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

by Amber V. Nicole

“You can ravage me for hours once we are out of here, my king.”

“Are they…” He chewed on his words, growling softly. “In your words, sexy dreams?” I couldn’t help but smile. “No, never. I only have those about you.”

“He will not have you.”

“What else am I missing, Dianna?” You died.

I would have to tell him I had given up the one thing he wanted most of all, traded it for his life, and a part of me was terrified.

It meant I’d have to tell him my one true fear and why touching him reassured me so damn much. Why, I desperately needed to know that I was wrong and that he still wanted and cared for me.

What if I’d given up our mark, and we weren’t mates anymore? What if I had saved his life...

I couldn’t stop the grin or the god-awful feeling I had when I hooked his finger with mine and lied and lied and lied.

I was a cruel, awful bitch. And I loved him.

It was nice to be wanted so much for once and not just for what I did when we were naked.

I asked, patting Samkiel’s arm. “No offense, baby.”

Dianna. I know that name! I know her! My friend. Our friend. Our queen.

I have distractions, Logan. Never forget that. I do not have fun.”

“I know how that magnificent brain works, and you’re wrong. You are enough.”

Even if I have to rip the world to pieces for you, for them, I’ll do it. We will fix this.”

“With you at my side, how could I lose?”

“I like this. Having you in the palm of my hand.”

“You’re a cruel, evil woman,”

I’d never been so consumed or obsessed with another. Dianna was not just a want but a pure, blinding need.

She owned me, mind, body, and fucking soul.

“Is this mine?” “Yes, akrai. Yours.”

“Everything I am is yours.”

“Fuck, baby.”

“You are a goddess, akrai.”

Gods, I would die for this woman.

It didn’t matter what form she wore. I could spot her out of a crowd of millions. It was as if my soul was drawn to her, seeking the connection.

Gods above, I loved her more for it.

She and I were the same.

My only fear was for her, never of her.

“I wish for you to rely on me more, is all. You’re no longer alone. If you’re hungry or need something, I want you to ask me. Let me help.”

“Pinky promise.” She raised her hand toward mine, and I took it, wrapping my small finger around hers.

Dianna had lied to me.

My chest still burned with the rage I’d felt the next morning when Samkiel had cried with the agony of losing his friend all over again. It made me want to kill something. He didn’t deserve everything this miserable realm threw at him. I knew he was beyond scared, and I wanted to wipe that look from his face.

This was my fear and why I didn’t want him finding them just yet, but this was another stark reminder that I couldn’t protect him from everything.

I walked a bit quicker, eager to see him. One more turn, and I saw Samkiel, something in me easing at just the sight of him.

I always thought Samkiel was beautiful. I mean, who didn’t? It was written in every textbook about him, but dirty, sweaty Samkiel might be my favorite.

“I know there is a lot going on right now, but when are you going to tell me?”

“Don’t play coy. You think I don’t notice everything about you? As if I don’t pay attention. I noticed in Jade City but waited for you to say something, but you didn’t. I know a lot has changed since Onuna, since the remains of Rashearim, but I thought you’d tell me.”

Every time he looked at me these last few weeks, he wasn’t just stealing longing glances. No, he was worried about me. A fraction of my black heart cracked so hard that it outweighed the hunger in my gut.

“Dianna.” He dropped his arms. “I don’t know how much clearer I can be when I tell you that you are important to me. So yes, regardless of what’s happening, this is important.”

“We can do this one of two ways. It’s your choice, but you will feed here and now from me.”

“My feelings for you have been a lot of things, mostly confusing back then, but never hate. Never you.”

“Dianna, I care about you tremendously, and I mean this with no disrespect, but stop coddling me like a child. I am not frail or fragile. You cannot hurt or break me, not when you feed from me and not when you fuck me. I need you to stop treating me like I am made of glass. I have fought monsters that could swallow this prison whole with my arm hanging on by tendons. You can’t hurt me. I only hurt when you hurt. Your burdens are mine, such as your pain is. That’s what you said. Did you not?”

“All right then. I know my limits, and you haven’t even come close to touching them yet.”

“Now, let me take care of you.”

It was the most erotic thing in the world to see the realm’s most powerful man kneeling between my legs.

“I want you to fuck me like you mean it,”

“Yes, my king.”

“I want you to bite me while I fuck you. Truly bite me.”

What he said finally touched the last part of us we were afraid to share with him.