Page 52 of Jilted By Jack Frost

“I’m not fussing.” I drop my hands to my sides. “I’m having a fucking existential crisis.”

She grins. “Save that for after the ceremony.” She smooths down my skirts. “Jack’s waiting.”

My breath catches at the mention of his name. Through our strengthened bond, I feel his anticipation mixing with my own. At the far end of the great hall, beneath another arch woven with mistletoe and ice flowers, Jack stands tall in his formal attire. His white hair is pulled back beneath his crown of crystal spires, and his ice-blue eyes find mine across the distance.

My mate. My equal. My match in every way.

The music starts—an otherworldly melody that makes my skin tingle. As I take my first step forward, frost spirals out from beneath my feet, creating delicate patterns across the marble floor. My newfound powers still surprise me, but they feel right, like they’ve always been a part of me waiting to emerge.

Jack’s face softens as I approach, a smile playing at his lips. Gone is the cold, distant ruler who first brought me here. In his place stands the man who risked everything to protect me, who learned to trust in our bond despite centuries of fear.

“Little mate,” he murmurs as I reach him, his deep voice carrying in the hushed hall.

“Your Frostiness.” I smirk at his eye roll. Some things never change.

Above us, the mistletoe seems to pulse with an inner light. Jack takes my hands in his. “The ancients believed mistletoe held the power to bridge worlds.”

I squeeze his hands. “Like us?”

“Like us.” His thumb traces the silver mark on my wrist—the visible sign of our bond. “A bridge between realms, between power and healing, between what was and what could be.”

Jack’s magic thrums through the hall as he begins the ancient binding words. The temperature drops, and ice crystals form in the air around us, suspended like stars.

A familiar laugh breaks through the ethereal atmosphere.

“Only you would manage to find a husband who makes it snow indoors during the ceremony.” Alana’s voice carries from the front row.

Heat floods my cheeks. When Jack insisted on bringing her here for the ceremony, I’d warned him about her complete inability to maintain proper decorum.At least she’s wearing the formal gown Cora picked out instead of her scrubs.

“I assure you, the weather manifestations are entirely intentional.” Jack’s formal tone has that slight edge that means he’s trying not to smile.

“Oh my god, you actually made him defensive.” I turn to Alana. “I didn’t think that was possible.”

“I’m not defensive.” Frost creeps along the floor around his feet.

“Your ice says otherwise, big guy.”

The winter fae gathered around us titter with barely contained laughter. Jack’s shoulders relax slightly at the sound. It’s exactly what this ceremony needed—a reminder that love shouldn’t be all solemnity and protocol.

“If we could continue?” Jack raises an eyebrow at me, but I catch the amusement in his eyes.

“By all means. Proceed with your weather magic.”

He lifts our joined hands, and pure power courses between us. My healing magic rises to meet his winter essence, creating swirls of golden light that dance with his ice crystals. The sight draws gasps from the crowd.

A ray of winter sun pierces through the sky, the light catching each ice crystal, sending sparkles dancing across the faces of everyone watching. I can’t look away from how beautiful it is—like the northern lights condensed into our joined hands.

“As winter and summer find balance,” Jack’s voice resonates through the hall, “so too shall our realms exist in harmony.”

The magic builds, lifting my hair in an ethereal breeze. Through our bond, I feel Jack’s wonder at how perfectly our powers complement each other. No longer fighting against nature, but working with it.

“Holy shit,” Alana whispers loudly enough for everyone to hear. “That’s actually real magic.”

“Told you I wasn’t hallucinating.” I wink at her, earning another round of chuckles from the crowd.

Jack squeezes my hands, drawing my attention back to him. “Are you quite finished disrupting our sacred ceremony?”

“Not even close.” I grin up at him. “You knew what you were getting into when you decided to keep me.”

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