Together Bound

by Elizabeth Noble

  “I’ll take you to the school. You’ll be safe there. Stay with the kids until I get there.”

  “He’s got my scent already and knows I’m a sentry. I’ll bait him.”

  Todd’s gaze jumped to Nick, and he shook his head slightly. “No, Nick, you’re not—”

  “He’ll come after me anyway if he knows I’m hunting him.” Nick was completely prepared to die, sacrifice himself to save his master. The master he’d betrayed after all the good and kindness Todd had given him. This was how Nick repaid the life Todd offered so freely. It was the only way to make things right. Nick forced the lump in his throat down and the tears pooling in his eyes away. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to leave Todd, but he saw no other way of being useful to his master.

  “No!” Todd snapped, making Nick cringe away. “Now, get cleaned up and get dressed.” Without saying another word, Todd turned, stalked to the bathroom, and slammed the door shut. Twenty minutes later he was back out, and after Nick showered, they silently left for the school.

  There wasn’t anything Nick could do but follow Todd’s orders. He wouldn’t be permitted near the area where the meeting was taking place, and if he tried and was caught, it might very well put Todd right into the kelbit’s clutches. Todd’s theory that Nick would be safe in the school was about as invalid as it could be. However, Nick wasn’t going to tell Todd that was where most of the attacks had taken place. The school or somewhere attached to the school.

  If the kelbit followed its pattern, it’d come after Nick again in an effort to flush out Todd. In the first twenty-four hours Nick had been on the estate, the chancellor had openly, albeit subtly, confronted Nick in a room full of people. That was before the kelbit was actively pursuing him and Todd.

  With each attack, the creature’s confidence rose. Yet it hadn’t confronted Todd, which meant it probably hadn’t identified him yet. If Nick let the kelbit continue and left himself open, possibly he’d be able to kill the kelbit or injure it enough it couldn’t jump hosts. Then he and Todd would be able to end the monster. Nick didn’t dare even hope this would redeem him in the eyes of his master. At most, Nick could only pray he’d be kept as a hunting partner, the tool and weapon he was raised and trained to be.

  There was probably a better, safer plan of attack, but his brain seemed to have a constant covering of fuzz over it, and he couldn’t think clearly enough to find that better plan.

  The hours couldn’t tick past fast enough for Nick. He did his best to concentrate on the children. He’d come to like them more than he’d expected and realized this was probably the last time he’d see them. More than once throughout the day his throat turned into a large, soft lump of mush.

  Exhaustion was coursing deep within him. Every time the kelbit forced its venom down his throat, the act not only left Nick’s head spinning and his cock swelling but made him lethargic, with heavy limbs and a weary mind. It was probably another weapon of the monster, a way to keep its victims worn down. On Nick, it was working.

  Nick hung back after the children left for the day. No one questioned his actions or motives. He’d done it every day he’d been in the estate, for one reason or another. Changing his routine now might draw unwanted attention. Besides, if the kelbit was with him, it wasn’t after Todd and likely wouldn’t know for sure who among all the others on the estate it was using Nick to draw out. Once the kelbit knew Nick’s master’s identity, it would move on to its goal of taking over Todd’s life, and Todd would spend the rest of his own life in a cocoon.

  He’d heard nothing throughout the day of any problems or acts of violence from anywhere on the estate. If there was one thing Nick had learned quickly on this job, it was that any news or gossip about everything going on in the estate traveled from one end to the other like wildfire. That realization and knowledge led him to think the chancellor and Todd hadn’t gotten physically close enough to one another for a confrontation or there had simply been no time when one was alone with the other to give them opportunity.

  His suspicions on how the meeting and the morning had gone were confirmed within a half hour of the children leaving. He stiffened when he heard the sound of now-familiar footsteps nearing the classroom. The door swung shut, but the sound of a lock snicking into place never came. Nick relaxed his shoulders, maybe he wasn’t going to have to endure another attack.

  Turning, he half expected to see a face other than the chancellor’s and wondered if the kelbit had jumped hosts already. It hadn’t yet, he could see that at once, but it needed to. There was something off about the creature. For the first time, it seemed nervous and edgy. Licking its lips, the chancellor walked across the room to where Nick stood in front of the desk.

  Standing quietly, gauging his opponent, Nick watched placidly as it stalked closer to him.

  The chancellor’s lips split into a wide, shiver-inducing grin. “You humans and your bodies are so entertaining. There is so much to explore.”

  Nick didn’t really have a reply to that comment, so he remained quiet.

  “He was there earlier today. Right in the same room as I was. I could smell you all over him, as well as his need to retake his mate. It was delightful.” The kelbit leaned closer to Nick, swiped its tongue along his neck and over his face, pressed it between his lips. Bitter, oily venom shot to the back of Nick’s mouth, starting the fire igniting through his veins. It pulled its tongue out, making Nick’s skin crawl when it looked him up and down. “It’s only a matter of time before I flush him out.” A short, smug laugh burst out of the chancellor. “Well, really, he’ll be coming to me. He’ll think he’s coming to defend his beloved mate, but really he’s coming right into my trap.”

  The kelbit stepped close enough that it was pressed against Nick, forcing Nick to grip the edge of the desk with both hands. He had one small knife, but was it enough? It might do nothing but wound the kelbit. If that wound was minor, the situation would only become worse.

  “Get away from me. My master is dead. Get it through your thick skull.” Nick bit the words out, pleased they sounded far more threatening than he felt at the moment.

  “Oh, far from it.” The chancellor leaned in, forcing Nick to bend backward over the desk. “Whoever it is, I made sure he got my message, knew my scent, and that I was in the same room with him earlier. I’ll give your master credit. He’s got more self-control than anyone I’ve come across before. Most would have gone after me right then and there.”

  The kelbit’s tongue inched over the skin along Nick’s jaw, tickling with the very tip and winding a lazy path along to Nick’s ear. One arm snaked around Nick’s waist. Its other hand pressed to Nick’s groin, rubbing up and down in a slow, methodical motion. Nick bit his lip against how the cloth of his pants skimmed over his hardening cock. He tried to get out from under the chancellor but only succeeded in widening his stance, legs spreading and giving the vile creature more room.

  A loud rap and a cough from the doorway made Nick’s heart skip in his chest as relief flooded through him.

  “Chancellor, your wife requested I take this slave to your apartments for extra tutoring of your children. Is this how you interview all the tutors?”

  Nick didn’t have to look over the chancellor’s shoulder to know it was Todd. He’d recognized the sharp rap of knuckles before he’d heard the cough or the sound of Todd’s voice.

  “I’m going to very much enjoy the both of you.” The words were whispered in Nick’s ear. The chancellor smiled, gave Nick one final lick along his neck, squeezed his cock, and stepped away.

  Immediately, Nick slid to the side, out of reach of the kelbit, and straightened, gaze shifting nervously between Todd and the kelbit. Calmly, the chancellor adjusted his suit and turned to face Todd, but standing so Nick was still in its sights. There was no way Nick could attack or even get to his knife without being seen.

  “I trust he’ll get to his assignment safely?” The chancellor moved across the room like oil over water. He stopped should
er to shoulder with Todd, meeting Todd’s deadpan stare with one of his own.

  A muscle in Todd’s jaw jumped. He nodded and folded both hands in front of him. “He’ll be perfectly safe with me.” Todd’s voice was deadly calm, his demeanor nothing but professional. His skittish behavior of earlier was gone, and he looked far more himself than when Nick had last seen him.

  Even when the chancellor leaned in, inhaling deeply near Todd, and said in a low voice, “My wife will know nothing,” Todd didn’t so much as flinch. There was nothing about him showing outwardly the anger and hate seething beneath the surface. Nick saw it plainly, but Nick knew Todd better than anyone, and Todd was plenty pissed off.

  The second the chancellor was out the door and walking down the hall and away from the classroom, Todd kicked the door shut and viciously twisted the lock into place. He crossed the room so quickly Nick wasn’t sure what was going to happen. He took an involuntary step back and used the desk as a brace.

  “Nicky, are you okay? Did he hurt you?” Todd had both hands around Nick’s neck, just under his jaw. His grip was firm and gentle. Concern and maybe a bit of guilt were the only things he saw in Todd’s eyes and heard in his voice. “I should have never left you here alone. This is my fault.”

  “I’m sorry.” Nick blurted the words out.

  “What? Sorry for what?” As Todd spoke, he moved closer to Nick and stepped so his thigh was between Nick’s legs. There was no way now Nick could hide anything. A simple shift of a fraction of an inch, and Todd’s thigh brushed against Nick’s groin, his shame out in the open. Todd’s gaze dipped for a few seconds before coming back to meet Nick’s. Realization spread across Todd’s face. “Aw, Nicky, is that what has you so upset?”

  Nick felt like he was going to pass out. All he could do was stand there and stare at Todd through wide eyes. Letting go of Nick and stepping back, Todd pinched the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger. He sighed heavily.

  “This is my fault. Nick, it’s okay, it’s natural. We’re men, and if there is one universal fact, it’s that men are pigs.”

  “Huh?”

  “Nick, someone touches you or you see someone who you find attractive, and that—” Todd waved in the vicinity of Nick’s crotch “—happens. It happens to every guy at one point or another.”

  “I don’t want him touching me, and he’s ugly,” Nick burst out. “It doesn’t happen to you!”

  Todd chuckled. “Yeah, it does. You—” he tapped the end of Nick’s nose “—have reaped the benefits.” Todd’s hands fell onto Nick’s shoulders and rubbed up and down softly.

  “But, Todd, there’s…it’s not just—”

  Todd’s features clouded over. “Nick, has he hurt you?”

  “N-no, not really, just threatened and touched…”

  “I’m sorry, Nick. I wasn’t here to protect you, and I promised you that sort of thing wouldn’t happen.”

  “It’s not your fault. We had no choice. But, Todd, I need to tell you—”

  Todd placed two fingers over Nick’s lips, silencing him. “We’ll talk later, when we’re safe. Right now this thing is out of control. You said it yourself this morning. I’m out of control. I don’t know what this thing is doing to us, and I don’t know about you, but I can’t take much more. We’re ending this. Now.” Todd took Nick’s arm, headed to the door, unlocked it, and pulled Nick from the room. “We’ll have a few hours before the reception. I’m going to the armory and getting our guns.”

  They crossed the yards to the employee building and went straight for Todd’s rooms.

  “I’ll go with you,” Nick said as Todd opened the door and they stepped inside.

  “You can’t. No slave is allowed in there. Having you come with me could cause problems and call attention to us. It already knows you’re a sentry. It may or may not suspect me, so let’s keep it guessing. I want you to be sure we have what we need here and are prepared.” Todd reached out and pulled Nick closer, held him tightly for a few seconds. “I’ll be back soon.”

  Todd pulled Nick’s head down and pressed a kiss to his forehead, then was gone. As he had been asked, Nick made sure they were prepared for their confrontation with the kelbit. He checked and double-checked their knives and the extra rounds of ammunition Todd had tucked away, wondering why it was permitted to have those in his rooms and not firearms.

  After flopping down backward on the bed, Nick rubbed at his eyes. The effects of the venom were wearing off, and he was so very tired. His vision grayed from the edges, and his eyelids drooped. All he wanted to do was sleep. He would be so happy when they left here and he could rest up and think clearly. One minute Todd was shoving him away, telling Nick to keep his distance, but Nick was unsure why. In the next Todd acted like himself, and Nick’s fears of rejection seemed unfounded. He felt like his brain had been taken out, scrambled, and put back inside his skull.

  Still, Nick couldn’t help the voice niggling at him from some dark place of his mind—his master would never forgive his indiscretions.

  His thoughts bounced back and forth. One second Nick was preparing himself to be cast aside; the next his inner voice convinced him there was nothing to worry over. Arms and legs getting heavier, Nick relaxed minutely on the mattress. The fact Todd hadn’t come back within a few minutes didn’t surprise Nick. He was, after all, “on duty,” and Nick knew Todd had to keep up the pretense of the job he used as cover. Nick had the fleeting thought Todd might go after the creature alone but dismissed it. The bulk of their supplies was here in the room with Nick. Since Nick had come to live with Todd, his master had never hunted any of the supernatural beings they tracked alone. In fact, the only things Todd had gone after by himself had been the men who branded Nick.

  The sound of the lock being turned and the door opening, then closing, made Nick start and open his eyes with a gasp. The room was drenched in darkening shadows; he must have fallen asleep. Rubbing his eyes, he rolled to his side and started to sit up. “Todd?”

  “Yeah. Got everything.” The mattress dipped, making Nick roll slightly toward the added weight. Todd shimmied across the bed and put an arm around Nick’s shoulders, pulling him close. “C’mere. You’re worn out, and we need to wait for complete nightfall, when it goes back to its nest.”

  Nick was urged closer, and Todd tucked Nick’s head against his thigh, fingertips stroking through Nick’s hair. Nick nodded and settled against Todd’s leg, happy for the closeness and contact. He inhaled deeply, wanting to fill himself with the scent of Todd.

  He opened his eyes and scanned the room. Nick braced one hand, palm open, against the bed, straightened his arm, and pushed away from Todd’s leg. Nick looked at Todd, stared at him.

  Todd gazed back placidly, cocked his head to one side, and smiled.

  Sucking in a fast breath, Nick shoved away until he was balanced on the end of the bed, sitting back on his heels.

  “Something wrong, Nicky?”

  “You’re not Todd.”

  Chapter 10

  Todd couldn’t open his eyes.

  He was barely able to pry his mouth open. Lips opening and closing, he soundlessly sucked in quick, aching breaths. Hazy light filtered through his eyelids, but they were covered with some sort of sticky goo. He tried to raise his hands to brush it away but couldn’t; they were glued to his sides. Twisting his body from side to side caused hundreds of points of sharp, stinging pain to spread throughout his arms, legs, and torso, up his neck and down his spine.

  Clenching his jaw so tightly it caused more pain to shoot along his head and neck, Todd screamed through his teeth and forced deep breaths into his lungs. Puffing out, blew the glop away long enough he could get another deep breath, but the air he pulled in tasted stale and stung his throat. A sharp burn snaked its way down his throat and filled his chest.

  Ignoring how splinters of hot, prickly pain lanced through him with every move, Todd continued working his arms up and down and his hands from side to side. He had no idea how
long it took, but eventually the webbing loosened and his cocoon started to slough away from his skin. The miniscule attachments began slipping out, leaving angry red welts.

  After what felt like an eternity, he managed to work one hand free. Every muscle along his forearms and biceps howled its protest. Nerve endings along his shoulder and back screamed at the intensity of sensation coursing from fingertips to scapula only to flow down his side. Todd shut his eyes against the tears and moved his hand far enough to hook his fingers in the cocoon’s material.

  Wiggling his fingers back and forth, he worked open a tear in the cocoon and got his hand free. Gripping the edge of the gash, he straightened his arm and shoved the webbing strands away from him. Chest heaving, Todd dragged gulps of air in and panted them out again, trying to block out the pain. Another wordless shout, and Todd jerked the upper half of his body to the side and up, rolling through the growing rip in the cocoon.

  Todd landed hard on his side, rolled away and onto his back. Blood trickled from dozens of small cuts. After grabbing a fistful of the strands still stuck to his face, Todd yanked and pulled them free.

  The muscles of his back jerked with powerful enough spasms he arched off the ground, and another harsh shout ripped from his throat. Heels scraping the ground, still on his back, Todd pushed along and away from the cocoon. Sparks of black and white danced along the edges of his vision, and the small space he was in spun in slow, sickening waves.

  Carefully, he brought a hand up and covered his eyes, gingerly rubbed fingers across his eyebrows. Sharp, sour bile rose from his stomach and pooled at the back of his mouth. He coughed and spit, getting one foot under him, and used it to push far enough to the side that he wouldn’t asphyxiate. After spitting the yellow-tinged liquid out to shimmer on the ground, he gagged and wiped one hand across his mouth. Todd twisted farther, got to his hands and knees, spittle dripping in long strands from his lips.

  He stayed like that on all fours for another couple of minutes, simply breathing in and out.