Page 79 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts

The witch was gazing into a glass orb that was supposed to reveal hidden truths. Whatever.

Zacharia grabbed her hands and pulled her out of her chair.

“Well, hello to you, too,” she said, appearing pleased at theinterruption, though the worry etched into her face was still unmistakable. It had been lingering there for some time.

Zacharia decided he should do something about it. Sliding his palm down to her backside, he drew her close. “Are you aware that you’re the most beautiful witch I’ve ever seen?”

She grinned. “And are you aware you’re not the first to say that?”

He smacked her bottom lightly, then ran his fingers along the backs of her thighs. Lifting her into his arms, he placed her on the table.

She glanced over her shoulder, anxious to check on her magical trinkets. “If it were anyone else risking the safety of my enchanted orb,” she reached for the zipper on his jeans, “I’d have killed them.”

“If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t be fixing their roof.”

She freed his length, her warm fingers wrapping around him. He slid the hem of her dress upward, revealing her heated skin. Satisfied to find her ready, he entered her slowly. He took his time, relishing her pleasure as he claimed her lips in a deep, intoxicating kiss.

When they were both sated, she looked at him with a worried expression he didn’t want on the face of a woman he’d just been inside. “Thelokiospell is all set. Your friend is alive, and I’ve tracked him.”

Zacharia straightened up.

“The strange thing is, the spell activated, then suddenly stopped working…” she mused. “I have no explanation, but I remembered the location. It’s nearby.”

He brushed her cheek. “Thank you.”

“There’s another matter I need to warn you about. This morning, the cards showed something…”

He raised an eyebrow. “The Tarot cards?” He believed in the power of witchcraft, but didn’t take Tarot cards seriously.

She, on the other hand, did. “Zacharia… Stay here with me.”

Now, that caught him off guard. She didn’t strike him as the sort of woman who’d tolerate a man sticking around for long.

He offered the first excuse that came to mind. “Your daughter hates me.”

The witch pressed her lips into a thin line. “She hates the entire world.”

He didn’t want to disappoint her, but he couldn’t give her what she wanted. “I’ve sworn loyalty to this friend you’ve helped me find. I can’t predict what’s coming, but it’s clear this isn’t a minor concern.” He shrugged. “For the next few years, I doubt I’ll make a good partner.”

“That’s not the point…”

“Oh, really? So, you don’t want me as a romantic partner? Just a boy toy?”

“If you go to your friend and join his cause, you’ll be in danger,” she said, her voice strained.

Danger was nothing new to him. As a hybrid, he’d been born into it.

“Mortaldanger,” she clarified.

If he’d been younger, he might have considered her warning, but life had taught him a different philosophy. When the clock starts ticking on your life, it’s wiser to chase pleasure than to cower in fear. “Thanks for the warning.” He kissed her again.

A thousand fucking devils. He would miss the hell out of her.

31

Mikhail

A part of him, untouched by reason or memory, recognised her scent – a hint of citrus, mixed with something reminiscent of the former Oracle, yet softer and fresher. Bathed in the flickering light of candles scattered across the floor, Amelia sat on a worn-out sofa and didn’t spare him a glance as he descended the stairs.