Wars are fought on many fronts. A battle is raging across New Colorado Protectorate with both human and demonic players. Todd and Nick Ruger are sentries with an arsenal of talents and training to combat threats from a variety of enemies. Todd and Nick are given a mission to find and stop weapons smugglers by going undercover on the riverboat, Annabelle. These aren't typical arms dealers, they're demons and they're not afraid of a pair of sentries. The Rugers will have to use all their skills and their most powerful weapon, the bond between them, just to stay alive. Stopping the supply of illegal weapons turns to trying, and failing, to thwart an assassination. Todd and Nick have each other, but will they be able to keep their love intact?

Tethered Pair

“What did you see?” Todd asked. When Nick simply bit his lip and looked down at the tabletop, Todd reached across and laid his hand over Nick’s. “Nicky. Tell me.”


“I….” He shook his head and took another few deep breaths, shoulders and back relaxing. Running a hand through his hair, he seemed to be composing his thoughts. “Do you remember I told you when I was little, I saw something leave one of the other children in Eldrid, a girl? She died after it left her. It was inside of her for days.”


Todd nodded. He squeezed Nick’s hand. “Relax, buddy. We’ll figure it out. Tell me everything.”


Nick swallowed and ran his hand through his hair again. “The same thing was in that man. I don’t know what it is. I’ve never seen anything like it until now. The other guy was a pyrahni. I’m not sure if he recognized us or not, but I didn’t see much change in him.”


Nick looked up, meeting Todd’s gaze. “It scared me.”


Chapter 7