Page 3 of Kiss of Frost

“No,” I said, stepping closer to the platform, “it was because of Mullo.”

Niall turned his dark gaze to mine. For the first time, I noticed the glass of water on a small stand next to his elbow. A weapon. Unlike me, Niall Balfour was a master of his root element. He didn’t need a sword to kill.

Heart thudding like a drum, I forced myself to hold his stare. “Your queen is right. You’re a hypocrite, Niall Balfour.” I pointed at the water. “You shun your heritage, yet you rely on its gifts. You can’t outrun your blood. My father taught me that.” I walked forward. “He never liked your grandfather. Mullo Balfour wasn’t universally beloved among the houses.”

Niall’s mouth tightened. “I find that difficult to believe. Your kind worships power.”

“Our kind reveres skill.” I stopped at the base of the platform beneath Niall’s chair. “It’s the vampires who worship power.”

“They worship blood,” he corrected.

I shook my head. “They are the same, my lord.” Niall narrowed his eyes, but I plowed on, raising my voice to address all the dragons in the Hall. “You were wrong to blame the vampires for your losses. You made a whole species your enemy over a false accusation. Tell me, Lord Niall, will you do so again? Will you turn your back on your own kind and sow discord between dragons and witches?” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Isolde sink into her chair, a look of approval on her face.

“And I suppose you speak for all witches?” Niall demanded.

“I speak for my house. It’s one of the reasons I’m here.” I drew a deep breath and recited the statement the elders drilled into me before I left Manhattan. “We, the witches of House Blackwood, seek an alliance with the dragons. We come not as enemies but as allies, asking for peace and cooperation between our two races. We offer our assistance in rooting out the last of Mullo’s followers among the witches.” I glanced at Cormac. “In exchange, we ask for safe passage to the Oracle of the North Wind.”

Gasps went up around the room.

“I mean, my safe passage,” I said, going off script. “I’m the only one going, so the passage is for me. The assistance with rooting out Mullo’s followers thing is a group effort, though.”

Niall’s dark brows drew together. “Why do you need to visit the Oracle? You seek its guidance?”

“Not exactly.”

His brows pulled tighter. “Then why go at all?”

Words stuck in my throat. The weight of a dozen pairs of eyes pressed against me. Should have read a book about public speaking before I left. “I, um, have to capture the North Wind.”

More than one dragon in the Great Hall sucked in his breath.

Niall’s expression went from hostile to incredulous. “You’re going to capture the North Wind?”

Heat rose in my cheeks. “I only need it for a little while.” Please don’t ask why I need it.

“Why do you need it?” Niall asked.

The heat spread down my nape as familiar embarrassment flooded me. “I can’t assume leadership of my house until I prove I can control my element.”

“And you propose to do that with the North Wind? A sentient element and one of the most volatile, temperamental currents in the world?”

“That’s the quest the elders set for me.” Those dicks.

It was probably my imagination, but Niall’s gaze appeared to soften. “The North Wind is an important part of the global climate system, lass. The humans might notice if you take it.”

“I’ll put it back when I’m done with it.”

Cormac chuckled.

Niall looked at him. “You knew about this?”

The king gave his mate a mild look. “You’re hardly shy about your hatred of witches, Niall. In their wisdom, the elders of House Blackwood sent their request for an audience to me. I felt it wise to grant it.”

“Are you serious?” Niall demanded. He seemed to realize he’d just challenged Cormac in front of an audience because he cast a quick look around the Hall before moderating his tone. “Historically, you haven’t exactly been cozy with the witches, either, my lord.”

Cormac turned to Isolde and took her hand. He brought it to his lips before turning back to Niall and giving him a lazy smile. “Aye, mo chridhe, that’s true. But I try to learn from my mistakes. And I don’t hate all witches.” His voice dipped lower. “If you recall, I’ve always been particularly fond of you.”

Something hot and intangible arced between the two men. Isolde looked on, her lips parting as Cormac continued brushing his mouth over her knuckles as he stared at Niall.

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