Page 18 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts

Amelia couldn’t believe her ears.

“A room with a pleasant view of the sea – the scent and sound of it reach me even in my underground cell. And a private bath, so I can wash. I wouldn’t want you wrinkling your nose in disgust at my smell the next time I visit your chambers, Your Majesty.”

The Queen’s expression remained unfazed. “You’ll have a room. Wish number two?”

The necromancer glanced down at his dirty shirt. “New clothes. And shoes. Nice clothes and shoes…”

“Designer clothes?” The Queen smirked.

“Yes, as long as you don’t send your jester to pick them out. One poorly dressed man wandering the royal palace is already enough, isn’t it?”

Sevar’s face flushed with anger, while Amelia didn’t know what to think. Had Constantine lost his mind? He could bargain with the Queen for his freedom, yet he was wasting theopportunity to mock Sevar.

“You’ll get what you desire,” the Queen said, her tone serious. “Now, your third wish?”

The necromancer smirked, but there was no joy in the shadows playing across his face. He gestured towards Kathrine with his chin. “I want her.”

Displeasure tightened the Queen’s features. “What exactly do you mean, necromancer?”

“Sex, Your Majesty. I want to bed the court jester’s fiancée.”

“I’ll crush this bastard!” Sevar hissed.

“And I think she’ll enjoy it very much, judging by the signals she’s been sending me all along,” Constantine added nonchalantly.

Sevar stepped forward, fists clenched, his face the image of an enraged tiger. “I’ll smash his skull across the floor!”

“Sevar, that’s enough!” The Queen frowned. “Are you sure these are your three wishes, Constantine?”

“You can’t seriously be considering this, Mother!”

It was the first time Amelia had heard Kathrine’s voice rise.

The Queen observed the unfolding scene with a calm face. “As entertaining as this little performance of yours is, necromancer, before we proceed with granting your wishes, I’d like to ask you a question.”

Kathrine shook her head, while Sevar seemed ready to explode and incinerate the entire room.

“Non-negotiable,” the necromancer said with irritation.

The Queen smirked. “Excellent. But how do you intend to fulfil my request when your necromancer abilities are blocked?”

Amelia shifted her gaze from the Queen’s stony expression to the necromancer’s widening eyes. Katherine and Sevar also stiffened.

“After Alberobello, you have no magical abilities, Constantine,” said the Mother of Reptilians, her tone matter-of-fact.

Amelia recalled the story Mikhail had told her about their trip to Alberobello. How he, Constantine, Viktor, and the vampire Diana had destroyed the coven of a powerful witch in Italy. The witch had put up a considerable fight before losing the battle, but Amelia hadn’t imagined that one being could steal the abilities of another.

Constantine regained his composure, his face hardening into a mask of indifference. However, his posture no longer seemed as relaxed, nor could he feign the same detachment he had while listing his demands.

“The witch’s consumed soul has melded with yours and remains there. That’s why your consciousness cannot leave your body, and why your physical strength has also waned. Am I right?”

Sevar growled. “The bastard is utterly useless, and yet he keeps playing games with us?”

“He has nothing to lose, Sevar. Naturally, he’ll play games with us. The good news is that I can solve his problems – if he’s willing to return the favour. Have you heard of Sandir’s Smoky Quartz, Constantine?”

This time, the necromancer refrained from making a remark.

The Queen elaborated, “Sandir was the first being with necromancer abilities, but consuming souls weighed on him. I’m sure you can relate. So, the gods gifted him a smoky quartz – a stone that preserved his powers while trapping souls instead of devouring them. Quite practical, wouldn’t you say? Instead of carrying their burdens, you simply store them in the stone. And as it happens, I own this stone.”