The Seduction of Jac Frost (by Tatienne Richard) novel Chapter 76

A Mother’s Hug

Jacqueline rested her chin in her palms as she adjusted her posture on the grass.

“It’s peaceful here. I always thought I was a city girl, loving the noise and the bustle of New York. I was wrong. This,” she sighed contentedly, “feels so much better than all the buzz.”

She looked at the Queen Mother, “this is where the first fae

lived with you, before you put them on earth.”

“Yes.”

“Why did you move them?”

“They needed more than what this land could give them. It is not infinite here in size and,” she made a face, “I grew weary

of the complaints. Blonds wanted brown hair. Brown eyes wanted blue. Curly hair wanted straight. Then it became smart wanted strength. Strength wanted brain. Gentle hearts wanted spines of steel and the rigid wanted to be pliable. Yet,” she sighed dramatically, “they never wanted to do the work. They would come to me with requests, prayers as they call them now, without any desire to put forth an effort to change on their own. They wanted to be strong but not work for it. They wanted to be smart, but never study. I grow tired o

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Jacqueline. I grew so tired of it and so I created my

priestesses who would give out instruction on the ways to garner blessings through hard work and perseverance.”

“You gave me blessings without any hard work.”

“I did the same to Jacinta but look how that panned out.”

“You’re saying you give but you also take away.”

“Yes.”

“Why did the priestess not see that Jacinta’s loss of her powers was a punishment rather than a side effect of what happened that day?”

“I hid it from her.”

“But why?” Jacqueline asked as she noted what seemed to be a walking stick slinking closer to her. She held her hand out and the creature crawled into her hand and skittered up her arm to rest on her shoulder. Jacqueline giggled at the

movement.

“Because if Jacinta’s crimes were exposed ahead of the right time, then things would not go the way they must go. Your 2/13

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mate needed to find you. You needed to be of an age where

they would feel the bond. You also needed to be strong in

your convictions, able to stand your ground against a family

which didn’t quite deserve you. Going back to them when you

were younger, there would have been a possibility that they

convinced you to forgive her and then you would have spent

years in their castle weakened by their betrayal but also at risk by her avarice. She wants what you have. Jacinta has a

jealousy which is unparalleled in any previous fae. She is the

example of rot in the root.”

“Is there no saving her now?” Jacqueline asked as she turned

her head to study the creature which was reaching out soft padded feet to touch her cheek.

“All creatures are capable of redemption, but she has to put

in the work. It is much easier to succumb to the darkness

than it is to fight to return to the light. When she realizes how much she is going to lose it may be the catalyst she needs to

propel her forward onto the right path.”

“And if she doesn’t? If she chooses to continue her current

path?”

“Then,” the Queen Mother spoke resolutely, “my daughter will

be the one to teach her the lessons which will need to be 3/13

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taught and then to dole out the punishment.”

Jacqueline’s eyes startled to meet those of her true mother, and she swallowed the ever–growing lump in her throat. “I will need to dole out the punishment?”

“Jacqueline, you are born to be the bridge between two realms, the queen of queens and kings. You are the one they will all bow to. You will possess all the powers of the priestesses, the king, the queen and all their successors. You are given two mates because the power you wield will need counterbalances and one mate is not going to be enough to manage. You are too much fae for one man,” the Queen Mother smirked. “Your first child will be the true bond which

unifies the two families. You are my true representation in the realm. She will be your successor, a high priestess of all

priestesses.”

“I will have a daughter?”

“If you choose to return.”

Jacqueline sighed as she looked away again.

“I hear your heart, Jacqueline. I know before you even allowed yourself to be here, you were contemplating not 4/13

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returning. Now you are here, you feel safe, secure, loved and

there is no drama or strife. My creatures long for you to stay

and you feel them call to you.”

“Do you want me to stay?”

“With everything in my eternal being.” The Queen Mother

said with complete honesty, “but it is not the only path

possible for you. You can stay here, be my daughter for eternity and we can watch over the world and intervene as

we choose or you can return to the realms, be there in person

and live a life with love, children, but that life includes pain,

heartbreak, sadness because that is what fae life is meant to

be.”

“What would happen to Wilder and Rafferty?”

“They will live their lives without their mates.”

“Will they die?”

“You mean because the you are mate bonded?”

“Yes.”

“No. You did not complete the bond.” 5/13

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attached to someone who would leave me when I turned

blue.”

She let the little stick in her hand move from left to right and back again as the Queen Mother sat quietly listening.

“It is difficult for me to open up to the possibility that

someone could want to be with me, permanently and

perhaps the mate bond is the best way for me to move

beyond it because I know they won’t, or can’t ever leave me

once the claiming, whatever that is, is done. On the other

hand, it’s a kick to my ego to consider they wouldn’t want me,

wouldn’t want to stay without the mate bond. If there was no

bond, if we’d met on the street, would they want me and I’m

not sure because in his boardroom, Wilder behaved as if I

were just another one of the boys in the room.”

“Those are valid feelings, Jacqueline.”

“I shut myself off from the world to avoid being hurt but now I

almost wish I had experienced having someone want me for me and not for a golden bond.”

“Would knowing what Wilder was thinking when he stepped into the boardroom help?”

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She frowned at the woman in confusion. “What do you

mean?”

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“Before he touched you, before he knew you were his mate, Wilder’s thoughts when he entered that boardroom that day,” the Queen Mother smiled, “I was watching because I’d been waiting so long for it to happen and I knew what was coming. He walked in and,” she held her hand up and a little shiny bubble floated up, Wilder’s voice popping out of it.

“Fuck me, tell me this gorgeous thing isn’t my employee.

I’m going to have HR violations out the ass because I am definitely taking her home with me.”

Jacqueline covered her mouth with her hands. “Um,” she was blushing hotly.

Then another bubble popped up and it was Rafferty’s voice.

“What kind of fucking universe am I living in when my brother gets the most beautiful women in the world as his mate and I’m still waiting. How am I going to survive wanting who is his? Why am I being punished?”

She giggled as the words floated around her.

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“They wanted you before they knew,” the words were sincere, “you don’t need to doubt that you could have had them without a bond. They’d have bedded you in a heartbeat.”

Now she was redder than ever.

“What are you other reasons for not wanting to go back?”

“Winika and Jack.”

“It is hard for you to accept them as the parents I chose for

you.”

“Yes.”

“Because they don’t trust you.”

“Yes. I know in their shoes I would have been struggling but I would like to think I’d be open to conversation and to understand why my daughter is feeling the way she is feeling. Instead, they refuse to acknowledge my fears and concerns. They do not think she could ever be anything other than their spoiled princess despite their knowledge of her

erratic behavior.”

“Winika has always suspected,” the Queen Mother said 9/13

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seriously.

“I knew it!”

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“Yes you were right. Winika could not get past the fact there were only two people in the room when you disappeared and the person they tortured to get information from had no information to share. It has always sat wrong with her. That tiny bit of doubt of her own daughter has become a part of her madness. How could she think such a horrible thought of her own flesh and blood? No mother wants to think their child capable of such grievous behavior. It is as much the reason for her slipping into madness as the loss of you.”

“She is quite mad, isn’t she?”

“In the human world, people use the word imposter syndrome. Winika has always felt a bit of an imposter, trying to be a queen of a realm, much the same Aspen will feel someday. They aren’t the most powerful of fae, they aren’t the most spectacular when they step into the room, by their opinion of course, not mine. They both possess an inner strength, a way to balance out the hot headedness of their partners, a simple ability to soothe the beasts of their mate.

It takes a female of incredible fortitude to withstand the

pressures they face and there is no doubt in my mind they 10/13

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are perfect for their roles. However, they have confidence issues. Aspen will flourish, especially with strong women around her to pick her up and show her the way. You, River, the priestesses and others who are coming, should you return to the earthly world, will all be there for Aspen to help her rule at her husband’s side as the king of the Northern Fae.”

“Winika has not had this?”

“She had Fawn. They were quite close at one time. Fawn is

incredibly gifted with healing, including healing wounds of

the heart as it were. The loss of you, the doubting of her own

child, those wounds were not something Fawn could help

with and more importantly, Winika needed to place blame

on someone other than her child so she’s blamed Fawn for

years. Winika will face new challenges, reconciling her guilt

for not trusting her heart. If she’d pushed Jacinta, confided in her husband of her own fears, perhaps they might have found you sooner. The guilt will eat at her.”

“She needs help.”

“If you return, you will know what to do.”

“How long do I get to take before I need to make my

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decision?”

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“Take all the time you need, Jacqueline. Remember this, however, whatever you choose, this realm is always open to you. Coming to me today, for the first time, you needed to demonstrate the trust that I would be here waiting. Now that you know I am here, you will be able to speak to me while in the temple at any time. You are the official conduit from the fae to me, my child, my daughter.”

“But I cannot come back in person, the way I am now, once I leave. I can hear you. I’ll be able to see you in visions, but being here,” she reached out and touched the hand of the queen of all fae and their fingers linked, “touching my mother, my creator, is not something I will do again in this

lifetime.”

“Oh, I would never say never.” She chuckled as she squeezed Jacqueline’s fingers. “However, I think your brother might freak out if you drown yourself with any kind of frequency.”

The Queen Mother held her arms out to Jacqueline, and she slid into them, holding her tight and resting her head against

her bosom.

All of her decisions could wait. Right here, right now, she was 12/13

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simply a child needing her mother’s hug.

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