The Wrath of the Fallen

Samkiel is forced to study as punishment for setting a temple ablaze. He falls asleep, and the text in his history book magically transforms into a prophetic poem. The room darkens, and Nismera appears, holding Dianna captive with a golden spear. She taunts Samkiel before thrusting the weapon into Dianna’s chest. Dianna disintegrates into ash, and Samkiel unleashes Oblivion in his grief.

Samkiel wakes to Dianna calling his name. He has unleashed Oblivion in reality, tearing apart their bedroom with a storm. When Dianna realizes the nightmare triggered his power, she kisses him. Her touch calms the tempest and causes Oblivion to retreat. Cameron bursts in, and Dianna shoos him out. After Samkiel repairs the damage, they realize that Oblivion now responds to threats against Dianna without Samkiel’s conscious control, making Samkiel dangerous.

Three weeks later, Dianna and Samkiel have built a refugee city and visited the seven realms, seeking alliances against Nismera. They arrive at Shorerock, a cliffside trade city. Dianna lands in her Ig’Morruthen form and intimidates the guards.

Iver, Shorerock’s new ruler, cruelly dismisses his wife and daughter at dinner. When Iver makes a disrespectful joke about Dianna, Samkiel’s anger triggers his Oblivion power. Dianna touches his hand, sensing the coiled darkness, and her contact grounds him.

Iver questions why Samkiel married an Ig’Morruthen instead of his betrothed, Imogen. Samkiel defends his love for Dianna. Iver declares that Shorerock’s allegiance remains with Nismera, as she is also from Unir’s line. Their last hope for an alliance lost, Samkiel and Dianna leave.

Samkiel and Dianna return home, where Cameron is in the kitchen. Samkiel confirms that their mission failed. Dianna is content to focus on their home and vows to burn anyone who threatens it. They discuss their visits to other realms, including Highsand.

Cameron explains that he has been helping with construction, noting that the refugees work tirelessly from fear. After Cameron leaves, Dianna confronts Samkiel about his nervous habit of rubbing the finger where his Oblivion ring once sat. He deflects, promising that they will address both her missing soul—which she gave up to resurrect him at the end of The Throne of Broken Gods—and the ring later. To lighten the mood, Dianna suggests they shower together, and they race up the stairs.

Nismera stands in the burning ruins of Grivmohr, a town she has just massacred. Her second-in-command, Henri, questions her plan. Nismera explains that slaughtering thousands at once will force Death himself to appear.

A freezing cold announces Death’s arrival in the form of a massive raven. Death condemns her disregard for life, and Nismera accuses him of breaking his own law by resurrecting Samkiel. Death neither confirms nor denies this, stating that her arrogance will be her downfall. He warns that another powerful being crossed the threshold when Samkiel fell. Enraged, Nismera attacks, but Death vanishes, taking the souls with him. Furious at his cryptic warning, Nismera commands Henri to ready her legions and find a witch.

Camilla, Vincent, and Elianna hide aboard a cargo ship traveling to Goldpass, disguised as older male crew members through Camilla’s glamour magic. Tension runs high between Vincent and Elianna, who insults him as Nismera’s “whore.”

Elianna reveals that she loved Kaden, who saved Dianna because her sister Gabby reminded him of his brother, Isaiah—Kaden’s only weakness. Nismera used Gabby’s death to test Kaden’s loyalty. Elianna explains her history with Nismera’s Order and how she took over the council on Rashearim. She warns that when Nismera finds them, death will be a mercy compared to what she will inflict on Vincent for his betrayal.

In a dream, Camilla finds herself a ghostly observer in the palace of Unir, Samkiel’s father. A mysterious witch commands her to witness what unfolds. Camilla follows guards to a council chamber where Unir meets with four ancient beings who appear as men and women, including his queen and a young Nismera, to discuss a peace treaty, warning that they possess a medallion capable of traversing realms and gathering armies to invade Unir’s kingdom if he threatens them. Nydmjir—the son of King Ormjir, who created the Ig’Morruthens and started the War of Wars—warns that even the gods’ combined power cannot frighten the Sovereigns, four great beings ruling realms beyond theirs.

The medallion in Camilla’s pocket warms, and the vision shifts violently. She witnesses the medallion tear open reality, revealing the Sovereigns’ realm. She realizes the medallion is a key, and Nismera obtaining it would doom everyone. The witch reappears, demanding Camilla destroy it, and grabs her wrists, flooding her with power.

Camilla wakes aboard the ship, levitating with her magic out of control. Vincent holds onto her as chaos erupts, revealing their identities. The transformed, flaming medallion floats to her hand. Sobbing, she tells Vincent she has made a terrible mistake.

Chained and slowly dying from lack of blood in Samkiel’s dungeon, the Ig’Morruthen Isaiah hallucinates about Imogen, his unrequited love—like vampires, the Ig’Morruthen need to drink blood to survive, and the lack of blood is causing Isaiah’s hallucinations. Samkiel enters and gives him a small cup of animal blood. Isaiah taunts him about the palace being haunted. When Samkiel interrogates him about Nismera’s allies, Isaiah confirms that she has the allegiance of all remaining realms but lies about her base.

Samkiel presses an Oblivion dagger to Isaiah’s throat. Isaiah continues taunting, telling Samkiel that the royals see him as a failure whose legacy will be forgotten. He claims Nismera is more powerful and that Samkiel lacks the cruelty needed to be a true conqueror. Though Samkiel’s anger is palpable, he withdraws the blade and leaves.

A defeated Samkiel summons Roccurem, the fate known as Reggie, to his study. He vents his frustration over his family being lost and all realms rejecting his attempts at an alliance. Reggie suggests that Samkiel is viewing the situation incorrectly—the royals follow Nismera from fear. He explains that in the realms’ eyes, Samkiel has failed: He lost The Hand, his crown sits on Nismera’s head, and he married an Ig’Morruthen.

Reggie advises that to win, Samkiel must first land a significant strike against Nismera to prove she is not invincible. He suggests building support by helping the common people, earning loyalty rather than demanding it. Samkiel agrees. As he prepares for Dianna’s birthday, Reggie fears that the war will take what remains of Samkiel’s good heart.

In a dream, Dianna is confronted by a horned being who reveals his name: Gathrriel. She is shocked to learn that he is the first Ig’Morruthen, a detail absent from legends. Gathrriel explains that history has been rewritten.

He shows Dianna memories of Gabby’s death, revealing he has felt her since she tore the fabric of time. Gathrriel explains that when she took Kaden’s blood, their fates became bound. He declares that she is the perfect vessel for his revenge and reveals that something normally blocking him is absent tonight.

Despite her struggles, Gathrriel overpowers Dianna. His body dissolves into dark mist and forcibly enters her mouth, nose, and eyes, possessing her.

Trapped in her own mind, Dianna watches Gathrriel control her body. He alters her form, making it taller and more muscular with horns. Transforming into a massive, winged Ig’Morruthen, he flies toward the city to feed on its inhabitants and permanently seal his possession.

Reggie appears and confronts Gathrriel, blocking his path. They engage in cryptic conversation. Gathrriel senses Dianna’s familial love for Reggie, calling him her false father. Reggie reveals that his presence is a distraction, and Gathrriel realizes he has been goaded into creating a fire that serves as a beacon.

As Samkiel’s presence approaches, Gathrriel’s hold weakens. The closer Samkiel gets, the more Gathrriel’s spirit is ejected from Dianna’s body. She collapses, and Samkiel catches her. Finding her naked and freezing, he wraps her in a cloak and extinguishes the forest fire. When Dianna tells him about the possession, Samkiel’s face fills with rage.

After a shower, Dianna joins Samkiel, Cameron, and Reggie in the study. She recounts the possession. They theorize that Gathrriel could only possess her because Samkiel was away. Reggie concludes that she should be safe as long as Samkiel remains near while she sleeps.

They decide that their only option is traveling to the Otherworld to permanently eliminate Gathrriel’s spirit. After the others leave, Dianna shares the full memory of her violation through their bond. Feeling powerless, she initiates intimacy to reclaim control of her body.

During their passionate encounter, Dianna discovers she can manifest fire in her kisses. She takes the dominant role. Their lovemaking becomes so intense that her flames spread, scorching the study. The encounter helps Dianna feel grounded and regain her sense of control. Exhausted, they fall asleep on the ruined floor.

Shortly after his resurrection, Kaden walks through a rundown alleyway. He feels phantom pain from Samkiel’s blade. His powers are erratic. Overcome by hunger, he drains a rat. As he contemplates feeding on people in a nearby tavern, a voice stops him—Death.

His hunger quiets when he sees Death wearing Dianna’s form. Kaden’s heart reacts, an emotion he hates. He tries to flee, but Death has followed him. Inside an abandoned tavern, Death explains that Kaden is the living dead and questions his true motivation. Kaden admits that he strove for power, but Death disagrees, shifting through forms of Alistair, Tobias, and a wounded Samkiel, insisting that Kaden’s true motivation was family.

Panicking, Kaden flashes back to his death: He remembers charging Samkiel, the blade swinging, and the agony of failing Isaiah before being plunged into Oblivion. Death, now wearing Samkiel’s form, tells him that the desire for a family is universal. Kaden tries to escape, but Death traps him and reveals that it knows Kaden once begged for death. When Kaden challenges Death to end him, Death sends him back to Oblivion for a moment before returning him. Kaden collapses, terrified.

Death, as Dianna, makes its first demand: Save Isaiah, who is in Samkiel’s palace. When Kaden says he has no leads, Death reveals the location. Resolved, Kaden agrees. Death transforms into a raven and flies into the night, Kaden following.

Xavier wakes from a nightmare. Blayne, a powerful god, shakes him awake. Xavier claims it was just a nightmare and reflects on being in the palace for weeks, haunted by his past and missing his family.

The next morning, Jaycee, a fellow celestial, enters and teases him. On the way to the dining hall, Blayne stops Xavier and asks him to accompany him to the council chambers. They ride a rising gold disk to Arcelia, the rebuilt original home of the gods. In the council chamber, Xavier sees his old friend Koa, creator of Zekiel. Xavier feels guilty, knowing that he and the Hand—Samkiel’s forces—now stand with Dianna, who was instrumental in Zekiel’s death.

Athos welcomes Xavier, stating that as one of Samkiel’s Hand he has earned a seat at the table. Kryella, another god, projects magical images showing a desolate world, glowing rain Xavier recognizes as his power, and Dianna and Kaden fighting as massive Ig’Morruthens. Xavier realizes that Samkiel is alive. Athos concludes that Samkiel, the World Ender, has reclaimed his power. Athos asks Xavier about Samkiel and Dianna. Xavier reveals their love story. The room erupts in chaos.

Blayne rises and argues that Samkiel commanding an Ig’Morruthen is a grave threat. He characterizes Dianna as a horror Samkiel now wields, making their combined power a concern. Xavier tries to defend them, but the council descends into fearful argument.

In the kitchen, Dianna playfully runs from Samkiel, hiding behind Miska, a young healer. Samkiel snatches her ring and returns it a few days later with a secret inscription.

While out for a run with Miska, Dianna feels that she is being watched. Miska confesses she is scared—Reggie’s visions are blocked, and her own senses feel that something is wrong. She mentions that Cameron has been anxiously patrolling. Dianna comforts her, calling Miska family, and decides to begin training her in self-defense.

They find Samkiel and Cameron training. Dianna gives Miska a dagger and instructs her to try to stab Cameron. Samkiel and Dianna spend the afternoon training Miska. As they walk back, Dianna again feels the sensation of being watched.

The night Samkiel, Dianna, and Reggie leave for the Otherworld, Cameron and Miska spend a quiet evening together. Cameron reflects on his unrequited love for Xavier. Suddenly, an unnatural cold fills the house, and the lights go out. Cameron investigates but finds nothing. When he returns, he finds Kaden holding Miska hostage. Cameron realizes the cold was Death’s touch, meaning Kaden has been resurrected. Kaden taunts Cameron about failing to protect Xavier. Before Cameron can react, a starving Isaiah appears and sinks his fangs into Cameron’s throat.

Three days after leaving home, Dianna and Samkiel kill a monster from the Otherworld. Dianna again feels something watching her. Samkiel suggests it might be Gathrriel and proposes that they visit his old friend Killium for information on possession.

They bring the creature’s head to the town it was terrorizing. Dianna promises to burn any monstrous soldiers of Nismera who appear. Reggie leads them to a clearing where the ground is branded with a circular summoning pattern. Samkiel identifies the marks as the work of a Prince of the Otherworld, indicating that the creatures are being deliberately summoned.

Samkiel wants to immediately investigate other attack sites, but Dianna and Reggie convince him to rest for one night and enjoy the party the town is preparing.

At the celebration, Samkiel mentions that Reggie has not had a vision in weeks. Dianna confronts Samkiel for hiding his struggles with Oblivion. Samkiel confesses that his nightmares started again after Gathrriel’s appearance and involve Nismera turning Dianna to ash.

Dianna comforts him, and they agree to forget their worries for one night. Samkiel reflects on how love gives life meaning. Dianna pulls him to the dance floor, and they share a rare moment of joy with the townspeople.

Dianna and Samkiel return to their room and have sex on the ceiling, held aloft by his power. Dianna accidentally screams Cameron’s name. The sound startles Samkiel, and his power fails. He flips them just before impact, taking the brunt of the fall. Angry and hurt, Samkiel confronts her. Dianna directs his attention to the doorway, where a severely injured Cameron is leaning for support, his throat mangled.