Gods & Monsters, #2
The Throne of Broken Gods
by Amber V. Nicole
Contents
Chapter 4
Overview
Dianna returns to the Sandsun Isles to perform the Ritual of Havlousin for her sister, scattering Gabby’s ashes. A vivid flashback reveals how Drake delivered Ain to Kaden, who force-fed Dianna his blood and snapped her neck, creating her transformation to gain power to save Ain. Back in the present, Dianna finishes the rite and spares Camilla with conditional immunity.
Summary
At dusk on a secluded Sandsun Isles beach, Dianna holds an urn of Gabby’s ashes and prepares the Ritual of Havlousin. She speaks to her sister’s memory, grieving and blaming herself for not leaving sooner, and recalling Eoria and their birth names, Mer-Ka and Ain.
A flashback unfolds: Drake rescues the ill Ain and leads Dianna to a collapsed temple. Inside, a gathering led by Kaden debates Ain’s worth. When Kaden claims Dianna as his, she resists with a dagger but witnesses his inhuman healing and red eyes. Kaden orders Ain taken away and offers to help only if Dianna “wants it.”
Kaden then force-feeds Dianna his blood, urging her to think of saving her sister; Dianna yields, desperate for power to protect Ain. As the transformation begins, Kaden declares she will have unimaginable power—if she survives—and snaps her neck, sealing her fate.
Back in the present, Dianna ignites the urn, releasing Gabby’s ashes into the night sky. Camilla arrives, anxious. Dianna confirms the rite is complete and, hearing Camilla’s racing heart with heightened senses, assures her survival: because Camilla returned Gabby, Dianna grants her immunity so long as Camilla obeys.
Who Appears
- DiannaProtagonist; performs Gabby’s funeral rite, recalls Kaden forcing her transformation to gain power to save Ain, spares Camilla conditionally.
- KadenDominant leader; deems Ain useless, covets Dianna’s potential, force-feeds her blood and snaps her neck to transform her.
- DrakeGuide who brings Ain and Dianna to Kaden; identified as a vampire; initiates the fateful encounter.
- Gabby (Ain)Dianna’s sister; dying in the past, her ashes are scattered in the present during the Ritual of Havlousin.
- CamillaWitch ally; witnesses the completed rite. Dianna spares her life and grants immunity if she obeys.
- TobiasKaden’s subordinate; helps remove Ain during the confrontation in the temple.
- AlistairKaden’s subordinate with white hair; assists Tobias in taking Ain away.