Light Dragons 03 - Sparks Fly

harm, and I cannot allow that.”
    I stopped trying to grab Baltic as he paced back and forth in front of me, down the length of the largest bedroom that he had claimed for ours, his hands gesturing in short, jabbing movements, his eyes all but spitting fury, and instead focused my best frown on Constantine. “Of course I don’t want you to strike him down, and Baltic has never lifted a hand to me. Ever! Such an idea is utterly ridiculous.”
    “It also has great appeal at this moment,” Baltic growled as he stomped past me, smoke trailing him.
    “Oh!” I stepped immediately into his path, transferring my frown to him. “You wouldn’t!”
    He looked downright deadly at that moment, every inch the famed dread wyvern, his black eyes lit with fury when they narrowed on me, his muscles bunched, his dragon fire about ready to burst from him. “Wouldn’t I?”
    I wrapped my arms around his waist, ignoring the fact that his arms were crossed over his chest. “Not unless you mean on a certain posterior portion of my person, and even then, that would be totally uncalled for. Unless, of course, you let me reciprocate.”
    He looked even more outraged than he had when Constantine sauntered down the front steps of our new home. “I am a wyvern! Wyverns are not spanked. You, however, are not a wyvern.”
    “Really? You’re into that, too?” Constantine said, going from transparent to corporeal form in the blink of an eye. “Did Ysolde tell you about my spectral whip? I’m told it’s not nearly as effective on non-spirit beings, but still packs a titillating sting if used properly.”
    “We are not into that, no,” I said quickly when Baltic’s fire rose even higher. “I was just making a little joke to lighten the mood, which Baltic well knows. He just likes to pretend he’s more indignant than he is.”
    “You called him,” Baltic accused me.
    “Are we back to that again?” I tightened my arms around him, crossed arms and all. “Yes, I did call Constantine. No, I didn’t inform you that I was telling him we were going to Latvia instead of back to England. And no, I do not desire him. I love you. I always have, I always will, and someday, you’re going to realize that and be on your knees in gratitude that I love you so much, I’m willing to put up with your insecurity where Constantine is concerned.”
    Baltic growled, although he loosened his arms enough to let me hug him properly. “Why did you feel it necessary to inform him of your location?”
    “She wants me to do a little job for her,” Constantine said, fading back to nothingness. “Two jobs, actually. Neither of which you can do.”
    “Oh, for the love of the saints, Constantine! I said no baiting Baltic! And I mean it. If you can’t behave, you can take a time-out in one of the outbuildings and think about what it means to have some manners. Baltic, my love, my only love, stop smoking.”
    He looked at me as if I were deranged.
    I smiled and touched one nostril. “Your dragon fire is riding so high that little wisps of smoke keep sneaking out. It’s true that I asked Constantine to do a job for me, but I didn’t expect he would come here immediately.” I paused for a moment, thinking about that. I looked over to where I’d last seen the shade. “How did you get here before us? I called you from the portal office when we first arrived.”
    “I was already in Riga. I knew that Baltic would try to rebuild Dauva, and I decided when you disappeared from England that he had brought you here. It’s amazing what a little snooping in real estate offices will uncover.”
    “What jobs?” Baltic asked, unbending even further to wrap his arms around me, his hands on my behind. “What is it you believe he can do that I cannot?”
    Constantine snickered.
    “I’m serious about the time-out,” I told him before turning back to Baltic, picking my words carefully. “I want my dragon shard from Kostya.”
    “The Avignon Phylactery?” He looked puzzled for a moment, then shrugged. “Thala has much to answer for in giving it to him solely in order to distract me. It is right you should want it back, mate, but you do not need to employ traitorous murderers in order to get it.”
    “You murdered more dragons than me,” came the reply from across the room. “Thousands more! It’s a wonder the weyr didn’t charge you for them centuries ago, like they have now.”
    “Baltic has been cleared of those ridiculous charges that he killed