Page 61 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts (Hospital for Immortal Creatures #3)

Constantine

Diana endured the touch of the attendants on her back without tearing off any of their hands. What had been done to her while he’d languished in Hell? He’d never seen her so… tame.

Despite the urge to inspect her wounds, he sank into the armchair, resting one ankle on the opposite knee.

The adrenaline from what had unfolded – and from what he’d learned – was starting to drain from his system.

His regained power crackled just beneath the surface, eager to be unleashed.

But Constantine was experienced enough to recognise when to strike and when to feign defeat.

Diana’s muscles twitched in pain as the attendants rubbed an ointment onto her cleaned wounds. Constantine leaned forward, his fingers gripping the armrest. “What are you applying to her?”

The guard on his left rested a hand on his gun.

“Marigold paste,” one of the attendants said. “It helps with faster regeneration.”

He suppressed a growl. The reptilians had access to a serum that could speed up regeneration, yet they were smearing marigolds – damned flowers – on Diana’s wounds!

He tapped his fingers on the armrest, eager for the moment they would be alone.

He had to figure out how to extricate them from this cursed realm.

Constantine observed the helpless guards from the corner of his eye.

He could break their necks before they even realised what was happening, but he had no idea how he would reaccess the portals.

Running a hand across the rough stubble of his jawline, he resigned himself to waiting for the Queen’s next move.

Besides, until Diana fully recovered, he wouldn’t risk doing anything reckless.

The last time he’d been in a tight spot, it had worked in his favour. Now… His eyes traced Diana’s exposed curves, yet all he could see were the crimson welts left by the whip. Everything is different.

The attendants were finishing their work when the Queen re-entered the room. Her brown gloves hugged her hands like a darker second skin. While she checked Diana’s healing wounds, Constantine suppressed another surge of rising anger.

“Let’s talk, necromancer,” the Queen said. “The vampire will be waiting for you.”

Every muscle in his body tensed, but he forced himself to appear composed as he uncrossed his legs and rose from his seat. As much as he enjoyed testing the patience of this woman, he was no longer in a position to provoke her.

He and the Queen crossed the vast atrium decorated with her narcissistic statue and climbed the stairs to one of the terraces overlooking the palace foyer. She stopped at the balustrade, gazing down at the main entrance.

“A certain item has disappeared from my personal library,” she said. “I want you to find out who took it.”

Constantine smirked. His suspicions that he would become a regular tool after his initial breakdown were proving true, and sooner than he’d expected. “I’m no detective, darling.”

“No, but you have methods of uncovering things others can’t. Spirits watch, and spirits talk.”

“Spirits are vile bastards who would rather die again than aid the living.”

The Queen’s gaze was hot on his profile. “Vile bastards, you say? It seems you’d have much in common.”

He rested his elbows on the balustrade and observed the activity in the central foyer. Before his scrutiny could arouse suspicion, he shifted his focus to the Queen. “What sort of item?”

“A journal.”

His interest was immediately piqued. Even before hearing the details, he could have bet it was that journal – C.’s journal, the one Alex had found at The Seven Horses.

“Two days ago, someone took advantage of my absence and entered my chambers. When I returned, the journal was missing.”

That sparked Constantine’s curiosity further. The journal had been in their possession for months, unless what they had was a copy, as they had suspected. “Are you referring to C.’s journal?”

He expected her to react to the revelation that he knew about the journal, but her expression remained unreadable. “Precisely. The original.”

“I see.”

“Let me tell you something, Constantine.” The Queen’s emerald eyes swept over him. “I’m well aware of what you’re contemplating as you watch my guards below.”

“Oh, reading minds now, are we?”

“There’s no need. I’m certain that at the first opportunity, you’ll attempt to escape.”

He placed a hand over his heart in mock offence. “You wound me.”

The Queen smiled, though her face remained as cold and unyielding as stone.

“You’re experienced, clever, and have your powers back.

Few obstacles could hinder you.” He resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow at the unexpected compliments, sensing the intriguing part was yet to come.

“Which is why I presume you have a chance – a slim one – to flee Antambazi again. However, I advise against it.”

“Because you’ll kill me?”

The Queen turned towards him, as if to ensure she commanded his undivided attention. “Because in a week, the only safe place in the world will be by my side. Quite literally.”

When he didn’t reply, her lips curled into a bitter smile. “Yes, you don’t care about your safety. But what about her safety?”

He faced her with a quick motion, faster than the crack of her whip. There was no doubt who she was talking about. “She’s not my girl,” he growled before he could stop himself. Damn it. The mere mention of Diana by this serpent was enough to make him lose control of his voice.

His outburst elicited yet another smile from the Queen. “But you wish she were?”

It was too late now to convince her there was nothing between him and Diana. Forcing his facial muscles to relax, he asked, “What will happen in a week?”

Kathrine was striding across the lower floor, but when she spotted them at the balustrade, her eyes flicked between them, her features sharpening.

Constantine would wager she was the one who’d stolen the journal.

It suited her penchant for playing underhanded tricks on her queen mother.

A detail he’d wisely kept secret as his last trump card.

And very soon, he would need to play it.

The Queen snapped her gloved fingers and started down the stairs, expecting Constantine to follow like an obedient Doberman. And so he did.

As they reached the door of the room where Diana was being held, his hands burned with the urge to grip the handle, and a wave of unease surged within his chest.

“Necromancer, do you know the great favour you did yourself by acquiring these gloves?” She flexed her hand before his eyes. “They provide clarity – a true sense of direction, if you will.”

“Splendid. Though, I still fail to see what favour I’ve done for myself.” Constantine’s patience for her ramblings was wearing thin.

“They made me examine you more closely. And your little vampire.” His insides twisted into an immediate knot.

“My guards found you tied to the bed, fully dressed. They assumed you were indulging in some sort of amorous game. But I suspect your vampire had other motives and they weren’t related to erotic pleasures. Am I right?”

He didn’t answer, unsure of what trap the Queen was setting.

“And do you know what else?” She studied her gloves as though they were a priceless museum artefact, then lazily lifted her gaze back to him. “Your vampire doesn’t strike me as a woman in love. And yet you went to Hell to save her.”

“What’s your point?” he snapped.

“I want you to be happy, Constantine. Satisfied in every way possible. How else will you be effective in the tasks I have for you?” She reached for the doorknob. “That’s why I decided to give you a gift.”

“If you’ve brought me another parade of whores…”

She opened the door and entered the room.

“What the hell?!” Constantine exclaimed.

The attendants and guards were gone, and Diana sat on the edge of the bed, her stormy expression fixed on them. Her long legs drew his gaze, highlighted by the short lace shorts she wore. Her tank top barely covered her chest and left her arms exposed.

“Why is she tied up?” Constantine bit out. Diana was bound to the metal bed frame. One end of the handcuffs was around her slender wrist, the other around the frame itself.

“Just as she had you tied up before. Now the roles are reversed,” the Queen said with a smile. “Enjoy yourself. Tomorrow morning, I’ll return for the task I expect you to complete.”

“Release her!”

Her heels clicked as she strode towards the door. Before leaving, she turned to him. “I have a habit of forgetting good manners as quickly as I dissect vampires. But somehow, I don’t think you’ll be foolish enough to test my patience. Will you?”

***

Constantine

Constantine approached Diana, fighting the intense urge to punch the wall. Someone had dressed her in those ridiculous clothes and chained her to the bed. Someone had touched her, and they were still breathing.

He knelt in front of Diana. Her chin was lowered, thick lashes veiling her eyes.

He brushed his hand over her bare knee and murmured, “I’ll torture each and every one of them slowly, then burn them all down – along with this wretched realm.

” His gaze swept over her body, searching for fresh scars.

If they had dared harm her again after he’d upheld his side of the bargain, he would make good on that promise without hesitation. “But first, I’ll get us out of here.”

Her leg tensed beneath his touch a moment before she raised her head. He’d expected to see pain, disappointment, or even anger, but instead he was met with an impenetrable wall. “Did you tell them to tie me up?” she asked, tugging at the restraints.

“Of course not! Did they hurt you while I was gone?”

“No. Apart from bathing me, perfuming me, and dressing me…” Diana pointed at the scant fabric clinging to her body. The satin traced the perfect curves of her chest, while the lace hinted at its fullness.

Constantine felt a consuming desire to tear the hands off whoever had dared to touch her. “I’m sorry I waited so long before stopping her.”

“I can endure more than a few lashes across my back. I have endured worse.”

His palm curved around her knee. “Diana, you’ll never have to endure anything like that again. Tell me everything about Swan and what he’s told you about the reptilians. Anything could help me get us out of here.”

She hesitated briefly. “I… I don’t want you to free me, Constantine. Convince that woman to move me to some dungeon instead.”

His jaw tightened at the thought of losing sight of her. “Why should I do that?”

“Because you’re guarded more heavily than any prisoner in the dungeons. I can’t escape while with you.” Her gaze locked onto his. “I finally got an opportunity to enter the palace. That was my initial goal when I came to Antambazi.”

His body tensed up.

“I gave up betraying you to the reptilians,” she said, “but I haven’t given up on my own agenda.”

He clenched his fists. “Will you at least tell me why you need the mirror?”

She opened her mouth – then closed it again. For a moment, her gaze flicked to the floor, the answer clearly on the tip of her tongue. But then she looked up, steadier than before. “It’s for the best that I don’t.”

Damn it . Before he did anything foolish, he stepped away from her.

Circling the bed, Constantine sank into the armchair by the library.

He should tell the Queen to remove Diana from his room and do whatever she wished with her.

If, by some miracle, she left her alive, the vampire could continue her pursuit of that damned mirror.

But how could he let her risk her neck when he was the one who should protect her?

Running a hand over the rough stubble along his jawline, his gaze lingered on her back. The inexplicable pull he felt towards her? She clearly didn’t reciprocate.

Yet that didn’t change the fact that she was his.