It seemed so simple, cross a train yard, hop a train and Todd and Nick would be free, on their way home to Elk's Ridge in Yellowknife. Nothing is ever simple or easy for the Ruger men, however. Captured by Vice-Chancellor Raleigh, Todd is imprisoned, leaving Nick alone and seeking a way to free his mate. Help comes from an unlikely and unexpected ally. Todd's freedom places the Rugers yet again into the Chancellor's debt. He sends them on a fact finding mission to the small village of Eldrid, the same village where Nick was raised a slave.<br><br>There they discover how past events led to their present society, the origins of sentries and slaves and what made some of them so special. They also uncover a conspiracy spear-headed by Vice-Chancellor Raleigh. An attempt at stopping him isn't as successful as they'd hoped when old enemies are confronted. The realities of war, and why some people don't survive, are hard lessons for both Todd and Nick to learn.<br><br>Through firefights, explosions and a vicious attack from a seemingly unbeatable supernatural being, one thing is reinforced over and over-the most important thing each one has is each other. Will they survive or join an ever-growing list of casualties?

Collared Souls

The captain mounted the horse and nudged it into motion. Todd had a fleeting image of the horse tossing her onto her nice, round ass. With short hair so dark red it was almost black and pale gray eyes, she gave Todd the impression of an angry cat. A very angry cat. She was average height for a woman, with the type of build that came from rigorous physical activity. He was sure that, pitted against her in a fight, he’d have to work hard to keep her from kicking his ass. A rifle poke in Todd’s back stopped his thinking and got him walking.


“Nice job following your own rules of being a hostage,” Nick muttered in his ear. The horse was far enough ahead and they had enough length of rope, they walked side by side. No one seemed to be paying attention to their conversation.


He turned visual daggers on Nick and grumbled, “Next time I’ll just let them take you.”


“No, you won’t.” Nick looked behind him for a few seconds before leaning in closer. “What do we do now?”


Chapter 5