Page 123 of Anatomy of the Immortal Species

“If you’d mentioned this earlier, we might’ve caught the intermediary.” Constantine’s voice was calm, his shoulders relaxed, yet there was an unmistakable, silent threat emanating from him.

“That’s enough, Constantine.” Mikhail got up and took a stancenext to Amelia. He wouldn’t allow her to feel threatened by anyone, especially in his presence. “I trust Amelia as much as any of you, and I hope you won’t test whose side I’m willing to take if someone stands against her.”

She turned to him. “We’re just talking. No one said they don’t believe me.”

Mikhail’s gaze remained fixed on the necromancer. He knew Constantine was protecting the interests of the Hospital, but he needed to be sure that if anything happened to him, his friends would ensure Amelia’s safety – just as they had done while he was imprisoned.

Constantine’s lips curled into a sour smile. “She’s right.No one saidwe don’t trust her.”

Viktor jumped up from the sofa and positioned himself as a buffer between them. “We’re wasting time when we should be focusing on the essentials. We need to figure out exactly who Ana is and find her intermediary.”

“If we catch the intermediary, Ana will know we’re onto her deal with Amelia. I assume that’s not quite our goal,” Zacharia said, after having perused the library’s contents for the last few minutes.

“True. Ana needs to believe Amelia is on her side.” Viktor glanced down at Mikhail’s hands. “Didn’t your father say anything about this ring when he gave it to you?”

Mikhail thought about the golden lion’s head, now hidden once again above the arch. “Just that it’s a family heirloom. But as I mentioned earlier, I suspect the ring has saved my life more than once. Almost like it contains magic.”

Mikhail remembered the feeling of power settling in on him the first time he’d grasped the band. His blood had sizzled with enthusiasm as if he’d been proclaimed king of the world. The truth was, he’d been overjoyed with pride that his father had chosen him for the honour. After his family’s death, he’d takenit off and never thought of wearing it again, feeling the opposite – unworthy. For Amelia, however, he’d been ready to take it out once again.

“It’s certainly not an ordinary ring if Ana claims it can stop the Mother of Reptilians,” Amelia said.

Zacharia skimmed the book he’d pulled from the shelf. “If that’s the case, the Mother of Reptilians should be just as interested in the ring as Ana is, yet we’ve heard nothing about her searching for it.”

“This story is dragging on too long.” Out of habit, Mikhail raised a hand to push his hair back and encountered the shorter edges. He let his hand drop back down. “I’m growing impatient. I want to know more about these reptilians, but they seem to have vanished again. If I’d caught that guy in the cemetery…” His jaw tightened at the mere mention of that man.

“He would’ve been a good starting point,” Zacharia noted.

“I’ve got an idea…” Amelia murmured. “That reptilian wants me, right? If I go somewhere he could find me—”

“Absolutely not,” Mikhail cut her off before she could finish that absurd idea.

Her eyes widened. “You haven’t heard my full plan.”

He didn’t need to. “You want us to use you as bait to lure the reptilian, and when he comes, we’ll catch him.”

“Well… yes?”

Mikhail gritted his teeth. “My answer is still a firm no.”

Zacharia leaned back on the sofa, surveying them with narrowed eyes. “The last time, the reptilian failed to abduct Amelia. This time, he’ll bring reinforcements.”

“So will we,” Amelia said, addressing Mikhail rather than the hybrid. She truly believed he would take such a risk.

“I wouldn’t mind getting up close and personal with a representative of an unknown species,” Constantine chimed in nonchalantly, as if he genuinely approved of this reckless idea.

A crease appeared between Viktor’s brows. “You do realise it’s quite risky? You could get hurt.”

“That’s why we’re not doing it.” The thought of Amelia falling into the reptilians’ hands twisted Mikhail’s stomach. The last time he’d managed to prevent her abduction was not because he was stronger or smarter than the reptilian – but by pure luck.

He put an arm around her waist, but she pulled away.

“I want to do this,” she insisted.

“No, Amelia.”

“But, Mikhail…”

“And since we’re all gathered here, let’s discuss the matter of your missing mummy. Turn the entire world upside down if you have to, but I want it found. You’ve all been to the temple, so I expect a solution from all of you.” Mikhail couldn’t suppress the anger rising in his chest once again. His gaze landed on each of his friends, who moments ago had been ready to support Amelia’s idea. “And I also hold you all responsible for leading Amelia to the temple. Did it not occur to any of you that she’s new to this world and might not know some things are off-limits?”