“He said you were his humanity?” Mikhail asked, his eyebrows rising slightly. Ashby nodded. Mikhail exhaled loudly and rubbed his hands over his face in the first true show of emotion he had shown since returning to Purgatory.
“He is going to fucking kill me,” Mikhail said, placing his heavy hands on Ashby’s shoulders.
“Roman is right. You don’t have to do this. We can find another way,” Mikhail began and Ashby shook his head.
“I want to do this. Now,” Ashby said, his small frame shaking.
“Yup, I’m a fucking dead man,” Mikhail said. He lifted his hands and unbolted the heavy door.
“See if you can get him to recognize you, it should make things easier,” Mikhail said, opening the door. A long low hiss was heard from inside the room.
“I won’t be able to help you. Once he latches on, I won’t be able to get him to dislodge without killing you. Relax when he bites, don’t tense up. Are you sure about this?” Mikhail asked, his eyes softening for just a moment.
“Yes.”
“Thank you. Thank you for saving my friend,” Mikhail said, stepping back. Ashby nodded and stepped inside the dark cell. The door closed behind and Ashby felt the weight of Gabriel’s stare on him.
“Do you remember me? You liked me upstairs…remember?” Ashby said, moving slowly. Gabriel’s head rose and Ashby could see a dull red glow in his eyes.
“I’m going to come over there OK?” Ashby eased forward.
He watched Gabriel sniff the air. Ashby looked at the face of his lover and couldn’t stop the tears. The eyes were red and demon like, his canines were extended past his chin and his fingers were now tipped with lethal-looking claws, but his mate was still in there. His eyes were the same shape and the hair that fell around his face were his curls. He still had the pale skin that he had trailed kisses over just that morning. Gabriel stared at the tears and his head tilted to one side as if confused.
“Come on, big guy, time for you to drink,” Ashby said, stepping in close and tilting his head. A low purr sound filled the air. Gabriel leaned down and licked up the side of Ashby’s neck. Ashby tried to imagine it as a sexy, erotic lick and not as an “I like how you taste” lick. Hesitating, he leaned back a fraction and when Gabriel started growling, Ashby froze.
“Please Gabriel, please remember me,” Ashby pleaded.
Without warning Gabriel struck, sinking his long fangs deep into Ashby’s neck and shoulder. He couldn’t help the scream that escaped as he felt his flesh rip and tear.
“Mikhail!” Ashby cried out. He heard the door slam open.
“Gabriel release him, you’re going to kill him!” Mikhail yelled. Gabriel growled loudly and wrapped his arms around Ashby pulling him into his body.
“He won’t take me from you, I’m not going anywhere,” Ashby said weakly, patting Gabriel’s chest. The pain was fading now it was being replaced by a bone-numbing lethargy.
“Gabriel snap out of it! You. Are. Killing. Him!” Mikhail inched closer.
Just as the world started to edge in darkness he felt the fangs slip from his body. When his knees gave out he felt strong hands holding him close.
“Mikhail?” Gabriel’s voice asked. His voice sounded faint and far away as Ashby struggled to keep his eyes open.
“I’m here old friend, I’m here.”
Ashby felt himself being lowered to the floor then a body collapsed beside him.
“Guard us,” was the last thing Ashby heard before he allowed the darkness to swallow him.
Chapter 14
When Ashby opened his eyes later he wished he hadn’t. His neck and shoulder blazed with pain and his head was pounding. He managed to open his eyes but his attempt to sit up left him moaning. He closed his eyes and collapsed back. Immediately a straw was pushed between his lips.
“You are extremely dehydrated. You’ll feel better the more you drink. I imagine you have a splitting headache,” a familiar and refined voice murmured from his bedside. He peeled one open and gave a crooked smile.
“Doc, you keep making a lot of long distance house calls for me. How long was I out?” Even speaking that much exhausted him.
“Six hours. You can make these roads trips up to me in the form of ice cream. Besides the headache, how is the shoulder?” Doc asked.
“Hurts. Gabriel?” he asked.
“Still unconscious, but from what Mikhail has told me, back to his normal form. Whatever you did, worked. Good job in taking care of your mate,” Doc said, sounding proud.
“Good job my ass, he almost died,” a cranky voice said from across the room. Ashby smiled, that was Baptista.
“I’m feeling better already. I should be back to normal after I shift.” Ashby sighed and opened his eyes and the Doc nodded.
Baptista, Emmett, Connor, and Mikhail were either sitting or standing in various parts of the room. He turned his head and found Gabriel lying in the bed beside his. He gave a sigh of relief before turning his head back to stare at the ceiling.
“I’m starting to hate this infirmary.” Ashby groaned.
“Hurry up and come home then.” Doc patted his hand.
“I’m heading back to Arkadia. Stop abusing your body Ashby,” Doc said and gave a wink.
“I’ll try, Doc. Thanks again for coming,” Ashby said, straining to scoot up. Gentle hands pulled him until he was scooted up far enough in the hospital bed to sit up. Ashby smiled his thanks at Mikhail and waved to Doc as he headed out the door.
Ashby took a deep breath and looked up at the dark vampire.
“Will he really be OK?” he asked and Mikhail nodded.
“When he wakes up the bond will be back in place and he should be back to his normal loveable self,” Mikhail said without smiling.
“He is loveable,” Ashby argued. Mikhail grunted and walked back to his corner. He leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms.
“You’re awake! If you weren’t hurt I’d put you over my knee. Are you trying to get us all killed!” Roman said, walking in with David and Daniel.
“You have to stop dying, Ashby, our hearts can’t take it,” Daniel said, taking one hand as David took the other.
“Trust me, I have no plans on dying anytime soon,” Ashby said.
“Good. You still need to explain what a Tardis is.” Roman wagged a finger at Ashby.
“Time and relative dimension in space,” Mikhail offered from the corner. Everyone turned and stared at the large man.
“You’re a Whovian?” Ashby asked in a whisper. Mikhail grunted.
“Is that a martial art?” Roman asked.
Ashby looked around the room and everyone wore identical confused expressions.
Mikhail snorted and Ashby’s head swung around.
“You laughed!” Ashby exclaimed excitedly. Mikhail’s cold expression frowned back at him.
“You’re not so scary,” Ashby said, leaning back in the bed. Roman gulped.
“I feel like I’ve aged five hundred years since meeting you young man,” Roman said wearily, sitting on the rolling chair at the foot of the bed.
“Not my fault. Unless I’m wrong it’s crazy vampires causing havoc this time,” Ashby argued. As he turned he pulled his shoulder, which caused him to wince.
“I need to shift, will that bother anyone?” he asked, suddenly feeling unsure of himself. He didn’t know if is heart could take it if they laughed at him.
“You’re going to shift? Cool!” Daniel said as he and David released his hands and sat down together on the other bed.
“Go ahead and shift, we don’t mind,” Roman said. Ashby took a deep breath and let the change flow over him. He felt himself shrink and suddenly he was looking out at the world from underneath his clothes and blankets.
“Oh…oh…oh. Can we keep him?” Daniel said, popping up from the bed and scooping Ashby up.
“He is so freaking adorable!” David added. Running his hand between Ashby’s oversized ears. Ashby yipped and rubbed his head against
David’s hand.
“He’s not a pet Daniel, he’s our prince,” Roman said, a soft smile on his face as well.
“No wonder Rebecca loves your shifted form. You are the cutest thing ever, Ashby,” Emmett said.
“He brought out every single one of Ma’s protective instincts when we found him. She was ready to hunt down Ashby’s ex and maul him. You can see why she was smitten with his fox form,” Connor added.
Ashby listened to the compliments in wonder. He gave another yip and jumped down back on to his bed and ducked under the covers before shifting back. He quickly pulled his pajama pants on and popped back out of the blankets his shirt in hand.
“I wish we could shift. All we got was stupid fangs,” Daniel pouted.
“Yeah, stupid fangs,” David agreed.
“OK, today is what, Tuesday?” Ashby asked, shaking his head as if to clear it.
“Yes, surprisingly enough it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since Prince Gabriel was affected,” Roman confirmed.
“Right. Let’s get Gabriel transferred up to his apartments. I think he’ll be more comfortable up there,” Ashby said, sliding off the bed and pulling his shirt on. When he turned back Roman was frowning at him.
“What?” he asked. Roman shook his head.
“Nothing. Mikhail, Connor, if you could move Gabriel. David, Daniel, run ahead and make sure the doors are open and pull the covers down on their bed,” Roman said. Ashby hovered next to Gabriel the entire time it took to carry Gabriel’s tall frame up the stairs to the point where Connor flat-out told him to get out of the way. Only when Gabriel was safely tucked into bed did he relax.
“We’ll be downstairs if you need us,” Connor said. Then he and Emmett left the apartment.
“Do they have a place to sleep?” Ashby asked and Daniel nodded.
“They are crashing in the VIP suites.”
“Roman, why did you frown at me? Should Gabriel have stayed in the infirmary?” Ashby asked nervously.
“No, it’s just that you said ‘his apartments’. I had hoped we made you feel at home here with us.” Roman stared down at his clipboard.
“You have! You really have. It’s just, I have my own shop and my own apartment, none of my things are here. It isn’t something Gabriel and I have discussed yet,” Ashby said, sitting down on the side of the bed taking Gabriel’s inert hand.
“Don’t worry about it. Gabriel would say you have plenty of time to figure that out,” Mikhail said, stepping forward.
“Mikhail is right, don’t mind me,” Roman said, sounding contrite.
“All right everyone, Ashby still needs to rest and take it easy today, let’s let him get back to sleep,” Baptista said, stepping forward. Daniel and David waved and left, Roman and Mikhail following.
“I’ll be right outside if you need anything, Prince Ashby,” Baptista said respectfully.
“Why so formal all of a sudden?” Ashby asked, climbing into bed with Gabriel.
“Ashby, everyone heard your screams and knows exactly what you went through to heal Gabriel.” Baptista walked up and stood at the foot of the bed.
“Great, now everyone knows I’m a big baby.” Ashby frowned.
“No, they know your strength. You’re a shifter and heal quickly, yet you still bear the marks on your neck and shoulder from where Gabriel reclaimed you, which means that the original wound was life threatening. Not many people would have gone into that cell, mate or not. You are one amazing person Ashby Fairfax, and that is why any of us would die for you.” Baptista bowed and quietly left the room.
Ashby turned onto his side and buried his face into Gabriel’s arm.
“I don’t want anyone to die. Please wake up soon, my prince,” Ashby whispered and eventually fell asleep.
* * * *
“Prince Ashby, repairs have started on the VIP conference room, it should be completed before we reopen on Friday night. Do you think we could change the paint color while we’re at it, maybe a neutral gray? What do you think?”
“Prince Ashby, the beer vendor we use is angry with us for denying them entrance on Monday, should we try and retain them as our alcohol vendor or see if we can get someone new?”
“Prince Ashby, what do you think we should do next weekend for theme night?”
After the final person in what seemed to be a never-ending stream of people left the office, Ashby slammed his head down onto Gabriel’s desk. He had been fielding questions all morning and was shocked at the number of people coming to him for advice.
He had slept through the rest of the day Tuesday and woke up still moving slow on Wednesday. Baptista made sure he stayed in bed all day. When he woke on Thursday he felt refreshed and much better. The only thing left over from his ordeal were the teeth marks from the savage bite from Gabriel’s reclaiming. To his disappointment Gabriel was still asleep and hadn’t shown signs of waking when he had left their apartments that morning.
“Gabriel does this every day?” Ashby turned his head, his cheek on the desk, to look at Roman who was quietly typing at his own computer. Roman looked up surprised.
“Of course not. The coven loves Gabriel, don’t get me wrong, you’re just more approachable. They would never come to him with these type of concerns.” Ashby groaned. Roman resumed his typing.
“It just shows how much they have come to care for and trust you.” The sound of typing stopped. Roman’s face inched toward the screen and he shook his head before the tapping resumed.
“Prince Ashby, I’m sorry to bother you again. But I contacted the alcohol vendor like you advised, they are saying that they cannot make any deliveries to us for the next two weeks,” Rhys said from the doorway. Ashby raised his head, his eyes flashing.
“That is ridiculous! They’re just messing with us. Contact the other vendor and say we’re willing to give them our business, beer and liquor, contingent on getting a delivery out to us today, and ask how low of a rate they can offer. Advise them we’ll need an answer back in thirty minutes and let them know you are contacting other vendors, so their offer better be the best they can do, we’re not negotiating.” Ashby tapped the desk thoughtfully.
“If their offer comes within five percent of what we’re paying now, switch vendors. Then contact our current vendor and let them know their services are no longer needed.”
“Yes! These guys have been assholes from day one, but they offered the best price,” Rhys explained.
“Sometimes you have to pay more to get what you want. In this instance it’s better customer service. Let me know what they say,” Ashby said, grinning at Rhys who practically left the office at a run to get back to his phone.
“Where on earth did you learn how to deal with vendors?” Roman asked, stunned. It was Ashby’s turn to look surprised.
“I learned from the best. You should hear Ma make arrangements to get food and supplies. I applied what I learned to run my own business. Whether it’s a restaurant, an ice cream parlor or a club, they are basically the same.” Ashby shrugged.
A few minutes later Rhys returned with a swagger.
“Prince Ashby, it was epic. The second vendor was all too willing to help. It’s a smaller company run by a family. The prices are slightly higher than what we’re paying now, but he said that rescheduling shipments wouldn’t be an issue and is willing to make arrangements for evening or even late night deliveries. That alone is worth the slight increase. Being able to split deliveries across the day and night shifts will help immensely.
“But the best part was when I called the asshole back from our old vendor. He was still screaming ‘You can’t do this!’ when I hung up on his ass.” Rhys was grinning from ear to ear.
“That’s awesome! I’m glad to hear about the split deliveries. You look happier too.” Ashby couldn’t help but return Rhys’s grin. The man looked that happy.
“You have no idea what a load off my mind this is. I hated working with that douchebag.” Rhys’s face turned dark.
??
?Is there more that you aren’t saying Rhys?” Ashby asked, concerned.
“Just that he was a little too touchy feely with me and some of the guys when he would come out with the delivery driver. Most of us are at least bi, but no one welcomed his advances. He would touch us inappropriately or grind up against up from behind if we bent over while putting stock away.” Rhys’s eyes went to the floor as he explained. Ashby felt his blood pressure spike. He hated bullies!
“Roman, which button is David and Daniel?” he asked, pointing to the multibutton intercom system.
“The one with the biohazard sign next to it, why?” Roman asked, as he and Rhys watched Ashby. Ashby paused and looked down at the intercom, and sure enough, drawn on the intercom system was a small biohazard sign.
Shaking his head Ashby pressed the button, and after a few seconds he heard Daniel’s voice.
“Hey bossman, what’s shakin’?”
“I need your kung fu,” Ashby said.
“Target?”
“ABA Distributers. Our old alcohol vendor,” Ashby said.
“Intent?” David asked. Ashby could hear keys tapping.
“Total annihilation. Find their current list of customers and let them know that we’re raising a case with the Better Business Bureau for sexual harassment. They may want to check with their employees. Then launch a Facebook campaign online to spread the word.”
“On it! Finally a fun project,” Daniel said, then the intercom beeped before going silent. Ashby looked up to see that Rhys’s eyes were shiny with unshed tears.
“You matter Rhys. Let the other guys know that I will not put up with anyone hurting or disrespecting our coven members. You shouldn’t have to feel threatened in your own home,” Ashby said, his voice gentle but firm. Rhys cleared his throat and swallowed hard.
“Thank you, my prince,” Rhys said, turned to leave and nearly ran into Gabriel and Mikhail who were standing just inside the office.
“Prince Gabriel, thank goodness you’re OK!” Rhys exclaimed.