Page 37 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts

The Queen’s gaze fixed on the portrait, burning with hatred. “Yes. Callan was the ring’s first owner and will stop at nothing to reclaim it. You see why that object should never have remained with Mikhail Korovin? It was only a matter of time until Callan snatched it and took advantage of its strength. But thanks to you, that didn’t happen. Now, if you find the necklace before he does, he will forever remain a forgotten, pitiful demigod.”

***

Alex

Alex applied black eyeliner and mascara, then painted her lips a subtle shade of pink. She almost never let her hair loose, but tonight, blonde waves cascaded over her shoulders, their glossy ends brushing the curve of her waist.

She stood there, feminine and beautiful – a sensation that always overcame her when she saw him. However, the platonic nature of their interactions was starting to wear thin.

For years, she had yearned for love, having devoured countless romantic novels and films depicting the climax of a man and woman’s relationship. Now, she wanted to experience it for herself.

She entered the room of the Horned God, determined to end her inexperience once and for all. Additionally, she needed a distraction from the guilt gnawing at her after she’d drugged Viktor. Her adoptive father was fast asleep in his room. Better that way. In his current state, he was far too close to Vaka Hara. Alex doubted he’d manage to maintain his composure during the coming night.

But first, she had to seize this final moment alone with the Horned God.

She untied her cloak in the same manner she did when ‘attacking’ Bobby from the Blood Bank. And this time, she had concealed something special underneath: a dress with a lace neckline, delicate and alluring enough to be mistaken for lingerie. It suited her goal for the evening – to end up in bed.

The Horned God stared at her for a beat, then reached out to gently trace her chin with his fingers. “You’re stunning, but it’s time for us to leave.”

“Already?!” She gasped. Still, the disappointment didn’tcatch her off guard. Deep down, she’d suspected he wouldn’t share her plans for the night. Of course, he wouldn’t. She squared her shoulders, fighting the urge to slump. He was putting their safety first.

“I’ve arranged a car,” he said. “We have to take the loop I secured, and we have to leave now. Can you drive?”

***

Amelia

Amelia reached for the glass of juice in front of her. “What stops him from entering Antambazi and retrieving his ring?”

“Me, of course.” The Queen’s face remained stoic. “The moment I lay eyes on him, I’ll bring his worst nightmares to life. He’s wise enough to understand that.”

Amelia didn’t think she was exaggerating. “And what if he does get the necklace?”

The Queen tilted her chin upward. “Then I’ll make sure both of you regret it.”

A few seconds passed, each dragging out like an eternity.

Patience…

The door burst open, shattering the tense silence. Sevar stormed in with a thunderous expression. “There’s been a revolt at the Hospital. Someone spread a rumour that Mikhail Korovin had returned. It made the prisoners bold, and they attacked our guards.”

Amelia turned her head just in time to catch the Queen’s lips parting in surprise. “Mikhail Korovin, at the Hospital?”

Amelia’s heart leapt. The following milliseconds were a fleeting glimmer of hope. It was also one of those moments when you dared not breathe, for fear of shattering it.

“No, he isn’t. He’s exactly where we left him.” Sevar’s voice crushed that blossoming hope into the ground.

“You’re losing control, Sevar. Who spread this rumour?” the Queen demanded, irritation clear in her tone.

His eyes narrowed, as though he didn’t appreciate being reprimanded by the reptilian matriarch – perhaps even less than the implication that he had ‘lost control’ over anything. “Those creatures have been under the manticore’s influence for too long. The false rumour of his return emboldened them. The revolt was suppressed immediately, and very soon, all the prisoners will be permanently broken.”

Amelia wanted to scream in his face that no matter what he did, he could never erase Mikhail’s influence.

“But there’s another, much bigger problem…” Sevar stammered out the words, almost tinged with fear.

The Queen raised an elegant eyebrow in question, while the invisible tension in the room continued to mount.

For the first time, Sevar’s shoulders sagged. “Last night, after leaving Antambazi, General Petrov went to the Hospital. He was there during the revolt tonight. Amid the chaos, someone killed him. Or rather, disembowelled him. His organs were found scattered along one of the side staircases. His head was left on the topmost step.”