Claribelle's Mate

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Claribelle's POV

It was hot when I woke up and I detected the presence of a lightweight blanket covering my body. Whatever I was sleeping on was relatively uncomfortable and I had a pounding headache right behind my eyes. I could feel a light burning sensation in my throat that made me wonder how long I had been out. It normally took at least twelve hours before my throat would register pain due to not eating.

I peeled my eyes open, only to let them flutter back closed again with a groan of pain. The direct sunlight had been like a spike driving through my already aching head. Bracing myself, I squinted my eyes and tried to take in my surroundings. I was inside a wire fence, with a roof of the same material, not unlike a chicken coop for birds whose wings are unclipped. I was confused at the very sight of it. Did they really think this flimsy metal would hold a vampire? I tried to sit up, groaning again when I realized every muscle in my body seized in protest. Whatever drug they had given me had some nasty, lingering side effects.

I could lightly feel Damien in the back of my mind, but the connection wasn't strong enough to make contact, only to know that he was okay. I could only assume it had to do with distance or the fact that I wasn't well fed. That wasn't a problem that werewolves had, but no one ever expected vampires to form a mental bond, so it was natural to assume that we had limitations, even if we didn't know what they were.

Pushing past the pain in my muscles, I cupped a hand above my eyes to provide some protection from the harsh sunlight and slowly lifted myself into a sitting position. I was laying on a bed of green grass growing on hard, unforgiving ground, the blanket falling from my chest to pool in my lap. In slow, pained movements, I lifted the blanket away, its presence only serving to make me hotter. As I looked around, my eyes caught on a pair of blue ones staring back at me.

He was sitting in front of the gate to my prison, staring back at me with an inscrutable expression on his face. His light brown hair fell in heavy waves around his forehead and I felt the aura of power emitting from him.

"Hi," I rasped, my voice coming out scratchy and low, not real sure what I should say in this situation. "Some drugs you've got there."

Guilt passed over his face and was gone again in the same second. His unreadable expression was back like it had never left. "I do not know what the rogues gave you to get you here," he responded in a deep, gravelly voice, unexpected from someone similar to my age. Without another word, he stood and left.

I realized I was practically in the front yard of a large, white pack house. There was no one around at the moment, but given by the position of the sun, it was midday and they were probably training. I could hear noises to back up my theory when I concentrated. They were coming from a ways back behind the pack house. The sounds of flesh against flesh, snarls and growls carried, especially to a vampire's ear. I could also hear footsteps approaching.

Two sets now, instead of the single pair that had walked away from me. Blue-eyes was back, but he came with another guy, similar in height and build, but different in every other way. His walk was more of an over-confident swagger, his hair dark with eyes to match. His eyes roved over me and a satisfied smile lifted the corners of his lips.

"How are you feeling, Princess?" he asked me, the sarcastic nickname rolling annoyingly off his tongue.

I felt anger build in me at that one word and as a result, my thirst spiked as well. Never a good thing. "Just peachy, Captain Jackass," I snarled.

His smile disappeared in a flash, replaced by an angry scowl. "I doubt you'll be so mouthy when you're dying of thirst, providing entertainment to my pack."