The Throne of Broken Gods

Dianna dreams of warmth instead of death for the first time since Gabby’s loss. She wakes to find Samkiel gone and joins him and Imogen in the kitchen. Imogen and Samkiel are discussing a notebook, which he promises to explain to Dianna later (it is later revealed to contain his speculations on Yejedin). He then leaves for a council meeting, unsure when he will return. Dianna hides her disappointment and again hears a voice warning that time is running out. She runs, eats, and notices the silence around her. Seeing a star, she talks to it about her fears of losing Samkiel. After trying and failing to summon her powers, she thinks of him for comfort and then desire; she pleasures herself to thoughts of him. However, Samkiel does not return that night.

The next morning, Samkiel makes breakfast and says that he did not come to her because he returned late. Dianna feels awkward, suspecting that he knows that she pleasured herself to thoughts of him. He says that he is too busy to spend the day with her as Cameron and Xavier appear.

After Samkiel leaves, Cameron mocks Dianna for not going to Samkiel directly for sex, implying he knows she pleasured herself. Dianna makes Cameron promise to say nothing about what she did to Samkiel, provided she spends the day with them. They surprise her with a beach day. During a volleyball game, Dianna uses her powers to win and then hides the evidence. Neverra brings her a sandwich made just for her. Imogen shyly asks to sit with them, and Dianna encourages her. Later, she invites the women to the castle.

That evening, Dianna, Imogen, and Neverra make face masks and watch movies. Imogen says that she wants to be friends. She explains that she and Samkiel have not been together since Rashearim fell and that they never wanted their arranged bond. Dianna comforts her. Logan calls, and the women send a photo of themselves together. Dianna feels safe and happy for once and hides her tears. When the others fall asleep, she lies awake, jealous of Logan’s messages to Neverra and missing Samkiel. She talks to the star, saying that she wants to be happy again but still misses Gabby. The star winks at her.

Samkiel stays at the council hall and reviews sketches of his nightmares, in which he lies on an altar before three horned figures. As Samkiel considers the sketches, Roccurem appears, noting that Unir once recorded dreams, too. He warns Samkiel that calm like this often precedes a storm. Logan arrives, saying that something has been found in Yejedin. Samkiel returns to the castle and hears Dianna laughing with the others. He sends Imogen and Neverra to the council and tells Dianna that he will see her tomorrow.

In Yejedin, Samkiel and The Hand subdue a giant named Porphyrion. The giant mocks Samkiel, calling him Unir’s descendant, and says that (Porphyrion) has been imprisoned for millennia. He speaks of a “winged death,” which Samkiel recognizes as Dianna. Samkiel postpones further questioning. Later, Logan makes dinner, and Samkiel confides that he is nervous about his plans with Dianna. Logan mocks his fear, calling it a date.

Camilla is sitting in her cell, testing her magic, when Samkiel and Logan arrive. Samkiel releases her temporarily so that she can impersonate him for a day. She realizes it is for Dianna’s sake and agrees, though he warns that her compliance does not excuse her crimes. Camilla tells Logan that she needs food for her spell. When he calls Dianna “my queen,” she senses his affection and feels comforted knowing that Dianna now has a family.

Dianna feels relieved when Samkiel arrives. They go ice skating, and she recalls doing so with Gabby. Samkiel thanks her for sharing the memory. She asks why Logan and Neverra have no children, and Samkiel explains that, like Samkiel himself, Logan underwent a procedure to prevent himself from having children. She admits that she once wanted children but no longer does.

When Samkiel mentions Yejedin, Dianna realizes that he lied and went to seek Kaden without her. They argue about vengeance and safety, admit they miss each other, and agree to rely on one another again. Samkiel insists that she must stay away from Kaden until her powers return.

Dianna takes Samkiel to the first home she shared with Gabby, now abandoned. She says that Kaden broke her and that she never cared for anyone until Samkiel. She apologizes and confesses that she loves him. They affirm the exclusivity of their relationship and make love, his power shattering nearby lights. Afterward, Samkiel says that he would choose her even over fate. Police and celestials arrive because of a noise complaint, and Samkiel uses his powers to help them escape.

Cameron brings Elianna’s journal, which he stole after having sex with her, to the council. There, Imogen begins transcribing it. Roccurem appears and warns that what they seek regarding the runes in Yejedin will not be found in texts. When Cameron asks about Samkiel, Roccurem says that he is busy, and Cameron realizes that Samkiel and Dianna have slept together. He laughs about Vincent investigating the noise complaint. After everyone leaves, Roccurem apologizes to Cameron for the pain that lies ahead.

Cameron sulks because Xavier is avoiding him. He persuades Logan to visit Samkiel; they find the castle in disarray and Samkiel disheveled and naked. Learning that three days have passed, Samkiel asks for one more day before rejoining them.

Samkiel returns to the council halls to find The Hand gone. Roccurem says that they went out to eat and notes Samkiel’s jealousy at hearing Dianna’s name. Samkiel apologizes, and Roccurem smiles for the first time.

Samkiel revisits Porphyrion. The giant says that Unir, the World Bringer, created Yejedin to imprison enemies and forged three generals who shaped worlds and bred monsters. When Porphyrion says that Samkiel smells of one of those generals, Samkiel realizes that Kaden (whose scent Dianna bears) may be one of Unir’s creations. He offers Porphyrion a choice between prison, death, or oblivion. The giant chooses oblivion.

Neverra and Dianna travel secretly to Onuna to investigate Tobias’s claim that Gabby was not Dianna’s sister. They locate the records, but Irikuva attack before they can read them. Neverra directs Dianna toward an escape route, and they flee.

Neverra and Dianna return to the castle, where Neverra gives Dianna documents proving that Dianna was adopted. Samkiel arrives, and Dianna tells him what she learned. She also describes having dreams of a blood-red moon and three shadowed figures (later revealed to be Kaden, Nismera, and Isaiah, the “generals”/children whom Unir created). Samkiel admits that he dreams the same. He also assures her that Gabby was her sister in every way that matters.

Samkiel then tells Dianna that Porphyrion revealed that Kaden was likely one of Unir’s generals and the creator of the Kings of Yejedin. Feeling overwhelmed, he plans to seek a deity in the mental realms for answers about his family’s history (the exact nature of the mental realms and their gods is ambiguous at this point in the series, but Samkiel believes them to be neutral in alignment). The journey will be dangerous and long. Dianna stays by his side as they prepare for what is next.