Chapter 2

Mr. Ruger,

In accordance with governmental rights of eminent domain, you are hereby ordered to remand custody of one male slave, Nick Ruger, to the Vice Chancellor’s office immediately. Failure to respond to this letter by August 30, 2423, will result in imprisonment.

You are expected to appear with the above-mentioned slave in my office upon receipt of this notification.

Vice Chancellor Geoffrey Clarke

“Why are you here?” Todd stammered, focusing more intently on Jimmy.

“Ya damn fool, they sent me one, too. I got mine a few days ago. My name is on record on the bill of sale and listed with yours as owner, so I was notified too.”

“We have to…I have to go meet…Would they grab him off the street?”

“If they were going to do that, Todd, I doubt very much you or I would get an official letter.”

Todd balled the piece of paper in his fist and headed to his weapons locker.

“I have to go get…make sure…They can’t just takehim. Why? Why would anyone even want to? Have you seen how much he eats?”

After checking the load of his pistol, Todd tucked it back into his shoulder holster and dropped that on the bed. He pulled a knife from the locker and strapped it to his ankle.

Everything stopped, and Todd’s vision narrowed down to a pinpoint when the door swung open and Nick lumbered through, a bag in each hand. He kicked off the sandals he wore in the warmer weather and padded barefoot across the floor. The kid simply wouldn’t keep shoes—or a shirt—on no matter what Todd did or said. Why the hell couldn’t Nick wear shoes like everyone else?

“Hey, Jimmy, I had no idea you were here. I can go back and get more.” Nick smiled and set the bags on the low table near the couch.

Todd skirted around Nick, slammed the door shut, locked it then grabbed Nick and pulled him in for a hug.

“Todd, what’s wrong?”

Nick’s words were cut short when Jimmy reached out to put a hand on Todd’s shoulder, making his grip on Nick tighten. Growling low in his throat, Todd stepped away from Jimmy, hauling his mate with him. He knew this was going to send Nick all sorts of alarm signals. Todd rarely was physically demonstrative in front of others; yanking him away from Jimmy was only going to fuel that fire.

When Todd’s hand fisted in Nick’s hair, tugging Nick even closer, Nick squirmed in his grasp. “Todd…ow…you’re hurting me…”

“Did you have any problems getting back?”

“No. Why would I? Todd, you’re scaring me.”

“Were you followed?” Jimmy asked quietly.

“Followed?” Turning in Todd’s arms so he could talk to Jimmy but maintain contact with Todd, Nick glanced from one to the other. “What’s going on? Did I do something wrong?”

Pulling air into his too-tight chest, Todd knew he had to calm down or he could never explain this to Nick. There was no way to keep it from him, as much as Todd desperately wanted to. Nick was going to be upset enough for the both of them. Todd needed his head screwed on straight, and he needed it that way fast. Moving his hand away from Nick’s hair and brushing his thumb over Nick’s cheek, Todd whispered, “No, Nicky, of course not.” He had to get control of this situation right now. “Sit down, Nicky.”

“But what’s—”

“Sit.” Todd kept his voice low but firm, leaving no doubt it was a command, not a request

One final glance at Jimmy, and Nick walked quietly to the overstuffed chairs and sat down. He wouldn’t move until given permission. Todd rarely invoked such control, but when he did, Nick obeyed him completely and without question. He locked his gaze on Todd with wide, frightened eyes.

Not knowing how to say it, Todd simply held the letter out to Nick for him to read. Tears sprang from Nick’s eyes as he scanned the paper. He sucked in a breath and let it flutter to the floor. “You promised me.” Nick whispered. “You promised no one would ever take me away from you. Now you’re going to just hand me over? Todd? Please? You promised.” He was pale, shaking, chest heaving, with tears running unstopped down his cheeks.

Nick actually thought Todd would follow through with this? That just pissed him off. Vice chancellor or not, this asshole had no right to do this to Nick—to them. Nick shouldn’t have to worry about being forced away from his master and his home.

“God, Nick, no! Never, I’d never do that. How many times do I have to say it? Do you really believe I’d so much as give something like that a second’s worth of thought?” It was a knee-jerk reaction on Nick’s part, that Todd understood, but it still hurt that Nick would think he’d be so easily and quickly given up.