Fated for Forever(33)

“We all believed they would attempt to kill you to get to him, but this is an attack directly at the prince,”

Baptista said, wrapping an arm around Ashby’s shoulders.

“With the prince incapacitated, the coven leaders will try to take advantage of the situation. I bet they are

downstairs now scheming while the prince is indisposed.” Roman snarled at the thought.

“It’s why we sent Rhys with them, he has the best hearing,” David said, staring at the conference table

that was broken in half and winced.

“Ashby we can’t keep you safe here anymore, we have to get you home to Arkadia. If the prince

recovers we can send for you,” Baptista started.

“No! No way! I am not leaving my mate. He needs me.” Ashby stuck out his chin defiantly.

“We can’t protect you here,” Baptista said sadly.

“I’m not leaving,” Ashby insisted.

“Ashby…” Daniel began.

“No. Either I am your prince or I’m not. Either I’m your prince’s mate or I’m not. You choose.” Ashby

stared down the four men. He watched as they looked questioningly at each other. Finally Roman sighed.

“What would you have us do, Prince Ashby?” Roman asked, bowing to the small shifter. The other

three men bowed as well.

“I need a moment to myself. Can you make sure that the coven leaders aren’t causing trouble?” Ashby

said, straightening his back.

“Yes, Prince Ashby.” Roman smiled, laying a hand on Ashby’s shoulder for a moment before turning

and dragging the twins away.

“We’ll be online looking for causes,” Daniel yelled as they were pulled out of the room.

“I’ll be just outside the door, come out when you’re ready,” Baptista said sympathetically. Ashby

nodded.

When the door closed behind Baptista Ashby fell to his knees, biting his knuckles to prevent the sobs

from being heard outside the room.

Oh God, oh God, oh God. What do I do? What do I do? Oh Gabriel, please come back to me!

Ashby felt as if he were going to fly apart. He had maneuvered his way into a position of authority to

stay with Gabriel but he had no idea what to do. Out of nowhere, as clear as if she were standing beside

him, he felt Rebecca’s frustration with him. His hands flew to his pockets and he pulled out his cell phone.

Seventeen voicemails and thirty-two missed calls from Kate, Rebecca and Nic. He sobbed, cradling the

phone to his chest, when it rang for the thirty-third time. He answered and continued to cry.

“Ashby? Ashby are you there?” a male voice asked over the phone. It was Aleks Arkadion.

“I–I–I’m here. Oh Aleks, I don’t know what to do!” Ashby wailed.

“Calm down. Are you hurt? Are you in a safe place to talk?” Aleks asked gently.

“I’m not hurt, it’s Gabriel who’s hurt. They shot him with tranquilizer darts, but he was going crazy.

They were going to make me leave, but I can’t leave him. I told them I was their prince since I was mated

to Gabriel. I don’t know what to do.” Ashby clutched the phone to his ear and shook.

“OK, take deep breaths. You are not alone Ashby. Now, one thing at a time, you said Gabriel is hurt,

how did he get hurt?” Aleks’s strong, calm voice soothed his fraying nerves.

“We don’t know. I was downstairs eating pizza with the twins. He was upstairs with the coven leaders in

a meeting. All of sudden we heard roars and screams so we ran upstairs. Gabriel was snarling, he didn’t

even look human anymore.” Ashby wiped his tears.

“He was fighting everyone. He calmed down for a second when he heard my voice, then they had to

shoot him with tranquilizers. They put chains on him and then carried him away. I don’t know where he is.

Baptista and Roman wanted to send me back to Arkadia,” Ashby said, starting to get mad.

“Baptista is the one entrusted to keep you safe. If he wants to send you back here, he doubts they can

keep you safe while you’re in Purgatory.” There was a pause and then Aleks yelled to others in the

background.

“Connor, Emmett, you’re heading to Purgatory. Don’t trust anyone, not even the coven members, your

only job is to keep Ashby safe,” he heard Aleks say.

“Really, you want to go? No I’m sorry Nic you can’t,” he heard Aleks ask. His heart soared. He

desperately wanted to see Nic.

“Nicholas, if you go, then Connor and Emmett’s attention will be divided between the two of you. It

could give the enemy the opening they need to get to Ashby—yes I know. I’ll tell him.”

“OK. All right Ashby, you have help on the way. Connor and Emmett are leaving now. They should be