Betrothed to Jack Frost (REWRITTEN)

Prologue

"Fire and ice have always been natural enemies," Matthew Darrow began, his gaze softening as he watched his jubilant four-year-old daughter squirm excitedly under her blanket.

Evangeline, or Elle as she was affectionately called, could barely contain her excitement. Her father worked long hours and often came home late at night. Their cherished time together was during bedtime, when Matthew spun magical tales that delighted his daughter. His soothing voice made each story come alive. "Why do you think that is?" Matthew asked, a playful glint in his eyes as he watched Elle's face light up with wonder.

"Fire makes ice melt," Elle replied confidently, her tiny forehead wrinkled in concentration.

Matthew smiled, though he hesitated, lost in thought. He wondered if this story was appropriate for her age. "Why are you so quiet?" Elle asked, sensing his hesitation.

"This is a story meant for when you're a bit older," Matthew said, gently ruffling her thick dark hair.

"But I am older," Elle protested with a serious pout.

He chuckled. "Are you now?"

"Yep! I'm older than yesterday!" The girl declared with a proud smile.

Matthew laughed softly, shaking his head. "Alright, you win. Let's see... where was I?"

"Fire and ice don't like each other," Elle said, her eyes wide as she nestled deeper under her comforter.

"That's right," Matthew said, nodding. "There were two kings—one ruled the kingdom of fire, and the other, the kingdom of ice. Each believed they were more powerful and important than the other. Legend had it that someday, two descendants—one from fire and one from ice—would unite to defeat a great evil."

"What kind of evil?" Elle asked, her curiosity piqued.

"The kind that wanted to enslave humanity," Matthew explained, his tone thoughtful. "Long ago, after Lucifer the archangel fell from Heaven, he tried to rally the Titans—ancient beings of power—to battle against the creator of the universe. It led to a colossal war between gods and Titans, and humans caught in the middle, struggling against monsters and dark forces."

Elle's bright brown eyes widened further, and she wriggled her toes in eager anticipation. "What happened next?"

Matthew grinned. "The good guys won. The bad guys had their privileges revoked."

The child's brow furrowed. "What does that mean?"

"It means that all the monsters and Titans who wanted to make humans suffer were punished," Matthew explained. "They were locked away in the center of the Earth, abandoned by their followers. Their temples and cities, once grand and glorious, were destroyed. Even their city of Atlantis was wiped out. A massive tidal wave obliterated it, sending the golden city to the ocean's deepest depths—so far down that even Poseidon himself couldn't bring it back."

Elle's eyes widened. "Then what happened?"

"Olympus," Matthew continued, "home to most of the loyal gods and deities, was moved to a massive mountain between Heaven and Earth. It was hidden from human view to ensure that neither gods nor monsters could misuse their powers against mankind ever again."

Elle pondered the story, her small nose wrinkling in thought. "So what does fire and ice have to do with it?"
"According to a prophecy," Matthew said, "one descendant from fire and one from ice would come together to prevent another war."

Elle yawned; her eyes heavy. "Is Jack Frost one of those people?"

Matthew, who had been stretching, froze at the mention of the name. His face went pale, and he slowly turned to her with a look of horror. "Who told you that name?" he whispered urgently.