by Meagan Hill
“What about you? Will you be there? No one’s shoving anything up me without you being there,” Miranda responded, allowing a hint of panic to enter her voice. Her entire body tensed up with her distress. Clearly, she was uncomfortable being so vulnerable to a bunch of people she’d never met, no matter if they were in her new coven or not. It was understandable, considering how her old coven’s members had treated her.
Mitch took a moment to answer her. “I shouldn’t be, simply because of the strength of my want for you. However, it is essential you be able to focus on healing. If you feel you will be unable to focus properly without my presence, we can work something out.” Mitch could feel the relief stream through her body as it relaxed back against him.
“That sounds good. I’d feel better if you were there. No offense to everyone there, but…” Miranda trailed off, feeling bad for being uncomfortable around her new coven family.
“No, Miranda, I understand completely, and so will everyone else. Don’t worry about it. It’ll work out. I promise you.”
Miranda looked deep into Mitch’s eyes, seeing truth there once again. How she felt was truly okay. She pressed her lips to his in a long, sweet kiss. “Thank you, baby.”
The rest of the plane ride was spent talking about the various members of the coven, getting her as comfortable as possible with people she’d never met, but who would be witnessing her nudity later in the day. Miranda did a good job of putting that bit of information out of her mind and focused on learning as much as she could about the coven.
Chapter 4
Mitch’s parents met them at the airport to give Miranda some time to get acquainted with Malcolm and Nina before the allegiance ceremony. This helped Miranda relax some about the whole thing but didn’t help when she automatically went to drop to her knees in front of him in the middle of a crowded airport. Mitch had to grab her before she got there and played it off that she’d tripped. Miranda blushed bright red, keeping her eyes on the floor in front of her until she heard Malcolm chuckle and remark, “Wow. It’s not every day I get a beautiful woman to drop to her knees in front of me without at least some dinner.”
The ribald joke did exactly as he wished. It shocked everyone into loud laughter and broke the tension. They went to the luggage pick up, where Mitch grabbed their checked luggage, swinging both straps over one shoulder before taking Miranda’s hand in the other. The move did not go unnoticed by his parents, but no one mentioned it. They made small talk as they moved toward the car. Nina insisted Mitch sit up front with Malcolm, making Miranda distinctly uncomfortable because she couldn’t touch him. She needed the reassurance. The two men talked about the plans for the remainder of the week, getting reacquainted while Nina studied Miranda intently in silence.
Miranda withstood the scrutiny for several long moments before she couldn’t take it anymore. She shifted sideways in her seat, reaching around the seat in front of her to rest a hand on Mitch’s shoulder. Mitch immediately reached up and squeezed her hand in reassurance before placing a quick kiss on it, before returning to his conversation as if there had been no interruption. Again, his parents did not miss the move.
Miranda immediately felt the peace Mitch gave her flow through her body and mind, and once she was no longer as intimidated, she found herself rather perturbed. “Okay, Nina, spit it out. You weren’t this quiet yesterday.”
Silence immediately reigned in the car, and Miranda began to wonder if she’d just killed her chance at a life with Mitch. Her fear continued to grow until she caught the smile Nina was trying to suppress. “It took you long enough. I’m glad to see you’re doing so well today. Your aura looks much better. We might not have as much work to do as I’d originally thought.”
“Mitch is healing me. I can feel it,” Miranda stated simply. Mitch jerked around to look at her, getting ready to object, but Miranda stopped his retort with a hand held up. “I know you think you’re not doing anything, but you’re wrong. You’ve given me something to look forward to, something to hope for, something to work for. I didn’t have that before you, and so I never really cared to work on myself. I allowed myself to drown in the hopelessness that had pervaded my life. I knew that this week would decide whether I was able to break away from the c—” The word was cut off as the injunction triggered Miranda’s throat to close.
“Miranda, pick a different word. Remember what we figured out last night,” Mitch urged her, his eyes on her face as she fought with her own throat. Unable to think of a word to continue her thought, Miranda eventually gave up as her lungs burned for air. As soon as she stopped trying to speak the thought, her throat slowly loosened, allowing her to drag in breath after breath. Mitch reached over the back of his seat to gently brush the hair from Miranda’s face and cup her cheek, helping to calm her breathing. When she had fully recovered, he reached down and threaded his fingers through hers, refusing to let her go again.
“Was that the injunction you were talking about?” Malcolm asked Mitch.
“Yes. Her throat closes off, and she can’t breathe any time she tries to communicate anything negative about Cabela or the coven. And that communication includes any type of movement and writing. We figured out how to talk about it in a basic way. If I stay with yes or no questions, I can read her true answer in her eyes, which she cannot control, and thus cannot trigger the reaction. That’s how I was able to discover all I did.”
The car was quiet for a moment before Malcolm caught Miranda’s eyes in the mirror. He commented, “That isn’t going to make the allegiance rite any easier. I’ll try to phrase my questions so I can be given a response and not ask about your background as much as I might otherwise.”
“I understand. I will do what is necessary to complete this. My life depends upon it, and I actually want to live it now.” She smiled warmly, squeezing Mitch’s fingers.
“You should know there is a possibility the Merlin might be there. I was able to get in contact with him, and he mentioned being in the area, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll show up. I reported exactly what you told me. He needs to hear your testimony firsthand to actually permit us to move in to destroy the coven. If he is not there for the ceremony, he’ll be conferenced in on the phone for your testimony part.” Miranda could feel her eyes were open as wide as they could go. “Don’t worry about meeting him. He’s a very nice guy, almost like a grandpa. Considering his age, he looks upon all of us like little children. However, he is not afraid to take on evil when he needs to, though he prefers the covens to manage themselves.”
They soon pulled up to Malcolm and Nina’s house. Mitch led Miranda up to the room he stayed in when he was there. The room in which the rites were done was in a separate building buried deep in the woods behind their house. As Malcolm and Nina left them to rest and prepare for the coming events, Nina pulled Miranda aside for a moment. “Mandy, everything will work out. Just have faith, in yourself, in Mitch, in us, in magic, in good. You’re going to be fine.”
Miranda wasn’t sure if Nina was speaking from something she’d seen or if she was just being reassuring, but it didn’t really matter. It was exactly what Miranda needed to hear at that exact moment. “Thank you, Nina,” Miranda whispered as she allowed herself to accept the loving hug Nina offered.
“You’re quite welcome, my dear. Now go freshen up. We need to leave here in about an hour.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Miranda responded, immediately turning to reenter the room Mitch had led her to.
The next hour passed quickly and quietly as Mitch and Miranda were somewhat lost in their own thoughts regarding the coming events. When the clock struck the hour, signaling it was time to leave, they stood staring into each other’s eyes. Both of them struggled with what they should say and what they should leave unsaid. Finally, Mitch knew he couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Miranda, I need you to know some things before we start this. First is that, no matter what happens today, no matter what you say regarding your past, I will stil
l care for you and want you. I’ve come to realize what I feel for you is all-encompassing and permanent.” Mitch stepped nearer to her before taking her face in his hands. “You have changed me, Miranda, and I love the changes. The same way that I love you. I don’t know what to do about the whole ‘fates deciding on mates’ thing, but I now know there is no way I can leave you. If I have to step aside and let someone else take over as leader when my father is done, so be it. It’s a small price to pay for being able to stay with you.” Mitch brushed the tears from Miranda’s face before leaning in for a soft, soul-filled kiss.
Miranda wound her hands into Mitch’s shirt, keeping him pressed tightly against her. Her body shook against his, her entire being overcome with her happiness and joy at the moment. She poured every ounce of love she had into the kiss, needing to make sure Mitch knew how she felt about him. With a few small kisses, they separated only slightly just enough for her to speak. “Oh, Mitch. I love you! I never imagined I would ever feel this way about anyone. You make my heart want to burst right out of my chest. I will do whatever is necessary be with you. But, Mitch, I don’t want you to have to give up leading the coven. I understand you will need to continue searching for your mate, for the opportunity to have children, if nothing else. I refuse to keep you from becoming everything you’ve worked so hard on.”
“Miranda, don’t you understand? None of it means anything to me if I have to give you up to do it. What is the point in living if I cannot love you?” Miranda pulled him back to press her body against his, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck as he wrapped his arms tightly around her torso. They held each other for several long minutes, absorbing the love and peace they always felt in each other’s presence, before breaking apart to face the upcoming events. “Are you ready?” Miranda nodded. Mitch placed one last kiss upon her lips before they departed for the ceremony.
* * * *
Miranda shifted nervously from foot to foot as she stood next to Mitch in front of the altar. Malcolm had prepared the circle, and Mitch had already done his part. The rest of it was up to her.
“Mandy, do you wish to join this coven?”
“Yes, Grand Master, I do.”
“Why do you wish to join our coven?”
“I want to be good and do good, Grand Master. I want a chance at having a happy life. I want to learn more about my powers. I want to be safe and protected, as I protect those around me. And I love your son.” The last part was met with a few murmurs from the members surrounding them and a raised eyebrow from Malcolm.
“Do you wish to join us even if you cannot have Mitch?”
“Yes, Grand Master. I have found this coven to be intrinsically good, willing to step up to help others, even when they may seem like a lost cause. I wish to learn to be like that and to repay the kindness that has been offered to me.”
“What can you tell us about your current coven?”
Miranda was stunned for a moment because Malcolm had said he would try to stay away from anything that triggered the injunction. She continued looking into his eyes and saw the support and encouragement there. Suddenly, she realized he needed her to invoke the injunction for the others to see. “I belong to the Cabela coven. The compound is just outside of El Paso, Texas. Devon Cabela is the leader. My last memory before joining the coven was of my bedroom. I was fourteen. I awoke unable to move and sick, still feeling drugged.” The last word she’d had to work to get out. She was again skirting the injunction, but she wanted to say more. “Cabela came in and informed me about my situation and about my requirements for behavior, especially obedience. He then initiated me into the coven using a sexual rite. He rap—” Miranda was able to get that much out before her throat closed up completely. Nevertheless, she continued to fight it until her vision began to darken, and both Mitch and Malcolm reached out to keep her upright.
Mitch couldn’t help the tears streaming down his face as he listened to Miranda describe her entry into her coven. He knew it was something she had endured, and that he would be hearing much worse by the end of the evening, but he couldn’t stop his heart from shattering in his chest. He also couldn’t stop himself from reaching out to her as she struggled to say what she needed to, pushing far longer than he’d seen before. Mitch glanced up at his father, seeing that he, too, was concerned about how long Miranda had been fighting for breath. Finally, Malcolm spoke. “Mandy, stop. We will discuss it further later. Quit trying to force yourself and draw a breath.”
Mitch drew a sigh of relief as he heard Miranda finally draw in a deep breath. She stood in place, swaying slightly as she panted before finally regaining her breath and steadiness.
“I have never seen an injunction so extreme, Mandy. Are you ready to fight it?”
“Yes, Grand Master. I am ready to fight it.”
“Are you ready to take the next step, Mandy? Are you willing to show us that you renounce your old coven and plead your allegiance to myself and this coven?”
“Yes, Grand Master.” Keeping her eyes locked on Malcolm, she proceeded to remove every piece of clothing before dropping into her fully submissive pose, forehead to the floor. She knew she did not have to go down that far, but she felt that because she had bowed before Cabela in such a way, despite it being forced, Malcolm deserved the same respect. Despite her focus on Malcolm, she could hear the reaction from the group standing behind her as they all saw the scars covering her. She could vaguely make out gasps, some crying, and even a couple of retches, making her dimly wonder if it was so bad she’d made someone vomit. She could clearly, however, hear the indrawn breath from Mitch.
Mitch dropped to his knees beside Miranda, no longer able to hold himself upright. His stomach heaved as he took in the scar tissue covering her back, but that was nothing compared to the killing rage that filled him when he caught sight of the blackened skin on either side of her ankh. He reached out to touch the damaged skin, causing her to jump slightly before submitting quietly to his examination. “He branded you?” Mitch finally managed to spit out past the lump in his throat. Two “C's", each almost two inches high and one inch wide, bracketed her spine, the skin blackened and long since healed.
“Yes, Master. It is his chosen method of demonstrating submission to his rule,” Miranda answered Mitch. She knew she should be focused on Malcolm at the moment, but concern about Mitch filled her mind. She could hear his stuttered breathing, feel the rigidity of his body next to hers, and she had to wonder if he found her disgusting.
Mitch pulled Miranda upright onto her knees and hugged her to him tightly. “Oh, God, Miranda. I’m so sorry. I’m never going to let him touch you again, baby.”
Miranda held him to her, trying to absorb his upset into herself. It had happened so long ago she almost didn’t remember the pain, especially not with so much more happening since. “Shh, Mitch, it’s okay. It happened a long time ago, part of the initiation rite. Baby, please, calm down.”
When Mitch had calmed somewhat, he pulled back in her arms, bringing his hands up to cup her face and looking deeply into her eyes. “I see all of your scars, Miranda. Physical, mental, emotional, sexual. I will not turn my back on you because of them. They are a part of who you are and have each been intrinsic in creating the woman who stands before me. I hate that you suffered, but I cannot change the past. I can only help you heal in the present and promise to stand beside you in the future. I love you, Miranda.”
Miranda could only smile widely at him before pressing her lips to his. After a moment, she withdrew, whispering, “I love you, Mitch.” She continued looking deeply into his eyes, showing him every emotion in her eyes. When they were again settled, she returned her attention to Malcolm, who had been waiting patiently, observing everything happening around him. Miranda locked eyes with Malcolm once again, taking a moment to gauge his reaction before resuming her position at his feet. Once the assembly was once again silent, Malcolm continued. “Mandy, at this point, it is all up to you. You must renounce your old coven with every
thing within you. Once you have done that, the stones surrounding the altar will begin to glow, and we can finish the ceremony. You may have to reach deep within yourself to break yourself free from your past. Are you ready to begin that process?”
“Yes, Grand Master.”
“You may rise, sit, whatever to get comfortable, as we will do. Just do not step outside of the circle of stones. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Grand Master.”
“Begin. We will wait for you.”
“Thank you, Grand Master.”
With those last instructions, Malcolm stepped to the side, along with Nina, who’d stood silently beside him throughout the ceremony. Tears flowed down her face as she thought about all the things that had happened to the sweet young woman before her. Malcolm gently smiled at her as he wiped away the wetness. “She’s going to be just fine, sweetheart. You said so yourself.”
Nina offered him a wobbly smile. “I know. I just can’t help but hurt for her, and for Mitch. The love between them simply shimmers, Malcolm, and I can’t see how it’s going to turn out.”
“I know. I’m worried about it, too. He knows if he chooses to take her to wife, he will no longer be able to be second-in-command. It’s not fair, but those are the Merlin’s rules, and He made them for a reason.”
“Are you planning on speaking to him about it?” Nina asked, even though she already knew what the answer would be, not from her abilities, but from having lived with her husband for two hundred and fifty years.
“No, I’m not. He knows what his options are. If he marries her, she will continue to grow old and eventually pass on while he stays young. If he turns away from her, he may be giving up his one chance at truly loving another person. The odds of finding one’s mate are so slim I personally cannot see giving up that kind of love for a one-in-six-billion chance. If I had to choose between you and leading the coven, I would choose you with no regrets.”
