Page 118 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts

Her lips pressed into a tight line. What was she supposed to tell him?No, I loved him because I adored everything I saw beneath his harsh exterior. Now I realise that what I loved was an illusion. It doesn’t feel like a lie, though – it cuts like I’m mourning the death of someone I cherished. And I can’t shake the sense that I’m a fraud, even if there’s no reason for it.

“I’m not great with words,” Zacharia said, as if reading her unspoken thoughts and sensing her reluctance to voice them. “But if you ever want to talk…”

“Actually, I need something else. A phone or a computer with internet. There’s no signal here.”

“There’s a village about twenty kilometres away. I’ll drive you,” he said.

A faint smile spread across her lips. That was Zacharia – a man you didn’t have to ask twice. He simply had your back.

“Are we going?” He nodded towards the car.

Amelia glanced at the cabin. She owed no one any explanation. Without another word, she circled the car and slid into the passenger seat. She heard the boot opening and closing again. Zacharia returned the duffel bag, then settled into the driver’s seat.

She couldn’t resist a glance at the back seat, half expecting to find traces of Mikhail’s blood on the black leather.

Zacharia caught her look. “I almost had it reupholstered.”

She reached for her seatbelt just as her door swung open. Mikhail leaned against the roof of the car, peering inside to survey them. “Going somewhere?”

“Yes. I need internet,” she snapped.

He merely nodded and closed her door. Was he leaving?

For a fleeting moment, she thought he might spare her an argument about whether it was safe to visit a populated area. The rear door opened, and Mikhail slipped into the back seat. “I’m coming with you.”

Of course, he is.

Zacharia started the engine, a wide grin spreading across his face. “Then buckle up, mate. You wouldn’t want to get fined for being an irresponsible passenger.”

Amelia rolled her eyes.

***

Amelia

While they were driving to the village, Zacharia recounted how he’d ended up at the house of the Byala Voda witch and histrials with repairing her roof and dealing with her daughter.

“Now I understand why the magic suddenly intensified – it coincided with your escape from that alternate realm. And then the watch hid you again.” Zacharia straightened the wheel after another sharp turn. “That… thing, thelokio, was creepy.” He glanced in the rear-view mirror with a wry smile.

“At least now the only witch capable of such magic is dead.” Mikhail rested his elbow on Amelia’s seat, positioning himself between the two front seats.

“We don’t know that.” Zacharia cast a sidelong glance at Amelia. “From what you’ve told me and judging by the rumours circulating at the cabin, you might not even be human any more. Witch, perhaps?”

“More like an unidentified immortal species,” Mikhail added flatly.

Amelia spun around in her seat, gaping at him. Had he really just said that?

“I didn’t mean it as an insult,” Mikhail clarified, his tone unbothered.

Zacharia raised an eyebrow. “Unidentified immortal species? Even the snobs are kinder than you – they call us ‘hybrids.’”

“So, she’s a hybrid of human, witch… and Oracle?” Sarcasm laced Mikhail’s voice.

“A triple hybrid?” Zacharia mused. “Sounds… futuristic.”

“Sounds unidentified.”

“Excuse me, I’m right here!” Amelia glared at them both. “For your information, I hope Iama witch. Then I can curse you both with tails in your human forms and elephant trunks in your animal ones!”