Page 104 of Anatomy of the Immortal Species

“Sorry?” The woman grinned, like a predator stirred up. “Because of you, I got into the greatest adventure of my life! I’ll tell you all about it someday.” She tapped Amelia’s thigh and stood up, her eyes fixed on the central guard post. “Nice chatting with you, Oracle. Later.”

Alone again, Amelia pondered their conversation. If the twin’s greatest strength was her sense of smell, what was Amelia’s? Her visions? She sighed.

Why wasn’t the Creator sending her a message about Mikhail? Why were her visions failing her?

Her mind began to work, not with divine knowledge, but with a practical thought:Work smarter, not harder.

What if she didn’t need a message? What if there was an easier way? Her pulse raced with excitement. It wasn’t the most brilliant idea, considering her past experiences, but it just might work.

She sprang to her feet. She had to try.

Returning to her room, she pulled out her phone and dialled Constantine.Pick up, pick up…

“Amelia?”

“You said you wanted to meet Presiyan and use the genetic test results as leverage—”

“That was before I found out the results were worthless.”

“Forget the genetics!” Amelia paced her room, excitementbubbling up. “I have a different idea.”

39

Amelia attempted to unwind in the car seat, but her mind refused to settle. The car’s interior smelled of leather. Constantine’s hands guided the wheel with smooth strokes, and the car’s headlights pierced through the night, catching the glow of taillights on the highway.

“Can you go faster?” she asked.

Constantine cast a sideways glance at her, and the engine growled. “Are you worried?”

“No.” She exhaled through her nose. If she could fool Constantine, she might be able to convince herself that she had no reason to doubt the plan. “Mikhail told me Presiyan never leaves Prokaliya. Except, apparently, when he came for Mikhail. Do you really think he’ll be at this ceremony?”

“I can’t be sure.”

“You said a trusted source gave you the information, right? If this ceremony is so important, he should be there, shouldn’t he?”

She was rambling. So much for trying to stay calm.

Constantine, on the other hand, seemed in his element while he drove the luxury car at high speed. “The election of a High Nymph is important only if you’re a nymph stuck in traditions. I don’t see any damn reason why the rest of the world should care. Still, you’ll see that plenty of other species’ representatives will come.”

“What does a High Nymph do?”

“In these present times, nothing. The High Nymph is supposedto be a leader for the species – one to be in charge in case of an interspecies war. Since such conflicts are in the past, no one truly cares about her election apart from the celebration that follows the ritual and gives an excuse for a drunken debauchery.”

Amelia’s eyebrows shot up. “Does that mean Presiyan is there… to get drunk?”

Constantine snorted. “Highly doubtful.”

Annoyance rose within her. “If you think he won’t be there, why did you agree to come?”

“Relax, Amelia.” Constantine glanced at her. “I agreed because I have to try. For Mikhail. Despite your naïve plan, which has no chance of swaying a brutal bastard like Presiyan, I’m obliged to indulge you for Mikhail’s sake. However, he’d likely rip my head off if he knew I was taking the woman he cares about into a den of nymphs.”

She stiffened in her seat, staring at Constantine’s profile. “I…” She cleared her throat. “Am I the woman he cares about?”

Constantine’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “He hasn’t mentioned anyone else.”

“So he has spoken about me?”

Constantine laughed. “Of course not. We’re talking about Mikhail. He’s not exactly talkative.”