Me and My Shadow - Katie MacAlister [44]
The man who stood silently behind Baltic, as dark and menacing as his leader, stiffened at the insult. All three silver dragons stiffened with him, just as if they were panthers about to spring. Baltic lifted his hand and his man backed down, taking a few steps backwards until he was on the front steps leading up to the house.
“If you don’t mind, what exactly do you mean by again? Was the quintessence stolen recently?” I asked.
Unexpectedly, a little smile quirked the corners of Baltic’s mouth. “You should know; the word is that you stole it.”
“And returned it promptly the next day just as soon as was humanely possible,” I said quickly, glancing at Dr. Kostich.
To my extraordinary relief, he was still focused on Baltic. “I know they said you were dead.”
The muscle in Baltic’s jaw jumped again.
“The word ‘again’ implies it was stolen before. You wouldn’t happen to be interested in alchemy, too, would you?” I asked Baltic.
He shot me an irritated look. “I am no glorified chemist playing with potions.”
“But the quintessence—”
“May be the focus of an alchemist’s interest, but I have no use for transforming matter at all. He can keep his precious quintessence,” he interrupted with a particularly wolfish smile. “I have come for my shard, mate.”
Dr. Kostich sucked in a breath, his fingers twitching. Mages frequently drew elaborate runes in order to access their power. Although he stood in a relaxed position, with his hands apparently calmly at his side, I could see that his fingers twitched and jerked in what I realized was a subtle pattern. He was drawing a rune.
Of the two evils, Kostich was definitely the lesser. The L’au-delà was governed by rules and laws; Baltic clearly made his own as he went along. Therefore, it would be hoove me to throw my lot in with Kostich, no matter if it was only temporarily.
I lifted my chin and gave Baltic a long, calm look. “We’ve had this out before, Baltic. I’m not going to let you kill me just so you can get the shard.”
Kostich’s pupils flared for a few seconds as he glanced at me.
“I was referring to the shard you stole from my lair earlier today, although now that you speak of it, I agree that it would be more convenient to take both now than be forced to return for the second one later.”
I tipped my head to the side as I looked him over, the dragon shard gleefully throwing caution to the wind. “I did not steal any shard. Well, not in the last couple of months. The Modana Phylactery was taken by its rightful owner, Kostya, not me. As for the other—the phrase ‘over my dead body’ has always seemed overly dramatic to me, but at this moment, it seems particularly apropos.”
“You will find there are several bodies you will have to overcome in order to harm May,” Maata said, taking a step forward. The other two dragons did likewise, their faces wearing identical expressions of intent as they moved into flanking positions.
Dr. Kostich’s fingers continued to weave a rune of power against the fabric of his pants leg.
“You are threatening me?” Baltic asked, genuinely amused. I glanced toward the door where his cohort stood, half-afraid he’d come charging in, but he merely leaned against the doorframe, looking not at all worried.
That fact made me more uneasy than anything else.
“We will do whatever is necessary to protect May,” Maata said, inclining her head.
“Then you will die with her,” Baltic said with a shrug. “You will all die if you try to stop me from retrieving what belongs to me.”
“I’m a naiad,” Cyrene suddenly said. She jumped up and hurried over to stand next to me in a show of support. “I’m immortal. I can’t die.”
Baltic slid her a quick look. “Would you like to place a wager on that assumption?”
Cyrene showed rare circumspection by saying nothing other than a whispered, “Kostya was right—whoever this dragon is, he’s a pain in the butt. Show him what you’re made of, May.”
“Kostya?” Baltic lifted his head as if he was scenting the air, his gaze narrowed on Cyrene. “You are his . . .”
“Mate,” she said quickly.
Baltic’s eyebrows rose.
“Oh, all right, all right!