Together Bound

Chapter 2-1

Chapter 2

The headache that had started when Todd showed Nick the letter from Clarke did nothing but grow as they made their way back across town. They packed supplies and clothes for their trip, then made a return carriage trip to the hotel near Clarke’s office.

Nick’s neck was tense and his head pounded as he settled beside Todd’s knee on the carriage floor, despite Todd asking and then telling him to sit on the bench beside him. Thankfully, Todd didn’t press the issue, probably realizing it increased Nick’s feeling of security and simply made him feel better when he could nestle safely against Todd’s thigh.

Once they reached the hotel, they were shown to their rooms. Todd unlocked the door, shoved it open, and stepped through. Nick leaned in and looked around, stepping sideways to allow the porter to carry in their bags.

“Wow, this is really something,” Nick said after Todd had tipped the porter, thanked him, tugged Nick into the room, and shut the door after him.

“Yeah, it’s nicer than we normally get.”

They weren’t in a room, they were in a suite. A bedroom, bath, and an outer sitting area. Sitting down on the couch in the small lounge, Nick asked, “Are we meeting with Clarke tonight?”

“I think so.” Todd sat beside him, twisted sideways, and pulled Nick back against him. “How’s your headache?”

“Is it that obvious?”

Todd laughed, a low rumble that vibrated through Nick and made him relax against Todd’s chest even more. “Yes.” Using his thumbs, he massaged the tense muscles along the back of Nick’s neck.

Nick leaned back even farther and closed his eyes, relishing the feel of Todd’s warm, strong fingers working over his skin, rubbing tension from his taut muscles.

After leaning down and kissing Nick’s temple softly, Todd whispered in his ear, “Are you going to talk to me about this?”

“I hate the whole thing.” Nick hadn’t intended to just blurt out his feelings.

“Nicky, it’s a job, just like every other hunt.”

“But I have to pretend you’re dead. As if that isn’t bad enough, I have to let them think you were such a douche you had a slave you made no provisions for if you died.”

“Okay, first of all, Nicky, you know damn well I did make those provisions, before I ever went to claim you. Secondly, it won’t be me. We’re using other names. It’ll be some invented douche.”

“Do we have to go there and do this? I’m going to be in slave dorms…and—” His chest felt tight and heavy. What he’d tried to push away, forget about, and suppress all day came slamming back. He’d be cut off from Todd for at least part of their stay, forced to stay in a room far away from his master, and all the while pretending to be a grieving, abandoned slave. The backs of his eyes tingled, and tears threatening to overflow were hastily brushed away.

Todd often became so focused on a job he overlooked how it might affect either of them personally. Todd had a choice. Nick did not. He was obligated to fit into Todd’s life however his master deemed. Up until now he’d never had an issue with any of it: the hunting, their work. He was coming to like being a sentry. Todd was proud of what they did, how many people they helped, and Nick was simply proud of Todd.

“Hey.” Todd turned him so Nick’s shoulder rested against Todd’s chest. “Nicky, we’re still sentries. We have to help this man however we can, but not at your expense. Estate employees have free access to the slaves. It’s encouraged. Clarke was telling us the truth about that. I’m not leaving you on your own in there. I’d never do that to you. You know that, right? Clarke thinks I’m doing that and he’s on his own.”

Nick nodded, miserable and a bit ashamed he’d even think Todd would do something like that to him.

Tenderly running his fingers through Nick’s hair for a few minutes, Todd sighed and nudged Nick forward. “I saw a pharmacy next to the hotel. I’m going to run down and get you something for your headache.”

“It’s not that bad.”

“I can see how much your head hurts. You sit tight. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Will you be okay?”

Nick nodded and smiled, flopping back on the couch. Some of the tension eased out of his chest. He rolled his head to the side and smiled at Todd, who slipped on a jacket and quietly left, the door closing softly behind him. The lock snicked softly as he made sure Nick was securely locked in, safe. Nick settled more comfortably against the couch and let his eyelids drift closed.

A sharp rap on the door brought Nick from partially dozing to awake and dealing with his pounding skull again. Sighing, he pushed off the couch and went to the door, expecting Todd with his arms laden with whatever he’d purchased. After opening the door, a sarcastic remark about to tumble loose, Nick straightened and took a hasty step back when he saw Clarke standing in the hall.

“To—my master isn’t here right now. He went to the pharmacy,” Nick said in a rush. He took a deep breath and stepped back into the doorway, filling it. He often forgot his size and that he made a pretty effective roadblock.

Clarke waved a hand at the hall he stood in. “May I wait here?” He smiled. “This place has room service and a delivery staff, and you’re free to use them.” Clarke reached out and gently tapped Nick’s forearm. “And Nick—” he touched a fingertip of his other hand to his left eye “—when you’re inside the sanctuary, you have to remember not to do that.”

Feeling his cheeks flush, Nick immediately looked at the floor. “I-I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Clarke stepped back and leaned against the wall opposite the door, waving Nick off. “It doesn’t bother me in the least. But some people at the estate, they’re a bit militant about those things, so watch yourself, okay?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I appreciate what you and Todd are doing. I have some understanding of how difficult this must be for you.”

Nick’s gaze flicked up and then down to between his feet again. “Todd said we’re still sentries. It’s our job.”

Clarke smiled. “Your master is a very good man.”

“You don’t have to tell me that. No one does. I know better than everyone what he’s like.” Nick couldn’t help the edge of defiance that crept into his voice. How dare this man even remotely think Todd wasn’t a good person?

“I meant that as a compliment.” Clarke sighed and folded his hands together in front of him. “My father was a slave, so when I say I understand, Nick, I really do. What I did, sending that letter, it was wrong, and I am sorry.”

“Your father was your mother’s slave?” Nick knew, of course, that a child from such a union would not be a slave and have full-fledged citizenship in New Colorado Protectorate. It wasn’t uncommon, however not something Nick ever gave much thought to.

Clarke chuckled. “What? You think you and your master cornered the market on desire and love?”

“I…uh…” Nick felt himself flush crimson. “I didn’t—”

“It’s all right, Nick.”

Todd picked that moment to come striding down the hall. He eyed the vice chancellor up and down coolly before stepping over to Nick. “You okay?” He turned back to Clarke. “He doesn’t have to let anyone in if I’m not here.”

Laying a hand on Todd’s arm, Nick spoke softly. “It’s okay, Todd, he didn’t do anything.”

Clarke smiled placidly. “I asked if I could wait here for you, and Nick was kind enough to keep me company and chat.” He held up a folder. “I have some information and papers for you.”

“Come in.” Todd nodded, and Nick straightened so he could walk by and into their room, Nick trailing behind. Todd walked to a dresser and set down his bags, his back to Nick and Clarke. “Use the furniture, Nick,” he said without turning around.

When Clarke huffed a short laugh, Todd looked over his shoulder, eyebrow arched. Shrugging, Clarke looked embarrassed. “Sorry, I was telling Nick that my father was a slave, and that brought back a lot of memories. My mother did the same thing. They’re both gone now.”

Todd looked away. “I’m sorry.” He pulled a small bottle from the bag and ducked into the bathroom, back out in a few seconds with a glass of water. “Did she ever break him of it?” After poking at Nick’s shoulder, Todd offered him a smirk, water, and some pills. He nodded to the sitting area.

Clarke shook his head. “No.”

Nick grinned sheepishly and took the pills, downed them, then sat on one of the large chairs in the sitting room.

Todd followed a minute later and leaned a hip against the arm of Nick’s chair. “What do you have for us?” His tone was one Nick was all too familiar with. It was Todd’s take-charge, business voice, and it had the same effect on the vice chancellor it had on everyone else they dealt with. Todd was given immediate authority and respect. That voice always had another effect on Nick: it made heat curl in his belly and his c**k feel warm and full. Todd was sheer power, and the way it came out in his voice never ceased to affect Nick on a very base and primal level.

Silently, Clarke handed Todd an envelope of papers and seated himself on the couch opposite them. “Meet Tyler McCabe. I had those drawn up today after you left. I had already worked details out much more thoroughly for Nick.”

“We’ll start with Nick.” Todd handed Nick the stack of papers and envelope marked T. McCabe, which didn’t surprise him at all. Todd would want to know how Nick fit into things before he agreed to let Nick do anything. Nick quietly put the papers on his lap and folded his hands over them.

“Once the orphans come into the sanctuary, they have their wrist brands removed, but Nick also has one on his chest, yes?”

Todd looked up sharply, nodding.

Nick thought he was prepared for hearing those words, but not so. His chest constricted, and his stomach dropped. Everything inside him seemed to tighten down and turn cold. It was taking away who he was, his entire identity.

“You can’t take my brands. They’re mine. It’s what ties me to Todd.” He didn’t mean to snap the words out so harshly, especially after Todd had subtly and quietly ordered him to sit, which also meant being silent and behaving formally.

“Nick.” Todd’s voice was very soft but firm.

Todd dropped a hand to the top of Nick’s head, skimmed his fingers through Nick’s hair, then rested them on the back of Nick’s neck while Todd finished reading through the papers. He sighed, setting them on his knee but out of Nick’s line of sight. Running his other hand over his mouth, Todd landed a stern gaze on Clarke and drew a deep breath.

Nick’s fingers tightened around one another until his knuckles were white and his hands cramped. He stared down at them through shimmering vision. Was it possible Todd was going to let this happen? His mind simply couldn’t wrap around the thought.

Clarke fidgeted but remained silent.

“You and I need to be on the same page here. I want this to be crystal clear. If at any point I feel Nick is threatened in any way, we pull out. I am responsible for his actions, his well-being, and his care. I will not tolerate him being compromised in any manner. If there is any…interaction…between him and estate staff that he doesn’t like, we’re out of there. We’re going to be separated a lot. I don’t like that, but I don’t see a way to avoid it, either. That will mean I can’t protect him at all times. He’s used to me being around, and I won’t put up with my mate being intimidated by anyone there.”

Todd swiped his thumb back and forth a few times against Nick’s neck under his hair. He glanced down at Nick and offered him a small smile before turning back to Clarke. “And there will be no removing of my marks.”

“I never considered the surgery. It’d be a waste of time, really.” Clarke nodded at the papers Todd held. “As you can see all along, I was trying to arrange this so Nick was protected, at least somewhat. I found a religious order, not huge and a bit zealous. They wear leather wristbands. I’ll have a set delivered for Nick. That should cover his arm brands. As for the one on his chest, I guess just make sure you keep your shirt on. This particular order also only has same-gender matings, mostly male. The higher percentage of orphan slaves are female, for some reason, and more of them seem to interest the estate staff. That was the most undesirable I could make him. He’ll be given the job on the estate as a teacher and caretaker of some of the children. That should allow him to move about fairly freely and unnoticed.”

Todd nodded and traded the papers he held for those on Nick’s lap. After scanning them quickly, he turned his gaze on Clarke, waiting expectantly.

“As for you,” Clarke continued. “I decided the best thing was to let you do what you always do. I had you, or rather Tyler McCabe, added to our security staff. That should give you completely free rein of the entire estate. You’ll be assigned to and working directly under the man responsible for the orphan slaves, which I’m hoping will give you even a bit more access to Nick than if you were simply a regular member of security. His name is Lawrence Witze. There are three slaves, and Nick, of course, being taken into the orphan sanctuary at the end of this week. Your first official assignment, Mr. McCabe, is to escort them via train to the Chancellor’s Estate. The day after you arrive there is an official state function, a formal cotillion welcoming the newer employees and parliament members. Try not to drop dead from the boredom.”

Todd laughed outright at that. “I don’t really have the proper attire for something like that.” He looked down at Nick. “Let’s get this thing taken care of before it starts, huh?”

Nick grinned and nodded enthusiastically. He was all on board with them spending as little time as possible there.

“Nice try, but everything the security staff needs is supplied. That includes their dress uniforms.”

“Greeeeeat.” Todd exhaled and rolled his eyes.

“About the chancellor, is there a possibility—?”

“I don’t know.” Todd cut him off. “We’ll do everything we can, of course, but until I can evaluate what’s going on, Rod Shaffer’s fate is something I can’t comment on.”

Clarke nodded and focused on a point between his feet and took a few breaths.

“Understood. You and Nick board the train in two days. The other slaves won’t be brought on until the day you’ll arrive at the estate. They’ll board early in the morning. Until then, please feel free to stay here, and if you need anything, as I told Nick, there is room service and a delivery staff.

“If you’d provide your account information to me before you leave, I’ll have the funds deposited, three times your regular fee. I did take the liberty of having all this cleared with Mr. Cantor. He is the official overseer of sentries. I thought it appropriate.”

“Thank you.” Todd followed Clarke to the door and let him out, then closed, locked, and double-checked the locks. He turned and leaned back against the doors, sighing. “You look like hell.”

Nick snorted. “Thanks. That’s what I like the best about you, your charm.”

Chuckling, Todd waved at the large bed. Everything on it was white, including the ladder-work wooden frame. “Why don’t you get a nap? You’ll feel better. I’m going to hit the shower. Then we can go out and grab something to eat or order that room service Clarke keeps bragging about.”

After stripping, Nick stretched out on the mattress and tossed everything but a light sheet off the bed. The sheet he draped over his hips. Todd dimmed the lights and vanished into the bathroom. Nick let his eyes drift closed, and he dozed off to the sound of water hitting tiles.