Page 124 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts

They lived in a time when any friend could become an enemy in an instant, especially when the regeneration serum was involved. Creatures only saw a simple solution to their problems, unaware that the person offering the solution was also creating the problem.

Mikhail wiped the fine beads of sweat from his brow. The early June heat was as unbearable as this cursed waiting. He wanted to seek his own friends – beings he’d done favours for over the years, who would take his side – but Presiyan insisted it was far too dangerous.

For now, he and Amelia were stationary targets, and no one could discover their location. It grated on him. Mikhail was a man built for movement, for action, for control – not for sitting in shadows and waiting while others made the next move. All he could do was wait and try to piece together the puzzle: the Oracle, the Sacreds, the reptilians, the captured Hospital.

And Callan. After escaping Antambazi, Mikhail had been desperate – desperate enough to partner with anyone who could provide the faintest hint of information. Back then, usefulnessmattered more than trust. As the days went on, he began to notice things. Small things. Nothing damning, but subtle details that gnawed at him.

Callan’s helpfulness seemed too perfectly timed. Mikhail recognised the type: composed, competent, unreadable. A man who never revealed his full hand. Someone who smiled while calculating your next misstep.

A man who circled Amelia like a hawk waiting for its prey.

Mikhail pushed the thought aside. He wasn’t jealous. Who Amelia chose to let near her was none of his business. His suspicion of Callan was rooted in something entirely different.

Mikhail joined Callan and Viktor in the common room. His best friend appeared just as captivated by Callan as everyone else seemed to be.

“Any word from Presiyan?” Mikhail asked. The Tribunal leader and his group had left for Romania two days ago to negotiate with the head of a vampire clan they hoped to ally with.

“Nothing yet.” Viktor gestured towards an empty armchair. “Callan was just explaining why infant mortality rates used to be much higher than they are now.”

“Mortality among children of immortal species, I assume?” Mikhail sank into the armchair. “That’s hardly new information. Mortality rates were higher even a few centuries ago, let alone in his era. Another thing we can thank human medicine for.”

“The issue wasn’t a lack of medicine,” Callan said in his usual serene tone. “Many healers and priests were excellent at treating illnesses, but it wasn’t diseases that killed the children. It was the adults.”

“The adults?”

“Wars among immortals always resulted in the highest child casualties, which makes sense considering how defenceless our young are. However, seeing the world from today’s perspective, I suspect it was another defence mechanism – the planetprotecting itself from overpopulation by immortals. Logically, after thousands of years, immortals should outnumber humans many times over, but the numbers aren’t in our favour.”

The indifference with which Callan spoke about innocent victims grated on Mikhail. “Does that mean you view the impaired regeneration as another population control mechanism?”

“I understand how the situation looks from your perspective,” Callan said, “but doesn’t it strike you as odd that since regeneration has weakened, the world has gradually quieted down?”

“I wouldn’t put it that way, but you’re not wrong,” Viktor conceded.

“So, you find these disruptions… beneficial?” Mikhail kept his eyes fixed on Callan.

“You’re misunderstanding me, Korovin. I’m simply pointing out what stands out to someone who wakes up a thousand years later,” Callan replied with a polite smile.

Mikhail clenched his jaw to hold back the words he wanted to unleash. It was easy to talk about vulnerability when the wounds of losing loved ones didn’t burn inside you every single day. “Right. It’s much easier to analyse a situation from the outside.”

“Outside?” Callan shook his head. “I promised to help you find a solution for impaired regeneration, and I intend to keep my word. That places me right in the centre.”

“That’s not what I meant. We’ve seen your genetic results when we used your DNA to compare with creatures affected by the Changes. You regenerate properly.” Without waiting for a response, Mikhail stood and turned to Viktor. “Can we talk?”

“Excuse us.” Viktor grinned at Callan before following Mikhail into his room. “You still don’t trust him, huh?” he asked once they were alone.

Mikhail crossed his arms and leaned against the window frame. “Is it that obvious?”

Viktor laughed. “I doubt you’re unaware.”

“He views death as adefence mechanism.”

“And he’s not wrong. Imagine what would happen if immortals couldn’t die.” Viktor settled on the edge of the bed, his annoyingly knowing expression fixed on Mikhail. “This is about Amelia, isn’t it?”

Mikhail exhaled a sharp breath, his irritation escaping in a loud sigh. “That bastard was a mummy two days ago, but you suppose I distrust him because he’s after a woman I don’t even remember? Viktor, you’re the smartest creature I know, but lately, you’ve been slipping.”

“Callan is charming and shares interesting stories. You’ll see for yourself if you give him a chance.”

“I’ve accepted his alliance, but that doesn’t mean I have to like him,” Mikhail said. “That’s not why I wanted to talk. I have a question for you. Have you ever heard of…” He scratched his neck, searching for the right words. “A creature that can cause necrosis by touching someone? With just a touch, the flesh deteriorates to the point of necrosis.”