Fated for Forever [Kindred of Arkadia 3] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) (11 page)

member who I left downstairs, his name is Ronan Evans.” The large Alpha finished the introductions as

Nathaniel pulled away from Ashby.

“I won’t know for sure until we can run blood work, but from listening to his heart I’d say he has a

good chance of pulling through. I can feel two distinct ties holding him here, one to you as your mate and

another to a small dark-haired woman. The love and concern I feel coming from that bond is extremely

strong. Ashby’s soul is tethered by this bond and your bond as mates. I don’t know who she is though.”

Nathaniel paused, his brows coming together frowning.

“That would be Rebecca Arkadion. She is his Alpha Mother, they bonded months ago. He is part of her

Inner Court.” Gabriel was unsure at first about how he felt knowing that his mate was tied to another, but

now he was grateful. It was one more bond keeping Ashby alive.

“I’m not a doctor but I can heal small things, it’s a gift that runs in my family. If you would allow it, I

can ease his breathing a little.” Nathaniel said, looking up for permission.

“You don’t have to ask. If there is anything that can be done to ease any of his pain please do it,”

Gabriel said, indicating to the bed. Nathaniel nodded and took Ashby’s small pale hand in his. Gabriel

watched in amazement as Ashby’s breathing evened a bit and the pained expression lifted from his face.

“Thank you,” Gabriel said, wearily sitting at the foot of the bed.

* * * *

An hour later, Dr. Claybourne showed up. He was immediately shown upstairs to where Ashby still lay

unconscious.

“I brought some of Nic’s blood. I’m hoping if I can flush his system with liquids and untainted blood it

will give his body the edge it needs to beat this. Let me be perfectly honest with you Prince Gabriel,

stronger shifters have died from cyanide poisoning,” Doc said, his face tired and grim.

“I understand, please do what you can.” Gabriel motioned to the bed.

“I was made to understand that you have medical facilities here,” Doc asked. Gabriel nodded.

“Downstairs where my people sleep we have a clinic,” he said.

“Let’s get him moved. He’s going to need a blood infusion and an IV drip,” Doc said, walking over to

the bed.

“Oh, my Ashby, what has been done to you?” Doc said, looking down at the small, still pale body.

“He is not your Ashby,” Gabriel said flatly. Doc raised a single eyebrow.

“I don’t care if you’re the King of Siam. Ashby belongs to those who love him and I hate to break it to

you Dracula, but in Arkadia we have years on you when it comes to caring for this young man. Now move

out of my way as I try to save my friend,” Doc said, brushing past Gabriel to lift Ashby gently in his arms.

David and Daniel watched the entire scene, their eyes wide.

“Dude, can I be you when I grow up?” David asked. Daniel nodded. Doc looked over at the small men

and winked. They both blushed. He carried Ashby’s form down the three flights of stairs and waited on the

ground level. Gabriel followed and went to the hallway beside the bathrooms, where he waved his hand to

reveal a small keypad. He punched in the code that unlocked the door. He walked through the opened

doorway and headed to the right.

“This way, doctor. And know that the only reason you’re still breathing is because I know you can help

my mate,” Gabriel said coldly. Doc rolled his eyes. Gabriel led the man holding his mate into the

underground chambers where his people slept for the day. He headed left and walked into a darkened

room, then reached out to the right wall and turned on the lights. In front of them were three small rooms

which made up the basics for their small clinic. Doc carried Ashby into the main treatment room and laid

him down on one of the beds. Behind him Baptista walked in carrying a bag and a cooler.

“Perfect. If you could set those on the counter please,” Doc said, moving around the room flipping

switches and checking gauges. He went to a drawer and pulled out the small kit to start an IV. Gabriel

watched as the man who was obviously the master of his craft stuck his small mate and started the blood

transfusion that would give him the untainted blood from his friend. He carefully removed a second IV kit

and made his way to Ashby’s other side. There he started a second IV, one of saline, antibiotics, and

vitamins.

“What was done before I got here? His breathing is surprisingly even for someone who’s been

poisoned,” Doc asked.

“That would be me, sir. My name is Nathaniel, healing is a gift from my family,” the auburn-haired man

said, stepping forward.

“I’d be interested in seeing exactly what your limitations are Nathaniel,” Doc said, taking Ashby’s pulse.

“He’s not an experiment. We prefer you not say anything about his gifts,” Eirik said from behind

Nathaniel. Without even turning around Doc snorted.

“You must be the Alpha. Please, it’s a closed space, try not to piss on him to mark him, the smell will get

overwhelming,” Doc said writing down Ashby’s pulse and temperature. He turned around to face the room

full of men.

“Gentlemen he’s not going to jump up and dance the jig. You can do nothing for him here, I’ll let you

know if there are any changes. Nathaniel, if you are able to stay I would like to see the changes that you

have on his physiology,” Doc said to the auburn-haired man. Nathaniel looked over to his Alpha who

scowled and nodded. Nathaniel’s head turned back to Doc smiling.

“I can stay.”

“Wonderful,” Doc said. Pulling out his phone from the medical bag, his long fingers moved quickly

over the text pad. He hit send, and then turned to Nathaniel.

“I sent an update to Aleks. OK, let’s get started.” Doc turned back to Ashby.

Gabriel moved to the side of the bed and took a seat in the plush armchair.

“He won’t wake up for a while,” Doc said, his voice gentling from his normal slightly aloof tones.

Gabriel nodded.

“I know, but I can’t leave him.” Gabriel took Ashby’s hand. Doc nodded.

“I guess if it were my mate, I wouldn’t be able to leave either.”

Chapter 10

“Gabriel, it’s been two days since I was poisoned, I’m doing much better now. I can stand, I can dress

myself, I can walk to the kitchen, I can make myself breakfast, and I’m bored out of my mind,” Ashby said

from their large king-size bed.

“You were on death’s door two days ago, please take it easy, for me?” Gabriel asked, tucking the blanket

around his mate.

“If I promise to take it easy can I at least get out of bed? Please?” Ashby batted his eyes. Gabriel sighed.

“OK you can get out of bed, as long as you take it easy. If you feel weak or short of breath or dizzy sit

down and call me.” Gabriel looked around for Ashby’s robe.

“Whoo hoo! I’m free!” Ashby bounced out of bed, heading to the closet to grab some clothes.

“What did I just say about taking it easy?” Gabriel held up the robe. He watched as Ashby pulled on

underwear, jeans, socks, a T-shirt and sweater. Before Doc had left the previous day, Gabriel had made sure

that Ashby had clothes to change into for when he was feeling better. David and Daniel happily went to the

mall shopping for Ashby.

“I love my cashmere sweater, it’s snuggly!” Ashby ran his hands all over the sweater. Gabriel watched

Ashby’s enthusiastic movements and smiled. As he got to know his mate, he realized that Ashby loved the

simplest things in life. Shaking his head, he lay the robe down on the bed.

“So what are your plans for today?” Gabriel asked.

“I need to call Rebecca, she took my getting sick extremely hard. Do you think maybe…” Ashby trailed

off and looked at Gabriel.

“What, my angel?” Gabriel asked, curious.

“Do you think we could send her some of that imported hot chocolate that I love? I know that would

make her feel better,” Ashby asked. Gabriel smiled and went to stand next to Ashby and took him in his

arms.

“You’re always thinking of others, I love that about you.” Gabriel kissed Ashby on the nose. Ashby’s

eyes widened and Gabriel realized what he said. Cupping Ashby’s face Gabriel looked into his eyes.

“Yes, I love you. I’m sorry that it took you nearly dying for me to realize I hadn’t said it yet. But it

doesn’t make it any less true. I fear for my coven if something were to happen to you. I’m not romantic,

you’re not my heart or my breath. You’re my sanity and my humanity.” Gabriel took Ashby’s dazed

expression as permission to capture his lips. He felt Ashby’s breath catch and grinned. Ashby wrapped his

arms around Gabriel’s neck and jumped. He wrapped his legs around his waist and looked into his prince’s

eyes. Gabriel easily supported his weight.

“I love you too. I knew that you were there even when I couldn’t wake up. I could feel you next to me.

You gave me a reason to wake up. I may be your sanity and humanity but you’re my future,” Ashby said

before slamming his mouth onto Gabriel’s. He licked and sucked his mate’s lips as if it were his last meal.

His body had its own agenda and he found himself grinding against his mate’s waist.

“We have to take it easy my angel, I don’t want to hurt you.” Gabriel pulled away for a moment.

“We could suck each other off. That’s not too vigorous,” Ashby said, panting.

“I think you’re right,” Gabriel said, turning and throwing him on the bed. Ashby gave an unmanly

squeak before unbuttoning his jeans and shimmying them down his thighs. He took his hard cock in his

hand and began to stroke it as Gabriel watched.

“I think even if I were dying I’d still want you like this,” Ashby said. Gabriel growled.

“We’ll never find out,” Gabriel quickly stepped out of his slacks revealing that he too was also hard and

ready for his mate.

“Gimme, gimme.” Ashby’s hands reached for Gabriel. Gabriel grinned and climbed onto the bed. He

positioned himself over Ashby in a sixty nine position so that his groin lined up with his mate’s perfect

mouth. He hissed as he felt Ashby’s lips wrap around him. It had been too long since he enjoyed his lover’s

body. Not wanting to neglect his mate he bent his head down and took Ashby’s length down his throat. He

felt Ashby’s mouth leave his body as he gave a strangled moan. He loved driving Ashby insane. He came up

off Ashby’s hard shaft and wrapped his tongue around the head. He used the tip of his tongue and lips to

nibble and dance around the crown and into the slit. His own movements stilled when he felt Ashby’s

mouth on him again. His little mate knew exactly what he wanted and he moaned when he felt Ashby’s

teeth slightly graze his cock. He lifted his mouth off of Ashby’s hard prick and slicked up one of his own

fingers with his mouth. When his head dipped again to swallow Ashby down he pressed single digit into

Ashby’s tight hole, and his beautiful baby went wild. He felt the moist heat come off his cock and he heard

Ashby yell.

“Please fuck me! Please! I need you so badly!” Ashby begged. Gabriel sat up and turned his body

around to face Ashby and watched as Ashby pulled his jeans and underwear completely off his legs.

“Get the lube.” Gabriel rubbed his hand up and down Ashby’s length. Ashby quickly turned his upper

body and opened the nightstand drawer before handing Gabriel the lube. Gabriel took the small tube and

poured some slick onto Ashby’s fluttering hole.

“You really want it don’t you baby? Tell me what you want,” Gabriel said, easing two digits into the

tight rosette.

“I want you. I need you so badly. Just tasting you wasn’t enough,” Ashby said breathlessly. Unable to

tease either of them any longer, Gabriel poured some lube on his straining cock and eased the head into

Ashby’s dark entrance. He watched as his mate’s body seemed to pull him in again and again.

“I love this ass! Your ass is like heaven baby, I never want to leave.” Gabriel filled his mate again.

“Harder, Gabriel. Fuck me harder!” Ashby demanded. Gabriel leaned forward and pushed Ashby’s

knees into his chest. He slammed into his small mate again and again giving them both exactly what they

needed.

“No one is taking you from me. You can never leave me!” Gabriel roared and thrust as deep as he could

into Ashby. He heard his mate cry out before ropes of pearly cum splashed between them. His mate’s

orgasm triggered his own and he cried out as he filled the tight channel with his cum. Gently he pulled out

of his mate and collapsed to one side of Ashby. Gulping air between each word he spoke.

“What…did I say…about…taking it easy?” he asked.

“I don’t know about you, but I feel a lot better,” Ashby said, giggling.

“Brat,” Gabriel said, catching his breath. When his breathing evened out he left the bed and went to the

bathroom. He returned with a warm washcloth and cleaned his angel. Ashby blushed the entire time. When

he was done Gabriel leaned down and kissed Ashby’s lips softly, thankful his mate was alive.