would be safe,” Lauri explained, and they stepped through the now open doorway and started descending.
When they had reached the bottom, Lauri motioned to the left and walked straight to the end of the dark
stone hall to a large metal door.
“He’s in here.” Lauri pointed to the room. He walked up and slid the window’s cover open. Ashby took
a step forward and placed a hand on the door. He stood on tiptoe trying to peek into the viewing window
but was falling short miserably. Lauri took pity on him by lifting Ashby up high enough to look into the
small window. Ashby leaned in quickly, he needed to catch a glimpse of his mate. His breath caught and his
eyes filled with tears. His proud prince was huddled in a ball on the floor, the chains just long enough to
allow him to lie down. If it weren’t for the slow rise and fall of Gabriel’s chest he would have thought him
dead. He wiggled until Lauri put him down. Lauri closed the viewer on the window, stepping back to give
Ashby some space.
Ashby wanted to fall apart. He wanted to curl into a ball with his mate and let the entire world go to
hell. He wanted to rage and cry and scream out his anger and pain. But he couldn’t. He looked up and
dashed his tears away.
“Guard him with your life, you really don’t want to face me if something happens to him,” Ashby said,
his eyes narrowing and for the first time in his life, a larger, stronger predator took a step back from him.
“Y–yes, Prince Ashby,” Lauri said he took a position on one side of the door and Kurt the other. Ashby
took a deep breath and slowly started walking away from the unconscious form of his mate.
Chapter 13
“I understand that you booked in advance, I’m terribly sorry but Purgatory will be closed for the
weekend. I’m sure we can make it up to you at another date.” Ashby winced as the she-wolf’s voice hit
new octaves.
“I’m really sorry, yes, yes, yes I know that twenty-first birthdays only happen once, I know your
daughter is disappointed but coven business dictates that we be closed. I mean it’s not like Purgatory is the
only paranormal club around.” Ashby looked up to see a frantic Roman waving his hands and nodding.
Ashby’s eyes widened and he cleared his throat.
“Exactly. We’re the only paranormal club so we are subject to demands placed on us from every faction
at every level. Let me see…maybe.” Ashby dropped his voice to a whisper and winked at Roman.
“Now, if you are willing to be a little more flexible with your dates I could secure you the VIP lounge
for no additional cost, yes…yes that’s right you have my word. Excellent! We will be contacting you once
we reopen. Thank you again for being so understanding, you’re making my job so much easier. Good-bye.”
Ashby dropped the headset to the desk and slumped back in the chair. He opened his eyes to the sounds of
clapping from the doorway. Connor Arkadion stood there with a shit-eating grin on his face.
“Is that our little Ashby schmoozing clients?” Connor said as he and Emmett walked into the office.
Ashby felt as if a ton of bricks was lifted from his shoulders. He jumped up raced around the desk and
launched himself, mainly at Connor’s head. He could never reach him to give him a noogie but always
tried. Connor swung him around for what Ashby liked to call his “bear hug.” Connor didn’t disappoint. He
hugged Ashby and then passed him off to Emmett who also gave him a crushing embrace before he set him
down and ruffled his hair. In an instant Baptista was there easing Ashby behind his huge frame.
“Excuse me gentlemen but I’d keep my hands to myself if I were you,” he said, never taking his eyes
off of Emmett.
“You must be Baptista, Aleks said that a professional was looking out for Ashers. Nice to meet you. I’m
Connor Arkadion, this is my brother Emmett. Connor extended a hand toward Baptista who regarded it
with distrust. Ashby jabbed him in the kidney and Baptista grunted before accepting the proffered gesture.
“They’re here to help keep me safe. I doubt they’ll hurt me,” Ashby said from behind Baptista. When
the man wouldn’t move he simply walked to the desk in the middle of the room and sat down in his chair.
Emmett and Connor walked over and sat down in the chairs across from the desk.
“I don’t like outside help,” Baptista muttered.
“They aren’t outside help, they’re family,” Ashby explained.
“It’s just you haven’t met each other yet to know that.” Ashby smiled at everyone. Connor groaned.
“I swear that sounded just like Rebecca, God she’s infected you.” He just shook his head and Ashby’s