Todd Ruger is a sentry, a very good one, some might say the best. He was eleven when he and Nick were bound as master and slave. Todd spent the years Nick lived in the slave village waiting for the day Nick could leave and they’d be together, bit by bit building a life for both of them. He took his role of master seriously. It was his responsibility to provide for Nick, protect him and along the way he learned to love him. Todd loved Nick deeply and completely. They were more than a pair of sentries. Todd and Nick were friends, lovers, mates.<br><br>Eighteen months ago, Nick left the small village where he’d spent his entire life being raised and trained as a slave. Blessed with a unique skill set, Nick became a sentry. He took his place beside his master, Todd Ruger, defending society against the many paranormal threats that abound. They became more than master and slave, they became mates. Nick had found a home with Todd and together they became a family. Eventually, Nick’s special abilities and skills attract the attention of the second most powerful man in New Colorado Protectorate’s government, Vice Chancellor Clarke. Or, maybe certain people knew of Nick all along and just now had cause to use him. He believes Nick might be the answer to explaining Chancellor Shaffer’s sudden, unusual behavior.<br><br>Forced to go undercover the Chancellor’s Estate, Todd and Nick discover an ancient and deadly creature preying on residents of the estate. The same creature that is radically effecting Chancellor Shaffer. A creature only Nick can see in its true form. It hunts using specialized skills and has Todd and Nick in its crosshairs. Even if they defeat the creature and survive, they still face the possibility of being torn from each other when their lives are thrown into chaos by the thing they’re hunting.

Together Bound

“No. I-I’m…I don’t know what I think.”


“I showed you so you can help me work this out.” Todd settled on the arm of the chair and laid one arm across Nick’s shoulders. At once Nick’s long arm snaked out and circled him, Nick’s wide hand spread open against Todd’s side.


“Todd,” Jimmy spoke quietly. “You’ve been asking the important question: why would the vice chancellor, or anyone, for that matter, want to do this? Why would they even think of doing it?”


“You promised if anyone tried, we’d go away. We can pack up and go away.” Nick looked up, fingers digging into Todd’s waist, his grip tightening.


Anger swelled again in Todd’s chest. This was wrong. “Do you like this apartment, Nick? Our home? Going to the café and the other places I take you?”


“You’re more important to me than those things.”


Chapter 3