Light Dragons 03 - Sparks Fly

And I have just the thing for truly world-class placation.” I squirmed away from him, reaching into the bag to pull out a soft blanket.
    He cocked an eyebrow at the two items. “A blanket?”
    I grinned as I spread the blanket out, gesturing to him to scoot over onto it. “I know you as well as you know me, my darling.”
    “You were so sure, then, that I would seek you out here?”
    “Oh yes. Sure enough to bring this, as well.” I reached into the bag again and pulled out a small device made up of four round metal balls connected by an arched handle in the shape of an X.
    “What is-”
    Before Baltic could finish his question, a voice could be heard calling my name. “Ysolde! Where are you? That child of yours said you were out here. Ysolde?”
    I tucked my toy away into the bag, snatching up Baltic’s shirt and pulling it on before laying my shirt over his lap.
    Baltic fairly growled when Constantine suddenly appeared out of the laurel hedge. “Ah. I have found you. I wanted to tell you-you appear to be nude under that shirt. Are you engaging in sex?”
    “Not if people insist on parading through the garden.” Baltic’s voice was deep and filled with ire. “What are you doing here?”
    “I came to report to Ysolde that my job is done. My first job, that is.” He stretched in order to see over Baltic to me. “Are you using the gold dust on him? I told you how effective that is. Or did you opt to go with the body paints?”
    “Your job is done?” I asked, ignoring his rude questions. “You mean you have it?”
    “Yes.” He held out a small wooden box, chased in silver with intricate designs of stylized dragons. “It is your shard, my lovely one.”
    “She’s my lovely one, and now that you have given her our shard, you may leave,” Baltic said in a haughty tone.
    “But ... ” I glanced at Baltic’s watch, lying on top of his pants. “But Kostya’s lair is in St. Petersburg. That’s a couple of hours away from here, and you didn’t fade away until it was almost dinnertime. How did you get there and back so quickly?”
    “Mate, do not encourage him to speak. There is nothing more he likes than the sound of his own voice. We’ll never be rid of him if you ask him questions.”
    “And there is nothing you like more than to belittle me in front of Ysolde!” Constantine spat, looking down his nose at us.
    Baltic started to get up, but I pulled him back down onto the blanket. “Stop it, both of you. I’ve had enough posturing and arguing today to last me a good month. How did you get the shard so quickly, Constantine?”
    He sniffed and brushed off a minute speck of dirt from his sleeve. “One of the benefits of being a shade is that portals no longer discompose me. I portalled from St. Petersburg to Riga while Kostya was behaving like the weakling he is.”
    I opened the box, smiling when light from within bathed me in a warm, golden glow. The shard was in a long crystal tube, chased in gold, the glow deep inside it triggering a sense of well-being and happiness. “Our shard.”
    “You have done as Ysolde asked; now you may leave,” Baltic said abruptly.
    “I like that! I’ve gone to all the trouble, not to mention considerable risk, of bringing that to you, and you simply snatch it from me and try to throw me out?” He put his hands on his hips. “I’ve a good mind to let you cope by yourself with that lieutenant of yours, but I have too much affection for Ysolde to go back on my word.”
    “A good mind? You? You wouldn’t know a good mind-”
    “Baltic,” I interrupted, pinching the back of his arm.
    “What?”
    “You’re arguing with him when we could be doing much more pleasant things.” Gently, I bit his shoulder. “Thank you for the shard, Constantine. I’m sure I’ll have the opportunity to be more expressive in my thanks tomorrow.”
    Constantine bowed. “Words of gratitude from your luscious lips, my lady, are all-”
    “Get the hell out of here!” Baltic roared, and started to get to his feet.
    Constantine sniffed again and made an obscene gesture. “You don’t have to be so rude, Baltic. I know when my presence is not welcome. I was simply indicating to Ysolde-”
    He finally left us, but only after Baltic chased him across half the garden. By the time Baltic returned, still naked and no longer aroused, I was beginning to rethink my plan of seducing him under the stars.
    “Perhaps we should go to our room,” I said thoughtfully, my fingers