The Book of Azrael (Gods & Monsters, #1)

by Amber V. Nicole

“Blood of my blood, my life is sealed with yours until the deal is made complete. I grant you your sister’s life, free, unharmed, and alive, for your maker’s life, or the deal is broken. In return, your life is mine…”

“… to do with what I must.”

“She is innocent. Therefore, she means everything.”

The floor shook, causing all of us to pause and catch our footing to stay upright. The conjuror looked as surprised as I felt.

“Does the ground frequently shake here?” I quietly asked Gabby behind me.

“That’s not a quake. That’s ...

My jaw ticked. “How did you get out?”

“Well, you need to learn, and quick. I didn’t make a blood bond with you to have you keep me in a damned cell while you try to do everything yourself. Especially when it puts my sister at risk.”

“Dianna! Be respectful.” “Gabby, no.” “He saved me.” “Oh, did he? That’s nice. He tortured me.” “What?”

“Apologize.” “Over my dead body.” “Dianna. That was harsh, especially if you did everything he said you did. Plus, he saved me. Twice. You are not this vile, mean person.” “Last I checked, you said I was a monster.”

“You know that I was just upset. You have never been a monster. Not to me.”

“Listen, I get that you’re some leader of the universe, but that means nothing to me. Nothing. Her…”

“She is it. I don’t care about Kaden’s plan to end the world, or yours to save it. It’s all just one giant cock-measuring contest, anyway.”

“But if you can promise that whatever you do, she can at least have a happy,

normal life after this, then I…” I

“I am yours. We have to work together and find some common ground, or regardless of who is stronger or meaner, we will lose. So, can you at least agree to listen to m...

“I accept your terms.” “Fine,” I snapped. “Fine,”

“I can’t control her. She brought us here with a thought. I had no time to stop her.”

“What?” I said. “I did what you said. I fought back, and now I have a way for this to all be over. You will finally have a semi-normal life.”

“Oh, D, trading one powerful man for another isn’t a way out.”

“They were transporting me to a different location. Tobias and Alistair showed up and almost killed Logan, one of Liam’s men and Neverra’s mate. Anyway, I saw his dying thoughts through his blood, and they were all of her.”

“That was it—no malice or cruelty. Everything he felt was just love and happiness, and I couldn’t do it. So, when Alistair moved in to finish Logan, I killed Alistair.”

“You were right. I haven’t been happy for a long time. I am not happy with Kaden, and I have been faking it for so long. These last few weeks have been terrible.”

“D. You are my sister, and I love you. What he had you doing was wrong. You didn’t have a choice, but now you do. If you can save a few people or make it right with the littlest of things, try, okay?”

“I’ll try.”

“And be nicer t...

“Oh, so you do listen to me.” “It would be nearly impossible not to, with the high pitch of your voice every time you speak.”

“This is Kaden’s informant?”

“Kaden likes pretty little things that do whatever he says.”

“You don’...

I didn’t correct her, letting her believe it was a random electrical occurrence and not the ill-tempered god sitting next to me.

He wasn’t just powerful. His was power.

“It is of great importance that their king shows his

face. Instead, you hide it between a woman’s thighs.”

“To be fair, I’d accomplished that task well before the coronatio...

Resurrection, no matter the circumstances, is forbidden.

“Please, do not insult me, Miss Martinez. The desire to touch you is, and will always be, the farthest thing from my mind or intentions.”

He was consumed with grief and overwhelmed with pain. Liam was mourning.

“So, it is true. You have the World Ender in your palm. Well, if anyone could

corrupt a god, it would be you.”

“What? Is that what everyone thinks? That I fucked my way out?” “You are everything he hates. Why else would he not hav...

Logan and Neverra said he’s been isolated for centuries. They haven’t seen him since Rashearim fell.”

“I did what you asked of me, Father. I did what you begged of me! You wanted a king, so I became a king. So, why? Why will you not let me rest?”

“You are a lot stronger than you think. Especially if you can disarm me.”

“It’s okay to not be okay, Liam.”

She was my enemy, yet my enemy was the only one who seemed to understand me and the demons I fought.

“Good, that’s a start. And while we’re together, you

can share your burdens with me. I promise not to judge or ridicule or make you feel less than because of them. Your burdens become my burdens.”

“My father made Logan, but he was not conceived. All the celestials were created by one god or another. The celestials are not born, and they have a shadow of our powers.”

“My sister would do this on the nights that were bad for me. It wasn’t much, but it helped. I always loved my hair played with while I drifted off to sleep. It was just a comforting touch, reminding me I wasn’t alone. As I said, it’s not a lot, but it’s enough.”