Free Sparks Fly: A Novel of the Light Dragons by MacAlister Katie Page B

Dragonwood, I could never live there knowing I could have saved the silver dragons instead. “No, that would never do. It will have to go to you, Gabriel. Then you can use it to force Baltic to lift the curse.”
    “I thought you said you wouldn’t be happy if Drake stole something for you. Was that just for Dragonwood?” Aisling asked, moving over to stand with me. “Not that I think you’re wrong, because I’d totally steal something in order to save the silver dragons. And I know that Drake is dying to have a go at something really difficult—you wouldn’t believe how happy the thought of a little thievery makes him—but if it’s going to cause problems with you, then we won’t do it.”
    “What is this object that has so much power over Baltic?” Gabriel asked, frowning as his thumb rubbed over May’s fingers. “He has Dauva, does he not? He has you….I don’t know what else there is that could hold sway over him.”
    The mention of Dauva triggered a memory of amonth ago, when Baltic had discovered that Thala, his lieutenant, had stolen a very valuable personal artifact from a hidden lair deep in the bowels of the remains of Dauva. “There are two things, actually,” I said, carefully picking my words. Baltic hadn’t mentioned the loss of his talisman, the item that marked him as a child of the First Dragon, to anyone, not even Pavel. “One is something of which I have little knowledge, and thus wouldn’t be suitable to our purposes—although Drake, perhaps one day—well, we’ll leave that until such time. The other, however, is something that rightfully belongs to Baltic, and was taken from him by a very unscrupulous method. And yes, it has enough value to him that it might just do the trick.”
    Gabriel suddenly sat up straight, rubbing at his shoulder. “The sword? The one that Kostich took from him?”
    I nodded. “Dr. Kostich blackmailed him to get it, using me as bait, the rotter, and later hid it away in some secret, unreachable, impossible-to-access stash of the L’au-dela.” I smiled as everyone in the room sucked in a collective breath. “I think it’s time to
liberate
Antonia von Endres’ light blade, Drake.”

Chapter Four
    “W hat will you give me for it?”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    Drake’s voice was smooth as ever, his face austere, but his eyes were hot with a look that I remembered from centuries before when Baltic acquired new treasures.
    “You desire me to steal the light blade so that it can be given to Gabriel, and in turn exchanged for the removal of the curse upon the silver dragons, is that not so?”
    “That was the idea, yes,” I agreed.
    “What will you give me to steal the blade?” he asked.
    “Drake!” Aisling whomped him on the arm. “You are not going to pull that negotiating crap with Ysolde!”
    “I do not see how such an act will benefit the green dragons,” he told her, catching her hand when she was about to whomp him again. “
Kincsem
, you know how these things are done. My services do not come without a price.”
    “Gabriel is your friend!” Aisling said, clearly outraged.
    “And my friend has his mate,” he answered smoothly.
    “You…I don’t believe…Drake! All the silver dragons are our friends! I can’t believe you’d be so heartless, so callous, as to charge Ysolde for saving them!”
    Gabriel laughed when Aisling wrestled her hand away from her wyvern, looking as if about to deck Drake.
    “I don’t mind paying him,” I said hurriedly, not wanting to cause any trouble between them. “I don’t have a ton of money set aside, but I’m sure we could work out something.”
    “What are you laughing about?” May asked Gabriel, giving him an odd look.
    “Aisling, do not attack Drake. I assure you it’s not necessary,” Gabriel said, chuckling. “I am not offended by his request for payment. It is perfectly understandable that he should desire payment for what will be a difficult and risky venture. However, I am