Hill, Meagan - Master Me [Masterson] (Siren Publishing Classic) (19 page)

Miranda walked out of the bathroom as she finished tucking her hair into a messy bun.
“Yes, that’s all of it. And most of those are hand-me-downs.”

“When we’re done with all this, we’re going shopping. Actually, I know my mother would probably love to come, too.”

Miranda shrugged her shoulders as she pulled on the pair of jeans he’d pulled out for her. They were pretty snug on her now more-voluptuous body. She found her bra was just as uncomfortably tight.
“Okay, but you’re not spending a bunch of money on me, Mitch.”

“Get over it, Miranda. What’s mine is yours, starting yesterday. As soon as we get back, I’ll be working on getting you access to all of our accounts.”
Mitch pulled Miranda into his arms again, sure she wasn’t done arguing.

Miranda sighed, sensing there was no way she was going to win this battle, not that she had a leg to stand on in the first place.
“I just feel like I’m coming into this relationship with nothing to offer. I…”

“Miranda! Baby, I love you, and I don’t care if you’re rich or poor, fat or thin, ugly or beautiful! All of that is just the wrapping. It’s your heart and soul and spirit that have captured me. You’ve given me so much just by being alive and with me! You mean everything to me, and if I have to give everything up to convince you of that, I will, though we’ll have way more time together if you’d just accept what I’ve built up over the last one hundred fifty years.”

Miranda leaned her head against Mitch’s chest for a moment before saying,
“Okay, Mitch. I won’t make a big deal about it anymore. Should I even ask what our financial status is?”

“Of course you should, and I love that you called it “ours”. And we’re wealthy. We’ll never have to worry about finances as long as we manage it carefully.”

“I’d like you to teach me how to do that.”

“I’d be happy to do so. Now, let’s go talk to Malcolm and Nina.”

Chapter 8

Malcolm and Nina were in the kitchen nursing a cup of coffee and talking about the things they needed to get done that day. When Mitch and Miranda walked in and saw the breakfast waiting for them, they eagerly piled food on their plates and grabbed a cup of coffee before sitting down with Malcolm and Nina.

“Thank you for making breakfast, Nina. It’s delicious,” Miranda complimented as she settled in to consume her rather large breakfast.

Nina and Malcolm chuckled, causing Miranda to raise an eyebrow in question. “Actually, I can’t cook at all,” shared Nina. “Malcolm does all the cooking for us. In fact, he insisted on building me a separate spell-casting kitchen out back so I wouldn’t burn down the house if I lost control of a spell.”

A faint blush covered Miranda’s cheeks. “Sorry, bad assumption.”

“Don’t worry about it, my dear. We don’t ascribe to the typical family structure anymore, not after two hundred fifty plus years. So, how are you feeling this morning?”

“Great, actually. I never realized how much pain I was always in until I didn’t feel it anymore.” Silence reigned for a moment while Nina and Malcolm tried to absorb what Miranda had shared while Mitch tried to control the murderous rage that had erupted within him. Miranda immediately fished around for a change in topic to try to take Mitch’s mind off of her past injuries. “Have you made any headway with the arrangements?”

“Yes, everything is ready. We will fly out tonight at eleven, which will put us in El Paso around four in the morning. That should get us in without being noticed by anyone from the compound. James and John will be joining us, along with three to four of their coven members and their best healers. That will put us around twenty people ready to fight with five good strong healers. Anthony was able to get us all into a hotel on the outskirts of the city. Miranda, when we’re finished here, we need to go over the compound’s location and try to draw up a schematic of the compound itself so we can do some strategic planning. Also, you’re going to need to call in so they don’t suspect something is up before we’re ready.” Miranda nodded in understanding of what was needed of her. She knew it was up to her to give them as much information as possible to decrease the chances of her new family being injured.

Nina spoke up then, motioning to several shopping bags on the floor near Miranda’s seat. “Those are yours, Miranda. It’s just a few outfits to get you through until we can really go shopping.”

“You bought me clothes? How’d you know…Never mind, stupid question. Thank you so much! In all honesty, my bra is killing me.” They all burst out laughing, though a faint pink tinged Miranda’s cheek. “Sorry, TMI.”

“That’s okay, dear,” Nina assured her, patting her wrist. “When you’ve known and lived with someone as long as we have, there’s not much in the way of secrets or modesty that can be kept. Now, what questions did you have for us? I know some of it, but the vision was fragmented. I don’t think I got all of it.”

Miranda glanced at Mitch, telling him to start with her eyes. “Well,” Mitch began, “We need you to perform the non-fertility rite as soon as possible. We talked it over, and we’re not ready to have children just yet. We want time with just each other first.”

“Ah,” Nina hummed as she shook her head. “Always trying to close the stable door after the horse has already escaped.”

The panic on Mitch and Miranda’s faces was comical, and Malcolm and Nina controlled their laughter as long as they could before they simply couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“Is she serious, Mitch? Am I already pregnant?”
Miranda screamed at him in her mind, loudly enough he physically flinched.

“Miranda, calm down, baby. If you are, we’ll deal with it, remember? I’m more concerned about having you go in with us on Saturday. If you are pregnant, you’re not joining us. Dad’ll just have to figure something else out. And before you ask, I have no idea why they’re laughing like loons.”

Nina and Malcolm’s hilarity died off as they observed Mitch and Miranda’s silent communication. “No, Miranda, you’re not pregnant. I did the rite yesterday immediately after you mated, because if I hadn’t, you would have conceived last night. Over the years, I’ve begun doing it as soon as possible after seeing too many newly mated couples face parenthood before they’ve even gotten comfortable with being mated.” Nina chuckled silently at Mitch and Miranda’s relieved expressions.

“I take it the telepathy has already initiated?” Malcolm queried.

“Yeah, a warning would have been nice there. We both thought we were losing our minds. Is it only between mates or with everyone?” Mitch asked.

“Unless telepathy is one of your new powers, it will be just between the mated pair. We don’t tell people about it because not every couple develops it, and a lot of people would rather not know more about a situation they don’t have much chance of achieving.” Mitch and Miranda nodded in understanding as Malcolm continued. “You probably won’t hear each other’s every thought, but you may be able to communicate in a nonverbal manner.”

“Mitch was able to figure out what I was asking when I concentrated on a specific image and added an emotion to it.”

Malcolm and Nina raised their eyebrows before glancing at each other. Nina spoke this time. “It’s pretty unusual for a new pair to be able to communicate that effectively so quickly. One or both of you might be developing more skills in that arena. After we take care of Cabela, we’re going to have to do some exploration on what new things you can do.”

“It’s going to take a while for me,” commented Miranda. “Before I can start exploring what new things being mated with Mitch brings me, I need to go back and relearn everything properly that a Novice should know.”

“You’ll do just fine, Miranda. Mitch will be able to teach you as quickly as you learn, and you’ll be up to speed in no time. And I’ve already seen you’ll do beautifully in school. Don’t be afraid to tackle it.”

Miranda rose from her place and moved to give Nina a hug. “Thank you, Nina. I have to ask, though. Is it your precognition that leads you to believe that or your mother’s intuition?”

Nina laughed lightly. “Sometimes I can’t tell between the two. Now, you three get to work. I’ll take care of the dishes.” Miranda began to object before Nina cut her off. “Miranda, you’re going to need the rest of the day to get everyone prepared. Go.” Miranda immediately nodded her head in obedience and followed Mitch and Malcolm out of the kitchen area and up to Malcolm’s study after a short detour to change into the much more comfortable clothes Nina had gotten her.

The first order of business was calling the compound to check in. Luckily for her, Miranda could now lie to her old coven, though they didn’t know that yet. Malcolm and Mitch waited silently as Miranda dialed. Once the phone was ringing, she put it on speaker so everyone could hear easily.

“Mandy, where the hell have you been?” a voice Miranda instantly recognized as Carl’s growled. It took Miranda every ounce of control to force herself to answer in the meek manner she would have prior to being released.

“I’m sorry, Carl. I just didn’t have anything to report. The car broke down yesterday, but the mechanic says it should be ready tomorrow.”

“Mechanic, huh? How are you paying for that? No, let me guess. You’re fucking him, right? Just what a slut should do.”

“Yes, Carl. It was my only option. I’m sorry.”

“Why should we care who you fuck? Just get your ass back here tomorrow. Devon has scheduled the ceremony for midnight tomorrow. Obviously you failed in your mission, but I didn’t. Got him a succulent little piece of ass for his sacrifice. She’s only ten years old. So innocent. I can’t wait for my turn at her. Devon wants her unmarked, so I can’t even have fun with her until after the ceremony.”

Miranda fought to not throw up or show any kind of reaction in her voice, though her face expressed just how horrified she was. Mitch and Malcolm’s faces mirrored her feelings, fear, outrage, and disgust twisting their handsome features.

Finally, Miranda was able to get herself gathered enough to answer Carl. “Wow, congratulations, Carl. I’m sure Devon is most pleased with you. Where did you find her?”

“Came across her in a restaurant I stopped for lunch at. Her sign is on her neck, clear as day. So easy.”

“Sounds like it. I should be there in plenty of time. As soon as the mechanic gets the car going again, I’ll be on my way.”

“Yeah, why don’t you go suck him off to get him moving faster? You were always good at that. You’ll have to give me a good one if you’re able to move after Devon gets a hold of you for failing your first search.” All three of them winced at Carl’s reference to the abuse Miranda had suffered before finding Mitch. Despite knowing Mitch knew what had happened to her, Miranda still stiffened in fear. It was one thing to know about the abuse intellectually, but a whole different story when faced with the details of that abuse.

Mitch, reached out and took her hand in his, squeezing it in reassurance. He caught her eyes and opened his mind to her, showing her he still loved her deeply, and she had nothing to fear.

The relief Miranda felt was extreme and enabled her to complete the call. “As you wish, Carl. You know I live to make everyone happy, whatever that takes.”

“Yeah, whatever, Mandy. Just get your skinny ass home,” Carl instructed before hanging up.

Mitch immediately pulled Miranda into his arms, giving them both comfort after the disturbing call. Malcolm simply sat in his chair, his face in his hands Miranda felt a higher sense of urgency, with maybe a bit of desperation included. They had to get that little girl away from them before they hurt her any more than they already had.

The rest of the day was spent pinpointing the compound’s location, a task that was not as easy as Miranda had expected, and once John and James had joined them, sketching out a schematic of the compound’s layout. Luckily, Miranda had some talent with drawing she’d completely forgotten about and so was able to render a fairly good depiction of the compound’s many rooms and passageways. As Miranda described the layout of the compound to the men, she explained what the various rooms were used for and some of what had happened in those rooms. She didn’t want them going into those rooms without some sort of preparation for what they very well might see.