“I feel like I’ve aged five hundred years since meeting you young man,” Roman said wearily, sitting on
the rolling chair at the foot of the bed.
“Not my fault. Unless I’m wrong it’s crazy vampires causing havoc this time,” Ashby argued. As he
turned he pulled his shoulder, which caused him to wince.
“I need to shift, will that bother anyone?” he asked, suddenly feeling unsure of himself. He didn’t know
if is heart could take it if they laughed at him.
“You’re going to shift? Cool!” Daniel said as he and David released his hands and sat down together on
the other bed.
“Go ahead and shift, we don’t mind,” Roman said. Ashby took a deep breath and let the change flow
over him. He felt himself shrink and suddenly he was looking out at the world from underneath his clothes
and blankets.
“Oh…oh…oh. Can we keep him?” Daniel said, popping up from the bed and scooping Ashby up.
“He is so freaking adorable!” David added. Running his hand between Ashby’s oversized ears. Ashby
yipped and rubbed his head against David’s hand.
“He’s not a pet Daniel, he’s our prince,” Roman said, a soft smile on his face as well.
“No wonder Rebecca loves your shifted form. You are the cutest thing ever, Ashby,” Emmett said.
“He brought out every single one of Ma’s protective instincts when we found him. She was ready to
hunt down Ashby’s ex and maul him. You can see why she was smitten with his fox form,” Connor added.
Ashby listened to the compliments in wonder. He gave another yip and jumped down back on to his
bed and ducked under the covers before shifting back. He quickly pulled his pajama pants on and popped
back out of the blankets his shirt in hand.
“I wish we could shift. All we got was stupid fangs,” Daniel pouted.
“Yeah, stupid fangs,” David agreed.
“OK, today is what, Tuesday?” Ashby asked, shaking his head as if to clear it.
“Yes, surprisingly enough it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since Prince Gabriel was affected,”
Roman confirmed.
“Right. Let’s get Gabriel transferred up to his apartments. I think he’ll be more comfortable up there,”
Ashby said, sliding off the bed and pulling his shirt on. When he turned back Roman was frowning at him.
“What?” he asked. Roman shook his head.
“Nothing. Mikhail, Connor, if you could move Gabriel. David, Daniel, run ahead and make sure the
doors are open and pull the covers down on their bed,” Roman said. Ashby hovered next to Gabriel the
entire time it took to carry Gabriel’s tall frame up the stairs to the point where Connor flat-out told him to
get out of the way. Only when Gabriel was safely tucked into bed did he relax.
“We’ll be downstairs if you need us,” Connor said. Then he and Emmett left the apartment.
“Do they have a place to sleep?” Ashby asked and Daniel nodded.
“They are crashing in the VIP suites.”
“Roman, why did you frown at me? Should Gabriel have stayed in the infirmary?” Ashby asked
nervously.
“No, it’s just that you said ‘his apartments’. I had hoped we made you feel at home here with us.”
Roman stared down at his clipboard.
“You have! You really have. It’s just, I have my own shop and my own apartment, none of my things
are here. It isn’t something Gabriel and I have discussed yet,” Ashby said, sitting down on the side of the
bed taking Gabriel’s inert hand.
“Don’t worry about it. Gabriel would say you have plenty of time to figure that out,” Mikhail said,
stepping forward.
“Mikhail is right, don’t mind me,” Roman said, sounding contrite.
“All right everyone, Ashby still needs to rest and take it easy today, let’s let him get back to sleep,”
Baptista said, stepping forward. Daniel and David waved and left, Roman and Mikhail following.
“I’ll be right outside if you need anything, Prince Ashby,” Baptista said respectfully.
“Why so formal all of a sudden?” Ashby asked, climbing into bed with Gabriel.
“Ashby, everyone heard your screams and knows exactly what you went through to heal Gabriel.”
Baptista walked up and stood at the foot of the bed.
“Great, now everyone knows I’m a big baby.” Ashby frowned.
“No, they know your strength. You’re a shifter and heal quickly, yet you still bear the marks on your
neck and shoulder from where Gabriel reclaimed you, which means that the original wound was life
threatening. Not many people would have gone into that cell, mate or not. You are one amazing person