Page 43 of Hospital for Immortal Creatures

Mikhail stood and started pacing up and down the length of the lab. A few moments later, he asked, “Do you remember what I told you about my meeting with the Oracle?”

“Yeah, that she sent you to help a woman who had nothing to do with the immortal world.”

Mikhail stopped pacing and stared at the lycanthrope. “Well, you could say that now she does…”

Viktor’s lips twitched at the edges. “What do you mean?”

“I kidnapped her. She’s in the building.”

Viktor’s face didn’t show the surprise Mikhail had expected it to. He didn’t go into lecturing mode, either.

The lycanthrope grabbed a pen and scribbled something in the notebook that was lying open next to the chopping board. “Sorry, I just got an idea about the new potion I’ve been working on… Anyway, are you saying you stumbled upon something that forced you to kidnap the poor woman?”

“Not exactly.” Mikhail sighed and told Viktor everything that had occurred.

When he was done, Viktor asked a single question. “So, who is Amelia, if she doesn’t belong to one of our many species?”

“Beats me. As far as I’ve been able to uncover, she’s just a regular human who has no idea about the existence of the immortal world. Believe me, Vik, she really has no clue what’s going on here.”

“Then why is she here? And why would you risk so much?” There was the lecture Mikhail had been expecting. “I know that Presiyan is your friend, but that won’t stop him from summoning you if he senses you’ve breached the Tribunal rules.”

Mikhail didn’t need a reminder of the Tribunal’s leader uncompromising and ruthless character.

“I’m well aware,” he said. “But someone tried to kill the Oracle right after she sent me to Amelia. It doesn’t seem like a coincidence.”

Viktor’s frown deepened. “Tell me about this Amelia.”

“A student from Sofia, twenty-five years old, nothing interesting in her past. I already regret getting involved with her. I would get her out of here in a heartbeat if something wasn’t eating me up inside… Oh, I also turned in front of her. And, just my luck, Constantine isn’t available to tweak her memories a bit…”

“Say what?” Viktor’s face twisted in a grimace that Mikhail had witnessed when he was scolding the twins.

“What didn’t you get?”

“You turned in front of her? Have you lost your marbles? Humans can die from simply seeing a turned immortal. Some sights are too incomprehensible to a mortal brain. You’re lucky she’s still alive. And you say the Oracle sent you to help her.”

“I haven’t laid a finger on her,” Mikhail said, not mentioning he’d drugged her numerous times.

“You sent Zacharia to kidnap her!”

At that, he could only shrug. “I had a hunch that she wouldn’t willingly come to the Hospital, even with kind words and gifts. She lives a solitary life. Lost her family. Zacharia sent one of his boys out to make contact with her in the park she runs every morning. He tried to talk to her but she just ignored him.”

“Of course, she wouldn’t agree willingly. She’s a human! Are you feeling well, my friend? You seem a little… strange, lately.”

“I’m fine.” Mikhail slumped down in the chair.

Viktor was quiet for a moment. Then, with a sigh, he offered, “Let me talk to her.”

“No need.” The manticore’s voice sounded harsher than he’d intended. He looked up and, softening his tone, added, “Besides, I’ve got everything I can out of her. She’s a dead end. The Oracle sent me on a wild goose chase, nothing more.”

Viktor eyed him with suspicion. “Don’t be foolish. The Oracle is never wrong.”

“You’re not hearing me. I already asked Amelia if anything strange had happened to her lately, and she said no.”

“Was that before or after you turned in front of her?”

“I promised her I’d keep her safe.”

“Before or after you kidnapped her?”

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