Page 77 of Hospital for Immortal Creatures

“No. I don’t think you know her.”

“Female?”

“Yes.”

“Go handle it, and trust me to do the same on my end.”

“Good. Keep me posted.” With that, Mikhail had hung up.

Not good. If he’d had any doubt about losing control of the situation, it was not doubt anymore. It was a fact. The Hospital was his sanctuary, and someone was actively trying to destroy it. And somehow, Amelia’s presence was at the centre of it all. First, the Oracle had sent him to find her, then the first murder had occurred… And now, a second murder?

Only humans believe in coincidences.

By the time he’d got to the airport and had settled himself and Viktor into the plane, his mind was still whirring. The witch in Alberobello had wanted them dead. Until now, he had thought of her as nothing more than an intermediary, but these new events proved she was much more.

And the vampire, Diana? Friend or foe? Good thing she had lasted until Viktor’s transformation, otherwise they’d all probably have met their end.

Which brought him to another mystery. Why had Mada’s magic failed to work on the lycanthrope?

His gaze shifted to his friend, who was sleeping like a baby next to him, wrapped up in a thick blanket. The last time he’d turned had been years ago, and he had lost control. After that, Viktor swore an oath to never release the beast again. Now that vow was broken.

Viktor snored in his sleep. He hadn’t woken up since he had taken his human form. Tying him up was a precaution. If all went well, Mikhail would free him once they arrived.

***

Only, nothing went well.

Viktor woke up while they were settling into the car at the airport in Sofia. Mikhail placed him in the back seat and sat in the front, next to the driver.

At first, Vik was disoriented, unable to recall what had happened during their trip to Italy. His momentary amnesia quickly gave way to shock at his nudity. He listened to Mikhail’s explanation with narrowed eyes, then noticed the handcuffs around his wrists and ankles.

“Untie me, brother,” he said.

Mikhail glanced at him. The roughness in Viktor’s voice, and the sharpness in his features, were signs that dissuaded Mikhail from freeing him.

“In a moment,” he lied.

By the time they reached the Hospital, Sonya was waiting for them by the side entrance, just like the manticore had instructed her via a text message.

He turned to Viktor, hoping to meet the grey calmness in his eyes, but they sparkled with a beastly glow. “I will set you free now.” Viktor stilled, as though calmed by Mikhail’s words.

Mikhail got out of the car.

“You’re hurt,” Sonya noted. As if he wasn’t aware.

“I’ve had worse.”

He snatched the syringe from Sonya’s hand and opened the back door. Viktor outstretched his hand, the expression on his face promising trouble. Mikhail drove the needle into his neck. Before the lycanthrope realised what had happened, he fell unconscious.

“Keep him sedated for the next forty-eight hours,” Mikhail instructed Sonya before entering the building.

He went straight to the fifth floor as the cacophony from the gathering crowd increased. Questions of how and why, eyes glowing with curiosity, whispers and nudges… So much for keeping this new death a secret.

Everyone stared at him. Mikhail threw them an irritated look but then remembered he was still covered in blood, so he cleared his throat. “Good evening, creatures. If you’re wondering about the state of my clothes, suffice it to say, I had an encounter with a bear in the forest.”

Zacharia’s towering figure loomed over the crowd, blocking the West Wing as he casually read a magazine.

“Where is it?” Mikhail approached him.

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