My Hunted Mate novel Chapter 26

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.