Fated for Forever [Kindred of Arkadia 3] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) (21 page)

a toothpick. He smiled widely at the Alpha who began screeching and cradling his arm.

“In case you didn’t understand our Alpha Mother. Everyone in this town and every other Arkadian

town is under her protection,” he said, winking down at Peyton.

“That goes for any current resident or anyone who finds their way here,” Rebecca said, smiling at the

Alpha sweetly.

“Now. It’s approximately five minutes to the edge of town. You have three minutes to get there and get

out of Arkadia. Kaden, Beau, Talon, and Rex, can you make sure these gentlemen don’t get lost?” Rebecca

asked.

“Yes, Alpha Mother,” they replied and began pushing the men out of the diner door.

“Well, I’m glad that’s over sooner rather than later,” Rebecca said, trying to wrestle her table back in

place. Aleks walked across the diner and wrapped his arms around Rebecca.

Ashby’s eyes misted. He wanted this. He wanted his mate and his family together in one place.

“Alpha Mother, I formally request that my mate and prince, and through him our coven, be allowed the

protection of Arkadia,” Ashby stated loudly. Rebecca stepped back from Aleks and turned to look at Ma,

who nodded. She looked at Kate. Kate looked at Bran who smiled.

“Gabriel was willing to defend us though it gained him nothing. We say yes,” Bran said as he and Caleb

cuddled Kate between them. Rebecca and Ashby looked to Liam.

“Mates should always be together. No matter what,” he said simply and walked out of the diner. Ashby

turned back to Rebecca.

“Ashby, it is my pleasure to be able to extend an invitation to Gabriel and your coven to Arkadia,” she

said, smiling widely.

“What did you mean Becca, that you’re glad that it’s over sooner rather than later?” Aleks asked.

“Sebastian said that he was on the run from some psychotic sicko collecting hybrids to sell. He had been

sold by his Alpha and kept in cages with other hybrids. It wasn’t until the sicko’s abused boyfriend set all

the hybrids free that he was able to come here. If I guessed correctly that brave person was you Peyton,”

Rebecca said, smiling warmly at small quaking man.

“He’ll get me. He’ll find a way,” Peyton said, shaking like a leaf. He drew his knees up in the chair and

wrapped his arms around his body.

“In case you haven’t noticed, our Alpha Mother takes her job extremely seriously. That man will never

hurt you again,” Mojo explained, wrapping a beefy arm around the trembling shoulders of the small man.

“He won’t?” Peyton asked, looking up in disbelief.

“Not unless he wants to get shot again,” Rebecca said, brandishing her gun. Peyton smiled at the way

Aleks eyed her gun.

“Does that mean that the others are welcome here too?” Peyton asked, eagerly unwrapping himself.

“Of course, as long as they don’t harm anyone in town,” Rebecca said. Peyton shook his head.

“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.

“Sir, if most of the coven lived in Arkadia, we wouldn’t have to split up the security detail to run the

club while the other half slept,” Baptista added.

“I also know for a fact that several shifters in town would be willing to take on work here in the club to

replace anyone who wanted to stay in town,” Ashby added.

“We could even work in rotations so that everyone gets a break away from the club.” Rhys stepped up

beside the twins. Gabriel looked around them, eyes wide.

“You want this? You all want this?” he asked, amazed. He had no idea how much his coven desperately

wanted a real home.

“It would be a great move for the coven, but it would also mean that you and Prince Ashby could be

together without him having to sacrifice his shop or friends and family.” Mikhail walked up behind Gabriel

and clapped him on the back before ruffling Ashby’s hair. The coven stared in shock at the rare display of

affection from the ancient warrior.

“All in favor?” Ashby shouted. A deafening amount of ayes reverberated through the air.

“All opposed?” Mikhail asked. The silence was immediate.

“Looks like we’re moving in with the furballs,” Roman said. Everyone broke into cheers and then

started to disperse, excitedly talking about the upcoming move.

“I need to contact Aleks Arkadion and arrange the invitation ceremony…” Gabriel started.

“Roman!” Ashby yelled.

“On it.” Roman walked away, tapping on his smartphone.

“We need to figure out how to get our things into town,” Gabriel continued.

“Rhys, could you contact Duncan Arkadion? He and his brother own the construction business in town.

I bet he and his crew can assist in the move. They also have large trucks that can help transport everything,”

Ashby countered.

“Got it!” Rhys ran after Roman to get the number to reach Duncan.

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed at Ashby at the unspoken challenge.

“We also need to submit relocation forms to the vampire council, transfer all of our banking and set up

new accounts in Arkadia.” He watched Ashby, who smirked up at him.

“David, Daniel,” Ashby said.

“So totally one step ahead of you on that one, bossman.” The twins laughed and raced up to their office.

“We need a place to live,” Gabriel said as if moving into checkmate.

“Noel, reach out to Caleb Donovan of the Arkadian wolf pack. He is willing to sell us his turn-of-the-

century plantation home. Make sure you offer over asking price, they have two boys to support after all.

Oh, and also look into getting a huge pool installed. That will permanently add us to Rebecca and Kate’s

good list.” Ashby smiled up at his mate.

“It’s like no one needs me for anything anymore,” Gabriel said, almost pouting. Ashby smiled and slid

his hands under Gabriel’s shirt.

“I can think of one or two things you could do,” Ashby offered magnanimously. One of Gabriel’s dark

eyebrows shot up before he turned to Mikhail.

“Make sure Roman doesn’t piss off Aleks Arkadion by being the sarcastic genius he is. Be with Rhys

when he calls Duncan so that he doesn’t just agree to everything he suggests. Stand over David and Daniel

when they handle financials, they tend to get distracted by Call of Duty. And yes, offer over asking price for

the plantation house but also get a realistic list of repairs and upgrades needed on the house before we

close. And make sure that he doesn’t fill up the entire back property with a pool in an effort to make Ashby

happy.” Gabriel grinned at his oldest friend.

“Ass. Hole,” Mikhail muttered before he went to track Roman down.

“See, we make the perfect team.” Ashby snuggled close to Gabriel, relishing every second in his mate’s

arms.

“I can show you how perfect,” Gabriel said, grazing Ashby’s neck with his fangs. Ashby whimpered.

“Please,” he begged softly. Gabriel lifted him up off his feet, and with preternatural speed he navigated

the stairs. Once in their apartments Gabriel proved to Ashby over and over again exactly how good a match

they were.

* * * *

Ashby was humming to himself and swaying his hips from side to side as he washed his hands in the

bathroom that night after the club opened. Everyone in the coven was celebrating and the atmosphere was

jubilant and light. Grinning, he winked at himself in the mirror and turned to leave. When he looked up,

two tall men in a dark suits stood between him and the door.

“Excuse me,” Ashby said. Both men grinned, revealing descended fangs.

“Your prince should have heeded our warning and backed off on the investigation. Too bad. You look

like a hot little twink, it will be a shame to kill you.” The man on the left lifted his hand and his fingernails

elongated into claws.

“You have
got
to be fucking kidding me. What is it about these goddamn bathrooms!” Ashby

exclaimed.

“I’m telling you, that bartender is hot.” A male voice was heard as the bathroom door was pushed open,

both vampires turned to the opening door. Taking advantage of the momentary distraction Ashby shifted to

his small fox form and ran between the legs of the shifter coming through the door. He heard shouts as the

two vampires knocked into the shifter in an effort to get to him.

Ashby ran out of the bathroom, he couldn’t head back to the dance floor as the two vampires blocked

his way. Instead he ran down the long hallway toward the kitchen. He knew help was coming, he just had to

stay alive long enough for the coven to find him. He shifted back to human form, opened the door to the

walk-in freezer and stepped inside. He just had to stay hidden until the coast was clear. Gabriel would be

looking for him any minute now.