My Hunted Mate

Chapter Thirty Five

Corinna

My eyes stare out the balcony window in Malakai's room at the burst of orange, pinks and purples in

the sky as the sun sets. I lay unmoving on my side, my body continues to feel like it's sinking into the

mattress, my eyelids feel heavy but I'm unable to close them without seeing her lifeless eyes staring

back at me. Everything surrounding me is fuzzy and disconnected.

" 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 has practically 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 on the bed, now get out the two of

you. " Kai snarls, I know he is sitting on the space on the bed behind me, just as he has any chance

he's gotten since Helena died. I know that he is staring at the back of my head just as is intently as I

am staring out the window.

The door clicking shut barely processes for me, I feel Kai move closer to me until he's spooning me. "

Do you want to go get some fresh air my darling? " He whispers into my ear.

" No. " I force myself to mumble out.

" I 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 of me 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 the countertop next to the sink. He gently removes his t-shirt off of my body, then places me

on the ground so he can remove the sweat pants covering my legs.

Kai then lifts me into the bathtub, he turns on the taps and water quickly begins the fill the tub. The

entire time he washes my body and hair, we both stay silent until I find myself muttering a soft thank

you to him 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 he then kneels in front of me and

starts to dry my body. " I'm sorry. " I whisper.

" 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 waste away like this. " He sighs. " I'm

going to need you to eat something that isn't soup, I'm surprised you haven't lost any weight from how

little you've been eating. "

I nod. " yeah okay. "

Taking the towel from him, I finish drying myself off while he disappears into the closet, he returns

seconds later holding out one of his grey sweaters and a pair of black boxers. I dress myself, then take

Kai's hand allowing him to lead me down to the kitchen. When we walk inside Olive, Dahlia, Lila,

Phoenix and Sabine all pause their actions to look over to me, I shift on my feet feeling extremely

uncomfortable under their gazes.

" For the love of- stop staring at her! " Kai snaps, they all instantly go back to what they were doing and

talking about.

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

the island.

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

He returns my smile before he wanders over to the fridge. " What you feel like eating? "

" Honestly I could go for a steak and some pepper sauce. " I admit as my stomach growls suddenly

craving food.

" As you wish. " He winks, gathering a couple of things and moving to the stove. " How do you want

your steak? "

" uh.. I usually eat it done, but how about medium rare? " I ask, my eyes following 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 doing Lila? "

" 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 anyone else hearing this, but not realising that a human whisper is

pretty much useless when it comes to our hearing.

" Here you go my darling. " Kai grins, setting a plate with two steaks and a small bowl of pepper sauce

in front of me alone with a big bowl of 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 to waste. Kai clears away the dishes after me, turning to me when I

call his name.

" 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 until we reach the gate where I freeze,

realising that our usual route was down at the lake. " Don't worry, we can go around it. It just takes

longer. " 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 down at my body as he does. When my body is bare, I toss his

clothing I was wearing to the floor in a bundle, getting ready to shift. Only when I try to, I can't.