Gods & Monsters, #2
The Throne of Broken Gods
by Amber V. Nicole
Contents
Chapter 54
Overview
Samkiel forces Dianna through mountain runs to test her, revealing her powers are suppressed, not gone. A brief reprieve at a waterfall and meeting the last Lorveg stag softens her grief, but a council summons snaps her back to fear and guilt. Dianna rejects Samkiel’s care and isolates herself for days. Roccurem visits, confronting her self-sabotage and the lie that she does not need Samkiel.
Summary
Days after collapsing on Rashearim, Dianna endures grueling mountain runs with Samkiel. He admits the altitude is a test: a mortal would die, proving Dianna’s power still exists, though it is deeply suppressed. Their banter exposes Dianna’s resistance and Samkiel’s intent to draw her out of numbness.
Samkiel leads Dianna to a hidden waterfall and introduces the last Lorveg stag, a relic of his mother’s symbol. Feeding and petting the creature briefly calms Dianna, and a playful water fight follows, giving them a rare moment of uncomplicated joy.
Logan arrives, summoning Samkiel to the council. The reminder of political pressure and Dianna’s guilt shuts her down. She orders Samkiel to stop returning and to send others to check on her, insisting she does not need him. He leaves, visibly hurt.
Dianna then isolates in the palace for days, ignoring visitors and sinking back into grief over Gabby. Roccurem appears, noting Samkiel’s silent suffering at the council and challenging Dianna’s cruelty and fear of being cared for. When Roccurem presses what she has buried, Dianna angrily expels him.
Alone again, Dianna forces herself to move and admits internally that telling Samkiel she didn’t need him was a lie, even as she struggles to face it.
Who Appears
- DiannaProtagonist; trains on Rashearim, learns her powers are suppressed, shares brief peace, then pushes Samkiel away and isolates.
- SamkielGod king; tests Dianna’s limits, reveals her power persists, shows her the Lorveg stag, then leaves when she rejects him.
- RoccuremAncient entity; visits Dianna, challenges her guilt and self-sabotage, notes Samkiel’s quiet suffering at the council.
- LoganAlly; arrives with a council summons, triggering Dianna’s retreat from Samkiel.
- XavierAlly; briefly delivers food while Dianna feigns sleep during her isolation.