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

by Amber V. Nicole

“But it’s impossible. You cannot exist. The Ig’Morruthens died in the Gods War.”

We already have three of The Hand of Rashearim here. Anything that could kill them either died in the war or has been sealed away for centuries.

Ah, yes, the book. The reason we were running all over, searching Onuna.

Bloodthirsty Queen. It was who they were expecting, who they feared—and rightly so. She had earned her reputation over the centuries.

“The fabled World Ender. The legend. The Son of Unir. Wielder of the Blade of Oblivion. And where is he?”

“I cannot rule them. They will not allow it. I’m not you, nor will I ever be. The title was supposed to pass to one of them. They know it, and I know it. I am nothing to them—nothing but a half-breed bastard. Aren’t those the words they murmur when they think I do not listen? The stares… They insist I prove myself again and again, and still, I am not enough.”

Who had made him hot? Why was he hot now?

“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.” I sobbed, and I couldn’t seem to stop.

“I am not normal, and I am fine with that. You are the one with something to prove, not me.”

“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?”

“It’s okay to not be okay, Liam.”

I’d never had anyone there for me. Not like this. Not when I’d bared pieces of my soul and revealed my weaknesses. She was my enemy, yet my enemy was the only one who seemed to understand me and the demons I fought. Even so, her words were the farthest thing from the truth.

“It’s okay to not ...

“Would it have mattered? I’m not good, Liam. I had every intention of dragging him back to Kaden, who would have done much worse. No matter what Gabby sees or thinks, I am a monster. I do what I have to do to protect her. I always have, and I always will, even if it means fighting a god.” She forced a smile.

I do not remember how long it took me or if we continued to talk, but sleep came, and the nightmares did not.

“Hey.” I pushed at his shoulder, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to get his attention. He sat up and looked at me. “It is, but not for the reason you think. It’s important because that’s something else you’ll have to work on. You’re projecting what you feel. They don’t know you, just like we don’t know them.”

“You know way too much of me. I am afraid even The Hand would be envious.”

“I promise not to tell.”

“You’re sweet when you’re homicidal.”

I didn’t remember how long we talked, but somewhere amidst her laughter and smiles, I decided I would rip the world apart for her.

I wondered what it would take to make her lips part, make her scream. I longed to find out if she would bite and claw at me as I buried myself so deep inside her that she would never even think of allowing another to touch her. “You already consume my every waking thought. Must you consume my dreams as well?”

We continued to talk, moving comfortably from topic to topic, some heavy and some light-hearted, but we didn’t talk anymore about Kaden or the book. Time passed, yet it had no meaning when I was with him—and that terrified me.

Don’t be the one to make her fall if you have no intention of catching her.”

“That’s eight ways now, because when we leave here, I’m going to fuck the word friend out of your vocabulary.”

“The prophecy remains. One falls, one rises, and the end begins. It was foretold and will remain. One carved from darkness, one carved from light. The world will shudder.”