Page 6 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts

“Merely two items, Amelia.”

“Items like Mikhail’s ring?”

The Queen nodded. “I assure you, it will be safe for you.”

Amelia’s focus drifted to the glass display cabinet containing the small figurine of a manticore. What would Mikhail do in her position? If escape was not an option, he would exploit the situation – just as he had during the Hospital siege. He’d predicted the Mother of Reptilians would capture both him and the building, taking his ring regardless of their resistance. So, he’d done the only thing he could.

Amelia leaned back in her chair. She was tempted to demand Mikhail’s freedom in exchange, but the risk of provoking the opposite effect was too high – it might provide the Queen with a reason to torture him. As leverage.

So, if she couldn’t secure his release, she would at least attempt to gather more information. “Why do you think I can find these items?” she asked.

“Because they’re shielded against any seeking spells or similar types of magic.” The Queen rested her elbow on the table and propped her chin on her fist. “The Oracle’s clairvoyance is, of course, the sole exception.”

Amelia’s mind raced over the significance of this revelation. If she, the Oracle, could see them, then the previous Oracle must have been able to, as well… Which explained why the Queen had imprisoned Gea in Antambazi. And why, after the old Oracle had fled, the Queen had ordered her assassination in the Hospital.

Which meant that if Amelia refused to cooperate, she would share her predecessor’s fate. And Mikhail would be left aloneand defenceless in Antambazi.

“This is also what you wanted from the previous Oracle, isn’t it? That’s why you kidnapped her?” Amelia asked.

The Mother of Reptilians raised her eyebrows. “I assure you, everything between Gea and me was entirely voluntary. How else do you think I learned the ring was in Mikhail Korovin’s possession, if not from the Oracle?”

That was preposterous.

“She saw the ring!Shetold me it was in the Hospital… But do you know what’s more fascinating? The previous Oracle was convinced you would take the ring from Mikhail for me. Have you ever wondered why I sent the nymph Elisanda Grace to spy on Korovin? It wasn’t to monitor his progress in healing the immortal species, for sure.” The Queen shook her head, as if the thought was absurd. “His Hospital is less significant to me than a pebble on the road. Whatever he accomplishes, it won’t reverse the disruptions in regeneration. I kept an eye on him because I was waiting for you to appear.”

“If that’s the case, and the Oracle helped you, why did she end up running away from you?” Amelia pressed. “Don’t deny it. I had a vision.”

The Queen’s smile faltered. “Because I refused to accept that certain things could not happen immediately. That I would have to wait for you to arrive. I suppose the joke is on me. Everything she predicted – including Mikhail Korovin falling in love with you and you handing me his ring – came true. Though, she failed to tell me that you would become the next Oracle.”

An invisible hand tightened around Amelia’s throat. “The Oracle told you that Mikhail would fall in love with me?”

“Of course. She said there was no one else in this world to whom he would entrust his ring. I had heard rumours about Mikhail Korovin – cold, obsessed with the cause of saving the immortal species, and didn’t believe he was capable of love…until I saw the two of you together that night in the mountains, when he transformed and carried the mortal girl to safety. His drive to protect you was stronger than any other force in the night.”

Amelia didn’t need to ask which night the Queen was referring to. She remembered the incident vividly – the first time Mikhail had taken her beyond the Hospital’s walls. She’d thrown a snowball at him. The memory was both warm and bittersweet. They’d left the courtyard, and then her intuition had flared. There, in the darkest depths of the mountain, something had made her blood turn to ice. Both she and Mikhail had sensed it, though they’d never discovered what it was.

Had Gea brought her and Mikhail together to ensure the theft of his ring?

Amelia’s heart sank at the thought that it might be true. It would explain the Queen’s unwavering confidence in sending Amelia after his ring.

“And the murders at the Hospital? What was their purpose?” Amelia asked.

“To unsettle Korovin, of course! Make him insecure and vulnerable. To drive him towards you, to trust you. If I constantly reminded him that you were a target for his enemies, he wouldn’t doubt your motives when it came time to take the ring. And that’s exactly what happened.”

Amelia refused to let emotions weaken her composure. “You were right. And what about the Oracle’s death? Why did you need to kill her, if you didn’t know I would inherit her role? She was crucial in finding those items you seek.”

“I didn’t kill her. As hard as it may be for you to believe, I had nothing to do with her death.”

Amelia frowned. “You just admitted the murders in the Hospital were done to unsettle Mikhail. If not you, who? Someone tried to kill Gea after she sent Mikhail to me.”

The Queen shook her head. “That was a thoughtless, foolish act by Elisanda Grace. The nymph always believed my ultimate goal was to sabotage Korovin’s work on regeneration. She couldn’t see past her own greed, and made stupid decisions as a result.” She paused, tapping her chin. “I’ll admit, after your predecessor’s death, I was concerned about how and where I would find the next Oracle, but my worries were unfounded. Not only are you the new Oracle, but you’ve also come to understand that Mikhail Korovin cannot be trusted.”

The Queen was in a sharing mood, and it was in Amelia’s best interest to let her keep talking. But she cracked, driven by a desperate need to know: “Where is he?”

The Queen narrowed her eyes.

Amelia realised her mistake. She cleared her throat, masking her grief for Mikhail with fury. “Mentioning that night in the forest reminded me… how utterly deceived I was by him.”

The Mother of Reptilians’ expression softened. “Of course. I never expected you to forget your desire for revenge. Don’t worry. Mikhail Korovin is in a safe place and will soon be at your disposal, to do with as you please.” She rose, circled the table, and gently grasped Amelia’s chin between her fingers. “But before that, my dear, we have far more important tasks to accomplish.”