Betrothed to Jack Frost (REWRITTEN)

14)Bonding With the Monster

Dedicated to Call_Me_Mango for the amazing trailer!!
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Elle gasped as she stretched, feeling the pain radiate throughout her entire body. Blue and purple bruises marred her skin, each one throbbing with discomfort. Despite the fight lasting barely ten minutes, Elle was suffering from tightness and soreness in various parts of her body. Her head ached, her arms and legs throbbed, and even her toes felt sore. The heavy armor she had worn and the exertion of running and diving had taken their toll, leaving scrapes and bruises across her body. Slipping into the flowing cream gown provided by the castle keepers, Elle felt a wave of gratitude for its lightweight material that draped comfortably over her. It was a stark contrast to the ratty sweatshirt and pajama shorts she had been fighting to wear lately. The gown settled over her curves elegantly and didn't cause her any discomfort. Even the gladiator sandals she slipped on were a relief compared to the heavy metal boots she had worn in the arena.

After being congratulated on her victory, Elle was escorted back to the kingdom of Boreas. She was instructed to bathe and change into fresh clothes. As a reward for her win, Elle was allowed to dine upstairs in her spacious winter-themed bedroom. Whether this privilege was a reward for her victory or a measure to keep her away from Zetes' wives remained uncertain. The last Elle had heard, one of Zetes' wives faced the prospect of blindness due to the burns on her face. The thought terrified Elle. She had caused that injury. Despite the woman's intentions to harm her, Elle couldn't shake the guilt of possibly blinding her. Did this act make her as ruthless as Zetes' wives?
Elle tried not to dwell on the guilt, convincing herself that the woman's injuries were a result of her own actions. After bathing and changing, she emerged from the bathroom only to be startled by the sudden appearance of Eros in her room. He lounged casually against an icy pillar, dressed impeccably in a sharp silver tuxedo with a bold red tie, his sandy hair slicked back. "What is wrong?" Eros asked nonchalantly, inspecting his fingernails with an air of casual indifference.

Elle, feeling suspicious and wary of him, was sharp to respond. "What do you want?"

Eros straightened up, seeming unperturbed by Elle's tone. "I don't feel you're happy to see me..." he mused, his kaleidoscope-colored eyes fixed on her.

"Was it the dirty look plastered on my face that gave it away?" Elle retorted sarcastically.

Eros shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. "More like the way your hand is igniting in flames at this moment," he remarked casually, nodding towards Elle's clenched fist.

Startled, Elle quickly shook her hand to extinguish the flames, her eyes widening in surprise. Controlling this newfound ability was proving increasingly challenging; it seemed to get easier each time she unintentionally sparked flames from her palms.

Elle's expression remained guarded and tense as she listened to Eros, who seemed unfazed by her coldness.

"I feel we've gotten off on the wrong foot, darling," Eros began smoothly.

Elle almost snorted at his use of endearment. "Maybe you shouldn't have dragged me to Zeus demanding that he punish me for something your daughter started," she countered sharply.

Eros met her gaze evenly, not showing any hint of offense. "My apologies. You are not yet a mother. You have no understanding of how it feels to have offspring. One feels compelled to defend their children, even when they are in the wrong—"

"Unless you're about to start tap dancing while reassuring me this has all been some outrageously crazy dream and I'm about to wake up, I really don't care about anything you have to say," Elle interrupted quietly, her tone weary.

She was in pain from head to toe, and the thought of sleeping for a week sounded like the best option right now. Even her eyes felt strained.

Eros didn't appear offended by her dismissal. "Interesting how Jack was helpful to you this afternoon, no?" he remarked casually.