My Hunted Mate

Corinna

My lips purse together as I fill a mug up to the brim with blood from a bag kept in the refrigerator, when the bag is empty I toss the plastic into the trash can and slide the mug over to Dahlia who took the seat that 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 her hands while she speaks. " I don't know what to do Cori, I've been alive for over nine hundred years and learned many things, but I don't know how to help her."

Tears gather in her eyes, she takes a deep breath then continues. * They have 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 to move so quickly but you know what happens to vampires in the sun and she balled herself up in the corner, It took me so long to convince her that I wasn't going to hurt her.

She doesn't sleep because she's terrified that someone is going to come into the room, so I have to sit at the door all night to reassure her that no one will but she wakes up to make sure I haven't come near her every 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's the bond and she fights it off most of the time because she's so afraid. I just.. I don't know. "

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

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

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

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

" Oh, I never got to give you your birthday present. " I tell her, she just snorts in response. * Okay, drink up, grab your mate and meet me at the 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 I reach my bedroom I take a moment leaning against the door to catch my breath. I open the door and walk inside to find the room empty, the familiar ruby bracelet is still sitting where I left it, I grab it, sliding it into the 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 the staircase.

" No, you were passed out for two days after wiping yourself out by doing a series of powerful spells after losing a lot of blood. " He corrects.

" How would you even know? " I huff.

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

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

He holds his hands up. " Okay deal. "

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

" Belated Happy Birthday. " I smile, handing the bracelet over to Dahlia who 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 long as 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 I used to wear in the eighteen hundreds. " Kai speaks up.

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

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

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

Lila still stands away from the three of us with her arms wrapped around herself, but she has been listening intently to our conversation to the point she has lifted her head without even realising it. Kai throws himself down on the grass in front of the gazebo, grabbing my hand and pulling me down on top of him, making us both giggle quietly. I adjust 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 and burying his face in my neck placing a few kisses on my flesh.

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