The Seduction of Jac Frost (by Tatienne Richard) novel Chapter 42

Bar’s Theory Part II

“I don’t know if they’re going to simply let you walk away.”

“I need to prove I’m better off without them.” She sighed dramatically. “I think if it comes down to it, a choice between

me and Jacinta, they will choose her. I simply need to prove

that she does hate me, resents me, got rid of me once and wants to do it again, and then they will rally around her and offer the protection she needs and they’ll let me go.”

“Why do you think they wouldn’t punish her and accept you?”

“Because that’s how it works in fairy tales, Bar, not in real life, especially my real life.”

“How can I help?”

“You don’t even know me. Why would you want to help?”

“I recognize a kindred spirit in you, Jacqueline. Family isn’t about bloodlines. It’s about the people you surround yourself with. The people in this town are very good people. I prefer my solitude but if I need to be around others, it’s going to be

people who have helped me heal. Maybe this town can help you heal as well.”

10:54

+3 Bonus

< Bar’s Theory Part II

“Maybe.” She pouted her lips sadly.

“You said you were sickly as a child. What was wrong with

you?”

“Funny story,” she laughed, “turns out the Frost bloodlines turns blue when irritated. The hospitals and doctors all thought I had some kind of oxygen deficiency which was

causing my limbs and skins to turn blue. Depending on how hurt, angry or rageful I was, the color of blue would vary.

They would freak out and panic and then they would call

social services and complain it was too much for them to

deal with. I made the other kids scared blah blah blah.”

“I’m sorry you went through that.”

“Do you know of all the things they told me when Wilder

found me and connected the dots from me to the Frost

family, the knowledge I wasn’t dying from some obscure

unidentifiable disease was the one thing for which I was most grateful. Not the mates. Not the family. Not the cool possibility of powers. I’m excited for the fact I am not dying.”

“You are a very interesting person.”

2/7

10:54

+3 Bonus

< Bar’s Theory Part II

“Thank you.” She smiled at him, “thank you for being so kind

to me.”

“It is the very least bit of what is expected of any being.”

He looked beyond her, “here come your mates. They look annoyed.”

“I bet,” she didn’t even turn around to look, and Bar chuckled

at her behavior.

“Do you need back–up?”

“No. I don’t think so.”

“Well, I won’t let them badger you in my place.”

“Thank you Bar.”

“Jacqueline,” the dingle of the bell over the door as it shoved open and Wilder and Rafferty stomped into the bookstore felt like a foreshadowing of the clashing headache she was

sure was coming. “What are you doing?”

“Looking for books to read in my room later,” she didn’t even turn around as she resumed reading the back of the book

jacket on the novel in her lap.

3/7

10:54

< Bar’s Theory Part II

+3 Bonus

“You are in a room alone with a male shifter who assaulted

your sister.”

“My sister came at me and Bar, not Jack my brother, but Bar,” she waved to the man, “protected me from her foolishness.

He asked me a question. I answered it truthfully and she

lunged. He stopped her. Did they fail to tell you?” she didn’t

even look up at them as she set the book in the keep pile and

moved to the next one.

“Gentlemen,” Bar nodded at them, “good to see you again.”

“Bar.” Rafferty growled. “What are you doing with my mate?”

“Selling her reading material and talking about how family can be,” he paused, “difficult to navigate. For the record, I saw the way her so–called sister looked at her and that’s not a loving woman in the least.”

“She was mouthing off at the lounge about how you ganged

up on her,” Wilder moved to look over Jacqueline’s shoulder, “what are you reading?”

“Nothing yet. Bar picked out a bunch of books he thought I might like and I’m going through them. What are you doing

4/7

10.54

+3 Bonus

< Bar’s Theory Part II

here? Thought you were having drinks with Jacinta.”

“Uh no. Why would you think that?”

She half turned and made a show of batting her lashes and rubbing his bicep, “oh Wilder and Rafferty, it’s been so long since we’ve connected. Let’s have drinks and get to know each other again since we’re going to be family, which is if you can ever convince Jacqueline to actually stop being so

difficult.”

“We bailed on that.”

“You do know that you could have simply said no and walked

away.”

Her two mates frowned, “we were being polite.”

“Since when do you two fuckers ever care about manners? I once saw you,” Bar waved at Rafferty, “taking a piss in a public place and you,” he nodded at Wilder, “you told an entire group of men to get fucked because they accused you of cheating at a poker game. Manners aren’t usually the thing you two mind.”

“We’re trying not to let her know we think she dumped her 5/7

10:54

+3 Bonus

< Bar’s Theory Part II

sister in a hospital.” Rafferty sighed. “We need to play nice and pray she trips up.”

“That would be good information to share with your mate before you engage in such activities.” Bar offered.

“Were you angry, Jacqueline?” Wilder tucked hair behind her

ear. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to upset you. I was hoping

to simply dodge her and steal away with you. I came out of my room after making calls back to Percy about the Oscar

winner to find you were gone. Your parents didn’t know

where you went but then Jack and Jacinta came in and she was in a rage.”

“And you came here because you knew I was here alone with

Bar?”

“We came because we were jealous, yes.” Wilder shrugged.

“You are our mate.”

“To a bond I can’t really feel,” she muttered.

“Because you are closed off.” Bar commented as he shelved

a book. “Based on what you’ve told me; my theory is that you can’t feel the bond because you don’t feel true affection for anyone. You don’t open your heart because when you do, you 6/7

10:54

+3 Bonus

< Bar’s Theory Part II

get hurt or rejected. It’s easier to keep the heart shut down. My thought?” Bar looked at the trio who was staring at him in awe, “you froze your heart, figuratively and literally. I think you did it to yourself, Jacqueline. You numbed yourself to the possibility of pain and rejection and therefore you’ve blocked your ability to sense the bond. It’s magic, Jacqueline, but something you must have done to yourself during a time when one of your families gave you away to stop yourself from hurting over it.”

“You think it’s self–inflicted?” she asked curiously.

“It makes sense to me.” Bar answered seriously.

She looked at Wilder and Rafferty, “well I’ll be. Well, how do I

fix that?”