Page 34 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts (Hospital for Immortal Creatures #3)

Mikhail

Two hundred years of relentless effort to sustain the immortal species. A life devoted to giving his energy and time, expecting nothing in return.

Nothing but his own salvation.

That night, the Oracle had asked Mikhail: ‘Why did you create the Hospital?’

‘To save as many beings as I can.’

‘Are you perhaps trying to save yourself instead?’

‘I’m not afraid of death.’

He had not lied. Death belongs to the grieving. It’s the living who bear its weight.

What he hadn’t admitted, however, was his fear of losing the last fragment of humanity within himself – that essential part which distinguished him from a mere beast. His work at the Hospital had shielded him from the darker recesses of his past.

Now, as the craving for vengeance seeped beneath his skin like an infectious disease, threatening to consume every fibre of his being, the last two centuries of selflessness seemed a cruel delusion. Wounds refused to heal; the all-consuming thirst for retribution eventually re-emerged.

And in this very moment, the hunger for blood surged through him – fierce and unrelenting. He could still feel the hateful grip of the black blindfold, the agonising bite of the shackles, the merciless pull suspending his body. His chest heaved as he gasped for air, despite being free.

He exhaled with a quiet hiss. The Queen had stolen his Hospital and taken his ring, aided by that creature in the neighbouring room.

Pacing the creaky wooden floor, he tried to recall anything about the woman claiming to be his lover. He must have met her before yesterday – perhaps on the day she’d bewitched him. Her command of the southeastern language was flawless, suggesting she had long resided in that part of the world.

He frowned. Despite his sharp senses, he couldn’t identify her as belonging to any particular species. She wasn’t human, either. Whatever creature she was, her deception was undeniable. The illusion she’d woven was exceptional – any other man in his position would have fallen for it.

But she had made a critical error: she hadn’t bothered to research his past. Two hundred years had passed since he had so much as touched a woman, let alone loved one.

Valeria had severed the part of his mind capable of romantic attraction.

In a manner of speaking, he was emotionally impotent.

So how was he meant to believe that this woman had melted the ice around his heart – only for him to forget her just as miraculously?

Yet, she’d somehow infiltrated herself into his life, and Mikhail intended to uncover how.

Before he could start planning his revenge, he had to remember her and understand how vulnerable he had been with her.

As if the situation weren’t already absurd, Viktor had claimed that their sole ally at present was a mummy – a resurrected one, no less – which didn’t cast their circumstances in a more favourable light. Even so, Mikhail found himself with no choice but to hear the man out.

At least Viktor had given him a pair of boots, providing him with something to wear…

The door slammed open, and the fraud burst into the room as if chased by a stampede of horses. “Mikhail, we have to leave! It’s not safe here.”

Threads of silvery light flickered in her brilliant blue irises. Mikhail blinked in surprise. He’d never seen such eyes before – the Oracle’s had come close, but even hers had lacked that stark contrast.

He scowled, reluctant to be impressed by her unusual irises, and focused on her attire: thin straps led to a lace-trimmed neckline and a skirt that reached her mid-thighs. Did she truly believe a bit of exposed skin would be enough to seduce him?

Her face grew pale. “Please, I beg you. Just trust me and come with me.”

Trust her? Go with her?

“Callan wants the ring back. I had a vision of him attacking me. I’m afraid he might harm you because you’re the direct heir to the ring and possibly his rival…”

“I assume you’re talking about the ring I’m waiting for you to return?” Mikhail said incredulously.

She drew a sharp breath. “Yes, I’ll return it – I’ll get it back from the Queen. But we need to leave, now.”

Crossing his arms over his chest, indicating he wasn’t going anywhere. “You’re quite a bold creature, coming to me like this. Don’t you realise that, without Viktor’s pleas, I would’ve already taken your life?”

Once again, silver streaks flashed through her irises. Damn, they were stunning – yet another sign that this woman was steeped in dark magic. She lifted her chin. “Did you really spare me because of Victor?”

Mikhail didn’t respond. He wouldn’t waste his time trying to convince her that she was nothing to him.

But she was unrelenting. “Mikhail, half a year ago, I was human. The Oracle sent you to help me, but you misunderstood her message and abducted me instead. That’s how I learned about the immortal species and the Hospital.

You locked me away, not knowing I was about to become the new Oracle.

When that happened, I was too angry with you to stay, so I left the Hospital… Еven then, you were always on my mind.”

She reached out, resting a hand on his tense forearm.

“Then the Queen contacted me. She told me to steal the ring you inherited from your father. In retrospect, I see now I only agreed because it gave me an excuse to come back to you. You were searching for me, too, and when you found me, I couldn’t suppress my attraction to you any longer.

I couldn’t keep secrets from you either, so it wasn’t long before I told you the truth – that I had returned to steal your ring. ”

Her fingers began stroking his arm gently. He glanced down at her pale hand. The touch was pleasant.

“I was afraid that once you found out, you’d never want to see me again, but you forgave me.

I’ve never felt freer… For a few days, all was perfect.

You told me about your family, your past, the immortals – everything that was on your mind.

I listened because you’re the most extraordinary, fascinating man I’ve ever met. ”

She paused, as if expecting a reaction from him.

When none came, she continued, “We didn’t expect that just hours later, the Queen would attack the Hospital with an army of reptilians and humans.

To save me, you gave me your ring and told me to pretend I had stolen it from you.

That’s what I did. The Queen took me to Antambazi as part of her entourage, while she kept you as her prisoner. ”

Her courage seemed to grow from his lack of resistance, and she moved her fingers to stroke his jawline.

“When I found out she was torturing you, I couldn’t keep pretending to be on her side, waiting for a better moment to get away.

So I acted at the first opportunity. I couldn’t have done it without Constantine, though…

We lost him during the escape. I hope he’s safe. ”

Her mention of Constantine snapped Mikhail out of his trance. “Constantine was in Antambazi?”

“Captured by the Queen. While we were fleeing, Diana appeared. Do you remember her?”

“The vampire?”

She nodded. “They left together. I hope they managed to evade the reptilians…” She bit her lip. “Mikhail, I need to tell you something else. Presiyan… I saw him with the Queen’s henchman at the palace. The Tribunal is working with the reptilians.”

She fell silent, but her fingers continued tracing his face, gently and unhurriedly.

The sensation stirred an unexpected warmth within him…

feminine fingers, like the Queen’s, caressing his cheek while he stood helpless.

Stroking him as she uttered words that made his blood boil, even though he could do nothing about them.

Stroking him moments before she placed the blindfold over his eyes and released the venom that paralysed his muscles, suffocated him, tortured his heart… Killed him.

Mikhail blinked, breaking free from her spell. She was not to be trusted. He pushed her hand away. “Leave my room, creature.”

“Mikhail…”

He moved behind her in a swift motion, wrapping an arm around her waist and lifting her off the ground. She kicked in vain as he carried her across the room. With his free hand, he opened the door and set her down just outside. She was about to say something, but he slammed the door in her face.

She was a masterful liar.

He glanced down at the bulge in his trousers. Well, he hadn’t expected that.

***

Amelia

Amelia refused to leave the cabin without Mikhail.

Swallowing her frustration, she dashed downstairs, where Viktor paced, his features tense with worry.

Luckily, Alex wasn’t in the room – Amelia had an overwhelming urge to tear off her brainless head.

That fool had been supplying Callan with blood, strengthening him, not even realising the danger she was putting all of them in!

“Mikhail threw me out of his room,” she said. “You need to talk to him – convince him we have to leave immediately.”

Viktor ran his fingers through his hair.

“I’ll speak with him, but… Are you sure running is the right choice?

We have nowhere to go, no plan, and Mikhail isn’t himself.

I hear what you’re saying about Callan, and like I said, I hate that he drank your blood.

But he had plenty of chances to harm either of you, and he didn’t.

He even brought me herbs to prepare a potion to help you recover from the blood loss. ”

The same blood loss that Callan had caused! Amelia couldn’t believe she was in this situation.

Yet, Viktor’s following words froze her in place. “Callan asked me to convey his sincerest apologies to you and said he wouldn’t have done it if he’d had any other choice. And… he looks forward to meeting you properly.”