Page 133 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts

“I see glimpses of the net and the mirror, fragmentary images of the stone. I sense they’re still there. In Antambazi.”

“That’s more than enough. I told you to seek them only for practice. I’m certain that when you come into actual contact with them, your instincts will guide you, just as they’d done with the net before.”

Her gaze dropped to the skin of her forearm, exposedbeneath the sleeve of her black T-shirt. She remembered the feel of the Shifting Net wrapped around her elbow – a weapon as much as a beautiful shield – and wondered what the other Sacreds were capable of.

“Something strange happened with the necklace last night,” she said. “One of the snakes darkened, the other grew lighter, and they began intertwining. It felt like it… activated.” She chose her words carefully, wanting to gauge his understanding of the artefacts’ activation without revealing her knowledge of it.

“I’ve seen what you described happen to the necklace for no apparent reason, back when it hung from Galia’s neck.”

She moved towards the stream, concealing her disappointment at his response.

“As with anything, mastering the Sacreds takes time. Any progress with the watch?” Callan’s voice whispered close to her ear, and the warmth of his body behind her sent a flush across her back. She shook her head. “The watch isn’t something to fear. When you show your willingness to engage with it, you might initially sense danger. But it’s the opposite of that. It’s salvation – your secret refuge where you’ll discover solace when the world’s falling apart around you. Approach it with trust. It will respond in kind.”

Why did Amelia feel he wasn’t truly discussing the watch?

She listened without breathing, afraid that drawing a breath might press her back against his chest. Would she find it comforting? Or would it remind her of everything she’d lost?

A sensation brushed her shoulder, but when she turned, Callan was gone.

Facing the stream again, she sighed, closing her eyelids as the sun’s warm rays slid over her back, filling the void left by Callan’s fleeting presence.

In a heartbeat, the warmth vanished. Amelia opened her eyes, her reflection in the water now accompanied by a muchlarger shadow. It wasn’t Callan’s.

Her muscles tensed, ready to flee. A growl rumbled behind her, sending a shiver up her spine.“Don’t run. I’ll catch you.”

“Run?” She spun to face the imposing figure of the manticore looming over her, its black wings half-spread on either side of its muscular form.

“I heard your pulse quicken,” Mikhail said, his golden eyes locking with hers.

Amelia raised her chin. “I’m out for a walk, in case it wasn’t obvious.”

“Your body told a different story.”

“You don’t speak my body’s language,” she snapped.

The manticore’s nostrils flared. “You didn’t come to train this morning.”

“I wasn’t in the mood.”She wouldn’t explain how every unintentional touch from him catapulted her back into their shared past. Or how, after last night’s encounter, she couldn’t bring herself to endure another round of emotional turmoil.

A low growl rumbled from his chest. “I saw what mood you were in.”

“Excuse me?”

“You told Callan about the necklace.”

“You were eavesdropping on us?” Her tone sharpened.

His black wings unfurled with a sharpwhooshbehind him. “I was out for a walk myself. It seems the two of you have grown… close.”

Her whole being flared up in an instant. “Who I’m close to is none of your business.”

“You’re my ally. Your decisions could cost us everything.”

“Ally,” she said through clenched teeth. “Not subordinate.”

Amelia started walking along the water’s edge.

“We’re not done,” he growled.