Kiss of Frost (The Dragon Stone Saga Book 1)(3)

She shoves her hand into her hoodie and then thrusts it at me, a crinkled picture pinched between her fingers. I smooth the paper out and see a necklace. One of the chunky ones that are so on trend lately. Large gems surrounded by diamonds, the largest in the middle and the rest around it, varying sizes. Ann always did have a good eye for the expensive pieces. In fact, she's known for it. Finding that one piece that people will go crazy for at an auction.

"I've never seen this necklace. I'm sorry."

The girl sniffles and my heart breaks. Who would put a child in this position? No one good, that's who.

"But my mom might know. She owns the shop."

A small smile shifts her features and I pray that I haven't just gotten her hopes up for nothing. Maybe Ann knows what the piece is, or can find it if she needs to.

"Do you want to come inside and get warm and I'll call her? It's late, but she's probably still awake."

The girl narrows her eyes, looking me over with caution. "You're not going to call the cops?"

"No, I'm not. I'm Ivy. What's your name?"

"Kay. My name's Kay." The girl's lips twitch into a small smile when she introduces herself, and again, I get a feeling of sadness from her. It's like she's not used to being happy.

"Nice to meet you, Kay." I step to the side and motion her forward. "Let's get you warmed up and see if we can sort this out."

We ascend the slippery wooden steps up to my apartment and I turn on the kettle for some tea. Maybe a bit of chamomile will calm our nerves. I set her cup on the table and keep an eye on her as she appraises my small but homey living space. I unlock my phone and dial Ann, hoping she's awake.

"Ivy? Is everything okay?" Her voice isn't groggy so I don't think I woke her up. Thank the goddess.

"Hey, Ann, yeah, I'm okay, just have a bit of a situation over here." I glance over at Kay. "Do you think you can come down here?"

"What's going on?" Her tone is sharp and I can hear rustling in the background.

"It's hard to explain and I don't want to say it over the phone. The shop is fine, I'm fine, but I need your expertise."

"Did someone break in? Did you call the cops?" More shuffling in the background and then the click of a lock.

"No, nothing like that. I'll tell you when you get here. Was that your car I just heard start?"

"Yeah, I'll be there in ten minutes. Make me a cup of tea. Something tells me I'm going to need it."

I sigh. "Yeah, you will. I'll see you in a bit."

I click off and turn to see Kay examining my small altar. Jem, Ann, and I are all practicing witches. From what Ann tells me, she and my mother grew up together in the same coven, which baffles me. My mother neglected me to a point that Ann took me in and raised me as her own. She got drunk on power and forgot about real-life responsibilities and obligations. Now Jem and I are in the same coven, doing what we can to keep nature happy, and occasionally freelancing for the police force.

"It's an altar." I smile warmly at her.

"An altar? Like for human sacrifice?" Her eyes go wide and her glance bounces from me to the door.

I laugh. "No, nothing like that. I'm not evil. I worship nature, not the devil." She still looks skeptical and I sigh. "Satan is actually not even a part of pagan religion. A lot of it is thanking the earth for allowing us to be a part of the circle of life and respecting that."

"So you believe in all that magical stuff? Like love potions and flying broomsticks?"

"I've got a broomstick but it's not getting me anywhere. And love potions aren't really a thing, but yes, I believe in magic. You don't?"

Kay frowns. "I don't know. If there was magic out there, I'd have gotten my mom and sister out of this already with the snap of a finger."

"It doesn't really work like that and I can tell you about it sometime if you're interested, but if you're not, no pressure. Ann should be here soon and I was just about to make a plate of cheese and crackers. Are you hungry? "

She shrugs her shoulder. "I could eat."

I'll bet she could. Her clothes are hanging off of her petite frame and her cheekbones might be so sharp due not to genetics but hunger.

A few minutes later I place the platter of gouda, grapes, and salami on the table just as my front door swings open. Kay startles, jumping up from her chair, and Ann takes in the scene with her shrewd gaze. She slips off her dripping rain jacket and hangs it up by the door, kicking off her shoes and walking toward us.

"I'm going to need two things, Ivy. That cup of tea and an explanation."





Chapter 2





"Just so I'm clear here…" Ann points a finger to Kay. "You tried to break into my shop to find this necklace"—she taps the photo—"because a group of thugs demanded it in exchange for your family's safety?"

Kay nods, her cheeks tinged pink. I watch her closely, trying to keep a pulse on her emotions as she speaks with Ann. I want to help her; I can't help it. I'm a healer. Everything in me is drawn to broken things and people. But I've also learned over the years to keep my bleeding heart under lock and key and surrounded by barbed wire for good measure.