Gods & Monsters, #2
The Throne of Broken Gods
by Amber V. Nicole
Contents
Chapter 6
Overview
In the burning Vanderkai mansion, Dianna brutalizes Drake and feeds on him to access his memories. She witnesses how Drake lured Gabriella into a trap where Kaden and Tobias overpowered her protectors and abducted her. Confronted with undeniable proof of betrayal, Dianna emotionally severs hope and prepares to kill Drake, vowing broader vengeance.
Summary
As the Vanderkai estate burns, Dianna savagely beats Drake, voicing fury over his betrayal and the broken blood deal tied to Gabriella’s death. Drake offers thin apologies and resignation, but Dianna insists on seeing exactly what he did before killing him.
Dianna sinks her fangs into Drake to read his memories. First, she sees Drake and Ethan at the mansion earlier, discussing Camilla’s visions and Samkiel and Dianna in the garden, before a humming mirror signals a clandestine summons.
The vision shifts to a Silver City coffee shop, where Drake has brought Gabriella, Rick, and Logan’s mate, Mrs. Neverra. When the cafe falls under a sudden stillness, Kaden arrives with Tobias. Corpses are compelled to rise, hemming them in, and fear takes hold.
Mrs. Neverra bravely engages but is outmatched; Kaden seizes her by the throat and casts her into a flaming portal. Tobias subdues Rick. Kaden captures a screaming Gabriella and vanishes with her into the portal, completing the abduction Drake enabled.
Back in the inferno, Dianna nearly drains Drake dry. The memory confirms he knowingly led Gabriella to Kaden, shattering any remaining attachment. Dianna’s grief calcifies into cold hatred as she promises punishment—first for Drake, then for all complicit.
Who Appears
- DiannaProtagonist; beats Drake in the burning mansion, drinks his blood to see memories, confirms Gabriella’s abduction, hardens to kill him.
- Drake VanderkaiConfesses complicity; his memories reveal he lured Gabriella to Kaden and Tobias. Defeated, he submits as Dianna prepares to kill him.
- KadenAntagonist; appears in memory, commands the ambush, overpowers Mrs. Neverra, and abducts Gabriella via portal.
- Gabriella (Gabby)Dianna’s loved one; appears in memory at the cafe, terrified as Kaden seizes and carries her into a portal.
- TobiasKaden’s ally; puppeteers corpses, subdues Rick, and helps trap the victims during the ambush.
- Mrs. NeverraLogan’s celestial mate; defends Gabriella with twin blades but is overpowered and thrown into a portal.
- Ethan VanderkaiSeen in Drake’s memory at the mansion, discussing Camilla’s visions and responding to a mirror’s ominous call.
- RickMortal companion of Gabriella; tries to protect her but is captured and held by Tobias.
- SamkielReferenced in memory as being with Dianna in the garden; not directly involved in the ambush.