My Hunted Mate
Chapter Twenty Six

Corinna

My lips purse together as I fill a mug up to the brim with blood from abag kept in the refrigerator, when the bag is empty I toss the plasticinto the trash can and slide the mug over to Dahlia who took the seatthat Malakai had been sitting in while I ate only moments ago.

Settling down beside her, I lift my own mug filled with tea to my lips,swallowing the hot liquid mixed with honey. " What's been going on? *Dahlia's sorrowful blue eyes are fixed on the untouched drink in herhands while she speaks. " I don't know what to do Cori, I've been alivefor over nine hundred years and learned many things, but I don't knowhow to help her."

Tears gather in her eyes, she takes a deep breath then continues. * Theyhave her terrified, I can't stand up without her flinching. Earlier today,she tried to open the curtains and I sped over to her, I didn't mean tomove so quickly but you know what happens to vampires in the sunand she balled herself up in the corner, It took me so long to convinceher that I wasn't going to hurt her.

She doesn't sleep because she's terrified that someone is going tocome into the room, so I have to sit at the door all night to reassure herthat no one will but she wakes up to make sure I haven't come near herevery twenty minutes. She's exhausted and hungry, she's barely eaten.But there's these little moments, where she lets me get close. I know it'sthe bond and she fights it off most of the time because she's so afraid. Ijust.. I don't know. "

" Have you explained anything to her? What you are to each other? " Iquestion.

She shakes her head. " No, I'm waiting for the right time, for when she'smore settled. "

" The truth and an explanation might help her you know, right now shehas no idea what's going on, she's just been passed from one group ofvampires who hurt her to another group who could potentially do thesame. " As I speak she bites her lip, nodding a little, finally taking a sipfrom the mug in her hands.

" Yeah, you're probably right. " She mumbles. " I never thought mybeloved would be human. You live for as long as I have without replaceingyour soul mate, I guess it only makes sense that they haven't beenaround too long. *

" Oh, I never got to give you your birthday present. " I tell her, she justsnorts in response. * Okay, drink up, grab your mate and meet me atthe gazebo in five minutes "

"I. What? " she looks at me confused.

"Just do it. " I roll my eyes, jumping down off my chair.

As I make my way upstairs, I'm still a little unsteady on my feet, when Ireach my bedroom I take a moment leaning against the door to catchmy breath. I open the door and walk inside to replace the room empty, thefamiliar ruby bracelet is still sitting where I left it, I grab it, sliding it intothe pocket of the sweat pants on my legs.

Back out in the hall Malakai is waiting for me, leaning against his door.Where are you going? You have to rest. "

" Kai I was resting for two days. " I grumble, walking toward thestaircase.

" No, you were passed out for two days after wiping yourself out bydoing a series of powerful spells after losing a lot of blood. " Hecorrects.

" How would you even know? " I huff.

"Nearly a thousand years on this earth, you might say I've met a fewwitches along the way. " He grins, rushing down a couple of steps at atime, then pausing to wait for me.

" Yeah well how about you let me give a protection bracelet to yoursister, so she can walk in the sun with her mate while she explains theins and outs of the supernatural world and then I'll do as you want andrest? " I raise my eyebrow at him.

He holds his hands up. " Okay deal. "

Eventually we replace ourselves walking across the garden toward thegazebo hand in hand, when we arrive Dahlia is sitting on the benchwith her head down, a frown on her face, while the small brunette fromthe party is standing as far away from her as possible.

" Belated Happy Birthday. " I smile, handing the bracelet over to Dahliawho now just looks confused.

" You're giving me my own bracelet as a gift? * She snorts.

" There's a protection spell cast on it so you can walk in the sun, as longas you're wearing it you won't burn. " I explain.

She narrows her eyes sceptically. " I don't believe you. "

"It's the truth Dahlia, she had the same thing done to our family ring Iused to wear in the eighteen hundreds. " Kai speaks up.

"I'm still not buying it. * She grumbles, causing her brother to roll hiseyes.

" Well put it on. We can all sit out here until the sun comes up and thenyou won't have to buy anything. " Kai says.

" Fine. I'm trusting you brother, but if I burn I'll snap every bone in bothof your hands. She threatens, leaning back on the bench and swingingherself lightly.

Lila still stands away from the three of us with her arms wrappedaround herself, but she has been listening intently to our conversationto the point she has lifted her head without even realising it. Kai throwshimself down on the grass in front of the gazebo, grabbing my handand pulling me down on top of him, making us both giggle quietly. Iadjust myself so I'm sitting between his legs, with my back to his chest.He wraps his arms around me, pulling me impossibly close to him andburying his face in my neck placing a few kisses on my flesh.

"Don't hurt her. " A small voice pipes up quietly. * Please. "