Gods & Monsters, #2
The Throne of Broken Gods
by Amber V. Nicole
Contents
Chapter 56
Overview
Xavier returns Dianna to the palace, and Cameron and Xavier coax her out to an Onuna club to break her isolation. Between drinks and dancing, they confront Dianna’s self-blame and invite her into their “family,” with Xavier revealing his sister’s death and Samkiel’s rescue. Dianna’s repressed power claws at its chains, culminating in a bathroom breakdown and a bloody hand, where an unidentified woman suddenly greets her—shifting the night from escape to confrontation.
Summary
Xavier flies Dianna back toward the palace, refusing to leave her despite her protests. After she cleans up and wrestles with her powerlessness and grief, Cameron and Xavier arrive dressed to go out, overriding her reluctance and taking her to an Onuna nightclub to distract her.
In the club, Dianna drinks heavily with them and tries to drown memories and guilt. Cameron and Xavier joke, shield her from attention, and keep close. When Dianna mutters about Zekiel and her crimes, they refuse to be shocked; Cameron dubs her “Didi” and declares her family, while Xavier insists she cannot push them away.
Pressed, Dianna challenges their motives. Xavier disarms her by sharing that his sister died on a mission under Kryella; he survived only because Samkiel refused to stop searching and rescued him. Cameron warns he might have killed Dianna for making Xavier relive that pain, yet both men affirm Samkiel believes she’s not lost. Cameron teases her jealousy about Samkiel, exposing lingering feelings.
Throughout the night, pounding headaches and intrusive visions of a chained, locked “beast”—Dianna’s suppressed power—rattle her. The fun falters as the inner locks seem to rattle. Xavier urges her to stay near those who feel like “sunshine,” glancing at Cameron and implying Samkiel fills that role for her.
Overwhelmed, Dianna goes to the bathroom, where grief and self-loathing crest. She punches a stall door, splitting her knuckles, and watches her human blood run without healing. As she washes her hand, an unfamiliar woman appears in the mirror and says, “Hello, Dianna,” turning the night from respite to a sudden, ominous encounter.
Who Appears
- DiannaProtagonist; numbed and powerless, drinks to forget, resists help, suffers surging locked power, breaks down and injures her hand.
- XavierThe Hand; steady protector who shares his sister’s death and Samkiel’s rescue, urging Dianna toward ‘sunshine’ and connection.
- CameronThe Hand; instigates the night out, challenges Dianna’s self-pity, offers family, and teases her jealousy about Samkiel.
- Unidentified womanMysterious figure in the bathroom mirror who greets Dianna at the end.