“They won’t. They just want someplace to be safe,” he said. Rebecca nodded.
“If that’s the case then you better let them know they have a home here,” Ashby said, winking at
Rebecca. Peyton turned to them and smiled. It was the first true smile Ashby had seen on his face and it
was breathtaking.
“Mojo, can we head back to the bar? I need to let my friends know it’s safe here,” Peyton said, jumping
up to grab Mojo’s huge hand in his small one and tugging for all he was worth. Mojo nodded and let
himself be pulled out of the diner.
“So more hybrids,” Rebecca said.
“And vampires,” Ashby quipped, bumping his shoulder with hers.
“Sounds like fun doesn’t it,” Kate said.
“Ashby, let Prince Gabriel know that if you need a place for your coven, I can sell him the plantation
house. It’s large enough to hold a lot of people,” Caleb said, wrapping his arm around Kate.
“Oh Ashers, that’s a great idea.” Rebecca clapped her hands excitedly, then tilted her head to one side
that Ashby recognized as her scheming position.
“Do you think he’d be willing to put in a pool?” she asked innocently. Kate gave her a high five and the
men groaned.
“For you, I bet he would,” Ashby said laughing.
“I’m heading to Purgatory. This kind of news needs to be delivered in person!” Ashby said, dashing
back to the table to grab his keys.
Chapter 18
“Gabriel! Gabriel! I’m home!” Ashby yelled as he raced inside Purgatory. It was the middle of the day
so he knew the day shift would be stocking and cleaning. He raced to the stairway that led to the VIP suite
and their apartments. He looked up and saw Gabriel appear at the top of the stairs. Faster than his eyes
could track Gabriel was down the stairs and pulling him into his arms.
“What are you doing back? I thought we decided that you would stay in Arkadia until I find the drug
ring,” Gabriel asked, peppering Ashby with kisses.
“It’s over. It was a stalker, not a drug ring. He tried to kill me this morning, but then Sebastian shifted
into a really cool saber-toothed tiger and saved us, then Liam realized he was his mate and got upset. Then
asshole wolf Alpha threatened to take Peyton and take over the Arkadian wolf pack and that was when I
called you. After that Rebecca and the town leaders voted. The coven has been invited to move to
Arkadia!” Ashby practically screamed the last bit in his excitement. Gabriel stared down at him in horror as
his mate’s words sunk in. He felt his fangs burst through his gums at the threat to his mate and began to
check every inch of Ashby for injury.
The coven members began to crowd around them. It didn’t take long for the entire coven to circle
around the little prince that they missed.
“Move? To Arkadia? Isn’t that the shifter town?” Baptista asked, as Gabriel growled under his breath
and continued to inspect Ashby.
“Yes, but seeing as how Gabriel was willing to defend Rebecca and the town and since we’re mated
they have agreed to let the coven move to town. This coven only. The coven members won’t be able to
invite others in, and if they lose their souls they are automatically kicked out of town by the protective
barrier, but we can all live there!” Ashby said, bouncing up and down in Gabriel’s arms.
“It can’t be that simple.” Gabriel started slowly feeling his heart rate return to normal.
“Why not?” The protest came not from Ashby but from several coven members. Gabriel looked around,
surprised.
“I just uprooted the coven to open Purgatory, I can’t ask the coven to move their lives again,” Gabriel
said, shaking his head.
“What about coven leadership meetings? We couldn’t have those in Arkadia or run Purgatory from an
hour away.” Gabriel let go of Ashby and began pacing in front of the assembled members of the coven.
“Don’t we get a say?” David asked softly. Both David and Daniel stepped forward.
“I wouldn’t mind moving again if I knew that we would be there for a while. Arkadia is protected, not
only from shifters going rogue but also against other vampires. We could really set down roots there, like a
real home,” David said, igniting excited whispers throughout the crowd.
“What did I tell you about trying to handle everything all by yourself my love?” Ashby said, wrapping
his arms around Gabriel’s waist.
“Prince Gabriel, if I recall correctly, you put me in charge of the regional coven leader business. I can
easily commute to Purgatory for meetings as they arise,” Roman said stepping forward.