My Hunted Mate
Chapter Thirty Five

Corinna

My eyes stare out the balcony window in Malakai's room at the burst oforange, pinks and purples in the sky as the sun sets. I lay unmoving onmy side, my body continues to feel like it's sinking into the mattress, myeyelids feel heavy but I'm unable to close them without seeing herlifeless eyes staring back at me. Everything surrounding me is fuzzy anddisconnected.

" Has she still not moved? " Olive's voice asks but it seems so far away." No. She's barely eaten anything, only bowls of soup when Mal haspractically forced her to. " Dahlia answers.

"It's been two weeks. " Olive speaks again.

" Her friend died in front of her Olive. " Dahlia hisses.

" Please stop speaking about my beloved as if she isn't right there onthe bed, now get out the two of you. " Kai snarls, I know he is sitting onthe space on the bed behind me, just as he has any chance he's gottensince Helena died. I know that he is staring at the back of my head justas is intently as I am staring out the window.

The door clicking shut barely processes for me, I feel Kai move closer tome until he's spooning me. * Do you want to go get some fresh air mydarling? " He whispers into my ear.

"No. " I force myself to mumble out.

"1 can't stand to see you like this any longer Cori. " He breaths out,then climbs off of the bed.

Just as I think he is going to leave me alone, the covers are ripped off ofme and he picks me up into his arms, carrying me into the bathroom.When we were inside, he kicks the door closed and places me on to thecountertop next to the sink. He gently removes his t-shirt off of mybody, then places me on the ground so he can remove the sweat pantscovering my legs.

Kai then lifts me into the bathtub, he turns on the taps and waterquickly begins the fill the tub. The entire time he washes my body andhair, we both stay silent until I replace myself muttering a soft thank you tohim as he carries me back into the room wrapped in a towel.

He sets me down on to the edge of the bed, grabbing a spare towel hethen kneels in front of me and starts to dry my body. * I'm sorry. " Iwhisper.

" What? For what? " He pauses his actions.

" For being like this. " I mumble, not knowing what else to say.

" You're grieving my darling, that's okay but you can't let yourself wasteaway like this. " He sighs. " I'm going to need you to eat something thatisn't soup, I'm surprised you haven't lost any weight from how littleyou've been eating. "

I nod. " yeah okay. "

Taking the towel from him, I finish drying myself off while he disappearsinto the closet, he returns seconds later holding out one of his greysweaters and a pair of black boxers. I dress myself, then take Kai's handallowing him to lead me down to the kitchen. When we walk insideOlive, Dahlia, Lila, Phoenix and Sabine all pause their actions to lookover to me, I shift on my feet feeling extremely uncomfortable undertheir gazes.

" For the love of- stop staring at her! " Kai snaps, they all instantly goback to what they were doing and talking about.

" We could do with a place of our own. " He whispers so only I can hearas I take a seat on a stool at the island.

"1 like the sound of that. " I give him a small smile.

He returns my smile before he wanders over to the fridge. * What youfeel like eating?

" Honestly I could go for a steak and some pepper sauce. " I admit asmy stomach growls suddenly craving food.

" As you wish. " He winks, gathering a couple of things and moving tothe stove. " How do you want your steak?

" uh.. usually eat it done, but how about medium rare? " I ask, my eyesfollowing him around the kitchen in admiration.

" How are you? " Lila's voice snaps me out of my trance.

"I'm.. " I trail off. " I don't really know how I am, how've you been doingLila? *

" Better. " she smiles. " Dahlia and I... We're getting close. "

I notice from the corner of my eye that dahlia picks up at her answer. "Good. Do you think you might consider.. turning for her? *

Her eye widen at the question and a light blush forms on her cheeks. *I... Maybe. " she whispers, obviously trying to avoid Dahlia or anyoneelse hearing this, but not realising that a human whisper is pretty muchuseless when it comes to our hearing.

" Here you go my darling. " Kai grins, setting a plate with two steaksand a small bowl of pepper sauce in front of me alone with a big bowlof fries.

Everyone seems to clear out of the kitchen as I pick away at my food,eating as much of it as I can, only leaving a handful of fries to go towaste. Kai clears away the dishes after me, turning to me when I call hisname.

" Do you think we could maybe go for a run? " I ask him.

His face lights up. " we most definitely can. "

We exit the house hand in hand, wandering through the garden untilwe reach the gate where I freeze, realising that our usual route wasdown at the lake. " Don't worry, we can go around it. It just takeslonger. " Kai tells me, squeezing my hand gently.

I nod, we exit the garden completely and I stop to remove my clothing.Kai waits for me patiently, I don't miss the quick glances he takes downat my body as he does. When my body is bare, I toss his clothing I waswearing to the floor in a bundle, getting ready to shift. Only when I tryto, I can't.