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

“Orphan slave.” Clarke picked at a blotting mat on his desk. “There’s a huge government orphan slave sanctuary there.” When he looked up and saw the horror and then anger in Todd’s eyes, he quickly added, “Not that he’d actually bean orphan slave.”


“You were going to take my mate and put him—” Todd was breathing hard, fists clenched at his sides.


“I don’t see another way. Other than the highest-ranking officials, estate employees aren’t permitted slaves while they’re assigned there. Though they are encouraged to…interact…with the orphan slaves and purchase one, or more, when they leave.”


Todd’s nostrils flared, his upper lip twitched a few times, and his gaze went hard and flat.


Clarke’s insides churned. He folded his hands together, hoping how they suddenly shook wouldn’t show. “I am being as honest with you as possible.”


Chapter 6