Page 33 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts

The memory of him sparked a new thought in her mind – an idea her other self in the vision had desperately tried to suppress but could no longer avoid. It explained why she was in this situation. Her prince, with golden eyes and a heart carved from contradictions, no longer existed.

The realisation broke her. She sobbed – loudly, unrestrained. Amelia, trapped beneath the beast, wept. And Amelia, the one inside the Queen’s palace, wept too.

It had all come to this because of the cursed ring. The ring the creature behind her desired above all else. And because Amelia couldn’t give it to him, he was determined to punish her in every imaginable method.

But why did she keep allowing it to happen? That final thought belonged to Amelia, watching through the Oracle’s eyes.

Then, she turned her head the other way and saw his face. Black hair, a light brown gaze, a familiar countenance…

It wasn’t Mikhail.

It was the man from the portrait.

16

Viktor

A loud banging on the door startled Viktor awake in his bed.

“Everyone out! Emergency meeting for the healers!”

He threw on his lab coat in a hurry and stepped into the corridor, where other creatures were already gathering. Men and women stood like fish out of water, lingering outside their rooms, their faces filled with uncertainty at the commotion.

A wave of relief washed over him at the sight of Alex down the hall. Since the siege, his concern for her had deepened into a gnawing unease. The guards didn’t monitor Alex and Victor’s interactions, as she was not considered ‘dangerous’ like other creatures, but his worry for her still refused to fade. Although her brother Grigor’s whereabouts remained unknown, Viktor felt a measure of gratitude that the boy was not among the hostages with them.

She noticed him, too, and made her way over.

“Any idea what’s going on?” He glanced at the soldiers patrolling the corridor and barking orders.

“From what I’ve gathered, they’re calling everyone involved in healing to the assembly hall,” Alex said.

“Tell them you’re not a healer and go back to your room,” Viktor growled.

“But I’ve worked with you in the lab for years!”

“You assist—”

“Assist?!”

“Stop talking and line up in pairs!”

“I’m not sure what this is about.” Viktor softened his tone tosoothe her. “But it can’t be anything good. You have a chance to get out of this. Tell the guards you’re still in training.”

“Only someone slow-witted would still be in training after fifty years!” Alex took her place in line. “Unlike my brother, I stayed in the Hospital, and I’ll face whatever this is with everyone else.”

“Move out!”

“One day, that reckless sense of invincibility will land you in trouble,” Victor muttered under his breath as the group of creatures started moving towards the archway at the end of the corridor.

“Me?” Alex shot back in a whisper. “Have you seen yourself lately?”

“What?” He glanced at the two reptilian guards watching the creatures pass through the vestibule like ants in a parade.

Alex cast him a sidelong glance. “Do you really think I don’t see that you’re on the verge of falling into Vaka Hara?”

Viktor’s mouth pressed into a hard line. She knew.

Of course, she knew. If there was anyone in this world from whom he could hide nothing, it was Alex – for better or worse. Were it not for the guards ushering them forward with shouted commands and pointed weapons, Viktor might have launched into an explanation. But he had no time. “Alex, it’s not—”