Todd and Nick Ruger are on the run after narrowly escaping the war in New Colorado, where they were implicated in the assassination of Chancellor Shaffer. Todd is gravely ill and Nick has serious injuries, but that's the least of their problems. They're alone with dwindling supplies and facing the harsh winter bearing down on them far north in Yellowknife Protectorate. Just when it seems they're trapped between the proverbial rock and hard place, they are offered refuge with a doctor in the isolated town of Elk's Ridge. As they heal, they're offered a fresh start in Elk's Ridge. But just as they begin to rebuild their lives, tragedy strikes. Victor Raleigh, the new Vice-Chancellor of New Colorado, knows all about Nick's psychic abilities, and he'll settle for nothing less than total control over Nick. He's aligned himself with a vicious creature, a type of psychic vampire capable of wielding control over individuals such as Nick. When Nick is betrayed and captured, Todd sees no alternative but to head back into the war zone to rescue him. Will Nick be the same man Todd loves after Raleigh's pet psychic vampire is through with him? Can Nick accept the fact Todd can love him after what Raleigh forces him to do, or will his guilt consume and destroy him?

Chained Hearts

Legs kicking, Nick dug his fingers at the rope around his neck while he struggled to breathe.


Todd pulled a knife from a sheath strapped to his leg, got up on his knees with one foot under him, ready to spring. From the periphery, he saw a flash of brown. He had the odd sensation of something hard cracking over his head. Tumbling forward, Todd’s graying vision saw Nick being dragged away and a branch falling near his face, broken in two. 8


Todd’s first instinct was to follow Nick’s trail, not wanting it to get cold. He’d recognized one of the men. The jerk called himself a sentry, but in reality, he was nothing more than a mercenary who worked for the highest bidder without care for what his quarry actually was. Realistically, Todd knew trailing Nick without provisions or a horse would be next to impossible.


Chapter 41