Clockwork Menagerie: A Shadows of Asphodel Novella Read Online Free PDF Page B

arms. “Mama!”
    Chin in hand, Konstantin stalked over to the black bear. The monster settled on its haunches, paws dangling, claws carved scythes of jet. The bear stared at him with golden gemstone eyes, waiting for something.
    The hairs on his arms stood at attention. Those eyes…
    “Impressive.” Himmel cocked his head. “Why not a grizzly?”
    Baron von Bach joined them. “Because the Victorov coat of arms has a black bear. I understand the countess intended it as a gift for the count’s birthday, though the poor fellow bit the dust prior to the occasion.”
    Himmel grunted. “How did he die?”
    “Yacht accident. Most unpleasant. Drowned under the ice.”
    The men fell silent as Countess Victorova glided closer. The baron dipped his head as a courtesy. “Countess, please excuse me.”
    That left Konstantin groping for words while Himmel abandoned him with a little smirk. He decided to play dumb; perhaps Zinoviya would lower her guard. “Countess, if I’m not mistaken, the bear’s eyes look like chalcedony.”
    Her earrings glinted as she shook her head. “Chrysoberyl from Siberia.”
    “Isn’t that rather rare?”
    “Yes, though I find it quite practical.”
    “Aha!” He snapped his fingers. “The Sokolov Effect.”
    “I believe you mean the Silvestrov Effect.” She corrected him with a gentle smile, though her eyes hardened around the edges.
    “Remarkable.” He struggled to keep a straight face.
    “How sweet of you to play coy.”
    “Coy?”
    Countess Victorova tilted onto her toes as she whispered in his ear. “Aren’t you the man dissecting my clockwork dragon?”
    Words shriveled in Konstantin’s throat. “Pardon me?”
    “You would love my latest experiment.” Her eyes glittered, liquid in the light. “Perhaps you might see it for yourself.”
    “Christ, are you confessing?”
    She laughed, her earrings swaying. “Oh, dear, didn’t you know?”
    Heat scorched his face. He had been trotted out like a pawn on the chessboard, ignorant of the bigger players. “Why
you
?”
    “Tsar Nicholas finds my talents useful.”
    “Your clockwork dragon killed dozens of men.” He hated how his voice shook.
    “And your hands haven’t been stained by a drop of blood.” She glanced at her gloves. “You have quite the reputation yourself.”
    His stomach plummeted. “I don’t know what you heard.”
    “What do you call them?
Eisenkrauts
?”
    “Eisenkriegers.”
    Her teeth flashed in a smile. “Perhaps we should compare notes.”
    Himmel wandered back, tension in his jaw. He caught Konstantin’s eye and shook his head. The little boy skipped over to Countess Victorova, flinging his arms around her leg, and peeked out from behind her skirts.
    Himmel crouched to his height. “
Privet, malyish
.”
    The boy stared at him, eyes bugging, and the countess touched his shoulder. “Sweetheart, say hello to the airship captain.”
    He shook his head and ducked behind his mother.
    Himmel’s mustache twitched in a smile. “Pardon us.” He steered Konstantin away.
    “Wait, I want to ask her about the clockwork dra—”
    “No, you don’t.” Himmel glared at him. “Now isn’t the time.”
    Alexsandr lurked nearby, no doubt committing every word to memory. Konstantin gritted his teeth and put on a polite smile to survive the rest of the night, which proved to be a torment of idle chat and diplomatic pitfalls.

    Snow whirled through the night outside Countess Victorova’s townhouse. Konstantin tailed Baron von Bach to the street, where an auto waited at the curb. The ambassador smiled, his cheeks rosy from wine. “Falkenrath.”
    “Sir, if I might have a word?”
    “Certainly.” Maybe Baron von Bach felt magnanimous tonight. “Ride with me.”
    Konstantin ducked into the auto. As its engine revved, the words tumbled from his mouth. “You knew about the countess?”
    “Knew what?”
    “She confessed to building the clockwork dragon.”
    That knocked the smile from his face. His eyes