The Fallen Queen: (Gods & Monsters Book 2) (The Gods & Monsters Trilogy) Read online

  The Fallen Queen

  Book Two of the Gods & Monsters trilogy

  Janie Marie

  Contents

  Title

  1. Tartarus

  2. Tingles

  3. Beauty Surrounded By Darkness

  4. Still Here

  5. Snow

  6. Promise

  7. Pizza

  8. Hot & Cold

  9. Panties

  10. Ghosts

  11. Others

  12. A Kiss

  13. Too Good

  14. Donors

  15. Pegasus

  16. One Day

  17. Mine & Yours

  18. Apocalypse

  19. Bad Kitty

  20. Don’t Let Go

  21. Not Yet

  22. Come Play

  23. I Something You

  24. Release

  25. Goodbye Kiss

  26. Flight Entertainment

  27. Brave

  28. Breach

  29. Blame

  30. Falling

  31. Valhalla

  32. Never Forgotten

  33. Brothers

  34. The Wolf King

  35. Hero

  36. The Horror Of Lancelot

  37. There Is No Light

  38. Evil Jane

  39. She Used To Smile

  40. Making Up Is Hard To Do

  41. She Likes Dr. Pepper

  42. The Pain Of Death

  43. My Love

  44. The Broken Home

  45. And They All Fall Down

  46. Lucifer’s Prize

  47. Jane’s Revenge

  48. The King & Queen

  49. The Fallen Queen

  Book Three of the Gods & Monsters trilogy

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  COMING SOON

  Copyright © 2017 by Janie Marie

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover design by Murphy Rae, www.murphyrae.net

  Editing by Emily Lawrence, www.murphyrae.net

  Proofreading by Emily Vaughan

  For Siah

  ✧

  Thank you for never letting go.

  Death’s thunderous roar shook the dark Texas sky as he slammed the fallen angel onto the asphalt. He growled, tightening his hold on his victim’s neck, watching the green fire from his eyes light up the angel’s face. “Where is my brother, Thanatos?”

  His former general thrashed in vain as chaos unfolded around them. Death ignored the battle between light and dark, grabbing one of Thanatos’ raven wings and snapping it in half.

  Thanatos roared in pain. “Why would I know where he is?”

  Death smirked, squeezing Thanatos’ intact wing. “Do not play me for a fool, Fallen. I know you were involved in the attack on Jane. The only reason I’m not ripping you apart right now is because of your mother and what little respect I once held for you as my general. That doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy knocking you off that invisible throne you’ve placed yourself on. Now tell me where my brother is.”

  “You thought you hid her well, didn’t you?” The ruby color of Thanatos’ eyes sparked as he chuckled. “I can see why you would keep her to yourself—sexy little thing, isn’t she? Does she taste as sweet as your name for her suggests?”

  Death punched him in the face, shutting him up. “If you come near her again, I will make you beg me to take your life. Now tell me what I want to hear.”

  The clashing of swords filled the silence as Thanatos glanced around. The gathering of vampires and Fallen was no match for the small army Death had brought with him.

  Thanatos turned back to Death. “If you wanted her to stay secret, you really should have controlled your emotions. All anyone has to do is mention her, and you look ready to destroy the world.”

  Death snarled as he restrained himself from ripping Thanatos in half.

  Thanatos smirked. “The love you have for her will be her downfall.”

  “What do you know?” Death seethed.

  “More than you ever will. As far as your brother is concerned, where is the one place all of you never think to look?”

  “Tartarus?” Death growled.

  “It is the one place Light rarely ventures, but I would not worry about your brother. You should be much more concerned with Jane.” Thanatos smiled as Death’s rage soared to new heights. “They haven’t told you yet, have they? She will fall, Death—and you will stand by and watch as she cries for you.”

  “Tell me what you know!” he yelled, punching Thanatos’ smiling face again and again.

  “Sorry, handsome,” a sickeningly sweet voice whispered in his ear just as fiery pain exploded across his back.

  Death roared, letting go of Thanatos as he reached for the source of pain, a dagger embedded near his shoulder blade. Once he realized he couldn’t pull it out easily, he glanced around and found his attacker. “Mania, you bitch!”

  She cackled, waving at him before disappearing.

  A low laugh pulled his gaze back to the angel below him. Thanatos smiled, then also vanished.

  “Fucking bitch.” Death finally got a grip on the dagger and ripped it from his shoulder. He snarled at the cursed blade as he tossed it on the ground before reaching to feel the wound on his back.

  “Be still,” Hades said, shoving his hands away. “Damn, she got you good.”

  “No shit.” Death moved away from Hades, not allowing him to inspect the wound further. “Did we keep any to question?”

  Hades shook his head. “No, I thought you were keeping Than. We killed the last of ours. The arrival of the Keres threw me off.”

  “What, can you no longer handle those flying harpies in your old age?” Death looked around the bloody battlefield. He already knew he’d find forty-eight dead immortals. Still, he briefly inspected the various states of slaughter of Fallen and vampires before shifting his gaze back to Hades, who was covered from head to toe in blood and glaring at him. Death chuckled, rotating his shoulder. “Did I hurt your feelings?”

  Hades wiped some of the filth from his face as he glared at Death. “I am one of the few who can kill those flying whores.”

  Death motioned to his blood-soaked attire. “You are also one of the few who cannot stay clean . . . Do you have any manners?”

  “Bathing in the slaughter is part of the fun.” Hades grinned, glancing at the carnage. “We haven’t had this much action in a long time. I’m just enjoying the moment while it lasts.”

  “There is more death to come, Hades,” Death said, walking toward the three angels waiting for him. He eyed the two males towering over a female in their group as their snowy wings flapped, removing the splatters of their battle.

  The dark-skinned male nodded to Death. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine, Moros.” Death rubbed his burning shoulder. “The little whore just snuck up on me.”

  Moros nodded. “I heard what Than said about Pestilence. We will follow you, but you should send your vampires to Arthur. The k
nights will need to fight together against the Cursed Ones, especially with Keres. Darkness has grown with the plague.”

  Death glanced at Hades, not bothering to say the order.

  Hades was already nodding. “We will return to them at once.”

  “Just watch over Jane,” Death said, staring him in the eye.

  “Of course, Master.” Hades bowed his head.

  “Thank you for honoring my mother’s wishes, Death,” said a female voice behind him. “I know my brother is not worthy in your eyes, so I thank you for sparing him. I will follow you to retrieve yours now.”

  “Your brother is a piece of shit, Nemesis,” Death said, pinning his gaze on her. “It’s time you and your mother realize that.”

  Her eyes strained with sadness as she banished her blade. “Yes, Master.”

  A male, who apart from his blond hair and blue eyes bore an uncanny likeness to Thanatos, placed his arm over her shoulder. “Do not be so harsh with her. Our brother is not the brother at fault.”

  “Hypnos,” Death said, struggling to not attack him. “When I want your opinion, I’ll ask for it. And I suggest you do not speak to me until I am calm—all I see is your twin when I look at you.”

  “So, Tartarus?” Hades said, pulling Death’s attention away from Hypnos.

  “So it seems,” Death said, still tense as Jane’s frantic state reached out to him through their bond. He knew why she was panicking.

  “I feel foolish for not suspecting that sooner.” Hades went on. “Are you sure you only need the four of you?”

  Death chuckled as three pairs of irritated glares shot to Hades, but they quickly returned their attention to him when he spoke. “Do any of you know what Than was talking about?”

  “There are only whispers,” Moros said. “They involve your female—but it is unclear what is happening. There is a great amount of death coming from her direction. Do you still sense her?”

  Death nodded and rubbed his chest. “She is in distress, but her life is not in danger—only the others.”

  “Should you go to her?” Hades asked him. “She has only just recovered from her last episode—”

  Death stopped him. “If I want to keep her safe, I must find out what Than was speaking about.”

  “But you said the others are in danger.”

  “And?” Death glared at Hades. “Learn your place, slave. If their lives matter to you, you can return to them. You never should have left them anyway. I don’t give a shit if you and Arthur thought it best for Jane not to meet this little tramp.” He pointed to Artemis. “If you had mentioned your niece was a jealous whore, I would have simply sent her away. Then perhaps the others would not be in the danger they are in!”

  “I apologize for not consulting you.” Hades lowered his head, but Death could see his fury at the insult to Artemis. “Are they in battle now?”

  “Yes. And a member of their party has fallen,” Death said. “Another—”

  “One of the knights?” Artemis asked, panicked. “Is it David?”

  Death slid his gaze from Hades to her, smiling when she shrank back in fear. “The prince has received a fatal wound.”

  “Is he . . . ?” Hades asked, not finishing his question.

  “Dead?” Death said, not looking at Hades but chuckling as he watched Artemis tear up. “No . . . But dying?” Death grinned. “Most definitely.”

  Artemis covered her mouth as she sobbed.

  “Is there anything you can do, Master?” Hades asked, glancing at the three angels and the vampires all staring in shock at the news about David. “Surely, your young beauty will expect you to come.”

  “I will not save David,” Death said quickly. “He has been on borrowed time since his change, just as Jane and many others. His fate is already determined.”

  Hades nodded and looked down at the ground. “Should we return to them?”

  Death closed his eyes and studied his bond with Jane. “They have already departed—I sense her moving farther away.” He opened his eyes and glared at Hades. “Now you can enjoy crossing this goddamned country on foot.”

  Hades opened his mouth.

  Death cut him off before he could reply. “Just get there and tell them what we’ve learned here about Fallen and demons working with Cursed. This war is only beginning.” He turned to Artemis and approached her, snarling when she cowered. “And if you so much as roll your eyes at my girl, I will rip your fucking throat out.”

  She paled and bowed her head. “I did not know who she was, Master.”

  “Do you know who she is now?” Death sneered.

  Artemis nodded. “She is my master’s most cherished soul.”

  “And?” Death asked.

  Artemis whined but kept her head bowed. “And she was Sir David’s Other.”

  Death inhaled deeply. “Even with him dying, I can smell your jealousy over them, vampire. How did it feel, hm? Finding out the knight truly had no intentions with you? Did it cut your bitter heart to see him smile at the simple thought of her?”

  Artemis whimpered.

  “Do you realize she is all that I feel?” he asked.

  “I do now, Master,” she cried.

  “Do you know I smile for her?”

  “No, Master. I cannot see your face.”

  He chuckled. “You want to, though. Don’t you?”

  Artemis cried but did not answer.

  “Did you know my father made me His most beautiful creation?”

  Artemis nodded.

  “And did you know a mortal only gets to see my true face when they are about to die?”

  “I have been told this, yes,” said Artemis.

  Death leaned down close, knowing all she saw was his hood and glowing eyes. “She sees me,” he whispered. “She has touched my face; she has stared into my eyes as I have confessed my love to her. She has kissed my lips.”

  Artemis dropped her head lower.

  “I still smell your jealousy, vampire. Get over it now. I do not want to smell your stink in my presence again.”

  “She knows her place, Death.” Hades walked between them and pushed Artemis behind him. “I will take responsibility for her actions, and Jane will be kept safe.”

  “She better be.” Death shifted his attention to Hades. “Do not disappoint me.”

  “I will give my life for hers, Master.”

  “Good,” Death said. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “Death?” Moros called.

  Death waved him off. “I feel it.”

  “They are saving the vampire prince again?” Nemesis asked, looking in the same direction where he sensed Jane.

  “No. They are not permitted to save him,” Death said. “But they have revealed themselves to Jane.”

  Hades coughed. “Master, she will be devastated. Perhaps you should go—”

  Death glared at him. “I have something I must do. I suggest you begin your journey to Arthur’s kingdom now.”

  “Shall I give her a message, Master?” Hades asked. “I realize it is hard for you to understand loss, but she will be broken when she loses him. She will need your comfort and will not understand why you have not come to her.”

  Death stared at him for a moment. “Tell her whatever you like.”

  Hades shook his head but gestured with a wave of his hand for his teams to depart.

  Moros walked closer as they watched the vampires leave. “He is right, Death. She will desire your presence.”

  “I know what she desires,” he said. “She desires the vampire.”

  “You are jealous?” Hypnos asked. “So you will let him die, let her weep alone, so she will desire only you?”

  “I will not explain my choices to any of you,” Death said, glaring at Hypnos. “Do not question me regarding Jane. She is my business, not yours. Now find me the newest gate to Tartarus. I will rejoin you after I take care of something.”

  They all bowed, illuminating in white light before disappearing.

  “You are
foolish.”

  Death sighed and did not turn as he responded to the angel behind him. “Nyx.”

  “Death,” she said, walking to stand beside him.

  He had not taken his eyes off the distance where he knew Jane was, but he could see the fabric of Nyx’s black dress and her long black hair blowing in the breeze.

  “She fought well. Her power is immeasurable. If only she would release it.”

  “I know,” he said. “Did you see her battle?”

  “Of course. It occurred in the night—you know I see all that happens in the dark.”

  “How did David fall?”

  “Protecting her child. The boy.”

  Death nodded. He knew David’s injury was fatal, but, unless he had been present, he would not know the events leading up to such an injury. “And Jane?”

  “She held the attack back long enough for help to come. But it was already too late for the prince and their comrade.” He said nothing as she added, “Do you abandon her because she loves him?”

  He chuckled and ignored her question. “Do you have news for me?”

  Nyx sighed. “She loves you as well. She will always love you.”

  “Do you have news?” He was not willing to discuss Jane any further.

  Nyx let out another sigh. “You did not heed your call. I have come to retrieve you in Michael’s place.”

  “I have something I must see to.” He had felt Michael’s summons during his fight with Thanatos, but he ignored it. “What did he want?”