Free Clockwork Menagerie: A Shadows of Asphodel Novella by Karen Kincy Page B

lightweight.”
    “Yes, thank you.” Konstantin lingered by the door. Outside the window, endless snow drifted sideways. “I’m leaving.”
    Himmel wouldn’t look him in the eye. “Are you taking that dog with you?”
    Fang lay on the rug, wagging her tail. After she had followed the captain from the airship, he begrudgingly hid her in his room.
    “St. Petersburg isn’t safe,” Konstantin said. “Not with all these damn Russians.”
    “Not so loud.” Himmel glanced at the door. “Those damn Russians might hear you.”
    When he petted Fang on the head, she licked his hand. “I have no cover left to blow.”
    “Where will you go?”
    “Back.” He couldn’t tell the captain the truth, or he would surely stop him. “You?”
    Himmel’s jaw tightened. “I have my orders.”
    “You stay in St. Petersburg?”
    “I command the
Nachitgall
until Baron von Bach no longer requires me.”
    Konstantin faked a smile. “Doing your duty, as usual.” He glanced at the door.
    “Wait.” Himmel reached out with his mechanical arm, but hesitated just out of reach. “What about your dog?”
    Fang cocked her head at Konstantin. “She seems rather attached to you.”
    “Nonsense.” Himmel wrinkled his nose. “It’s because I fed the beast.”
    Damn, the dog kept looking at him with such hopeful eyes. “I can’t take Fang on the train. Will you watch her for me?”
    “For how long?”
    “I don’t know.”
    Gruffly, Himmel cleared his throat. “Good luck, then, and goodbye.”
    That was all he had to say? Konstantin swallowed hard. “Same to you.”
    There was no time to wait for more. He abandoned the captain and returned to his room, where he finished packing. The last train to Minsk, Russia left in one hour. After buttoning his coat, he reached for the doorknob.
    A knock boomed in the silence. Trembling with adrenaline, he opened the door.
    Himmel stared at him with fire in his eyes. “That wasn’t the goodbye I wanted.”
    “What—?”
    Himmel dragged him into a crushing kiss, his jaw rough with a day’s stubble. Every muscle in Konstantin’s body tensed. Himmel unbuttoned his coat, tugging it from Konstantin’s overheated skin, and started on his shirt.
    “Theodore.” He caught his wrist. “My train leaves in an hour.”
    “Plenty of time.” Himmel walked him backward to the bed. “Take off your clothes.”
    Shaking, Konstantin fumbled to unbuckle his belt. “We shouldn’t do this.”
    “Why not?” Himmel peeled his shirt over his head, the muscles in his chest flexing. “They already sacked you for buggery.”
    Konstantin winced. “A crime I have yet to commit.”
    “Would you like to be guilty?”
    His heartbeat stopped dead before pounding back. “Buggery?” His voice snagged on the word. “I’m not sure what I think.”
    Himmel arched an eyebrow. “You have considered the possibility already?”
    “Of course.” Damn it, his body betrayed him yet again. He couldn’t help getting hard. “But I’m—hesitant.”
    Frowning, Himmel nodded. “Understood.”
    “You sound so formal.” Konstantin laughed. “This isn’t a military maneuver.”
    A smirk curved under Himmel’s mustache. He stripped naked, his body all stark lines in the lamplight. “Your orders, sir?”
    This might be their last night together. But Konstantin wasn’t sure he wanted to try anything unknown, not with so much uncertainty in his life. His stomach tightened as he met Himmel’s gaze. “Kiss me. Please.”
    “Yes, sir.”



he kiss ended too soon. Himmel leaned back to look at Konstantin, his amber eyes gleaming with dark promises.
    One hour together.
    When Konstantin peeked at his pocketwatch, Himmel stole it, dangling it by its chain. “Don’t think about that.”
    “But—”
    “You won’t miss your train.” He dropped the watch on the nightstand. “I promise.”
    Konstantin sank onto the bed, his fingers gripping the edge of the mattress, and found it hard to breathe.