Page 69 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts
“The coat?”
“Yes, the black coat.Mycoat.” Since waking, Mikhail had consumed her thoughts, leaving her no time to ponder the Oracle’s letter. “Tell me Callan didn’t take it!”
Viktor spread his empty hands. “Maybe it’s upstairs, in the chest in Mikhail’s room?”
“I need it.”
“I’ll come with you. I’m not convinced it’s a good idea for you to go into his room alone.”
Amelia paused midway up the stairs, blocking Viktor’s path. “No. Mikhail and I have to lay down some sort of truce.”
“Amelia, he doesn’t see you as a woman, but as a threat. Don’t forget that.”
She climbed to the second floor, suddenly consumed by anger. She wanted to scream at Mikhail. He might not remember her, but that didn’t give him the right to act like such a stubborn, arrogant bastard who wouldn’t listen, even to his best friend.
She entered his room without knocking. Let his anger flare. How far would his contempt go?‘He doesn’t see you as a woman, but as a threat.’No way.
Disappointment washed over her when she discovered he wasn’t in the room. The window was wide open, and a gentle breeze flickered the candle flames in the corner.
She strode to the chest Viktor had mentioned and opened it; a sigh of relief escaped her at the sight of her coat. Turning it over, she reached into the hidden inner pocket…
Empty.
She searched through all the pockets again, but the letter was missing.
Something in the centre of the room caught her attention. The bed… That wood carving? The Tree of Life.
A noise behind her made her spin around. Mikhail was leaning against the closed door.
“Is this what you’re looking for?” He held up the rolled pages in his hand, the tension in his chiselled features pronounced in the candlelight. She knew him well enough to sense the threat.
“I thought you’d gone,” she said.
“How could I, when I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since you were in my room?”
Hope fluttered in her chest. “Does that mean…you remember?”
He laughed, and although it was Mikhail’s laugh, the vibration of it sent a disturbing shiver down her spine. “As far as I can tell, your aim was for me to forget. But as I suspected, somewhere along the way, your magic faltered, because I haven’t forgotten everything. If you were anyone else, you’d already be dead. But you…”
“But I, what?”
He pressed his lips into a tight line of pure disdain. “I was disgusted with myself for almost hurting you earlier. You’ve done something to keep me from retaliating against you, haven’t you?”
Dear God, was there any way to persuade him that she hadn’t enchanted him? “You wonder why you can’t harm me? Because you love me! You love me, Mikhail, and no matter how much you lie to yourself, your heart knows it’s true.”
He laughed again, more harshly this time. “That’s not love, but lust, creature. ShouldItellyouhow your magic works?”
“Lust?”
Mikhail stepped closer. “I’m furious about everything your magic has done to me, but I can’t stop craving your kiss.” His burning gaze dropped to her lips. “I imagine burying my fingers in your hair, pulling hard. Dragging my face along your neck and breathing in your scent, intoxicating from the very first moment. Sucking your nipples and sinking into the heat between your thighs… Giving you pleasure you don’t deserve.”
Amelia stiffened, her breath catching. She had expected anything but this. Despite his contempt, his words affected her.
He crossed his arms and leaned in closer. “Tell me, creature. If I surrender to your magic, will it be enough to break its hold over me?” His voice was rough, the sound sending a tremor through her knees. Then, suddenly, his tone sharpened. “I challenge you! Remove your spell, or I’ll make you regret ever deciding to enchant me.”
But Amelia didn’t flinch at his growl because…he desired her. Perhaps this was the way to help him regain his memories? Her vision nagged at her.
Could she win him over again?
