Jack Frost by Cassandra Chandler

Author:Cassandra Chandler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cassandra Chandler

Chapter Nine

“Load the van, Jack. Then you’ll get your supper.” He slid the last stack of empty boxes into Ava’s van and muttered, “How did I become someone’s elf?”

On some level, he knew he was being unfair, but it didn’t matter. Jack’s heart still ached from Ava turning him away from going to pick up Charlie. She was okay with Jack being part of their lives, but only on her terms. He had never let himself be subject to someone else’s wishes like that. He wasn’t about to now.

It’s a little late for that.

He slammed the door shut, then turned, only to see the Lord of Renewed Boughs standing right behind him. He was dressed in a light blue three-piece suit under a champagne topcoat. A brighter blue scarf hung around his neck. His dark hair stood in short waves that wouldn’t have been enough to cover the tips of his ears without the glamour he was casting to hide them. How had Jack not noticed his approach?

“Well, this is a pleasant surprise,” the interloper said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he stared at Jack with pale green eyes.

“I would say I wish I could say the same, but I don’t.”

“Such a chilly reception. I guess it’s to be expected.”

“Upset by my work in the park this morning, Boughs?” Jack didn’t have the patience for Fae games today. Not when he was reeling from Ava’s apparent rejection.

“It’s Finn, at the moment.” The other Fae smirked. “Finn Darragh.”

“Darragh? Isn’t that just Irish for ‘Oak’?” Jack took a few steps closer. “A little on-the-nose, considering who you work for?”

“Well, you know the Oak King is a very literal fellow.” Finn shrugged. “You can call me Finn if you’d like.”

“I don’t plan on calling you anything,” Jack said. “And you’re being entirely too polite to me. What do you want? You know, never mind. Just go away.”

“Funny thing…” Finn’s smooth voice grated on Jack’s nerves. “That’s exactly what I want from you. Your little decorating party in the park set my work back a week. You need to back off. Ostara is in a few days, and it needs to be spectacular this year.” Finn stepped closer, almost nose-to-nose with Jack. “So why don’t you disappear back down whatever wintery hole you crawled out of and leave me to my work? Your time is done here, Frost.”

Maybe that would be for the best. If Ava didn’t want Jack here, there was no reason for him to stay. Except for Charlie. There was something about the kid that thawed the ice around Jack’s heart. He had thought Ava was going to be the one to melt it through. The idea of spinning himself into his frost form and returning to a wintery landscape sent a shiver down Jack’s spine.

No one understood. He didn’t want winter, he wanted spring. He wanted hope and renewal. That’s why he showed up on the between days, when the world was just beginning to turn to spring and Jack could try to be part of something different.

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