Page 136 of Anatomy of the Immortal Species

“Stop right there!”

Viktor searched the source of the words, his nose catching a distinctive scent. A few feet away, a man in military clothes and a black mask faced him, the barrel of his rifle pointed at Viktor’s head.

Viktor raised his hands, assessing his surroundings. Only now did he notice the courtyard’s air was filled with many voices coming from the direction of the main gate. From his position, he didn’t have an unobstructed view, but if he moved ten paces to the side…

“I said, stay put!” the man shouted.

Another armed man in military gear appeared. “Is there a problem?”

“I caught one of them. He’s going to cause trouble,” said the first.

“No one’s causing any trouble.” The other man shifted behind Viktor and pressed his rifle against his back. “Move!”

Viktor obeyed, too stunned to resist. Even the wolf inside him remained silent.

But neither of them was prepared for what awaited them as they rounded the corner of the building. The entire Hospital courtyard was swarming with armed soldiers in black masks. In front of the building’s entrance. Under the trees. By the fountain. Around the benches and gazebos. Near the centralguard post. Along the entire length of the fence.

There were at least a hundred. Maybe two hundred?

During his second scan of the yard, Viktor perceived the creatures kneeling on the ground.

“Sit down!” someone ordered him.

Viktor knelt on the ground, his eyes focusing on the man who believed he would make it out of this unscathed. The soldier was larger than an average man. The mask hid his features, but his scent… Viktor wrinkled his nose, confused. This wasn’t a typical human smell.

He stared into the eye holes of the mask and finally understood. Reptilian. This man was a reptilian.

Humans and reptilians. On the Hospital’s grounds. Armed.

A movement drew Viktor’s attention to the centre of the courtyard.

The soldiers stepped aside to make way for a blonde woman in a white dress. Her gait was fluid, and her features strangely familiar. A man and woman in military clothes flanked her sides, their faces stern and clear of masks.

The wolf inside Viktor whimpered, frightened.

This time, it was Viktor’s instinct, warning him of mortal danger.

Then, he saw him. Walking leisurely through the courtyard, his calculating eyes sizing up the captured creatures, his smile growing wider with each step that brought him closer to the Hospital.

General Petrov.

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The soldiers fired without warning, killing any creature who resisted. More troops filled the courtyard. All creatures who crossed their path were forced to kneel on the ground. The soldiers spread out across the yard and took up defensive positions, but none of them moved towards the Hospital’s entry doors.

Maybe they would back off? Maybe they were waiting for orders?

Amelia stood beside Mikhail while they both scrutinised the military incursion unfolding below them. His broad shoulders remained firmly squared, his entire frame emanating tension. She intertwined her fingers with his. Mikhail said nothing, but his hand tightened around hers with a fierce grip.

Was he worrying about his friends? Was he figuring a way out?

Mikhail had attempted to contact Presiyan and Constantine, but both of their phones were unreachable. He’d got through to Zacharia, but before he could relay much of anything, the signal had cut out.

She had no sense of how long they stood there in silence, but at some point, her attention shifted from the scene below to focus on Mikhail’s face, the single sight she wished to see. When his jaw clenched, Amelia knew something below had changed.

She stared back through the window just when a blonde woman strode into the courtyard. To her left was another female, dark-haired and clad in military fatigues. To her right, also dressed in camouflage, walked the reptilian who had attacked Amelia andMikhail on the anniversary of her family’s death.

Amelia let go of Mikhail’s hand and whispered, “It’s her…”