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

“If you don’t stop your nonsense about ruining my life, I sure as hell will. You are my life, Nicky.” Todd nudged the horse to a canter as the wind kicked up even more.


“You’re not angry?” Nick asked shyly as they came to a stop a few yards from their wagon


Todd twisted and poked at Nick, nudged him off the horse. He slipped to the ground and reached out, wiping his fingers through Nick’s bangs. “Yes, Nicky, I’m very angry. I’m angry that happened to you and I didn’t stop it, I’m angry there are things in the world that treat people the way it treated you, and I’m really angry that we’ve been tossed out in the cold after what we did to help. But what I’m not angry with is you.” He pressed a soft kiss to Nick’s forehead, then turned and started leading the horse to where he’d bedded them down. “And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll get your ass into that wagon and be completely naked when I get there.”


Chapter 70