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

by Amber V. Nicole

We had dared to touch her, and now there was no mercy in the creature I faced.

He’d ripped his power from the very sky for her.

It shouldn’t have been possible for him to summon it, but if what he said was true, he didn’t need it for Oblivion. He was Oblivion.

“Kaden…” I didn’t realize the word left my lips until he made a noise in his throat. “Is dead.”

“I see Father in you, Brother,” I said it like the curse it was. He pushed off the wall and strolled into the room, still wearing his infamous battle-worn silver armor. He moved in it as if it were light as a feather. “I’m not your brother. I am your judge and executioner.”

“I want you to know while you wallow and hate and curse my very name and existence that this, all of this, is your fault, Kaden’s fault, and Nismera’s. It never had to be this way. I was never the monster she told you I was. You should have come to me. I would have given you all a home, a family.”

because despite what vile, vicious lies Nismera has planted into your brain, I am not the bad guy here. I never was. I love and protect those who seek it, and I love and protect my family with everything I have.”

Of course, I was alone. Why would I assume I wasn’t alone in my cell? Samkiel had left me here. I had been alone the whole time.

wtf did he just see?

my one and only.

“I love you.” Another heated kiss. “I love you.” Another. “I love you.”

“Akrai,

“No one has ever protected me like you do. I’m always the one taking care of everything and everyone else. You’re supposed to protect the world, not me.” “You are my world.”

“I’ll always protect you, akrai. No matter the consequences,” he whispered against my forehead. “Even if I break the sky.”

He was my sword, my shield, my heart, and my home.

“I have no idea how I’ve survived this long without you.” “Me either.”

“I witnessed it once, the future and how peace could be attained. Dianna is a flame that will spark a revolution,” I said, lifting the teacup to my lips. “And?” asked the bird of night, the room growing a fraction colder. “And now all I see is destruction and ruin. The laughter has faded, screams taking its place. I see fire to the West, a wasteland of the East, and… what changed?”

“Death of one.” “So it is true, then?” “For now.”

The worn and tattered suit he wore was riddled with bullet holes, and his hair stuck to his head in a red smear. His taut pale skin pulled tight as if it were an ill-fitting mask. One of the Formless Ones, the most ancient, and he preferred to wear the forms of those who had passed his gates. “I’ve come for a reason, kinsmen.” Death carefully picked up the fragile cup and took a sip.

Death’s pale, dead eyes fixed on me as he lowered his teacup. I knew he hated to be cheated, and that was exactly what Dianna had done. “No one escapes me.” His voice was reminiscent of the hollow void we all came from. “I will have them both in the end. Make no mistake.”

“You fear her?” “We all should. Dianna is no longer the promised princess of Rashearim or the destined queen. The other sibling has polluted her blood. What she carries within her now could turn worlds to ash if she willed it. You all should fear her as they once feared Ro’Vikiin.” I chuckled. “You know as well as I that he hated that name. He always preferred Gathrriel.”

As in THE Gathrriel? and Vvive? and their son Dihsin, y’know, the MARK?!

The brother has slaughtered his blood. It seems to be a repeat of the family tradition, but have no fear. I plan to correct it.” I raised my teacup. “And so Death intervenes, as does fate.”

please don’t bring back Kaden😩

Nismera wins, if they return, there will be nothing left of any of us.”

“What of her soul?” Death tilted his head toward me. “That’s what worries you? Not the return, but her soul?” I said nothing. “Soul?” Death tsked. “The fractured thing it is. It’s a jagged, crushed thing, the remnants buried within him.” My back straightened, and Death caught it. My mind whirled. I had not seen that outcome either. “Her soul is in Samkiel?” “What is left of it. Two beings in one. It seems Samkiel was strong enough to bear it,” Death said and sipped his tea.

Death raised a brow and shook his head, a small, rueful smirk quirking his lips. “I have no power over Samkiel. I never did. Dianna brought him back. She didn’t know it at the time, but she used the power of that mark. Without even realizing what she was doing, she did the reverse of what Vvive did. She forfeited the mark for the power to split her soul, and then she tied it to his life. Dianna resurrected Samkiel. As much as I hated being bested, it was both terrifying and intriguing to witness something that has only happened once before. The love she has for him is a power.”

“But Dianna laughs, breathes, and loves. She is not just flesh and⁠—” “And she is void. As was Ro’Vikiin, a soulless, empty monster,” Death interrupted and then paused. “My apologies. I mean, Gathrriel was void before Vvive. He died on that battlefield, and when Vvive split her soul to save him, the mark formed. Samkiel dies, and Dianna, refusing to accept that reality, absorbs the power of her mark and merges the pieces of her soul that his passing hadn’t shredded. She left herself empty. She is Gathrriel once more.”

“I would make sure they stay close to one another if I were you. If there is too much separating, the body realizes it’s void. It tries to revert to its most basic, primal urges.” “That’s why she is okay with Samkiel.” I swallowed. “She knows.” “More or less,” Death said. “Some primal instinct knows that her soul lies within him, her true morality.”

“Samkiel is not his father.” “Perhaps not, but I have seen him love thousands. He will love a thousand more.” “We both know that was not love.”

Nismera will leave the realms desolate if she gets her way and succeeds with the Great Return.

I do not wish to witness another War of Wars.”

She is all he sees. He loves her, truly loves her.”

I crossed one leg over the other. “You know I will not keep this from her. She has been betrayed enough in her long life.” The darkness in the room seemed to quiver in irritation before settling near his frame. “Just as you are aware that I collect a little part of everyone who passes through my gates, yes?” He picked up his cup and drained the last of his tea before setting it back down. “Dianna was kind enough to send me Alistair.” Realization slapped the air from the room.

Her voice stopped as her eyes caught on something behind me. “Why is your tea frozen? Did you leave a window open?” I frowned, perplexed. “Perhaps. I’m not sure.”

I screamed as my body put itself back together,

DAMMIT

He had killed me. Samkiel had killed me. Everything came back as consciousness took form.

“You brought me back? Who… Who are you?” “I have many names,” she said, her eyes raking over me as if assessing my injuries or lack thereof. “This will do.” I started to ask what she meant, but her form burst into a bird the color of night and shot into the sky, a caw raking across the sky before disappearing past the tree line.

Yet, no matter how bad it got, a flicker of hope sat idly by. It was a spark of life, an ember I protected with all my will. It was the memory of shimmering hair, the color of the sun, the scent of mistwood, the rich fragrance heralding the turn of fall, and a laugh that could heal heartaches and broken bones. He was home, and he was so far away from me now that it felt as if a part of my soul was missing. I would have sworn he was a dream, only I did not dream here.

I knew that light, knew what it meant, knew how it felt. It was not Nismera, but it was a god. Samkiel.

The woman twisted her wrist, and her helmet melted away. No, not Dianna at all. “Xavier,” she purred. “My yeyras. I’ve missed you.” Kryella.

Kryella dropped her hand and rose to her feet with easy grace before turning to the woman next to her. She slid her helmet back, and blonde hair spilled past the breast of her suit. Athos. The goddess Athos. It was impossible.

“How are you alive?” I choked out. Athos did not hesitate. “We are The Eye.” The lethal soldiers behind her stood tall, holding the thick silver shields I remembered from before the fall of Rashearim. Gods, so many gods. “We are the last rebellion against Nismera the Conqueror. What we need to know now is how many more of you are alive?”

OH HELL YEAH

My instincts screamed at me to wake, urging me to leave. An insistent thread pulled tight, wanting me to follow it. I forced my eyes closed a fraction tighter, denying the pull, telling myself it was nothing, just the echo of the nightmare. Kaden was dead. He wasn’t here, and Isaiah was locked deep beneath the castle.

The only thing that eased the throb of the loss was being close to him.

because your soul is in him girlie!!!

Gabby loved me, but I had never been loved like Samkiel loved me. No one had cared for or protected me as he did.

The large masculine shadow detached from the darkness, moving stealthily within the room.

One fireball, then another, sailed through the air and right through him, burning the wall behind him.

“Your vicious, feral nature makes up for your small frame.” I swallowed the lump in my throat, and my mouth suddenly went dry. Ice skittered through my veins because I wasn’t looking into Kaden’s eyes. I was looking into a god’s.

“Unir.”

“The dead have much to discuss with you, Daughter-in-law.” His hands engulfed my skull as darkness filled my mind, and I screamed.