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

“I’m betting Witze keeps them occupied for a while. I think we’ll be okay once we can get on that train. They don’t have enough people to chase us and search this entire area. Besides, they still have to contend with however many soldiers from West Caldera are around,” Todd said. He used his foot to scoot some papers away from the remains of a building and pushed a hand against the half wall left standing. “This is as good a place as any, and I don’t think this wall will fall on us.”


Nick nodded then turned and scanned the area. He focused on the train tracks. “Those trains will take us in the wrong direction.”


“Yeah,” Todd sighed and settled on the ground, back against the wall, leaning his side against the packs. “It will, but at least we’ll be the hell out of the city. Fewer chances for someone to know us, see us and report us. People have been jumping freight trains for hundreds of years. Good thing for us there still isn’t much security.”


Chapter 75