Light Dragons 02 - The Unbearable Lightness of Dragons

imply I would do so, you’re going to be one sorry necromancer.”
    She straightened her shoulders and looked down her nose at me. “Do you threaten me again, human?”
    “You bet your buttons I do,” I said, making a fist and gathering myself for a lunge.
    “Ysolde, remember our son,” Baltic said, pulling me backward against his body. “You do not wish to fight in front of him, do you?”
    His words acted like a bucket of cold water tossed on my head. I sent a reassuring smile to Brom, who sat watching with wide, delighted eyes. “No, of course not. But you know full well I didn’t betray you any more than Aisling did.”
    “I care not what the green mate did, but I know that you would never do such a thing,” he agreed, patting me on the behind before releasing me and giving Thala a long look. “I have asked you to cease tormenting my mate. You will not make me repeat myself.”
    Her eyes were hot with anger, but after a few moments during which I thought she might just challenge Baltic’s dominance, she dropped her gaze in a gesture of submission. “The fact remains that the sword has been moved to a safer location, and now it is beyond our reach.”
    “Not beyond it. More difficult to obtain, perhaps, but not out of the question.”
    “Where exactly is this—” My phone ringing had me pausing in the middle of the question. “Oh. I . . . uh . . . I have to take this call. It’s about that business we just discussed,” I added with meaning to Baltic, who simply shot me a warning look and allowed himself to be urged away by Thala.
    “She and I are definitely going to have it out one of these days,” I said softly as I went out to the kitchen garden. “Hello?”
    “Good afternoon. I am Maura Lo, and I’m told you wish to hire me for a summoning?”
    “Hello, Maura. Yes, I do. I’d love to talk to you in person about what I’d like you to do for me—are you near London, by any chance?”
    “Er . . . no.” Her voice had a kind of husky quality that reminded me of Lauren Bacall at her most seductive. “Actually, I’m in Estonia at the moment. Which is one of the reasons I was calling—I’m afraid my schedule is a bit hectic, so I won’t be able to undertake any new projects for a while.”
    I just bet she was busy. Busy with things like orchestrating the theft of objects from the L’au-dela vaults and keeping dragons imprisoned in their own residences. “That will never do. I’m afraid my job is quite urgent.”
    “I’d be happy to recommend another Summoner since you have such a great need—”
    I interrupted her offer with ruthless disregard. “I was told that you are the only Summoner in Europe who is capable of bringing back the ghost of a dragon.”
    “You want a dragon’s spirit summoned?” she asked cautiously. “Which dragon?”
    “The former wyvern of the silver dragons, Constantine Norka.”
    She sucked in her breath. “Why?”
    I blinked at the tidy rows of fresh basil and mint that Pavel often teased me were cosseted. “I beg your pardon?”
    “I asked why you want Constantine Norka’s spirit summoned?”
    It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her that was none of her business, but I reminded myself that a little honey went a long way. “The First Dragon has charged me with a task that involves Constantine. I’ve decided the best way to accomplish that task is to speak with Constantine directly.”
    Silence followed that statement. “I see. Well, I won’t deny that the challenge is an intriguing one, but I’m very sorry, Miss . . . er . . . I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name from the message left for me.”
    “It’s Ysolde.”
    The silence that met my ears was one filled with surprise. “Ysolde de Bouchier?”
    “Yes.”
    “Oh . . . I thought you were dead.”
    “I was. Temporarily.”
    “All right. Er . . . one moment, please.” A hushed conversation followed. Listening carefully, I thought I could detect two other voices, both male. Just what was she doing in Estonia?
    “Ysolde? I’m sorry, but I’ve just consulted my schedule again, and I really won’t be able to take your job for at least three months.”
    “Are you engaged in another summoning job?”
    “No, but I am terribly busy with . . . er . . . a little side project.”
    “I see.” I hadn’t anticipated that she’d turn me down flat. Now what? I glanced along the edge of the house, catching a quick glimpse of Baltic as he moved to his desk in the study, Thala right