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.