Page 38 of Kiss of Frost

“Lead the way, dragon.”

Laughing, he tugged me through the door and down the corridor to the same spiral staircase we’d descended last night. This time, however, he guided me up instead of down. Moments later, we ducked through a narrow door and stepped onto the tower’s icy roof. Snow stretched in all directions. The tower soared above it, reducing everything on the ground to miniature. A snowy boulder we’d passed yesterday looked like a marble.

“This isn’t a bathroom,” I said, my heart speeding up as I eyed battlements that looked like they’d been smeared with white frosting. “Also, doesn’t this castle eat people?”

Callum tucked my arm into his elbow and helped me over the ice. “King Cormac said that’s only for uninvited guests. Graeme carried us inside, so I’d say we’re invited. But don’t worry, we’ll stay away from the stone just in case.” Steps from the battlements, he stopped us and moved behind me. Resting his hands on my shoulders, he turned me gently and pointed. “Look there, witchling. It’s faint but you can just make it out.”

I squinted… Then I sucked in a breath.

“You see it,” Callum said, his smile curving against my ear.

“Yes.” The Oracle of the North Wind. It shimmered blue on the horizon. Every few seconds, a darker blue pulse fired through it. “It’s closer than I thought.”

“Aye. My guess is about an hour on foot.”

“It’s farther than it looks,” a deep voice growled. A second later, Graeme stepped from nothing, appearing between me and the battlements as if he’d been there the whole time. Which, of course, he had. Fury poured off him, thick waves of it distorting the air around him.

Callum shoved me behind him so quickly I had to clutch at his shoulder to steady myself.

“That won’t work,” Graeme said, his gaze locking onto me. The glacial indifference was gone, replaced with a deep wrath almost demonic in its intensity. His eyes were red-rimmed and raw, as if he hadn’t slept. But his bulk was as intimidating as ever. He towered above the battlements, his broad form filling the horizon. The muscles in his shoulders flexed as he stabbed a thick finger at me. “You can’t hide from what you’ve done, witch.”

Callum bristled. “What are you talking about? She hasn’t done anything.”

Graeme bared his teeth and took a menacing step forward, and I suddenly understood how people must have felt when marauding Vikings washed ashore. “Don’t play ignorant, boy. You worked with her in the Great Hall, diverting my attention so she could poison my beer.”

“I did no such thing,” I said.

Graeme’s lips curled into a snarl. “Such a fine actress. I applaud your efforts, but your scheme is finished. You’ll reverse this curse or suffer the consequences.”

“Don’t threaten her,” Callum growled. His muscles tightened further under my hand. He was poised to strike.

I stepped out from behind him. “What is it you think I’ve done?” Callum reached for me, but I shook him off. “No, I want to know.” I put my shoulders back as I faced off with Graeme. “How did I curse you? And please be specific. If I’m to reverse this poison, I need to know exactly what I put in your beer.”

“More theater,” Graeme bit out. The air around him rippled. “I tire of your game, witch.”

My heart thumped hard against my ribs. If I grabbed at the air, I wasn’t sure I could hold it, let alone form it into a weapon strong enough to take down Graeme. Callum was a rigid presence at my side, his big body just barely held in check. I knew that if Graeme made one wrong move toward me, that check would disappear. And Callum would likely lose any battle between them. Memories of his blood splattering the ground flitted through my head.

No. I couldn’t let that happen. But Graeme was so angry—

My breath hitched. Graeme was angry. And yesterday, he’d been aroused. At times, he’d seemed startled or confused. He’d felt—and he wasn’t supposed to feel anything.

Callum’s voice rose in my mind. “The mate bond isn’t always a lightning strike, Georgie. It’s different for everyone. But it can’t be ignored.”

Graeme hadn’t ignored us. He’d tried to. He sent us to our rooms and ordered us to leave. He claimed he didn’t care if we got hurt.

And then he brought us stew.

“Kill me, then,” I said suddenly, lifting my chin.

Callum looked at me sharply. I waved him to silence without breaking Graeme’s stare.

“Do it,” I said, my heart thundering in my ears. “If I cursed you, killing me will set you free. Niall Balfour proved as much when he killed Mullo. The curse that killed your females broke the second Mullo took his last breath. Do the same now. Kill me.”

Callum’s growl echoed around the frozen tower. “Georgie—”

“Quiet,” I said, taking my eyes off Graeme long enough to give Callum a warning look. “This is between me and Graeme.”

Callum’s chest rose and fell swiftly. A muscle jumped in his jaw, and for a second I worried he might ignore my order. At last, he gave a curt nod.

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