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

Todd sprinted to the employee dorm and didn’t stop until he was safely inside his own quarters. He shut the door firmly, locked it, and checked the lock twice before he turned and leaned against the door, panting in painful breaths. His lungs ached right along with the rest of his body. Legs shaking so badly they couldn’t support him anymore, Todd slid down until his butt connected with the floor.


Pitching forward, Todd pressed his face into both palms, the heels of his hands pushed against his closed eyes, trying desperately to get the images out of his head. He hadn’t looked at anyone, wanted anyone other than Nick since before he’d gone and claimed Nick, taken him as his own. Now his entire being was permeated by a need that consumed him to take control, a desire to compete and win, to destroy some unknown opponent.


Chapter 43