Ringed Love

by Elizabeth Noble

  Don’t tell Nick this, but he’s an alright guy. He stood up to me to protect you. I hope the information in this book makes up even a little bit for how things were between him and me.

  Stay in Yellowknife. Hold each other tight and take care of one another. Be safe. I might not have been the best father, but I always did love you, and I’ve always been proud of the man you’ve become.

  Dad

  Nick didn’t know what to say, but he did know what to do. Folding the letter carefully, he tucked it into Todd’s jacket pocket.

  The book was thrown into the fire. Scooting closer to Todd, he put his arms around his mate and tugged Todd in close, whispering, “We’re in this together.” Todd shuddered, turned, and pressed his face to Nick’s shoulder and cried.

  Chapter 8

  17 months after the surrender of New Colorado Protectorate

  Todd juggled two shopping baskets and elbowed Nick in the side. “Grab a newspaper, will you? And see if we have any mail.”

  “I can carry—” Nick held out his good hand. His other one was wrapped in bandages from wrist to shoulder and in a sling. Dark bruises splattered his skin where the top few buttons of his shirt were left open. There was a long bruise snaking up the side of his neck that stopped just under his jaw.

  Todd glared. Nick backed down with a frustrated sigh. “Don’t make those huffy noises at me!” Todd snapped. “All the crap we’ve gone through in the last five years, and you almost get taken out by a ticked-off bull calf.”

  “To be fair, I was about to remove his testicles.”

  Todd nodded and shrugged. “I guess I would have kicked the crap out of you, too. However, your doctor friend at the clinic said not to carry anything heavy and to take it easy for two weeks. You have twelve more days. If I have my way, it’ll be a month. Do I have to strip you down in the middle of this store and show off that spectacular collection of bruises down your entire side?” He rocked on the balls of his feet, raised an eyebrow, and added, “Hmm?”

  “No.” Nick looked away. He tried to cross his good arm in front of him but ended up moving it to different positions. He scrunched his eyebrows together and made a fist with his good hand, then shoved it in his pocket, mumbling, “Control freak.”

  “Sulking won’t work. Now would you get our mail and a newspaper?” Todd couldn’t help smiling when Nick walked down the aisle toward the counter, grumbling under his breath. Todd continued his mission of filling the baskets with items they needed.

  When he accomplished his task, he went to the sales counter, thunking the baskets down. Nick was leaned back against the counter, munching something from a bowl Millie had sitting beside the register. “Catalog came.” Nick held up a thick magazine. “You should try these. Roasted nuts dusted with cinnamon and chocolate. They’re amazing.”

  “Why did you order that catalog?” Millie leaned over the counter and raised her eyebrows. She had a silly smile on her face and her eyes twinkled.

  Todd took a handful of nuts and tossed them into his mouth, smiling as he chewed. “These are incredible. You have a real talent.”

  Millie cleared her throat. “You’re not getting out of here until you come clean.”

  “Told ya,” Nick drawled. He opened the catalog and turned it so Todd could see one of the pages. “I like those. They’re like my collar.”

  Todd took the magazine and examined the picture Nick pointed to. “Those are nice.” He pulled the book against his chest when Millie tried to get a look.

  “I know where that catalog is from and what sort of goods they supply,” Millie said. The fact she used an accusatory tone was offset by her smile.

  “Nothing gets by her,” Nick said. He turned around and grinned at Millie, patting her hand.

  “True. True,” Todd murmured and nodded, pretending to be serious.

  “It’s not nice to tease old ladies. I could drop dead at any second, and then how bad would you feel?” Millie chided.

  Todd laughed. “You’ll outlive us all.” He laid the catalog on the counter and turned it so Millie could see the images. “Two weeks ago we passed the length of residency requirement in Yellowknife.”

  “My gosh, has it been that long since Philip Porter passed away?” Millie shook her head. “I’ve lost track of the time.”

  “Not quite. We used the date he transferred the deed to our farm to Todd,” Nick explained.

  Millie pointed her finger in their direction. “I suppose you two thought you were going to sneak off and do this and not tell anyone!”

  “It’s a formality for Yellowknife Protectorate and to get Nick to stop wearing his collar. We did it privately years ago.” Todd picked up the catalog. Nick snorted and touched his collar with a couple of fingers.

  Todd ignored him, asking, “You’re sure that’s the set you want?”

  “Do you like something else?” Nick asked.

  “No.” Todd shook his head while leafing through the magazine. “I like the three colors in them, too.” When Millie slapped the counter with her hand, Nick jumped and Todd winced. “Nick hasn’t technically been a slave for almost two years now, and to me he was always a partner and mate. The laws in Yellowknife are different than they were in New Colorado. We filed all the paperwork last week and plan to make an appointment with the mayor after the rings arrive. Which, by the way, will happen a lot faster if you’d put our order in.”

  Millie gave him a stern glare and took an order book from somewhere under the counter. “Let me see that. I need the item number.”

  Todd pushed the catalog closer and said, “Thank you.”

  “What sizes?” Millie asked.

  “Huh?” Nick asked. He rubbed the side of his face with a couple of fingers.

  “Um…” Todd mumbled and ate a few more nuts.

  Millie rolled her eyes and said, “I’ll be right back.” She disappeared into the back room. Todd heard her rummaging around. After a minute she returned with a bunch of metal rings on a chain. She handed them to Nick. “Find one that fits and give me the number. Then you.” Millie nodded to Todd.

  They obediently followed Millie’s directions, and she completed the form. Next, she filled out the fund transfer documents and packed it all in a thick envelope. She put it with the rest of the outgoing mail. “You should have those rings in a week or two, so go make your appointment. Next, about the party. And don’t stand there and tell me the two of you are getting married and not having some kind of celebration.”

  “All right. We won’t tell you.” Todd ducked when Millie whapped him over the head with the catalog. “We talked about it, but we really don’t want—”

  “I don’t care. Now pay for your order and get out of my store. I have a lot of planning to do.”

  “Told ya,” Nick said and pushed away from the counter. He picked up one of the bags, holding it in his good hand, and ambled toward the door.

  They had a brief tug-of-war over the bag Nick carried, ending in it being deposited in the back of their carriage.

  “That animal nearly took your head off,” Todd groused.

  Nick climbed onto the carriage and leaned back against the cushioned seat. “Where to next?”

  Todd settled next to Nick and picked up the reins. “How hungry are you? I’d like to stop at the sheriff’s office before we make our rounds.”

  “If we go to the office first, we’ll miss the big breakfast rush.” Nick nodded. He rested his ankle on his other knee and draped the newspaper across his legs, but really didn’t pay much attention to it while they drove along the main street.

  It was a ploy Nick would likely never get rid of, even though today it wasn’t needed. They were doing what the town council hired them to do, and no one actually objected, at least not that Todd was ever made aware of. Part of their job was to patrol the town, searching for any supernatural threat that might be hiding among the humans. Old habits died hard, Todd reasoned, and if it improved Nick’s comfort, therefore his efficiency, then Todd wasn’t
going to ask him to change now.

  “All quiet?” Todd asked when the sheriff’s office came into view.

  “No pyrahni, but the more I think about it, the more I’m wondering if many of them will even bother moving north, at least not for a while yet. They do seem to like the warmer southern areas better. Many sentries have moved north, which would also deter them.” Nick dipped his head side to side and rubbed his injured neck and shoulder. “Things have sort of quieted down the last couple months.

  Not so many new people coming into Elk’s Ridge, and I’m guessing the protectorate as a whole.” He grinned at Todd. “The clinic keeps a census and updates it monthly.”

  Todd nodded and brought the carriage to a stop at their destination. He jumped down from the carriage, tied the horse to one of the posts in front of the building, and ran around to the other side, taking Nick’s arm and slipping his other arm around Nick’s hips to help his injured mate to the ground.

  “I don’t need—” Nick’s words cut off when he stumbled sideways, and he would have fallen had Todd not been bracing him.

  “Nooo…not at all. You move like you’re one hundred and three years old. Stop being a jerk and let me help you.” Todd turned Nick, holding him carefully to avoid causing him further pain. Todd then pressed a light kiss to Nick’s lips, before resting his forehead against Nick’s for a second. “I guess Millie didn’t buy our nonchalant attitude.”

  “Told ya,” Nick said softly and leaned against Todd for a few beats. “We are sort of well-known here, and it was probably naïve to think we could get married quietly.” He pulled in a breath. “It’s pretty awesome we can get married now.”

  Putting an arm around Nick’s shoulders, Todd guided him to the front door of the building. “It sure as hell is.” He took the key from his pocket and unlocked the door, stepping aside so Nick could go in first. Before following Nick, Todd opened the message box mounted beside the door and pulled a stack of papers out, groaning.

  “He needs to hire more deputies,” Nick said and eased into a chair. “Four aren’t enough to patrol the city.”

  “I think the city council counts us and our salary in with the sheriff’s office budget.” Todd paged through the messages. “I’ll get more details when he gets back.” The sheriff had made a trip to Yellowknife City and the large hospital up there with his wife. “Not sure when that’ll be.”

  Nick set the newspaper he’d brought in with him on the desk and leaned forward, reading it. “Listen to this. ‘Reorganization of the government continues with the appointment of Lawrence Witze, former chief of security for the New Colorado Protectorate Chancellor Clarke, as provisional governor of the West Caldera sub-protectorate of New Colorado. Mr. Witze’s first official act was to grant all owners and slaves still in the area a three-month pardon, allowing them time to safely leave West Caldera. Witze is well known because of his role in exposing former Chancellor Victor Raleigh and bringing him up on charges of illegal weapons trade and espionage. Raleigh is currently serving three life sentences in West Caldera’s high-security prison, Glacier’s Edge. Witze has also brought back the sentry force stating that sentries are best able to deal with New Colorado sub-protectorate’s unique and all-too-active criminal element. Rebuilding of the major cities is underway, expecting to span at least a decade and cost the citizens and government millions of dollars each. The slave villages and orphan slave facilities have been repurposed for the many people displaced from their homes during the fighting.’”

  “Only Larry could’ve pulled that off.” Todd shook his head and smiled. “Good for him. I was wondering what he was up to since his letter stating he was alive and planning on trying to stay in New Colorado and help rebuild. After what Raleigh did to us…my dad…prison isn’t good enough.” He sighed and ran a finger over the desktop. “It’ll have to do, though.” He dropped the messages onto the newspaper. “I think we have problems of our own.”

  Nick leaned back in the chair and picked up the sheets of paper, reading through. “There must be reports from here to a good twenty miles south and west into Prince William Sound Protectorate.” He looked up at Todd. “I’m not sitting at home while you take care of this. If this is a Windigo, going after one alone is suicide.”

  “Let’s hope it’s only one. Judging by all these reports, there may be more. I can’t remember what their standard territory range is. I’m not surprised. With all the people moving north and the winter we just had, we’re lucky it took this long for one to form,” Todd said. He wasn’t thrilled about him and Nick going on a Windigo hunt so close on the heels of Nick being so badly banged up, but it didn’t look as if they had a choice. “We knew the spirit activity was only the beginning.”

  “I suppose. There were enough disasters and tragedy combined with objects for spirits to attach themselves to last a lifetime. Maybe this is why the spirit activity died down lately?” Nick said. He shifted uncomfortably in the chair, then started to stand. “I have to move around.”

  “Let’s stop at the mayor’s office and finish our rounds, then head home for a hot soak. That should make you feel better,” Todd said and held out a hand, motioning to the door.

  “I hope we don’t find anything. A nice hot bath sounds really good.” Nick twisted his torso and rubbed his shoulder. “Let’s walk. Sitting for any longer than I have to in that carriage makes me hurt to think about it.”

  They left the sheriff’s office, not locking the door since one of the deputies was due in any time, and strolled down the walk to the mayor’s office. It was still early spring and the air was crisp. Big clouds hung in the sky and Todd wondered if they would bring snow, rain, or some combination. At least the sun was getting over the horizon for more than twelve hours a day now. Their job was far more difficult during the months when there were only a few hours of daylight for weeks on end.

  The mayor’s assistant was more than happy to schedule their marriage ceremony. “What date?” the young man asked. He had a large calendar open and was turning the pages.

  Todd opened his mouth but never got the chance to speak. He and Nick hadn’t discussed an exact date, only a general timeframe of a week or so after their rings arrived.

  “May eleventh,” Nick said and looked sideways at Todd.

  The mayor’s assistant nodded and smiled. “The weather should be very nice by then. Does the six or so weeks give you time to plan?”

  “Yes.” As he and Nick walked back to their carriage, Todd said, “Millie probably already knows. Nice choice of dates.”

  “That is the day we officially became mates, so I thought it was fitting.”

  Todd gently pulled Nick closer and kissed his cheek. “Patrol the town, get breakfast, and head home to do some research and check a map. Do we need to stop at the library?”

  Nick shook his head. “No, I should have what we need at home.”

  After their breakfast, they headed back to the farm. Todd was hoping Nick would feel bad enough and painful enough to bow out of this hunt, but deep down, he knew better. No matter how much Todd objected, Nick would stick by his side.

  * * * *

  Nick moaned softly as he lifted himself out of the tub. Todd must have been sticking close because Nick wasn’t even completely standing when Todd came in, put his arms around Nick, and half lifted Nick out.

  Once Nick’s feet were solidly on the floor, Todd turned away and grabbed a towel from the shelf. “I’ve been going over the maps.” He draped the towel around Nick’s shoulders.

  “What did you find?”

  “They—Windigos—like heavily wooded areas, but they also want somewhere to nest, right?” Todd helped Nick dry off and get his clothes on as they talked.

  Nick nodded. “Yes. If I remember right, they like small caves, or they’ll dig out underground hutches that are just big enough to store their prey.” He put his right arm, the uninjured one, through the sleeve of his soft green woven pullover, and nestled his left arm in the sling under the warm, thick
shirt and against his side.

  Todd crossed his arms over his middle and tilted his head. “How are you going to do this? Can you even ride a horse for more than an hour? Hell, you’re having trouble just getting dressed.”

  “You can’t do this alone.”

  “Yes. I can. You keep forgetting I was doing this mostly alone for a good twelve years before you joined me. I can’t look after you and take care of a Windigo, too.”

  “What if something happens?” Nick pressed.

  Todd put his hands on either side of Nick’s face. “We’re getting married in a few weeks. I’ll make sure nothing happens.” He sighed. “If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll get one of the deputies to come along. It’s time we started teaching others, anyway.”

  Nick heaved a sigh. “I’ll follow you.”

  Throwing his hands in the air and letting them drop to his sides, Todd grumbled, “God, you’re difficult.”

  Nick grinned. “That’s why you love me.”

  “No, it’s really not.”

  Nick pointed out the door. “Plan.”

  “Right. Plan.” Todd led the way to the dining room. Nick saw he had a number of reference materials and a map spread out over the large table there. Todd pointed to an area on the map and made a circle with a finger. “The activity, at least what was reported, seems to be confined here.”

  “Look at this road. It goes through a pass and straight south almost to the Gulf,” Nick said.

  “And it’s right on the old West Caldera/New Colorado border.”

  Nick turned one of the books and began paging through. “That can’t be a coincidence.”

  “My thought exactly,” Todd said. He paced around the table and looked everywhere but at Nick. “There is really only one way to deal with one of these creatures. When I was about twenty, I dealt with a family that had become Windigos.” He stopped and took a breath. “Heartbreaking. Tragically heartbreaking. You have to light them up, burn their hearts, which is the human core, and I swore they knew what was happening. The person is still in there. It’s not like dispatching a demon or a spirit. It was more personal. Almost murder.”