Elle stared at him with wide eyes. “Where were you months ago? Why didn’t you say anything all those times we were alone together and there was no Jack?” she shot back, feeling suddenly nervous. Apollo was watching her with the same hungry expression that Jack often had right before he kissed her passionately. Her relationship with Jack was still so very brand new to her while her relationship with Apollo had been established years in advance. The last few years she had developed strong feelings for him to the point she secretly felt she loved him from afar. Jack then entered the picture, and Elle slowly developed genuine feelings for him.
Elle rubbed her forehead wearily, certain she didn’t need this stress right now. It was bad enough she’d just encountered a pack of mermaids wanting to kill her or Jack. Having the man she previously had feelings for expressing he always felt the same way just felt wrong.
“I’ve always been a man of honor, Elle,” said Apollo, looking crestfallen. “I’ve always been the man supposed to follow the prophecies given from my oracle…” He trailed off quietly. “I’ve always made sure never to spend time with Jack given how foul and pernicious he is. Now that I’m being forced to let you belong to him, I hate it. That cold-hearted bastard tried killing you—”
“Why do you care now?” Elle shot back, not wanting to think about Jack’s previous assault of her. “Don’t talk about Jack like he’s some type of monster.”
“Jack Frost has killed before,” Apollo said calmly. “If you’ve gathered the impression he’s monstrous, you wouldn’t be wrong.”
“You want to throw out the word monstrous?” Elle challenged with raised brows. “You should really start reading some of the stories from the mythology books starring Apollo, buddy. How about Niobe? Do you remember that story? She dared to say she had more kids than your mother Leto, and you killed seven of her sons while Artemis killed her seven daughters—”
“You don’t need to rehash ancient history,” said Apollo, earning a quick scowl from Elle.
“Well, then, don’t say anything about Jack!” she replied bitterly, crossing her arms. It was her near shout that caused Apollo to watch her with wide eyes. He looked surprised and even a little wounded. “Why are you looking at me like that?” she demanded.
Apollo put his face into his hands as he groaned. “I never realized how much I relished being the only man in your life until this very moment,” he said, sounding bitter. “I should have taken you away from all of this, kept you hidden from Winter’s Kingdom.”
Elle felt strongly offended it took years and her becoming engaged to someone else that suddenly brought this side of him out. “You’re a few years too late.”
“What if I’m not?”
“I don’t follow.”
“What if…” Apollo pushed, coming closer. “What if we find a prophecy exclusively for you? What if we visit the oracle of Delphi and see what it says?”
“I don’t believe in oracles predicting the future.”
“Come now, Elle! Why ever not? After all the unexplained phenomenon that you’ve come to discover, how can you so very easily brush off a prophecy? I’m saddened to say Matthew’s wishes to have you grow living in a world where you didn’t know your true lineage was terribly wrong. You should have lived up to your birthright as princess by learning about your heritage. You should have been allowed to grow up as the royal you are.”
“Well, if you want me to believe in prophecies, that means I’m exactly where I should be: engaged to Jack,” said Elle quietly, annoyed that she found herself sad seeing Apollo’s heartbroken expression.
He shrugged his disappointed glance off with ease. “What if your prophecy is different? What if Jack is not the man you’re intended for?”
A very bad feeling came over Elle as the question she had bubbled out of her mouth before she could stop it. “Then who’s the man intended for me?”
Coming forward and engulfing her in a hug, Apollo’s bright eyes glanced down at her with a somber expression. “The man who’s watched over you for years, Elle. Your very best friend. The same man who can’t imagine having to watch you marry a man who could never be worthy of you,” said Apollo, using a warm hand to cup under her chin. “I am the man you should belong to. You should be my princess. I’m the one who knows you better; I’m the one who knows that your personality doesn’t fit with an oversized bauble of a ring. It just goes to show Frost doesn’t really know you at all. Choose to discover your own prophecy. Perhaps it is different…” Apollo finished, watching Elle with a pleading gaze. “Perhaps you belong with me.”
Elle should’ve realized this strange revealing moment would have an audience member. Apollo oozed such genuine feelings, she felt she should’ve realized of course now would be the moment Jack would make an appearance.
How ironic it was that even though he did not show up when the mermaids had arrived, Jack Frost would be listening in on this tender, personal conversation. How long he was there, Elle couldn’t tell. He could’ve just arrived or he could’ve been standing and observing the entire conversation.
Chapter 9
“What is going on here?” Jack looked rather calm…although his eyes were heavily narrowed as he watched Apollo.
“Monster…creature…mermaid thing…pretended to be you and then Pele!” Elle spluttered quickly, hurrying over before wrapping her arms around Jack’s neck for a hug as he came closer. “They wanted me to help them kill you!”
Jack swiftly returned her hug. “The mermaids despise me. ’Tis all right.” He placed the softest of kisses atop of her head, and Elle strongly suspected that move was done to spite Apollo. She hugged him tighter.
The room was suddenly littered with tension. Both Jack and Apollo seemed to despise the fact that the other was in the room. Elle couldn’t bear to look back at Apollo; she didn’t know how much of their conversation Jack had heard. “I believe someone should inform Poseidon that residents of his kingdom have declared they wish to kill you,” said Apollo stiffly.
Jack did not look away from Elle as he responded. “Then I recommend you do that,” he said through clenched teeth. “You’re not needed here.”
Elle found Apollo’s eyes were narrowed just as dangerously as Jack’s. “I follow the command of Elle alone, Frost. Never you.”
Jack’s grey eyes flashed a pure silver as he looked to the god. Apollo was not afraid of him, which was why he flashed his too-blue eyes a piercing gold in retaliation. Elle knew she needed to quickly defuse the situation before things escalated. “I’ll see you later.”
Apollo vanished after that.
Chapter 10
Jack was unusually quiet for the next hour. He explained to Elle that precautions had been taken by Poseidon’s son, Ajax. He despised the unfairness of his father’s court. The immortal planted a large monster in the depths of the lake, one that was lying in wait in case any more merfolk wished to stage an ambush. That hardly mattered; Jack said the more important problem at hand was that either Oritya or Pele had discovered their secret location. There was no way to tell just how many individuals they had given that information to.
Elle strongly felt Jack must not have heard the conversation with Apollo for he hadn’t brought it up. When he finally said something after a dinner of sandwiches, Elle was taken by surprise.
“Given we’ll have to find a new safe house, I guarantee it will be difficult for you to run off to the oracle of Delphi with Apollo,” he said quietly.
He was cut off as Elle came over to kiss him. She kissed his cold lips, his cheek, his nose, and his forehead before circling back and repeating the motions. He closed his eyes to relish the moment.
“I always thought I was in love with him,” muttered Elle. “But having him here saying bad things about you…I realized that I don’t love him,” she admitted, her eyes wide. “I don’t feel that same way around him anymore. I don’t feel the same way as I do when I’m with you.”
Jack blinked twice to allow this news to process. “
How do you feel when you’re with me?”
Elle bit her full bottom lip before she diverted her eyes. Jack gently moved a large hand to tilt her chin upwards.
“I’ve never wanted to be with someone more than I want to be with you,” she admitted quietly, causing Jack to kiss her on the lips. His lips moved roughly against her, his fingers getting lost in her hair as his skin started to sizzle as he touched her.
“All our time here, I’ve woken up in the mornings excited to see you,” Elle interrupted. “Every night when you leave, I’m sad,” she said, placing a slow, meaningful kiss on his collarbone. “You’re the man I’m excited to see every day, and you’re the one I’m sad over every time you break our kisses off,” she said, her cheeks rushing with a hot blush after that reveal.
Jack gently sighed as he kissed her softly. Holding her in his arms, he brought them to her bedroom using the lovely art of traveling without walking. After settling her down on her bed, he waited for her to undo the covers and snuggle underneath them. Elle undid the covers beside her and patted for him join her. Jack grinned. “A gentlemen doesn’t spend the night in a lady’s chambers without—”
“I promise I’ll behave myself,” Elle said. “I won’t lay a finger on you without your consent.”
“Well, when you phrase it that way,” he teased, removing his boots before climbing into the open space beside her. As soon as he did, Elle made sure to wiggle closer to him. “Comfortable?” asked Jack with mild amusement.
“Not yet,” answered Elle, scooting herself closer. It was only when her head was lying against Jack’s shoulder did she sigh. “Now I am.”
“There is no way sitting like this provides comfort; I’m freezing.”
“You’re not leaving. Try to move me, I’ll just go to your room,” she offered with a yawn. He grinned down at her before the smile slowly slipped away.
“Elle,” he said, tilting his frosted head upwards toward the ceiling. “I understand that you care for Apollo. He was in your life long before I was. I understand if you want to choose him.”
Elle was taken aback by the sadness in his tone. He wasn’t finished. “I know from the way you look at him that you have unresolved feelings for him.”
“Maybe,” Elle allowed, gently shrugging as she pressed herself closer to Jack. Jack resisted a scowl as his body stiffened. “Yeah, I’m confused about Apollo,” she continued gently. “But not in the way you think I am. He was my best friend. Then I found out he was actually a three-thousand-year-old god who’s been assisting in lying to me my entire life.”
Jack said nothing, imploring Elle to continue. “Maybe at one time, I would’ve heard what he said and been over the moon,” she admitted, tilting her head to look at Jack. “I can’t feel that way anymore.”
Jack looked as though he wanted to believe her. Elle gently leaned in to kiss him once more, and he kissed her back. “When you didn’t come when I turned the globe today, I wanted to start crying,” Elle said, shuddering. Jack’s head snapped down to look at her in surprise.
“I thought maybe someone had gotten to you. I was so afraid you weren’t coming back and I would never see you again,” she admitted in a small voice.
“So you don’t choose a life with Apollo?” he asked, testing her facial expression.
“Of course not, my frozen fiancé. I choose you.”
“Truly?”
Elle leaned up and stared at Jack, a wild smile across her lips. “You thought for even a moment I would prefer Apollo over you?” Jack’s lips thinned as he nodded. Elle looked about to laugh before taking note of Jack’s somber expression. Her eyes softened as she snuggled herself closer. “I prefer winter over summertime.” She nodded.
Jack groaned as he pulled her close in a hug. Elle giggled as she laid her head against his collarbone, a sharp tingle of enjoyment flooding Jack hearing her lovely voice holding laughter. “I’m glad to see you’re enjoying my jealousy.” He grinned down as she hugged him tighter.
“It would be cute if you didn’t actually believe I’d want Apollo over you,” she muttered.
Jack shook his head as he held her tighter. “Centuries alive and you are the only woman I have ever truly loved, you silly mortal. Do you realize how the idea of you with another tears me apart?”
A beautiful crimson lit up Elle’s cheeks in a blush. She sighed gently. “Well, do you finally understand that it doesn’t matter what Apollo’s told me or how he feels for me, that I only want to be with you?”
Jack released a mocking sigh, as if contemplating this. “I suppose I feel some reassurance. After all, you are in a bed trying to cuddle against me while professing your care for me. Apollo can eat his golden heart out.” Jack could not resist sparing her a toothy grin that made Elle roll her eyes.
“You think I care for you?”
“I shall hope you do or all of our kisses now seem rather awkward in my mind,” said Jack with a snort.
“No,” Elle clarified, sighing. She looked to Jack with a smile. “I don’t just care for you, Jack. I love you.”
Jack watched in astonishment as his favorite mortal gazed at him with a rather sheepish expression. Elle seemed surprised she said the words aloud as well. As soon as they left her mouth, they seemed to provide a fun type of thrill for her to say once more.
“I love you.” She smiled warmly, allowing Jack to pull her in even closer.
“You have atrocious taste to love someone as horrible as I,” said Jack with a soft chuckle.
“No,” she disagreed gently, starting to become lost in a gentle slumber. “You’re everything I was always looking for and yet never knew it. I’ll never love anyone the way I love you.”
It did not take long for her to fall asleep after this soft-spoken declaration.
Jack silently watched her, resisting grinning like a mad fool in the darkness. He was certain in that given moment that what Elle said was his most favorite thing said to him in over two hundred years.
Chapter 11
Elle abruptly awoke. She had a nightmare that caused her to toss and turn for the last hour. Just a second earlier, she had felt a pair of chilled lips pressing against her forehead. Elle smiled wearily into the darkness, knowing Jack was watching her but being very quiet about it. By the looks of it, he had yet again moved her back to her own bedroom. “You know, even after we marry, I don’t think I’ll ever be used to you watching me sleep.” She knew who it was lurking in the shadows as silent as the dark: the man she had grown to love. Elle heard an amused snort come from the darkened corner of the room, propelling her to sit up. Arching her back into a stretch, she wished she were wearing attractive pajamas instead of a tank top with a picture of a fluffy cat on it. Her shorts weren’t any more attractive. They were crummy worn-out athletic shorts that were two sizes too big.
“I’ll have you know most mortals are usually fast asleep at this ungodly hour.” Jack grinned as he emerged from the shadows.
“Well, I’m not most mortals, mind you. I’m a long-lost fire princess.”
Jack appeared before her eyes, leaning down to place a kiss on her mouth. “Go back to sleep, my sarcastic one.”
Elle pretended to pout, although she was more than satisfied he didn’t leave. “Why? Kissing you is more interesting than sleeping anyway,” she mumbled against his cool lips. Jack’s silence inspired her to continue. “I mean, you could always stay here in bed with me. That’ll make me go to sleep.”
“Are you saying I’ll bore you to sleep, Letter?”
“More like being around you will make me more comforted to sleep.” She yawned, trying her best to flirt yet feeling she was failing.
Jack pressed his lips harder against hers, his fingers entwining in her hair as he kissed her. Elle gently pressed her hands against his chest as she happily kissed him back. A wry smile was on Jack’s lips as Elle moved herself closer against him. “I don’t feel you would behave yourself if I stayed in bed with you,” he accused softly. His words made her smile.
“Maybe I would behave while in bed with you,” she grinned mischievously, “unless you’re afraid I’ll take advantage of you.”
Jack softly laughed, sitting on the bed beside her. He allowed Elle to gently push him on his back while she leaned over him. “Terrified.” He nodded his frosted head. “I completely underestimated your inner sexual vixen.”
“Might as well give in to your fiancée, then.”
Jack grinned as he wrapped his arms around her to pull Elle closer as he sat up. “You are so very incorrigible,” he said quietly, his cool breath fanning her face. Soon enough, Jack’s expression was one of heavy surprise as he looked at Elle’s clothing.
Leaning against him, Elle tried to ignore the massively terrible feeling that haunted her for wearing her hideously adorable cat tank top. Why on earth had Grandmother gotten this for her birthday? Why couldn’t Elle have been wearing cute pajamas in this given moment? Jack watched the annoyed expression she threw her own shirt, causing him to grin mischievously. “A kitten wearing a kitten shirt. That’s quite fitting.”
She sighed as Jack kissed her forehead before removing himself from the bed. “We’re engaged. For more than one night, you could sleep in the same bed as me. It won’t kill you.”
“After you’ve become my wife, you can sleep with me any time you desire.” He winked, his double meaning quite clear.
“I can’t wait.” She smiled, kissing him softly. Sizzling noises sounded as Jack leaned her against the pillow while also keeping in perfect synchronization with their kisses.
“If I could stay every minute of every day with you in this cabin, I would be a happy man,” he said huskily as Elle kissed him back hungrily. It was as their kissing grew longer that it was discovered they were no longer alone in the cabin. Arrivals were in the doorway of Elle’s bedroom.
Betrothed To Jack Frost Box Set Page 45
