Gods & Monsters, #1
The Book of Azrael
by Amber V. Nicole
Contents
Chapter 24 – Dianna
Overview
Dianna wakes after Liam’s blood saves her from Sophie and Nym’s poison, and Liam confirms Sophie is dead while Nym remains detained. Their tense conversation reveals Dianna’s blooddream ability, exposes Liam’s grief through the memories Dianna witnessed, and deepens their reluctant dependence on each other.
With Dianna’s usual contacts compromised and Kaden still a threat, Liam demands that Dianna stop acting alone. Dianna offers a risky new lead in Zarall: a supposedly dead Vampire Prince Dianna once spared, forcing Liam to promise restraint before entering Dianna’s hidden world.
Summary
Dianna wakes in a hotel room after being unconscious for more than two days. Liam is there with books, papers, and a laptop, watching over her. Dianna is weak and disoriented, but her poisoned wounds are gone; when Dianna accuses Liam of undressing her, Liam explains that a female celestial cleaned her while he focused on keeping her alive.
Dianna remembers that Sophie and Nym poisoned her. Liam confirms that Sophie is dead, implying he killed and dismembered her, and that Nym is detained but alive. Dianna then confronts Liam for feeding her his blood, because ingesting blood lets Dianna experience the donor’s memories through blooddreams.
Liam questions Dianna about what Dianna saw. Dianna admits seeing Rashearim, Imogen, and Unir, but lies by saying she did not understand Unir and Liam’s conversation. The memory exposes Liam’s grief over his lost world, and Dianna realizes that Liam’s coldness and isolation are rooted in mourning, though Dianna hides much of her empathy behind teasing.
Liam considers whether Dianna’s blooddream ability could help find Kaden, but Dianna reveals that Kaden never allowed Dianna to drink Kaden’s blood, likely because Kaden was hiding things. Liam also asks whether Liam might experience Dianna’s memories after sharing blood, and Dianna admits Dianna does not know. Their discussion confirms that Dianna’s abilities remain poorly classified and potentially dangerous.
When Dianna learns the hotel is on the outskirts of Adonael, Dianna panics because the location may be traceable. Liam explains that Vincent arranged the celestial-owned hotel because Dianna needed treatment and safety. Liam insists Dianna cannot leave Liam’s sight again, and Dianna jokingly makes a pinkie promise not to abandon Liam, briefly revealing that Dianna and Gabby used such promises after their parents died while Dianna stole to survive.
Because Sophie’s betrayal proves Dianna’s contacts are unreliable, Liam proposes returning to the Guild in Boel. Dianna instead suggests another lead, but only if Liam promises not to act as a law enforcer against the person involved. After Dianna sincerely begs, Liam agrees. Dianna reveals their destination: Zarall, where a Vampire Prince Dianna was once supposed to kill is secretly still alive.
Who Appears
- Dianna MartinezWakes from poisoning, reveals blooddreams, resists Liam’s control, and proposes a secret Zarall lead.
- LiamSaves Dianna, watches over her, questions her abilities, and promises restraint for the next lead.
- SophieDead betrayer whose poisoning of Dianna drives Liam’s rescue and Dianna’s distrust of contacts.
- NymBetrayer who helped poison Dianna; Liam has detained Nym but kept Nym alive.
- KadenAbsent threat whose control over Dianna and hidden secrets shape the search for new allies.
- VincentArranges access to a celestial-owned hotel where Liam can keep Dianna safe.
- ImogenFigure from Liam’s memories whose appearance unsettles Dianna and prompts questions about Liam’s past.
- UnirLiam’s father, seen in Dianna’s blooddream and tied to Liam’s painful history.
- GabbyDianna’s sister, mentioned through childhood pinkie promises and Dianna’s survival after their parents died.
- Vampire PrinceSecretly living man in Zarall whom Dianna was supposed to kill but spared.