My Hunted Mate
Fifty Two

Corinna

Another loud growl of frustration erupts from my chest, following meglaring at the stupid rock that holds my gifts. The cold air whips my hairstraight into my face, only making my annoyance grow as I brush itaway from my eyes and tuck it behind my ear.

"You still can't get it? " Dahlia questions, walking through the grasswith two mugs in her hands. I watch as she takes her seat under thegazebo with Lila, handing her one of the mugs.

" No, and Kai is being weird about me go to Helena's if I'm not able toprotect myself. " I tell her.

" Pretty understandable, you were just kidnapped. " Lila points out,making me huff.

“I know that. " I mumble.

" And you're with child. " Dahlia adds, making me glare at her.

" Trust me, I know that. " I say, gesturing toward my huge bump.

Dahlia holds her hands up in surrender, then she throws her armaround Lila's waist, pulling her closer. Turning back to the colourfulpiece of rock, I enclose it in my palms, shutting my eyes and trying tochant again, breathing out harshly when I don't feel anythinghappening.

* Uh.. Cori? " Lila calls, her voice low. I hum in response, letting herknow I am listening. " Aren't your.. powers stuck in the rock thingy? "

I glance over at her, noticing the slight blush on her cheeks. " Yeah,why? " I ask.

" Well I was just thinking, you're trying to use magic that you don't haveto get the magic out of the rock and I guess, i don't know, I was just..."She trails off, the blush on her face deepening.

Even though Lila is comfortable here now and has grown into herself asa vampire, I still somehow manage to get thrown off by her shyness.Dahlia watches her with completely admiration as she stumbles overher words, rubbing her hand up and down Lila's side in a way ofcomforting her.

When she gathers herself, she continues. " I was just thinking, why don'tyou like, break it? "

My eyebrows shoot up as I consider what she is suggesting, it crossesmy mind that it could be risky to destroy the thing that is holding mygifts, but at the same time, what if it's just that easy?

With a deep sigh, I shrug my shoulders, then awkwardly and veryungracefully start to try pick myself up from my seat on the grass, whenI replace myself unable to get up, I let out another grow! of frustration.Dahlia and Lila both burst out laughing at my struggle, until I shootthem a death glare, shutting them both up. Dahlia hands her mug toLila, then moves over to me and helps me up off the ground, I mumblea thank you to her, as she wanders back over to her mate.

Examining the rock in my hand for another moment, I decide to justbite the bullet and I toss it with all my force directing at the brickssurrounding the gazebo, both the brick and the rock crack down themiddle.

A sudden rush of pain cuts through me and I collapse to my knees withan agonising scream, that gives off a burst of energy just like the firsttime I was reunited with my gifts.

The pain quickly fades, leaving me on my hands and knees, pantingheavily. When I look up, I replace both Dahlia and Lila, picking themselvesup off the ground a few feet away from me, in front of them the grass isall torn up revealing the earth under it, it takes me a couple of secondsto realise it's from them trying to stop the impact of the energy hittingthem.

" Wow a little warning would have been nice, Doll. " Dahlia grunts,brushing the dirt from her denim skinny jeans.

" Sorry, I forgot that would happen. " I apologise, with a sheepish smile." Well let's hope your gifts don't get swiped again, because I'm notdown for a part two of whatever that was. ” She grumbles

"I'm going to cast a type protection spell so no one can do anythinglike that to me again, don't worry. " I sigh.

" Why didn't you have that before? " Lila asks softly.

"1 don't know, I never thought of it, I guess. " I shrug. " I'm going to goreplace Kai, let him know that we're good to go to Helena's.

After giving Dahlia and Lila hugs goodbye, I leave them to drink theirtea under the gazebo together and wander through the house until I'moutside Kai's office. As I am about to knock, the door swings openrevealing Kai and the red haired man who helped rescue me from Oliveand Josephine.

"Oh I'm sorry, I was about to knock. " I tell them awkwardly.

Kai sends me a smile. " Corinna, this is Rhys, Mateo's beloved. We werejust going over the last couple of things to make him an officialmember of our clan.

" It's nice to meet you. " I give Rhys a smile, extending my hand to him.He takes my hand into his, raising it to place a kiss to my knuckles. " It'sa pleasure to officially meet you. *

Pulling my hand back to my side, I shuffle uncomfortably on my feet,unsure of how to respond for a few seconds. " Uh, thank you forhelping the other day. " I say.

"I'm glad to see you are doing better. " He nods. " Well I should begoing, my beloved is waiting for me to beat him at a game of pooldownstairs. "

We say our goodbyes, then he turns and stalks off down the hallway,leaving Kai and I alone, we walk inside the office, settling onto the sofatogether. * He's.. Friendly. " I comment, making Kai laugh.

"Yes he is, a little too friendly at times. But he's a good man, Mateo ishappy and that's what matters. " He grins, taking my hand andintertwining our fingers together. * How did today go? *

"I have my gifts back, if that's what you mean. " I inform him.

" That's good news. " He mumbles, running his thumb along the backof my hand.

" Yeah, so you better get packing because we have a baby dragon toreplace. * I announce.