Page 58 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts (Hospital for Immortal Creatures #3)

“I shouldn’t have come at all.” Her eyes burned with irritation as she spun on her heel. A childish behaviour, showing how inexperienced she was.

“You have power,” Mikhail called out to her retreating back, “but that power will drag you down unless you start controlling your reactions. I didn’t aim to humiliate you but to show you that you need training – physical and otherwise.”

Amelia faced him once more. “A week ago, you said I was still alive because I was useful to you. Now you want to help me?”

“Even if I don’t remember meeting you, I recall the Oracle asking me to help someone . Her letter confirms this person was you. Therefore, I’m willing to assist you in the only way I can think of.”

Besides, he couldn’t march into war against a humanid with an unstable Oracle and a man who’d recently been a mummy at his side. And Presiyan who seemed more lovesick and lost than Mikhail must have been under the ring’s influence.

“You want to help me not because you care, but because of the advantage I might give you against the reptilians,” Amelia said.

“And you want me to hide everything from Callan because you want exclusive access to my power, in case I have any. Something you hope to uncover through these training sessions.”

“Then why didn’t you stick to your original plan and ask someone else to teach you to defend yourself?”

She folded her arms, offering no response. It wasn’t needed, as they both knew the reason she’d come to him. She couldn’t turn to any of the others for fear of revealing her ability too soon.

Mikhail gestured to her neck. “Put on the necklace.”

After a brief hesitation, Amelia retrieved it from her trouser pocket. The intertwined snake heads dangled against her chest as she fumbled with the clasp.

Mikhail stepped behind her and reached for the ends of the chain, expecting resistance.

Instead, Amelia tilted her head and swept her hair to the side.

His nostrils filled with her scent a moment before her posture brought back the memory of the cave.

His primal instincts stirred, and with them came the urge to find out if her skin was as warm and soft as he’d imagined.

He fastened the clasp, avoiding any contact with her skin.

Amelia covered the snakes’ heads with her palm. Mikhail was behind her, still imagining trailing his fingers down her back. He reached out…and looped his arm around her neck, pulling her against his chest. “Free yourself!” he growled into her ear.

She jabbed an elbow at his stomach, but his grip was too tight.

“If your attacker is shorter than me, you could try a headbutt,” he said, “but in this case, that’s not an option.”

She tried to stomp on his foot.

He’d expected it and sidestepped. “That might work.However, it’s likely your attacker will see it coming. Unless they’re an amateur, but since you’re special, they’ll send someone more—”

Amelia took advantage of the slight loosening of his grip, bending forward. Before he could react, she grabbed his leg, wrapping her arms around his shin. He was forced to release her to keep his balance.

She sprang ahead and pivoted to face him.

“Not bad.” Mikhail eyed her with newfound respect.

Amelia tied her hair back into a ponytail. “When my brother was alive, we used to play Mortal Kombat and Tekken on the PlayStation.”

Mikhail hadn’t known she had a brother, but this seemed like a promising start.

***

Mikhail

Amelia lacked the skills to defend herself but showed the potential to improve. Her agility made up for her petite frame and lack of muscle, and she was quick-witted, as demonstrated by her ability to apply techniques learned from video games.

However, two hours later, the necklace still hung around her neck like an ordinary trinket, and her hands had produced nothing more than a few scratches on Mikhail.

He gestured for a break and handed her a bottle of water from the stack near his bed. Although he rarely drank fluids, Alex had deemed it necessary to stock up.

Amelia, on the other hand, was desperate for a sip. She lowered the bottle from her lips and frowned. “What is it? Don’t tell me you’re upset that I’m drinking the water you offered me?”

“Upset?” Mikhail leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs. The physical activity hadn’t tired him out – rather, it had left him feeling pleasantly warm. It had been a long time since he’d exerted himself in his human form.

“You’re looking at me… strangely,” Amelia observed.

“In the early years of the Hospital, I worked alongside other healers. Studying the anatomy and physiology of different species was of particular interest to me. I find what’s happening to you… intriguing.”

“I’m glad I inspire your scientific curiosity,” she said with a frosty expression. “As long as you don’t decide to dissect me tomorrow.”

“That phase of my life is behind me.” His lips curved slightly. “But who knows? I might revisit old interests someday.”

His last remark seemed to spark some electricity between them.

An unexpected noise jolted them out of the moment. They turned to face the door, where a large man was standing.

“Zacharia!” Amelia exclaimed and promptly rushed forward to greet his friend, acting for all intents and purposes as though he were her closest friend.

Mikhail sprang to his feet, examining the man to confirm it was truly him: combat boots, black leather trousers, a T-shirt outlining well-defined muscles, a short military haircut, and a piercing ice-blue gaze.

The hybrid’s sun-bronzed arms pulled Amelia in a brotherly embrace, prompting Mikhail to once again question how much he’d missed over the past months.

Zacharia released Amelia and furrowed his brow, staring at the necklace around her neck. Then his gaze shifted to Mikhail. “Brother, if I see you wearing one of those trinkets, too, I might think I’m out of touch with the latest trends.”