Page 17 of Mistress A-0002

“That’s it. Face the fear. You’re safe. Do you hear me? I’m here with you. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“I—S-She. She?—"

“Enough.” Melissa surged forward. “Braddock, I’m going to walk you back.”

“Don’t you dare.”

Melissa threw me a look. “Hear my words, Braddock.”

My jaw clenched as I lowered my voice. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“The other you is gone. The house is gone, Brad. You’re beginning to feel a little lighter.”

“Melissa.”

“No.” Braddock yelled out again. “I’m bleeding. I…the blood.”

More unrecognizable words. Melissa’s voice deepened, holding a tone that nearly had the floor dropping out from under my feet.

“There is no blood,Braddock Amell, because youdon’texist. That realitydoesn’t exist,and if it’s not real, neither is that version of you.”

Full lips parted but nothing came or went. Not words. Not air.

“What did you do?” I lunged forward, moving in closer to assess him. “What the hell did you do, Melissa?”

“Nothing. I’m waking him up.”

Red blossomed across Braddock’s face, and I didn’t think. I couldn’t with the way my mind kept growing foggy.

“Breathe, Brad. It’s time to wake up. Wake up! Breathe!”

Whack!

I slapped his cheek with enough force to snap his face to the side. He gasped, coming to. Knowing he was going to be alright had my temper exploding.

“What the hell was that?” I yelled at Melissa.

“I don’t know what you mean, Main Master.”

“Yes you do. Yes. You. Do.”

“I told you it wastoo far.”

“And you clearly saw I had it under control. You interrupted and took over. We were getting somewhere. You ruined it by inserting yourself. Why would you do that?You know better, Melissa.”

Braddock was sucking in breaths, clearly out of it as he attuned to being awake. His blank slate female was getting himwater, but I could see Allison watching everyone in the room. She was on high alert at my yells.

“Brad.” I kneeled, waiting as he tried to collect his thoughts. He was delayed. It was expected. “Brad.”

“Elec.” He cleared his throat. “Main Master.”

“Elec is fine. You don’t have to worry about titles right now. We’re friends. We’ve always been friends. Brad, how do you feel?”

He took the water, drinking it down until the glass was finished.

“I feel…tired. I can’t think very clearly.”

“It’s normal to feel that way after you’ve been under as deep as you were.”

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