Together Bound Read online

  “No, you don’t understand, Todd…”

  Todd nudged Nick back down against the pillows. “Later. Once we’re out of here, we’ll have plenty of time to talk later, okay? First I want you to rest and get better.”

  “What about the chancellor and the kelbit?”

  “I’ll take care of all that. You just get better for me. Please?”

  Nick nodded but said nothing. Todd couldn’t do this now. He’d screwed up and done so royally, but his first priority was getting Nick out of here safely. That was going to be a lot easier with his mate healthy and mobile. Drawing in a deep breath, he looked down at Nick. His mate looked so utterly lost and alone, and how could Todd honestly blame him? He must have been feeling that way for days.

  Shifting around on the bed so he could sit Nick up again, Todd slipped between Nick and the headboard, settling Nick against his chest. At once Nick nuzzled in close, giving Todd hope that what they had could be resurrected and saved. Wrapping both arms around Nick, he rested his chin on Nick’s head and kissed his mate’s hair. “Get some sleep, Nicky.” Arms tightening, Todd murmured, “I love you, I love you so very much.”

  * * * *

  “Why can’t I go with you?” Nick sat in a chair, watching Todd’s every move. It was odd, the way he seemed to be studying Todd, as if he was expecting Todd to vanish at any minute. Or maybe turn into a monster.

  They’d been released from the hospital the day before, and, true to his word, Witze had had them moved to another suite in the employee building.

  “I don’t know, Nick, but this is pretty clear. I come alone.” Todd held out the message they’d received earlier that afternoon, signed by Clarke and a few others. Some Todd recognized as higher members of parliament and the new vice chancellor, Victor Raleigh. Larry Witze’s name was not among them, and that worried Todd. “What I do know is, we’re leaving.” He moved away from Nick and to the closet. “Your boots and clothes are in here. While I’m gone I want you to pack our stuff. Remember where those tunnels were by the train yard?”

  “Yeah, sure, of course I do.”

  “Take what you can carry and go there. If I don’t meet you in twenty-four hours, I want you to go to Jimmy and get me some help.”

  “Todd, you need to listen to me, please.”

  “Nicky, I will. When we’re out of here, we’ll have nothing but time to talk. We will. But first, we need to get away. I’m not sure they’re going to let us walk out of here. The rumors about war being declared are too rampant. I’ve heard other rumors, and I know you have, too, about members of parliament wanting certain—” he shrugged, groping for the word he wanted “—special slaves. I don’t know why Clarke wants to see me and see me alone, but I’ve got a bad feeling his request and those rumors are connected. Please, I need to know you’re safe. I know I screwed up on this one, but—”

  “You didn’t screw anything up. Todd, that’s what I’ve been—”

  He cut Nick off, voice rougher than he’d intended. “First things first. We get out. Then we take care of us.” Todd glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to go. You wait till it’s safe, then get going. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  Todd ducked out the door before Nick could say any more. He hated doing it, leaving Nick like that, upset and alone, but he couldn’t afford to piss off the new chancellor. Clarke had been decent with them so far, but who knew how long that would last. Nick had a much better chance of getting away alone than they did together. If he was arrested and Nick was still on the estate, sitting waiting in a room for them to come and take him, Nick would have no defense or chance. This way at least Nick was away from the estate and anyone wanting to imprison or harm him. He was able to run if he had to, even if he’d be out there alone.

  There’d been talk—Todd had heard it again while they were in the hospital—of war coming and how the slave population would be best used, particularly “special” slaves. Nick was special, and not simply to Todd.

  Rumors of the chancellor’s assassination were on everyone’s lips, and talk of slaves with special abilities that would be useful to the war effort was heard at every turn. Todd was scared. He could admit it to himself but not to his mate. Nick needed him to be strong and sure. Once Nick was out of the estate compound, Todd could do whatever he needed to do and not have his mate further implicated in any way.

  Todd went directly to the chancellor’s mansion and stopped at the reception desk. The governmental offices were on the upper floors, and he needed to wait for an escort to take him up. A few minutes later, Todd was following two large men who didn’t respond to his small talk up three flights of stairs and down a hall to double doors with a plaque reading Chancellor Clarke.

  Todd was escorted through the outer waiting room and into the inner office. The two men took up positions on either side of the chancellor’s desk and behind where he was seated. A second door on the wall to the right was closed. Clarke stood up and smiled, reaching over the desk to extend his hand to Todd.

  “Thank you for coming.”

  Todd reached out, gave the chancellor’s hand one quick shake, then straightened and stood, watching Clarke fidget on the other side of the desk. “A little difficult to turn down a request from the chancellor.”

  “Not how I wanted that title, I assure you.”

  “We did what you asked. I’m sorry we couldn’t get to Shaffer in time.”

  Clarke drew in a deep breath and folded his hands in front of him. “I appreciate all you and Nick did. This could have been more of a mess than it is without you both.”

  “Then we’re free to go?” Todd met the chancellor’s gaze steadily, keeping his face neutral and his voice even.

  “You are, yes.”

  Todd had to make a conscious effort to keep from clenching his jaw tight. “I am?”

  “Todd, late last night parliament voted a declaration of war against West Caldera. This is in response to one we received early the day before. I’m not sure how slaves will be used, if they’ll stay with their owners if those owners are drafted or enlisted.” He shrugged. “We’ve simply never had to face these types of questions before. What I do know is, Nick has a special and unique gift. One that we, the other members of government and myself, feel is very valuable and has great potential for future use.”

  “What exactly do you want from us?”

  “Please understand, we can’t allow Nick to leave. He’s simply too much of an asset. As for sentries in general, the plan is to offer them positions as officers in the army. As a group, you have a great deal of knowledge and experience, a huge benefit and asset.” He slid a thick envelope across the desk to Todd. “Compensation for Nick. I believe you’ll find it more than a fair amount. It was all I could do for you. I’m sorry.”

  “He won’t do what you say. He’ll never cooperate. Nick might be a slave, but he’s not weak.”

  “Nick needs to understand this is his role now. I asked you to come here alone so you could tell him in whatever way you decide to. However, the simple fact is, Nick is a slave and deeply involved in the death of Chancellor Shaffer.”

  “You can’t do that.”

  Clarke straightened. His gaze dropped for a few seconds to the envelope. “I can. I don’t like it, but I will. There is a committee meeting tomorrow evening to decide how best to put Nick’s, and a few others’, talents to use.”

  “Can I go with him? He’ll be a lot more cooperative with me. He’s not going to take orders from just anyone.”

  “That’s something that will be discussed at the meeting tomorrow night.”

  Todd pulled the envelope closer and opened it. His eyebrows shot up. “There is enough here to buy three slaves.”

  Nodding once, Clarke continued. “You, of course, may spend the remainder of the time here with Nick, if you wish.”

  Todd carefully placed the envelope in the pocket on the inside of his jacket. “Maybe I’ll go shopping. You’ve got a fine selection here. I’m sure I can find somethin
g that fits my needs.”

  “I have also taken the liberty of alerting the sentry overseer, Mr. Cantor, to the change of Nick’s status.”

  One side of his mouth turning up in a sarcastic smile, Todd snorted. “Well, that was mighty considerate of you.” Turning, Todd headed toward the door.

  “Todd.”

  He stopped and turned his head. “What?”

  “I’m sorry. I truly am.”

  Without further comment, Todd left the office.

  It was completely dark by the time Todd reached the series of tunnels alongside the train yard. They were likely leftovers from a much older transit system and were now being used to house equipment under repair. He had no idea which one Nick would be in, other than a tunnel that looked more unused than the others. In the third tunnel he scouted, he finally saw the bags Nick had taken. After dropping the ones he carried, Todd headed farther down the tunnel.

  Nick was too good a sentry to be seen before he wanted to be. Todd turned and squinted into the dark. The only warning he had was a blur of movement, and then he had his arms full of Nick.

  Allowing himself the luxury of simply holding onto his mate, Todd squeezed tightly, one hand cupping the back of Nick’s head as Nick pressed his face to Todd’s shoulder. Nick took a shuddering breath and melted even more into Todd’s grip and against his chest.

  Todd steeled himself. Knowing what he had to do and that it was their only course of action didn’t make it any easier. He stepped away and held Nick at arm’s length. “Sit down, Nicky. We have to talk.”

  Chapter 12

  As soon as Witze heard the door to the outer office close, he left the small room off the main one and crossed to where Clarke was standing, staring out of the window. The two security guards had been dismissed; it was just the two of them in the office.

  “Why did you tell him about the meeting and that it wasn’t until tomorrow?” Witze stood beside the Chancellor, hands in pockets, and watched with Clarke as Todd Ruger crossed the estate to the employee quarters. “You all but told him how much of a head start they’d have.” Not that Witze disagreed. He liked Todd and didn’t like the fact at all that the man and his slave were being treated this way after they’d brought down a creature that could have ended their entire government. “Now he’s got more than twenty-four hours to get that kid away from here.”

  Clarke snorted a laugh. “Are you kidding me? I doubt the boy was even on the grounds when Ruger came in for our meeting.” Clarke pulled a cord, closing the blinds.

  “You purposely let them go?”

  “Yes, I did. And I gave them enough money to last them for a while, if they’re smart about it.”

  “I don’t get it. If that slave kid is so damn important and Ruger was the obstacle, what was the purpose of turning them loose?”

  Clarke smiled. “Call me a hopeless romantic, but separating them was wrong.”

  “And?” Witze prompted. There was more. He knew it.

  Laughing, Clarke clapped Witze’s shoulder and crossed the room to the desk. He dropped into the chair behind it, opened a drawer, and pulled out a bottle and two glasses. He poured one for himself and another that he pushed across the desk to Witze. “Tell me, Mr. Witze, what would you rather have? Two angry, resentful young men with a lot of useful skills who would do their best to be uncooperative and could possibly be dangerous? Or two highly skilled men who are now in your debt who understand you helped them? They’d make excellent covert agents if the need arises. It’s what sentries are taught to do, after all.”

  “So you let them go and gave Ruger all the information he needed?”

  “I did. Now instead of resentful men, I have powerful allies. If I require their help, they’ll give it. This war is going to get ugly, and I don’t see it being short. West Caldera has too many resources. We’ll need all the help we can get. If I need to contact them, I can, and they’ll answer because they trust me, or at least feel they owe me. You forget my father was a slave. There is no way that kid would even remotely cooperate. You’ve been around slaves for the last twenty years. You know they’re not mindless drones, and most will generally obey one and only one owner until death separates them. Unfortunately, convincing some of my fellow politicians who don’t understand an owner-slave bond, especially if they have mated, is damn near impossible.”

  “That’s all well and good, but now they’re fugitives.” Witze wasn’t sure if he liked the chancellor’s thinking or not.

  “They’re young and tough. They’ll find somewhere to live and blend in. It’s what sentries and slaves do.”

  Witze knew Clarke was right. Two men free were far more valuable allies than two men forced apart and into roles they despised, spending all their energy on escape and reunion.

  * * * *

  Nick backed up and sat on the pile of duffels. Something was wrong, really wrong. Todd looked horrible, worried and scared. For a minute Nick thought maybe he was still under the effects of the kelbit. When Todd avoided looking at him and started to pace, Nick’s gut twisted.

  “Todd, what’s wrong?”

  “Look, Nicky, I know I should have talked to you first, explained things, but I didn’t have time. I needed to make a decision, and I did.”

  “Todd, what are you talking about?”

  Todd reached into his inner jacket pocket, pulled out a thick envelope, and handed it to Nick. Sucking in a surprised breath, Nick didn’t expect to see it filled with money. A lot of money.

  “Apparently, that’s what Clarke feels you’re worth.” Todd stopped pacing and looked down at Nick. He was trembling. That scared Nick. He’d never seen Todd tremble and shake from fear, and this was from fear.

  Nick’s hands shook. He wasn’t sure he was hearing correctly. He’d tried to tell Todd everything and hadn’t been able to. He didn’t understand. “You sold me to them?” He’d expected to be resigned to the role of strictly slave, but sold? Nick had never imagined Todd would sell him.

  Todd was pacing again. “My first job was when I was sixteen, and from then on I saved every penny I could so when you were old enough to leave the village I’d be able to give you a good home, and plenty of food and clothes. Now it’s all gone, and all we have is in that envelope. I saw what your life was like in that village, and I didn’t want it to be that way once you left.”

  He stopped and stared at Nick. Obviously Nick’s question had finally registered. “Sell you?” Todd shouted. “No! I’d never sell you. What I did was take their money for you and walk out of that estate. What I did, Nicky, was make us fugitives. I’m sorry. I didn’t see any other way.”

  “Todd, I don’t get it.” Nick stood up and took a few steps toward him.

  Todd took some deep breaths, swallowed, and wiped a hand over his face. “Nick, I’ve screwed this up beginning to end, and I’m sorry. They…someone, maybe Clarke, or someone else, I’m not sure, in our government seems to think your abilities are valuable because of the war. I was supposed to protect you from exactly what happened. I’m sorry. I took everything away from you, but I couldn’t let them have you.”

  Before Nick could say anything, Todd was grabbing bags off the ground. “We’ve gotta get out of here. There is a town not too far. We’ll buy some horses there and meet up with Jimmy.”

  “How will Jimmy know where to find us?” Nick shouldered a few of the packs and duffels. He had to jog a couple steps to catch up to Todd.

  “Clarke sent word to him that you’d be confiscated by the government and I’d be drafted into the army. Jimmy will have gone to our apartment and packed the Conestoga. There’s a road that runs along the train route. He’ll be on that.”

  They’d walked a few miles in silence before Todd told Nick more. “They let me walk out of the compound, Nick. Clarke let us go and gave us this money, knowing we’d be out on our own.”

  “Why?”

  “That’s the part I can’t figure out.”

  It was just after dawn when they came to the town. Th
ey stashed their bags in some woods, and Todd took them straight to the town livery. Nick couldn’t help but think Todd’s decision to run would be regretted when he discovered what Nick had done.

  He followed when Todd pushed through the livery office door and went to the counter. An older man was there. He nodded politely to them.

  “What can I help ya with, young fella?”

  “We’re looking to buy two saddle horses.”

  The man nodded. “Need the saddles?”

  “Yes. And the biggest saddlebags you have, one set for each horse.”

  “Got a few out back.” The man motioned to a window behind the counter. Todd walked over and looked out, shielding his eyes against the rising sun and the glare through the dirty, streaked window.

  “The black and the buckskin.” Todd pulled the envelope of money out of his jacket and moved away from the window to stand with Nick once more.

  The man nodded. “You want one for the slave?”

  Todd smiled and shrugged. “My money, my choice. How much? Or do you have a problem with that?”

  Nick bit down on his lower lip to keep from smiling. That was his Todd.

  “Nope.” The man pulled out a pad and wrote on it for a few seconds before giving Todd a total. “I hear there is a slave from the Chancellor’s Estate on the loose. Escaped sometime yesterday.”

  “Hmm.” Todd started pulling bills from the envelope.

  “Yeah, real good-looking kid, dark hair, sort of exotic features. From the south. Where you from, boy?”

  “We’re from New Colorado City. What’s the total?” Todd sidestepped until he was planted firmly between Nick and the man.

  The man turned the paper around so Todd could see. The money was slapped down on the counter. “There’s a shed next to this building. Pick out your saddles and bags from there.”

  “What are the horses’ names?” Nick asked.