Page 120 of Anatomy of the Immortal Species
Mikhail smiled. “The previous Oracle. She told him an assassination was being plotted against him. Then she left. So, he arranged for my family to travel with him to Moscow, to a property no one knew he owned. He intended to leave my mother and brothers there and then go off on his own to find out more about this supposed assassination attempt. In his letter to me, he insisted that Valeria and I – yes, Valeria, because he considered her part of the family – travel to join the others in Moscow. He wouldn’t leave until he saw us both safe, my father wrote. I don’t know why, but at the time, I didn’t want to take Valeria to my brothers and mother. I kept telling myself that my instincts didn’t hint at any danger for us, but the truth is, my instincts were screaming that Valeria herself was a dangertous. Unfortunately, she had also seen my father’s letter…” Mikhail sighed, trailing off.
“And… then?” Amelia prompted in a whisper.
He shook his head. “It turned out Valeria was quite an ambitious nymph, and had been striving for years to attain the position of High Nymph. But she didn’t have the right lineage, so she wasn’t even allowed to be ‘nominated’ for the upcoming conclave. With her cunning mind, Valeria figured out that if she removed the main obstacle to unrestricted breeding of their kind – my father – she would earn enough favour with the Chief Nymphs, who are something like a council electing the leader, to be allowed into the conclave. She planned to convince the rest of her kind that if she became the High Nymph, she would easily handle the other lawmakers of the Tribunal, once my father was out of the picture.”
Mikhail’s posture always slumped whenever he reached this part – even if it was just in his thoughts. Now, he clenched his jaw. “But getting to my father wasn’t easy. He always travelled with a convoy. Her plan was clearly to get close to me and carry out her assassination attempt that way. How unpleasantly surprised she must have been by my desire to stay far away from my family. In the years I was with her, I met my father no more than five times, always at large events that limited Valeria’s chances of assassinating him. The approaching conclave must have driven her to desperation, and she decided to act. And I was the fool who left my father’s letter with the exact location of his secret whereabouts in Moscow.” He let out a breath. “You know the rest. My family died because of the insane ambitions of a nymph and my own stupidity. If I’d just once considered that not everything revolved around me…”
Amelia’s hand tightened around his again. “Do you really think that gaining entry to the conclave was Valeria’s motivation?” Her soft voice was a soothing balm to his tense muscles.
“That’s what she told me before…”Before I killed her.Mikhail didn’t say the last part. “It doesn’t matter. I just wanted to answer the questions you asked me before I was arrested. Youwanted to know about my family and why Valeria betrayed them. Well, now you do.”
Amelia released his hand. “I’m sure your father would be proud of you if he could see what you’re doing for the immortal species today.”
Mikhail shrugged. “My father was a pacifist. I am a killer.” He placed a finger on Amelia’s lips to stop her from protesting. “And I’m also a coward. Because when I met you last year and sensed that you had the power to pull me out of the iceberg I’ve been living in for centuries, I immediately tried to push you away. Do you know that when you’ve been unhappy for a long time, at some point, you cling to your misery and reject anything that might pull you even slightly towards happiness? My outburst at you wasn’t because of the demons from my past – they were just an excuse. It was because of the demons born within me.”
“Mikhail…”
“Let me finish. You’ve already saved my life twice. So, whether you accept me as the man at your side or not, I want you to know about this ring.” Mikhail opened his hand, revealing the band once more. “There’s magic in it. My father didn’t tell me that when he gave it to me, but I just know there is. I think it’s what kept me safe from Valeria’s men on the night my world collapsed…” He slipped the ring onto his middle finger, still surprised, as always, at how well it fit. “Dark times are ahead, Amelia. I feel it with my whole being. I promised you I would always protect you, but if something ever happens to me, I want you to take the ring. Whatever it holds, it will protect you as it did me. I keep it hidden in the niche above the arch at the beginning of the corridor. Promise me you won’t forget it in a moment of danger.”
Amelia’s face lost its colour. “Mikhail… I must steal that ring from you.”
46
All along, Amelia had known the only probable outcome of this situation. The vision she’d had in her dream had solidified her decision. Because her visions, however rare and uncontrollable, had always been accurate.
In the dream, she’d been holding an antique ring with a lion engraved upon it. Just before she’d handed it to Ana, Amelia had glanced back over her shoulder. Mikhail’s features had been contorted with hate, and the gold in his eyes had dimmed to black. The pain of his contempt had pierced her heart, but what had gutted her was knowing his life was in danger.
The vision’s message was clear: once Amelia handed over the ring to Ana, Mikhail’s life would be in mortal danger.
And she would never allow that.
So, she admitted everything. How Ana had appeared out of nowhere. What she had asked of Amelia. How she had threatened her.
While the words left her lips, she prepared herself to face Mikhail’s disappointment. It would all be worth the relief that revealing this secret brought her. She was ready to endure anything if it meant helping Mikhail quench his anger.
All this time, she had believed her actions would help the Hospital, but she hadn’t considered the most important thing – Mikhail was the most powerful being she knew in this world. He didn’t need her to fight his battles. And she respected him too much to fight his battles for him. Besides, she had long since passed the point where she could take something of his and walkaway. She wouldn’t take the ring, nor would she fulfil the vision where she betrayed Mikhail’s trust, and his contempt cut her so deep, that she’d never be whole again.
Ana was right about one thing. Mikhail wasn’t the missing piece of her. He was the binding magic holding the two parts of her together. With him, she wasn’t just Amelia or the Oracle. With him, she was Amelia the Oracle.
Her heart was lighter by the end of the story… until she met Mikhail’s gaze. His pupils dilated, swallowing the golden irises. He remained silent, watching her with an unreadable expression. But behind his eyes lingered a single emotion – fury.
Amelia wasn’t afraid, but her soul was in pain from knowing Mikhail would never again let her touch him and soothe his demons.
“Mikhail… I’m sorry,” was all she managed to say.
He crossed his arms over his chest, and her eyes dropped to the tattoo of the Council, wrapped around the muscles of his forearm. “Sorry for what, Amelia?” His deep tone buckled her knees.
She held his gaze, though it was difficult not to flinch. Her heart forgot its normal rhythm. At that moment, she realised how hopelessly in love with Mikhail she was. And she didn’t even have the strength to scold herself for being so foolish.
“For even considering stealing the ring from you,” she said.
And for disappointing you.
He walked towards her.
“Mikhail…”
He pulled her into a tight embrace. Amelia pressed her face against his chest, not understanding what was happening, but desperate for his touch.
