Page 45 of Anatomy of the Immortal Species

Only then did Amelia remember that Viktor’s place had been to Mikhail’s right at the last Council meeting. She started to rise. “I’ll move.”

Mikhail’s hand brushed her thigh. “Stay.” She ignored the warmth spreading from his touch.

“No problem. Elisanda’s seat is free,” Viktor assured her with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“No, I’ll—”

“Amelia,” Mikhail said her name quietly, but something in his tone made her obey. She didn’t need supernatural abilities to understand. Here, he was in charge and wouldn’t tolerate objections.

Fine, she would comply only because she didn’t want to cause a scene in front of the others. But afterwards, she planned to remind him that she wasn’t a Council member and didn’t take orders from him.

Mikhail started the meeting and pointed to an exotic brunette in dark clothing seated to Constantine’s left. Her name was Diana Jones, and she wasn’t a Council member but was present to provide information on the reptilians. Mikhail paused as the double doors swung open, and a breathless blonde woman in a medical coat entered. “You know Alex Volk, the foremost expert on the mysteriousJournal of C.” He gestured towards the newcomer.

“Thank you for the recognition. It’s entirely accurate.” Alex gave a theatrical bow before taking the last available seat.

Mikhail cast a sideways glance at Amelia, the corners of his lips lifting. “I’m sure you all remember Amelia, who succeeded the previous Oracle.”

“We remember her, all right.” Nyavolski’s wife grinned.

“Good. Because she is now the twentieth member of the Council.”

Amelia whipped her head towards him.What the hell?Wasn’t there supposed to be a vote by the other members?

Shouldn’t he have asked her first?

Her eyes widened in shock, sweeping over the beings around the table, expecting someone to protest. The news of her joining the Council didn’t seem to affect anyone – except her. A fewnods and “welcome” gestures in her direction summed up the reactions.

“Without further delay, let’s hear what Jaguar has to tell us,” Mikhail said.

Amelia clenched her teeth. Later, she and Mikhail woulddefinitelyhave a conversation about it.

“Thank you, Mikhail.” Jaguar’s eyes glinted. “I’m sure the information I bring will give us more reasons for enjoyable gatherings and deep reflection…”

“Well, let’s hear it already!” The blonde woman to Amelia’s right slapped her palms on the table, her voice sharp with impatience. “I postponed a meeting with a celebrity for this emergency Council session!”

Jaguar smiled. “I’m sure your admirer will be willing to wait, Platinum.”

She bared her teeth in a grimace that would have robbed any other being of their beauty, but not her.

“At that Council meeting when the new Oracle appeared”—Jaguar gestured towards Amelia, who stiffened – “she asked me for a pen and paper. She wrote down coordinates – a location in Kamchatka, on a Russian peninsula, near the base of a mountain. The nearest human settlement is fifty miles away…”

“Don’t tell me you went to Kamchatka in the middle of winter,” the pudgy man in the middle of the table interjected.

“As a matter of fact, Braba, I did.” Jaguar leaned back. “My guide Ivan demanded triple pay to accompany me from Petropavlovsk.”

“You must be insane to drag a human into this.” Platinum flipped her silver-blonde hair over her shoulder with a dismissive flick, the discreet symbols tattooed on the side of her neck catching Amelia’s eye.

“Kamchatka is a winter jungle, beautiful.” Jaguar’s gaze drifted to the ceiling. “I’d never been there before, but after two weeks,I guarantee I won’t need a guide next time. If you like, we could have a romantic getaway among the bears.”

Platinum chuckled, the sound low and amused. “Now I’m convinced you’re completely insane!”

Jaguar’s expression darkened. “Wait until you hear the whole story. The exact location, according to Amelia’s coordinates, was a 2,000-square-metre area where airplanes are prohibited from flying. Officially, it’s a no-fly zone.”

“Why?” The red-haired healer leaned forward.

“Why, Helena? No one can say. It’s a classified information.”

“Related to Russia’s national security, I assume?” Viktor’s voice cut through the room.