Page 62 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts

“True, but none of the others have stationary posts. They might have waited for a gap in the guards at the main entrance, but Lina and Kaan were supposed to be constantly stationed outside the necromancer’s door.”

“Perhaps the necromancer crawled out of the window and scaled the wall,” Kathrine said. Both knew that Lina and Kaan had been drinking witch’s scotch, a forbidden indulgence while on duty. They’d overindulged and fallen asleep. “Or it could be magic?”

“Magic?! Only one creature in the realm is capable of that, and need I remind you, he trades in hearts? We haven’t found a single body with the heart missing.” Sevar circled the throne to stand before Kathrine. “My love, you’re protecting her because she’s your friend, but—”

“Lina didn’t help them escape!”

“That’s enough,” the Queen said. “We have a more pressing issue. The humans have withdrawn their guards from the Hospital. On the night of the rebellion, Petrov warned his son that he was heading there, and when he didn’t return, Vesel grew suspicious. He still doesn’t know that his father is dead. After my visit the other night, no further issues will arise at the Hospital, but our own forces are far too few to withstand another uprising. I want the human guards reinstated. We must convince Vesel that there’s no reason to fear cooperation with us.” She drummed her fingers against the armrest of the throne. “However, during my conversation with young Petrov this morning, he was adamant about speaking to his father before reconsidering his position.”

Sevar’s lips curled into a malicious smile. “Unless he fancies a sentimental reunion with the General’s severed balls, I don’t see how we’ll meet his demand.”

“Why is such a heavy guard presence needed around the Hospital?” Kathrine asked. From the beginning, she’d never understood the rationale for committing such resources to a single building.

The Queen’s icy gaze grew even sterner. “The Hospital is a symbol of salvation for many creatures. Its surrender to us was meant to demonstrate that a new order was coming. And when that new order is established, we’ll need all the resources the building holds.”

“The Tribunal guards are stationed there,” Kathrine said. “I’m certain they can handle the defence without issue.”

“Do you recall what the Tribunal did, my love?” Sevar’s condescending tone made her blood boil. “Those who switch allegiances so easily have no true faith. You can’t expect loyalty from them.”

Kathrine refrained from rolling her eyes. She had warnedthem from the outset that the Tribunal was a dangerous ally. Neither the Queen nor Sevar had paid her any attention. “Then why did we involve them in the Hospital’s defence in the first place?”

“To avoid exposing our mistrust,” the Queen said, rising from her throne and walking towards Kathrine. She stopped a few inches from her, her unnatural elliptical pupils visible up close. “You invested a lot of time questioning the necromancer. Did you sense any weakness we might exploit to find him?”

Like the vampire he harbours feelings for?

Kathrine hesitated. She didn’t know the vampire’s name, only that she had taken part in the Al-Hatib Tournament. The list of participants still existed somewhere, and if the Queen found a relative to the vampire, she could use their blood to fuel a seeking spell and find them both.

“He rarely said anything coherent,” she finally replied. “Never enough to reveal anything significant.”

The Queen’s piercing gaze scanned Kathrine’s face like twin laser beams, probing for deeper truths. “So, nothing?”

Kathrine shook her head.

The Queen’s first slap occurred without warning.

The second, Kathrine did anticipate, but still didn’t react.

The third came with claws, drawing blood across her cheek.

On the fourth, she did allow herself to gasp.

By the fifth, she glanced towards Sevar, searching for any sign of emotion. Any hint that he cared. He stood just a few metres away, yet was millions of miles distant, for his face bore… nothing. After that, the slaps lost their psychological power.

When the Queen finished, Kathrine lay on the floor, doing her best not to curl up.

“You allowed the necromancer to humiliate you. Then, you let him escape,” the Queen hissed through gritted teeth. “Get up and clean yourself, then go and eliminate Lina.”

25

Amelia

Amelia had been reliving the same dream – a harrowing escape with Mikhail and Constantine, ending in a devastating crash. The sensation of life slipping away as he drained her, and the bitter certainty that even her best efforts had fallen short.

She had braced herself to re-enter the nightmare, but this time, she awoke to a sharp light.

I’m alive.

Amelia bolted upright, her hand flying to the side of her neck. A wave of relief washed over her when she felt her skin was intact. She examined her surroundings – an unfamiliar bed, a small room beneath a slanted ceiling, dusty cream curtains filtering the daylight. Footprints in the layer of dust on the floor led to a shadowy corner where someone sat reading.