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

Nick slouched down farther and bumped his back against the wall behind him. He was hungry, his legs and back were cramping, and he needed to take a piss. None of which he could fix, because he was locked up. What did these fools think? He was going to jump off a moving train?


Most slaves would never be a bother to the passengers, but Nick supposed those running the train thought this was a way to be sure slaves transported alone would be safe and arrive well and healthy at their destination, especially since most were alone because they’d been orphaned. He’d seen plenty of other slaves on previous trips and spotted a few on this one, too. Those people were with their owners, as Nick wanted so desperately to be with Todd.


Finally, after what seemed an eternity, the lock to his compartment clicked open and Todd’s head poked through the space between the wall and sliding door. Grinning, he worked his hand through and held it out to Nick. “Miss me?”


Chapter 15