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

Even when the chancellor leaned in, inhaling deeply near Todd, and said in a low voice, “My wife will know nothing,” Todd didn’t so much as flinch. There was nothing about him showing outwardly the anger and hate seething beneath the surface. Nick saw it plainly, but Nick knew Todd better than anyone, and Todd was plenty pissed off.


The second the chancellor was out the door and walking down the hall and away from the classroom, Todd kicked the door shut and viciously twisted the lock into place. He crossed the room so quickly Nick wasn’t sure what was going to happen. He took an involuntary step back and used the desk as a brace.


“Nicky, are you okay? Did he hurt you?” Todd had both hands around Nick’s neck, just under his jaw. His grip was firm and gentle. Concern and maybe a bit of guilt were the only things he saw in Todd’s eyes and heard in his voice. “I should have never left you here alone. This is my fault.”


“I’m sorry.” Nick blurted the words out.


Chapter 52