Kiss of Frost (The Dragon Stone Saga Book 1)(21)

He scoffs. "You think I'm scared of the police?"

"Nah. I think you're scared of Dayphis. He's your boss, right?" I tap a finger to my lips. "Think about it. If you end up in jail, he'll have you killed in hours. Probably after having someone torture you for the fun of it to find out what you told us. If we let you go, you've got a chance to run."

Desmond rubs at the back of his neck, shifting from one foot to the other. My stomach turns at the thought of this man out in the world, free to do what he pleases. Even if we strip him of his magic, something is innately evil about him, right down to his core. He'd probably end up being the inspiration for an episode of Criminal Minds.

"What do you want to know?"

"How did you find Kay and her family? Who else knows about them?"

"Everyone in our coven knows about them. We've been searching for years for those with dragon's blood strong enough to allow us to control the dragons we captured long enough to release them and take their magic for our own."

"How many are in your coven?"

Desmond's eyes quickly dart to the left and I wait to see if the copal and althea will do their job. He purses his lips, his expression pained. It must be working its magic, because he looks like he wants to lie but can't. Good. Prick.

"There are thirteen of us including Dayphis, who is on his way here—"

"When is he due to arrive?" Beck steps forward, fury flashing in his eyes.

Great. The boss and most powerful of all of them is headed this way. I can't imagine he'll be happy about not having Kay and her family to help control the dragons he thinks he's got in these stones.

"The day after tomorrow."

I look to Beck, shocked that they would move so fast. But then again, greed is an incredible motivator. What are their plans? If they no longer have Kay and her family at their disposal, what will happen next? I replay Desmond's answer to my question and scowl. "You didn't tell me how you found Kay and her family."

"He'll kill me." Desmond steps back.

I stand, placing myself in front of Beck's imposing form. "Who? Beck? He's not going to touch you, no matter how much pain you deserve as payback. Answer my question. And while you're at it, I need to know their plans for what happens after they find the stones."

"Dayphis will kill me if I tell you how we found Kay. Or anything else, for that matter."

"Speak, you vile creature!" Beck roars the words, his power lashing out in the room like a hurricane, the bars of the cell shaking. I press a hand to his forearm, hoping my touch will calm him. His breathing is harsh, his nostrils flared. He's livid but he's trying to calm down.

"We have a dragon working for us."

Beck scoffs. "There is no way a dragon would work for you willingly. Who is it?"

"She doesn't work for us willingly. We captured her eight hundred years ago after we trapped you and your brothers in the stones while we amassed the power we needed to pull your magic from you."

I tap my foot, impatient for Desmond to answer the freaking question. "Still waiting, Desmond."

"I have never had contact with her directly, but her name is Isobel." He flinches when he says her name, and quicker than I can blink, Beck's power blasts out and Desmond turns into a human Popsicle in front of me.

"Beck, what was that for? He was cooperating." I throw my hands up in exasperation. "He's not going to talk to us if he thinks we're going to flash-freeze him every time we don't like his answers."

Beck's chest heaves and he paces back and forth. His upset tightens my own chest. He must have known this Isobel. "I never thought…"

I watch him, trying to figure out how to help him calm down. His reaction was fierce and harsh I just don't know why.

"You never thought what, Beck? Talk to me." I step in his path, stopping his pacing, and rub my hands up and down his sides. "I can't help you if I don't know what's going on."

"She's alive. Isobel is alive."

"I take it you know her. Who is she to you, Beck?" I bite back a flash of jealousy. Beck is centuries old. It's not like he was a monk before he met me. I push the feeling away and concentrate on helping my mate sort through whatever he's going through. "Who is Isobel?"

"Isobel is my sister."



"She's your sister? The one you said they wouldn't tell you about when they captured you guys?" I pull Beck into my arms, hugging him. It's not much, but physical touch always helps when you feel you're all alone in the world.

"I need to get out of here. I can't breathe in here." Beck kisses my cheek before pulling away and storming up the steps.

I look back at Desmond. He's still frozen, and honestly, I could care less. It's nothing compared to the pain he's caused over the years. They tortured Beck and his brothers for fun before damning them to live inside the stones we're so desperately searching for. And now this? They've had his baby sister in captivity, using her for god only knows what. Fucking Christ.

I leave the copal burning in the room and head back upstairs. Ann is waiting in the hallway when I exit the basement and she's frowning.

"What happened? I felt the blast of power from upstairs."