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

by Amber V. Nicole

“Santiago. Your coven is as lovely as ever.” Kaden nodded toward him as the witches

“The dream eaters.” Kaden motioned toward the clan of Baku,

Through the centuries, I had heard stories that some clans were actually peaceful and were called upon to expel and eat nightmares. I had only encountered the ones that instilled terror in dreams for the right price.

“The mind-yielding screamers.” I noted the banshees on the left.

“I see the powerful.” Kaden motioned toward the shades, who only nodded in response.

They were a clan of assassins and tricky creatures by nature. One leader controlled them, and if you took Kash out, it would be bye-bye, good night assassins.

“I see the ferocious beasts of legend.” Kaden’s still crimson eyes focused on the werewolves.

“I mean, even the mortal council showed!” Kaden gave Elijah and his group a slight nod.

Kaden had helped the politician rise through the ranks, gaining a great informant and an even better source of money laundering.

The crimson fire in Kaden’s eyes flared as he focused on the three sitting vampires. “And yet, only a handful of the blood stealers show.”

So, through the process of elimination, we had deduced that I would die if my heart were removed from my body. My stupid mortal heart was my weakness.

I had cared for Kaden in the beginning, until a few hundred years of excusing his behavior had grown old.

The shape I’d taken was one Kaden had shown me centuries ago, and one of my personal favorites. Mortals would recognize the beast as a wyvern.

“If he breaks your heart, I’ll eat his.”

I am actually doing you a favor, because I mean it when I say…” I paused, a slow smile curving my lips. “I would eat you alive.”

“but I am faster.” “Yeah, I’m learning!”

“No! You shouldn’t be able to escape that. Not unless you are one of the—” Zekiel stopped, his eyes wide and fearful.

“You don’t even know who Azrael was. If he made a book and hid it, then it’s not meant for your kind to find.”

What I saw in his eyes had me questioning everything and filled me with terror. For the first time in centuries, I saw fear in his eyes.

But unbeknownst to the Ig’Morruthens and the traitorous gods, my father and I had sent as many as we could to the nearest livable planet for refuge.

“I will never be a leader like you.” “Excellent. Be greater.”

“The stylized playing card with the clover or the bat, used in various games the mortals like to participate in?”

“End worlds, my son.”

Everyone else had been created, made from the light that now ran through my blood. My mother said I’d been conceived in love, which made the other gods envious.

“Why do you call it a monster, little one?”

“Ah, yes, but a monster is still a monster, no matter how pretty it is.”

“She is pretty for a fire-wielding death bitch that tried to kill us all.”

He looked so different. Who had made him hot? Why was he hot now?

Alistair hissed insults at Logan as he dug around in his pockets for the key, but Logan just grinned and snapped his teeth at him.

“I have lived for several millennia,” his deep voice echoed from the back of the crowd, “and surprising me is hard to do. But you continue to surprise me.”

The word did not register. “‘Fucking’?” She threw her head back and laughed, her tone mocking as she said, “Oh, gods, that explains so much about you.

Usually, the weak backed down, but knowing Miss Martinez, I knew she would not.

“You will, or I will carry you myself.”

“You wouldn’t...

“I offered for you to go peacefully, but you refused. Just as you refused when one of my men placed the cuffs on you, and you broke his nose. So this, Miss Martinez, is your fault.”

I put my hands on my hips, glanced down, and then back up at her. Her eyes widened, and she stepped back a few paces as I sighed. I grabbed the hilt of the dagger and pulled it from my gut. “It seems you are more like your sister than I previously thought.”

“That’s not a quake. That’s my sister.”

My jaw ticked. “How did you get out?”

“You stabbed him? Gabby, I am so proud!” They both shot me a glare as I held my hand up for a high five. I shrugged and lowered it as Gabby shook her head.

“Dianna! Be respectful.” “Gabby, no.”

Miss Martinez has made it very clear she refuses to be left out, so that is why she is here … if she would kindly extinguish the ball of fire in her palm.”

Just to be obnoxious, I got up and sat right next to Vincent.

“Aww, you think I’m muscle.” They all glared at me, and I mouthed “sorry” before sitting back in my seat.

“You can draw?” They all just stared at me.

“Okay, yes, we will go there, have drinks, laugh, and forget all about monsters and gods.”

“Gods, you’re a fucking joy to be around.” “I do not know what that means.”

“Let me do the talking.” Ding. “That should not be a problem, since that is all you do,”

“Good. That proves some of you are intelligent,”

“Kaden likes pretty little things that do whatever he says.” He turned to face me, his familiar scowl in place. “You don’t say?”

Tug. “—infuriating—” Tug. “—disobedient—” Tug. “—aggravating woman⁠—”