Free Blood Of Fire (The Blood Burden Series) by Wenona Hulsey

wants.”
    “What are you trying to say, Slade? 
That I should sit here and do nothing at all?”  Anger was filling her voice as
she watched Slade move into a defiance stance.
    “I’m saying you should stay with me. 
You take your rightful place as ruler of the fae kingdom with me by your side
as king.  Together no one will be able to touch us, not even Loch.  I can show
you a world you never dreamed of and with my powers you will get to live a
normal life for all of eternity.  I know that’s all you really want Nicole, to
be as normal as an immortal can pretend to be and I will let you have that.”
    Nicole’s heart sunk at his words.  This
was his plan all along, to win her love so he could rule the fae kingdom.  He
never cared about helping her figure out how to stop Loch.  There was no
concern for the war that was building and the threat that was on her friends
and family’s head.  He wanted the one thing his bags of money and good looks
couldn’t give him — the fae kingdom.
    Nicole stood and stepped forward until
she was staring up into Slade’s ice cold eyes, “I will not be used.”  She
pushed past him and walked back into her room.  She began to pull her clothes
out of the bureau and the closet, tossing everything onto the bed.  She dug
around under the bed, grabbing her backpack from where she had hid it.  When
she stood up Slade was standing behind her. He spun her around by the shoulder
and shoved her roughly onto the bed.
    “I don’t think you understand what’s
happened.  You have two choices here,” he leaned down pointing a finger in her
face as he spoke, “You go be Loch’s lap dog, help him destroy all fae then when
he is done, he will destroy you.  Or you join me,” he grabbed her face between
his hands, as an evil, power hungry look filled his eyes and his lips curved
into a smile.  "We will rule together, side by side.  We will rid the
world of those low life warriors and the fae kingdom will be strong once
again.”
    Nicole jerked her head away from his
hands then quickly backed off the bed so there was some distance between them
again, “That’s your big plan?  You’re no better than Loch,” she hissed taking a
step backwards, getting closer to the open patio doors.  “I will not be killing
anyone but Loch…and if you get in my way…I will kill you too.”
    She turned to run out of the room but
Slade was already standing in front of her.  She gasped as he grabbed her by
the arms and pulled her hard against his chest.  She could feel the heat of his
breath blanketing her neck as she tried to break free from him.
    “You know, that’s what really attracts
me to you Nicole — your spirit. 
You’re beauty is beyond any I’ve ever seen and you know what you want, just
like I know what I want but your spirit is unlike any I've encountered,” he let
his lips brush across her earlobe as he pulled her struggling body tighter
against him.  “Am I really that hard to love?”
    “Love,” she hissed with wide eyes, “Do
you really think you can force me to love you?” she laughed as she leaned her
head back, putting some space between her face and his.  She was trying to come
up with a plan to get away from him but her anger was building inside of her
with each breath, making it hard to think past the moment.  “I will never love
a man like you,” she spit in Slade’s face.
    Slade closed his eyes and took a deep
breath, slowly releasing his hold on Nicole.  He wiped the moisture from his
face with the back of his hand before letting his anger darkened eyes meet hers
again.  “You can love that traitor warrior but not me?” He stood staring at her
then he let his eyes drift over her shoulder.  After a few moments he shook his
head defiantly, “You need time to think my offer over.  After all, you are a
smart woman who doesn’t make rash decisions and I can respect that,” he walked
around her to the French doors that lead back into the living