Fated for Forever(24)

music.

He danced between David and Daniel as the music moved through his veins. People pressed against him

on all sides, the dance floor moving as one. After about an hour Ashby felt a hand on his shoulder. He

looked up into the face of a handsome man who wore a sardonic smile. The man pulled Ashby against his

body, keeping a hand on his lower back.

“I think you should play with me tonight, little one.” The man smiled showing even white teeth. Before

Gabriel, Ashby would’ve been flattered to dance with such a man, now his touch seemed revolting. This

man wasn’t his mate.

“Thank you, but I’m here with someone,” Ashby said, trying to pull away.

“You can’t be here with anyone important, otherwise they’d be watching over you,” the man said.

“Trust me, he has made arrangements for my protection,” Ashby said, still tugging.

“Baby, I’m over five hundred years old. There’s no one here that can take me,” the man said, leaning

forward as if to capture Ashby’s lips.

“You better let him go!” Daniel said from one side.

“Yeah he’s spoken for!” David said from the other side.

“Please let me go!” Ashby said. His skin felt hot where the man’s hands touched him. He was just about

to call for Gabriel, when they heard a low, animalistic growl. The music stopped, the people quieted, the

club went silent.

“Take your hands off my mate,” Gabriel said quietly and coldly. The man began to choke. His hands left

Ashby’s body and grasped in vain at the invisible force around his throat that had levitated him off the

ground.

“The next time a man tells you his is spoken for I suggest you listen,” Baptista said from behind the

man. The choking man looked up into Gabriel’s face and his entire frame began to shake.

“Sir—I didn’t—know…” the man stammered gasping for air.

“Even if you did not know he was mine, he clearly stated he was here with someone. That alone should

have been enough to leave him be. Baptista, please escort this gentleman out,” Gabriel said from the VIP

balcony. The man dropped to the floor struggling to pull air into his lungs. Baptista nodded and hefted the

man toward the front doors. Gabriel turned his eyes and met Ashby’s.

“Are you well, mon ange?” Gabriel asked, his eyes softening.

“Yes I’m fine, he didn’t hurt me.” Ashby rubbed his arms. Gabriel nodded.

“I hope that you join me soon.” Gabriel turned back to the VIP room, disappearing from sight. It was

clear that Gabriel was trying to give Ashby choices instead of demanding that he join him in the VIP room.

Ashby smiled. Maybe things would be all right after all. Slowly the music resumed and hushed whispers

were heard throughout the club. Ashby, David, and Daniel tried dancing on the dance floor again, but it was

no longer any fun. Where before he felt like he was part of the club as he moved to the bass of the music,

and melded with the people, now he felt like a circus attraction. Even on the dance floor, everyone stayed at

least four feet away. Grimacing, Ashby looked at David and Daniel, and the twins shook their heads.

“Let’s head over to the bar area and have a drink,” Daniel said.

“Yeah, let’s take a break,” David said. Ashby smiled and nodded. They easily made their way from the

dance floor to the bar as everyone moved out of their way. It also wasn’t hard to get one of the coveted

leather couches in the bar area, two local vampires practically tripped over themselves when attempting to

get out of their way. Ashby would have found it amusing if he wasn’t so embarrassed.

“Prince Ashby, it’s an honor to wait on you. My name is Micah, what will you have tonight?” the waiter

asked.

“I guess the cat is completely out of the bag now,” Daniel said, sitting down.

“No hiding anymore, Ashby,” David added, sitting on the other side of Ashby.

“I’ll just have water, thank you,” Ashby said, fanning himself between the twins.

“Yeah I’m going to have water, too.” David threw himself back on the leather sofa trying to cool down.

“Make that three,” Daniel said, wiping his face with a napkin.

“Right away, sirs,” Micah said and hurried away.

“I could get used to hanging with you Ashby,” Daniel said, putting his feet up on the coffee table.

“Yeah we never get treated this well,” David said, putting a pillow behind his head.

“But you guys live here,” Ashby said, confused.

“Yeah, that doesn’t mean we get VIP treatment,” Daniel said, wiggling around on the comfy sofa.