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

“Is there a problem? You came here for a reason, Nick. You can say what you’d like.”


Sneaking a peek at her from under his bangs, Nick saw she was smiling at him. “I wanted to find some more material for tomorrow’s lessons, but the school is closing. May I spend some time in the library after hours?” One of the perks of being a slave and having to follow certain rules such as “eyes down” was that it made lying easier. He’d dealt with angry spirits, demons, a werewolf, and countless other types most people thought were nothing more than myth or stories, but this tiny, round woman, like most people, scared the crap out of him. His fingers tightened around the books until they cramped.


“You’re doing a very good job, even after only a few days here. The children like you.”


Nick’s smile was genuine. “I like them.”


“You may certainly spend as much time as you’d like preparing lessons, but be sure you don’t miss dinner. No going hungry for work in my school.”


Chapter 33