, as if they danced around each other for eternity.

Ugh

Perhaps it was truly a funny thing not to realize how broken or damaged you were until someone came along and picked up every single fractured piece and showed you how just being you was enough.

This got me

She looked at me as if I had grown three heads. “You would go and save the King of Rashearim?” My hands dropped to my hips. “Oh, I would level the universe for him, but he told me to be good, so I’ll stick to saving him instead.”

I love her

He is order. She is chaos. One cannot exist without the other, and if she were to lose that, war would be the least of our problems.”

“Take me on a date.” “Let’s get this done, and then you can have whatever you wish.” My lips curved against my glass. “Okay.”

“The most powerful being in the entire realm is not the World Ender, but the one who protects the World Ender. The one who brought him back from the dead,” the oracle purred.

I turned and froze, every muscle in my body seizing. It wasn’t in fear of the hundreds of flying bugs that probably infested this city, but because Samkiel, World Ender, Destruction Incarnate, and the legendary God King throughout all twelve realms, was kneeling before me. His hand was raised, and he held a shimmering silver ring that held a rhombus-cut, clear jewel.

I pulled away from him, tears in both our eyes. “You ask too much of me, and I don’t know if I can give it.” Samkiel didn’t back down. “So removing your actual soul is alright, but this? Marriage? Is it too much for you?”

He breaks my heart

“How could I not be completely and utterly in love with you?” “You love me?” My heart melted. “With everything I am and everything I ever will be.”

material. “Dianna. Ayla. Akrai. My world. My life. My love. Will you marry me?” “No.” His brows drew together so tightly I worried about his face freezing that way. My smile was so big it made my cheeks hurt. “I’m kidding. It’s yes. It’s a thousand times, yes.”

“I hope that’s a serious yes because we have an enormous problem now.” I gave him my hand, extending my finger. “It’s a yes. Now give me my damned ring.” His smug, male smirk was adorable as he placed the ring on my finger.

Every time we get a brief bit of happiness, it is ripped from us. I refuse to wait anymore. I want you, all of you. I love you, all of you, and if I have to carve out time for this, for us, by the old gods and the new, I will do it.”

I truly didn’t deserve this man, but I no longer cared. He was mine, and I was keeping him.

Good girl

“You left me to go house hunting and wedding planning after we’d just had a major fight?” He shrugged. “Well, when you say it like that, I suppose it does sound a bit strange.” There he was, once again proving that he was nothing like I’d ever expected. I had been miserable those days after we fought. Miserable and crying and depressed that I had ruined the best thing that had ever happened to me, yet he was quite literally building our future.

Samkiel smiled at me as if he could read my mind. This was love. This was what it felt like. What it was supposed to feel like. I finally understood why others would go to war for it and clash or rage at its demise. I knew if I lost him and his love, the universe would quake at the mention of my name.

She tasted of the sea, a raging, powerful force that had the potential to drown me, and gods above, I wanted to drown.

“I hate this,” Dianna said through our connection. “Why do I have to be a giant flying worm?” The wind ate my chuckle. “Technically, you’re not a worm. Ryphors are ancient beasts and much more intelligent than a worm.” “It’s a fucking worm, Sami, and I hate you.”

I love her hahahaha

Her eyes dropped back to mine. “You destroyed a world for me?” Dianna said it in utter disbelief. She did not fully understand the lengths I would go for her. Destroying a world was not even a fraction of it. She thought me a hero, but a hero would defy others for the greater good. She was mine, and for her, I’d do the unthinkable. My strong, fierce, beautiful girl who thought she could take the world on all by herself. Only she had me now, and gods above and below help anyone who thought they could hurt or take her from me.

“I’d destroy several worlds if it meant keeping you safe. You have no idea the limits I’d go for you.” “Shameless flirt.”