Match is a hedge witch, part of a group of Guards that protect their town and the surrounding area from supernatural danger. He is not fierce and glamorous like his teammates, the paladins who do most of the fighting, a werewolf who does most of their hunting and tracking, or their sleek, crafty hacker who fights from a modern angle. No, his life is plants, herbs, and potions—and being hopelessly in love with Ronan, the dark paladin of their group, who comes from one of the oldest families in the supernatural community. Far from a poor hedge witch living on the wrong side of town, even if they have been teammates and friends for years. Then, in the aftermath of a fight with a bog witch, Ronan agrees to a date and it seems like for once, everything is going Match's way…

With Valentine's Day approaching, Match is looking forward to being a mushy, romantic cliché with the boyfriend of his dreams. The fight to get his pay increased hasn't been going well, and he's long fed up with the bitter cold of winter, but snuggling with Ronan after a day spent picking herbs and flowers is pretty good compensation. Until he returns to his apartment only to find an eviction notice, despite having done nothing to merit it—and then the town is struck by a deadly Jack Frost, and the Guard goes to work in earnest to stop it. But when he stops at shop after shop for help, for food, as he works through the day and night, Match is turned away and thrown out by people he thought were his friends… word count: 15,209