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

by Amber V. Nicole

Isaiah had slaughtered them for me, and now I was stuck in his massive bedroom. What if I’d been rescued from one horrible situation only to be fed to an even bigger monster?

“Yup, he moved her to his unit, and no one is saying anything. Not that they would. They don’t call him Blood Scorn for no reason. You know he made a guy burst into goo once because he stepped on his foot.” I swallowed. “Lovely.” Hilma nodded again. “Yeah, and Nismera won’t do anything about it. No one will. He is far too high in the ranks.”

“And no one up here looks at me like the bastard traitor I am.” “You mean Cameron?” He said nothing. “What about Imogen? Have you seen her?” “I can’t,” he said, his voice a whisper. “Every time I even get close to her… I just can’t. Besides, Isaiah keeps her safe and fed. No one gets close to her.”

He met my gaze, something burning in those cobalt eyes. “I can’t have what I want.” My skin flushed with the way he looked at me. I didn’t know how I felt about his words, but my body understood exactly what he had said. It was all in and ready for whatever he wanted to give.

vincent and camilla

“You keep my head quiet, I suppose. I can just exist around you. If that makes sense. I don’t have to talk or be anything. That’s why.” His words touched a lonely, vulnerable part of me, easing the ache of loneliness that had been constant since being here. I’d never had anyone just want to be around me. Everyone wanted me for my power, not just me.

My head reared back as I absently counted on my fingers. There was no way Samkiel got her pregnant, and if he had, the child would not be walking yet. I shook my head. I already knew the man with her was Reggie. It had to

“I want to know why Nismera has a vial of Isaiah’s blood and why there is an empty one with my name on it. I want to know what my sister has been up to these last few centuries and what she’s planning.” I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up, but I covered it with a cough. “Sorry, but you’re telling me the diabolical Kaden doesn’t trust his equally diabolical evil sister? There’s a joke about karma in there somewhere.” “Cameron.”

couldn’t tell Kaden, and even if I did, he wouldn’t help. I needed to find Dianna, beg for forgiveness, and hope she’d help me long enough to find Xavier. She could kill me after that. I just needed to find him.

“Six?” the dwarf said. “Can’t be. One Ig’Morruthen is enough. If she has six, that’s practically the start of the new age. She’d be unstoppable.” “She already is,” the hooded figure said, drawing back into himself. I swallowed the growing lump in my throat as they looked toward me for reassurance, but I wouldn’t, couldn’t, give them that. I couldn’t tell them of her.

“The realms brought something back with it. Something with the blood of the ancient. The first. The fires in the East weren’t rebels,” the hooded figure said. “The East?” I asked. “Yes, her soldiers were slaughtered. They thought it was you guys, but I heard remains were scattered, spelling out a message that enraged her,” Orym said. “You’d been long captured by then.”

“You found me.” Dianna nodded, lowering her arm. “I’ll always find you.”

“Samkiel promised he’d help Veruka and me.” “Veruka?” “His sister,” I replied.

veruka is the obe fuvking isaiah omg

“To be fair, I am unsure if a god could even kill a fate, but I am persistent and willing to try.” “Stop it.” “I do not like feeling left out when it comes to you. Especially after everything.”

Samkiel tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, tenderly swiping his thumb across my cheek. “Can you do it to me forever?” My eyes softened along with the angry, blackened heart in my chest. “Forever,” I said softly.

“Told you,” I said, taking another crunch out of my fruit. “Also, I wonder if the tentacles kind of hurt and if he’s into it. In my world, they had these tiny suction cup things.” “It depends on the species,” Samkiel said, and then his spoon stilled in his mouth as both Orym and I stared at him. He lowered his spoon, his eyes widening a fraction as he looked at me. “Not that I would know or remember… ever.” My eyes narrowed. I banged the fruit down on my tray and pulled my leg away from his. When I scooted away from him, he reached under the table and tried to pull me back. I slapped at his hands, both of us in a small match of push and pull before Orym cleared his throat.

hahahahha

“Oh?” My brow flicked upwards. “Slept with one of them too?” Samkiel reached for me, but I shoved his hand away. “Dianna…” he said as I moved past him. “You’re in trouble,” I heard Orym say, a hint of humor in his voice. “Yes.” Samkiel sighed, watching me leave the small cafeteria. “I am in trouble.”

“You smell…” a voice echoed from my right, “old.”

“What a massacre,” Isaiah said, stepping out of the shadows. Imogen followed him, and my breath died in my lungs. “What are you doing with her?” I hadn’t realized I was in Isaiah’s face until Kaden placed a hand on my chest. Isaiah laughed. “Get your bitch in line, Kaden, before I rip him to pieces.” “Both of you,” Kaden said, pushing me back, “calm the fuck down.” “Why do you have her?” I asked again, unable to look away from Imogen. She just stared straight ahead, her blue eyes so far away it broke my fucking heart. I had been avoiding her because I couldn’t look at her, couldn’t see her, without needing to take her away from this, to save her.

I felt my eyes flare red, but I just chuckled. “Listen, all I’m saying is everyone is a little gay. We’ve all sucked dick before. We’re immortal. It’s normal, but I won’t be your willing sex slave like Dianna.” “Cameron, if you don’t shut up, I’ll kill you here and now.” He held his hands close to my face in half-clenched fists, his claws extending.

i love cameron

Savees’s eyes turned to me, their nocturnal shine glowing from the torches outside, and I wondered just what beast he turned into. “That’s none of your business.” He all but growled. “Watch it,” Samkiel said from behind me, the air in this chamber stirring. Savees lowered his gaze in a sign of submission.

All thoughts died when I reached the room and heard a single heartbeat inside. I calmed my breathing, ready to play my part, and opened the door. I froze, and time stopped.

“Yes, but I don’t know how to tell you this. I ate Taotl, but my blooddreams haven’t worked since Rashearim. They didn’t return when I got my powers back. I didn’t see this, Samkiel.” “What? Just tell me, Dianna.” “The weapon…” I swallowed. “It’s not a thing. It’s a person. It’s Logan.”

Dianna. I know that name! I know her! My friend. Our friend. Our queen. “Are you in there, buddy?” Her words filled the dark, empty expanse of my mind, echoing through my memories. “Yes!” I screamed. I yelled. I fought, but my mouth did not move. My legs, arms, and body remained still and motionless.

Dianna had said that Samkiel was alive and that gave me hope, especially if she was with him. I would cling to that because I had seen what they were capable of when they worked together.

“That seems almost insulting,” Samkiel said from behind her. “Do you always speak of your future king in such a tone?” Oh gods, Cameron was right about the ego. We’d never survive. She half-turned, keeping her gaze lowered. “My apologies, my future liege. If you'd be so kind as to have your kingsguard move, I really do need to be on my way.”

“Having fun and having a distraction or three are very different things. I have distractions, Logan. Never forget that. I do not have fun.”

“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.”

So, do you want to be my stand-in daddy?” “Never repeat those words.” He rubbed his brow before dipping his head slightly. “But, yes. It would be my honor to escort you, Dianna.”

Gathrriel.”