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

if you were of evil intent.”
    “Slade is your mate?” Miranda’s heart sank. This just got worse and worse. She’d attacked the priestess’s mate .
    “I am.” Slade stepped out from behind Kate and held out one hand in friendship, surprising Miranda.
    She took it and felt his odd power. He was intensely magical for a shifter and his blue eyes…glowed…for a brief moment when their gazes met. Miranda felt like a butterfly on a pin, about to go under the microscope. She gulped reflexively, but kept her spine stiff. She had to face these shifters on their own ground and not show the fear that made her knees tremble. A true vampire wouldn’t be afraid of these people, but she owed them and they were Mag’s family. His Clan. She wouldn’t do anything to hurt them in any way, including insulting them. In fact, some part of her wanted to make a good impression on them, but she didn’t examine what drove that impulse too closely.
    “I am so sorry about attacking you,” she repeated, holding his hand and hoping he could see how earnest her apology was. “I feel awful about it.”
    “I will admit, you took me by surprise and bruised my ego, but it all worked out and everything’s okay. I understand why you did it, even if I didn’t appreciate it at the time. In fact, you showed a great deal of restraint to be able to pull back from the killing impulse that runs so strong in your race.”
    His words were gracious and gave her way too much credit. She drew her hand away and turned to glance at Mag, who stood at her side.
    “Don’t give me the credit on that. It’s all due to Mag. His voice is what got through to me. Otherwise, I’m really afraid of what would have happened. I probably would’ve continued trying to kill you, and your people would have ripped me apart.” She looked around the room, including them all in her words. “I don’t blame any of you. I was crazed at the time. There’s not much else you can do with an insane bloodletter except kill them and put them out of their misery—and to keep the rest of the world safe. I’m glad you were prepared to do that for me and I’m equally glad Mag was there to bring me back from the brink.”
    “How did he manage that, exactly?” A tall, fair-haired shifter stepped forward to stand beside Slade. She recognized him instantly. This was the eldest. The Alpha.
    “I knew Mag from before I was captured. About two years ago, we met and spent exactly one evening together. I drank from him. Which I think you know forms a small bond—especially when the person I drink from has magic of their own. Mag and I will have that bond ‘til the day one of us leaves this realm. He was…very special to me.”
    “You don’t have to tell them any of this, sweetheart.” Mag touched her arm, defending her even against his closest family. She couldn’t come between them. She loved him too much to allow her presence to harm his relationship with his family, if she could help it. “This is none of their business.”
    “It is our business, Mag. Nobody has seen you for weeks, and suddenly you’re mixed up with dangerous vamps tracking your movements?” Grif was clearly agitated as he ran one hand through his short hair, and his voice rose.
    “Is this some kind of intervention?” Mag looked around the room and chuckled, clearly seeing the humor in this gathering, even if nobody else did. Miranda smiled with him and knew they had to clear the air with his family as soon as possible. They were truly worried about him.
    “They love you,” she cautioned, putting one hand on his chest as she turned to him. “They deserve answers.”
    “You don’t deserve to be treated like a criminal,” he replied, his gaze holding hers. But she smiled.
    “No, Mag. They’re just concerned. They have a right to be. Our…friendship…is forbidden by both our peoples. We both knew that going in.”
    “Are you sleeping with her?” Grif demanded. His anger clearly hadn’t abated.