Read Online North Pole City Tales 02 - The Heart of Frost by Charlie Cochet - Free Book Online Page B

gave him pause. Concern? Confusion? Whatever it was, Jack had no time for it.
    “What did you do?” his father asked, approaching him. At least he had left that ridiculous robe of his behind, and was now dressed modestly in his royal-blue jacket with gold braiding and cords, his breeches and boots black.
    “I did what I had to do to save Rudy.”
    “You called upon my power.” It was less an accusation and more a statement, much to Jack’s surprise. He swallowed hard, refusing to think on how he had been too weak to save Rudy on his own.
    “I needed it. It was black magic meant to keep me out.”
    His father’s low gasp didn’t go unnoticed. “So you decided to fight it on your own? What were you thinking?”
    “The love of my life was plummeting to his death. Forgive me if I didn’t have the time to ask for your permission.”
    “Don’t you—”
    “No,” Jack growled, his hard gaze meeting his father’s. “Don’t you bother with your preposterous reprimands! I told you I love him, and I will do anything for him.”
    With a resigned sigh, his father took a step toward him, his expression softening. “And what good will it do him if you lose yourself? The Jack he loves will be gone.”
    “I had it under control.” Since when did his father care about anything other than their family’s reputation? Especially since his favorite pastime as of late was to tell Jack how unworthy Rudy was.
    Looking at his father now, when he wasn’t blustering hot air about something, Jack could see the similarities so many often spoke of. Jack was very much a younger version of the elegant and imposing King of Frost. Despite having been around since the beginning, when the earth had been covered in nothing but snow and ice, his father’s appearance was youthful, making him resemble more an older brother than a father. His hair was pitch-black, his physique not all dissimilar to Jack’s. The only difference lay in their skin; where Jack had inherited his mother’s pale skin, his father’s was a rich tan. The thought made him frown deeply. The last thing he needed was a reminder of how similar he was to his father.
    The Frost King came to stand before him, and Jack eyed him warily. “Son….” The term startled Jack, enough to allow his father to put a white-gloved hand to Jack’s shoulder. The King of Frost was never so informal, not even with his own son. “Please, let the toy soldiers handle it.”
    “Someone tried to kill Rudy, dared to use black magic against me, and you want me to stand back and do nothing?” Was he serious? How could he even suggest such a thing?
    “Don’t put words in my mouth. I simply wish for you to exercise caution. We don’t know what forces are at work here.”
    “Since when do you care?” Jack snapped, removing his father’s hand from his person. “You suggested it would have been better if he had let me be. Isn’t that what you said?” His father’s lips pursed but he said nothing, fueling Jack’s anger. “Isn’t that what you said?”
    “I didn’t mean it.”
    Jack put his arms out to his sides, his vision going white as he summoned his element. “Is this what you want?”
    “Don’t presume to know what I want,” his father argued calmly. He snapped his fingers, and to Jack’s chagrin, his blustering came to a screeching halt. Frustrated, he started to march off, but his father put a hand to his chest to stop him, his expression one of genuine concern. “If you lose yourself, all will be for naught. Don’t lose focus.”
    Struck speechless by the gentle words, Jack felt his anger melting away. It was always far easier to be furious with his father than to agree. He hated when the elf was right. “I need to go,” he murmured, and without another glance in his father’s direction, took off.
    Under normal circumstances, he would have had the sleigh brought around, but he didn’t want anyone disturbing him. He had work to do, and he wouldn’t rest until he had