Page 63 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts

Amelia recognised her at once. “Alex?”

The girl glanced up from her book, her eyes lighting up. “You’re awake!”

Amelia swung her legs off the bed. “Where’s Mikhail?”

“He’s fine. How are you feeling?” Alex set her book aside and moved closer. Amelia tried to stand. “Wait, you’re not strong enough yet.Viktor!”

She sank back down. Her legs were unsteady, yet her attention sharpened. “Viktor’s here?”

“Amelia.” A familiar voice called from the doorway. Viktor’s gentle grey eyes and kind face stirred warmth in her chest, like returning home after a long absence. “I’m relieved you’re awake. We were so worried about you,” he said, approaching the bed.“You’re safe now. Everything’s all right.”

His tense features suggested otherwise. The relief of seeing him quickly dissolved into worry. “Is Mikhail…?”

“He’s here. Don’t worry.”

Her focus drifted to the door. “When we saved him, he wouldn’t wake up…”

“He’s conscious now,” Victor assured her.

“And Constantine? We escaped together…”

Viktor’s brow furrowed. “Constantine was with you?”

“Yes. And Diana, too…”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I’ve heard nothing about them.”

“I need to see Mikhail.”

“He’s all right. He’s been through a lot, but I promise you, he’s alive and well.”

Then why did her gut tighten with unease?

Only then did she notice her attire – a short floral dress, or perhaps a nightgown, barely covering her thighs.

“Alex changed you,” Victor explained. “Your clothes were covered in blood, and that’s what we had spare…”

Covered in blood.Her fingers jerked to her neck, to the place wherehehad bitten her. “I was attacked. By Callan! He drank my blood. He…”

At the flicker of alarm crossing Victor’s features, Amelia’s panic increased. What if Callan had harmed Mikhail, and they were hiding the truth from her?

“You know who Callan is?” Alex moved closer, an unreadable glint in her eyes.

“Yes! He’s alive!” Amelia’s voice rose in panic. “He’s the Horned God – the mummy we stole from the Temple of the Dead Immortals.”

Viktor gripped her elbows. “Amelia, stop for a second and listen to me.”

Dread churned in her stomach. If Mikhail were truly all right, he would be by her side. He wouldn’t have left her alone – not even for a moment. She stood, her resolve overcoming her weakness. “I want to see him!”

“Amelia, I need to tell you something first…”

She headed towards the door, her movements unsteady but deliberate. She stumbled into the corridor, making her way to the staircase at its end.

Viktor followed close behind. “He’s in… a peculiar state. I’m sure he’ll recover quickly, but I don’t want you to lose hope if he doesn’t seem as you expect.”

“What do you mean, a peculiar state?” Her voice quivered. The knot in her stomach was ready to burst. She stood at the top of the stairs, unsure which way to go.

“He… may not recognise you.”