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

Carefully, he brought a hand up and covered his eyes, gingerly rubbed fingers across his eyebrows. Sharp, sour bile rose from his stomach and pooled at the back of his mouth. He coughed and spit, getting one foot under him, and used it to push far enough to the side that he wouldn’t asphyxiate. After spitting the yellow-tinged liquid out to shimmer on the ground, he gagged and wiped one hand across his mouth. Todd twisted farther, got to his hands and knees, spittle dripping in long strands from his lips.


He stayed like that on all fours for another couple of minutes, simply breathing in and out


Todd knew what had happened after he’d left his quarters. His memory of the kelbit’s attack was fresh and vivid. He’d seen the kelbit in its true form just prior to its transformation into a likeness of himself.


Chapter 54