Read Online Blood Of Fire (The Blood Burden Series) by Wenona Hulsey - Free Book Online Page B

ears.  She awoke
with a gasp, struggling to fill her tight lungs with air as she sprung upright
in her bed.  The beads of sweat on her forehead caused goose bumps to rise on
her skin.  The cool night air danced in the room around her, sending a few
loose papers floating gracefully down to the floor.  The last of her power,
power that had summoned the protective wind to her, drifted away.  She leaned
back into her pillow as her heart beat slowed back into its normal, steady
rhythm, “Slade must be completely sober now,” she sighed.
     
    **~***~**
    Nicole sat on the patio outside of her
room with a large, black fleece throw wrapped around her.  The morning sun was
warm on her cheeks and the birds were singing in the trees of the beautiful
garden around her.  The flowers that surrounded her were truly something she
would have imagined seeing in the Garden of Eden.  All the blooms were picture
perfect with their vibrant red, pinks and violets, each giving off a unique
scent that mixed together to form a heavenly perfume.  “Slade does have a
beautiful place here,” Nicole admitted to herself aloud as she took in a deep
breath of the morning air.  She was trying hard to shake the visit from her
grandmother in her dreams.  Everything seemed to be fine until the end when she
was being forced out by Slade’s returning powers.  The queen’s face was seared
into her memory.  Why did she get so upset at the mention of Slade’s name? 
Maybe she didn’t hear what I was saying, after all, I was being ripped back
into my world , Nicole wondered to herself as she picked at the edge of the
blanket.
    A soft knock sounded on the closed patio
door behind her.  She turned to see Slade standing on the other side of the
glass.  He opened the door slightly and stuck his head outside, “Do you mind if
I join you?”  His face twisted comically, as if he was waiting on Nicole to
throw something at him.
    Nicole bit her lip trying to keep from
laughing at his pitiful display and motioned for him to join her.  She watched
a relieved smile stretch across his face as he moved towards the table where
she sat.  When he reached her side he knelt down beside her gently kissing her
cheek then placed a single white rose on the table in front of her, “I know
I’ve already apologized but it didn’t feel proper without a flower.”
    Nicole tried to ignore that he had
managed to sneak another kiss as she looked down at the beautiful rose in full
bloom, “White?  Like your raising a truce flag,” she chuckled.
    “Exactly.  Time for us to start over, a
new beginning where you don’t think I’m a jack ass.”  Slade sat in the chair
next to her with excitement radiating off him like a five year old on his
birthday.  “I’ve got a wonderful day planned for us.  First breakfast then I’ll
give you a tour of the gardens, followed by sightseeing around some of my
favorite spots in Dublin.”
    Nicole felt her stomach start to churn
as she stared into Slade’s expecting face.  There was an unease tugging at her
mind but she wasn’t sure if it was real concern or her worry over what happened
with Queen Titania last night.  She knew that he was trying to make up for
yesterday but what was his reason for wanting to keep her so close to him?  Was
he really trying to be her friend and protect her until Loch shows his face? 
She sat up straight in her seat pulling the blanket tighter around her
shoulders, “Slade, I think my time should be spent working on a plan.  I’ve got
to figure out how to fight Loch.
    “Nicole, we’ve already talked about...”
    “No, you told me what you wanted me to
do but it’s not what I need to do.  I have a purpose in being here and
many people’s lives depend on me doing it,” she pleaded with her eyes for him
to understand.
    “You don’t know what you’re walking
into!” Slade face twisted with anger as he stood up, towering over her.  “Loch
is powerful and he will get what he