explained.
“How do I reconnect with him?” Ashby asked.
“You would need to allow him to bite you again,” Mikhail said.
“Absolutely not! Gabriel would kill you for even suggesting such a thing, Mikhail. This is his mate,
Gabriel would never endanger him like that,” Roman exclaimed. Baptista stepped beside Roman nodding.
“Is it the only way?” Ashby asked.
“We can find another way,” Roman insisted. Ashby turned to Connor who watched the entire scene with
his lips pressed together in a straight line. He nodded his head to Mikhail.
“Is this the only way?” Ashby repeated looking up at Mikhail.
“Time is of the essence. The longer he stays in that form the harder it will be to get him back,” Mikhail
answered coldly staring down Roman who looked up at him defiantly.
“Everyone, let’s head back upstairs and discuss our options. Mikhail, Connor if both of you could stay a
moment I’d like to talk to you,” Ashby said. Roman and Baptista walked up the stairs hesitantly, Lauri and
Kurt behind them. Connor and Emmett stood beside Mikhail.
“I thought I said Connor,” he said.
“You did, he would only tell me later anyway so this is quicker. Get on with it squirt,” Emmett replied
glibly. Ashby rolled his eyes and turned to Connor.
“If you were me, what would you do?” he asked. Connor looked into Ashby’s face a moment then
shrugged.
“We’re shifters, Ashby,” was all he said. Ashby nodded.
“You know what to do then,” Ashby said smiling up at his friend.
“I’ll call Aleks to give them a heads up.” Connor pointed to the top of the stairs.
“We’ll keep them away, but try to be quick. Baptista looks like one dangerous motherfucker,” Connor
said. Emmett chuckled and ruffled Ashby’s hair before he followed Connor up the stairs.
Ashby turned to Mikhail.
“OK, I’ll do it,” he said exhaling a deep breath.
“What did Connor mean?” Mikhail asked.
“In the shifter world mates come first, before everything else. Connor knew what I would decide.”
Ashby stepped up and placed a hand on the door.
“Gabriel is my everything. Gabriel said that I was his humanity, but he is my reason to breathe. If he
needs every last drop of my blood then so be it.” Ashby removed his hand and looked up and met
Mikhail’s gaze.
“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