Tales of the Were: Magnus: Redstone Clan by Bianca D'Arc Page A

was clear where Mag and Miranda were meant to go. He took her hand as they walked closer.
    “If anything makes you uncomfortable, we’ll leave, okay? And damn the consequences. Your health comes first.” Mag surprised her with the fervency of his words. She knew how important his family was to him and his willingness to anger them on her behalf was touching in the extreme.
    “Don’t worry. I’ll be okay. We knew this was coming at some point. Better to get it over with sooner than later.” She tried to smile for him, but she knew it was probably unconvincing. She was not looking forward to the next few minutes, but it had to be done. She owed the shifters a lot—least of all an explanation. And she also owed at least one of them a very large apology.
    Mag held her back from the door for one last long moment, searching her gaze. Finally, she took the decision from him. She tugged her hand free from his and turned to enter the room. Mag was right behind her.
    She had thought she was prepared for what awaited her, but she wasn’t. There was magic here. Strong magic. It acted as a barrier just past the doorway and she wasn’t sure what to do. Miranda stopped short.
    “What kind of welcome is this?” Mag demanded.
    “Just a precaution.” A woman stepped forward out of the small crowd to face them. Miranda recognized her.
    “You were at the house that night. You’re the witch who undid the magic circles,” she breathed. Her memories of that night were hazy, but she remember the woman. And the guy she’d attacked. Slade, his name was. Miranda searched the room but didn’t have to look far to see the big man with the eerie blue eyes. He moved to stand behind the woman. Protecting her back.
    “As you can see, I can undo the barriers or put them up. In this case, I thought it safer to see what was going on with you and Mag first. After the last time, I hope you’ll understand my caution.” The woman reached upward to cover Slade’s hands, which were now on her shoulders. “I’m Kate, by the way.”
    “I’m Miranda. And I owe you greatly for freeing me that night. I must also apologize to you, sir.” Miranda looked directly at Slade, meeting his spooky gaze without flinching. She refused to show weakness in this room full of predators. That would be a very bad way to start. “My only excuse is that I was not myself when I attacked you. I thought perhaps you both were friends of my captor, come to torment me some more. It wasn’t until I heard Mag’s voice that I realized your intent wasn’t evil. I’m sorry I attacked you and am gratified to see I did no lasting damage. Regardless, I owe you a life debt for freeing me and not killing me when you had the chance.”
    Miranda bowed her head in acknowledgment of her very serious words. A life debt was not something easily earned or given. She literally owed her rescuers her life. And in the case of these two, she owed them even more than that. She had attacked and nearly killed the man who had freed her. That mistake would haunt her for the rest of her life , and she needed to find a way to make it up to him.
    The magic circle that had kept her from fully entering the room shimmered and collapsed. Kate stepped forward and held out her hands to Miranda.
    “Be welcome here, Miranda,” she said.
    Miranda took Kate ’s hands reflexively and felt the immense magic of the woman. Magic…and goodness. This was a priestess. A real priestess with all the power of her calling and then some. Miranda looked up to meet Kate’s gaze and was pinned in place as the priestess’s eyes seemed to peer right inside her soul.
    “Thank you,” Miranda whispered, shaken by the presence of the holy woman and the sheer goodness of her magic.
    “I’m sorry to have doubted you, Miranda. Forgive me for remembering only the damage done to my mate. I put up the circle to prevent you from attacking but I see now that attack is the farthest thing from your mind. I would recognize it