Page 114 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts

Callan conceded with a faint smile, “I’m certain you’ve always had your reasons for your actions. In the immortal world, your name carries an excellent reputation.” He lifted his glass in a small toast. “Though they do say you’re rather stubborn, which is clear in your reluctance to acknowledge the power of the Sacreds.”

“I don’t deny their power,” Mikhail lied. “I just don’t see it yet.”

The truth was, hehad seenit – through the necklace – and he didn’t like it.

Callan redirected his attention to someone far more captivating. He extended his hand to Amelia. “Sunrise is almost here. It would be an honour to watch it with you.”

Amelia hesitated. Mikhail hoped she had enough sense notto reveal what had happened earlier that day – or to accept the invitation.

“Why not?” she said at last, taking Callan’s hand.

Mikhail watched as the firstborn led her away. He considered Callan an ally, but didn’t trust him. Something about the man put Mikhail’s senses on edge whenever he was nearby.

Callan’s attention towards Amelia over the past few days had only increased his suspicion. The way the man lingered close to her, always watching, always within reach... It wasn’t overt, but it was constant.

What unsettled Mikhail more was Amelia’s reaction. She had started to lower her guard around Callan, speaking to him without the tension she’d previously carried. She had fought hard against them forming an alliance with Callan, yet with more and more of his appearance, her resistance had begun to weaken.

Callan opened the door for Amelia and, with the faintest motion, placed his hand on the curve of her waist. The touch lasted just long enough to draw a cold weight behind Mikhail’s ribs. Amelia glanced back over her shoulder, and their eyes met. Mikhail didn’t flinch. Nor did she. Almost as if she’d expected to find him watching.

***

Mikhail

The next morning, Amelia entered his room, filling the space with her citrusy scent. Mikhail finished reading a paragraph from a book he’d borrowed from Viktor before turning his attention to her. Her hair flowed down her back, exposing her neck enough to reveal she wasn’t wearing the necklace.

He raised an eyebrow. “Good morning?”

Faint silver streaks flickered in her irises. “You said we’dtrain. I’m here.”

She wanted to train? Excellent.

Mikhail stood, dropping the book on the chair, and crossed the room to her in a few steps. Amelia seemed ready to say more, but before she could, he reached out and grabbed her wrist. “Did you tell Callan about what you did in the magical trap?”

Her eyes widened at his sudden movement. She frowned, trying to pull her hand away. “I don’t owe you an explanation.”

Could he provoke her enough to use her power on him? It would probably hurt, but he was willing to take the risk. He needed confirmation that it hadn’t been a figment of his imagination. “After you took off with him last night, am I not to have questions? I don’t trust that man, and neither should you.”

“Right now, I don’t trustyou!” Amelia snapped, shaking her arm in another attempt to break free.

“If that’s true, why are you here? Why haven’t you freed yourself from me? Burned me with necrosis? Struck me? Done something – anything at all?”

She kicked at him – a clumsy move he countered by catching her ankle with his free hand, sending her stumbling back. If not for his grip on her wrist, she would have crashed to the floor.

“A promising start,” he said, steadying her.

She jerked her hand free the moment she regained her footing.

“Do you see how vulnerable you are? How trusting? You came to me willingly, and within thirty seconds, you were almost on the floor.”

“I shouldn’t have come at all.” Her eyes burned with irritation as she spun on her heel. A childish behaviour, showing how inexperienced she was.

“You have power,” Mikhail called out to her retreating back, “but that power will drag you down unless you start controlling your reactions. I didn’t aim to humiliate you but to show you thatyou need training – physical and otherwise.”

Amelia faced him once more. “A week ago, you said I was still alive because I was useful to you. Now you want to help me?”

“Even if I don’t remember meeting you, I recall the Oracle asking me to helpsomeone. Her letter confirms this person was you. Therefore, I’m willing to assist you in the only way I can think of.”

Besides, he couldn’t march into war against a humanid with an unstable Oracle and a man who’d recently been a mummy at his side. And Presiyan who seemed more lovesick and lost than Mikhail must have been under the ring’s influence.