The Dracove (The Prophecy series) Read Free

Ireland, although she wasn’t too clear on exactly where that was. The family name was rather common, though. No famous warriors or royalty that she knew of resided in the family tree. In fact, her family had pretty much kept to themselves over the centuries. Although, she heard her mother talking about a witch being in the family at one time, but she was very young when she heard that, so who knew if it was true or not. Moreover, who could she ask now?
    “Yes, I’ve been waiting for this.” The trunk looked very old—much older than she’d expected. She signed for it, and the men left.
    The trunk smelled like an old cellar. She opened the letter and read the inheritance papers the attorney told her about the week prior. She danced a rusted skeleton key she found in the envelope between her fingers. It wasn’t much of an inheritance, just an old trunk, but it wasn’t expected. She didn’t know anyone in her family was still alive. If she had, she would certainly have searched them out. She placed the key in the lock and turned it, half expecting the key to snap in half from the effort.
    Vibrant colors met her eyes once the trunk opened. She sifted through its belongings with care, pulling a few items out here and there—clothes, a centuries-old Irish flag, and some other trinkets. When she came upon a small wooden box covered in intricate Celtic knot carvings, she gasped. Some of the carvings looked familiar, but the box was very old yet still in good condition. A sterling silver necklace sitting in plush burgundy velvet appeared when she opened it. She picked it up and held it high. The sunlight struck the silver, making it shimmer. Hanging from the chain was a round silver locket with a design on it; a triangle of swirls—identical to the birthmark under her left breast—with a garnet embedded in its center.
    “Isn’t that strange?” She couldn’t take her eyes off the piece. It looked oddly like the one in her dream, but that couldn’t be.
    After staring at it for what felt like an eternity, she placed the necklace on the coffee table and continued going through the trunk. She ran across some old papers, photos, and a few other odds and ends.
    Her attention came back to the necklace. It didn’t look very old, but she knew it had to be, since the trunk had been sitting in someone’s cellar for God knew how long. She picked it up again and cradled it in the palm of her hand. She decided to take it with her to work and show it to Ana; she might be able to tell her more about the exquisite piece. It looked practically new to Kylie, but she was certain it was at least a hundred years old, considering some of the other items in the trunk, and the letter . . . and the dream.
    She stared at it, studying every curve and singularity. The garnet set in it was such a deep, dark red—a blood red. She’d never seen anything like it. The way it was cut and the setting, its intricate details.
    It mesmerized her.
    “God, you’re beautiful,” she said.
    Eventually noticing the time, she jumped up to get ready for work, placing the locket on the table again.
    * * * * *
     
    Kylie peeked through the shop window. Ana sat behind the counter, engrossed in a piece of jewelry, and twisting a lock of jet-black hair around the forefinger of her left hand. It was something she did often—twisted her hair.
    Kylie burst through the door. “Hey!”
    Ana jumped and placed her hand over her heart. “Jesus, Kylie. You scared me half to death.”
    “So if I scare you half to death twice, what happens?”
    Ana gave her the “that is so not funny” look and wrinkled her nose.
    Kylie grinned. “I see you’re not in the mood for stupid jokes. Fine, wait ‘til you see what I’ve got.”
    She reached around the back of her neck and took the necklace off, and it dangled from her fingertips. It swung back and forth in front of her friend.
    Ana gasped. “Oh. My. God. Where did you get that?” She clambered to her feet.
    “It’s