The Life of Anna, Part 3: Embraced (24 page)

She heard Ilsa behind her. “Give this to her,
Alex.”

Alex handed her a wet cloth and she wiped her
mouth.

“I’m sorry, Alex,” she said with tears in her
eyes as she slumped to the floor. “I can’t keep anything in my
stomach.”

Alex pulled her into his lap and flushed the
toilet. “Anna, it’s all right. You can’t help what your body
does.”

Greta came in a moment later with a glass of
clear soda and Anna sipped it slowly. Alex and his mother spoke
softly in German and she felt his heart rate increase as they
talked.

She looked up at him. “Alex, did something
happen?”

He shook his head. “
Nein,
Anna.
Why?”

“Your heart is pounding in your chest and it
wasn’t a minute ago.” She put her hand under his black suit jacket
and over his heart. “What’s wrong?” she searched his eyes. “Did
Devin find out about the wedding?”

“
Nein
,
Schatzi
. Everything
is fine.” He gave her a gentle smile. “Finish your drink and then
we’ll go get married.”

She leaned her head on his chest and tried to
drink the soda as quickly as possible. She knew something was
wrong; she could sense it. But she didn’t have the energy to ask
again.

When she finished drinking, she held up the
glass. “Done.”

He helped her to her feet and then stood.
“Are you feeling better?” he asked, smoothing her hair.

Anna nodded.

Alex left the bathroom. Ilsa helped her fix
her makeup and dress and then they went back into the hallway. She
handed Anna a peppermint candy.

Alex was speaking to his father and looked up
when they walked out.

“Everything all right?” Wilhelm asked, giving
her an affectionate smile.

Anna nodded, and then blushed as she felt
everyone staring at her. She stared at the ground, embarrassed.
What was she doing with these sophisticated people? She felt
terribly out of place...like a street urchin trying to be a
princess. They were very nice, and part of her felt comfortable
with them. But the other part of her wanted to run away. She had no
idea where to run to, but wanted to just the same.

Alex said something in German and she saw the
family walk through a wooden door. Alex took her hand and led her
to a bench by the window. He helped her out of her coat and put it
beside him on the bench.

She stared at the floor. Was he going to tell
her this was a mistake? That they shouldn’t get married? That she
had embarrassed him in front of his family? Is that what he and his
mother had been talking about?

“I’m sorry I embarrassed you, Alex,” she said
softly, tears filling her eyes.

“Anna, you didn’t embarrass me. I’m worried
about you. I don’t like seeing you sick.”

“Do you still want to marry me?” she asked
with a tremulous voice.

*****

Alex cupped Anna’s cheek and kissed her.
“Anna, whatever gave you the idea that I didn’t want to marry you?”
he asked in a soft voice. “Nothing has changed that. I love you and
want you to be my wife. I just want to make sure your stomach is
all right.”

His mother had the same suspicions that he’d
had before they left the
Gutshaus
. She suspected Anna was
pregnant as well. He wanted to ask Anna about it, but he had a
strong feeling that she had no idea. Why would she?

He didn’t want to upset Anna by bringing up
the subject. He wanted her to be happy and not worry about it for a
while longer, as he suspected she would become upset and nervous
when she found out. He pushed the thoughts aside for now. He needed
to sort out his own feelings about it, too, and it would be better
if he were settled with the idea before he broached the subject
with Anna. She would need his confidence about it.

She nodded. “It’s okay. I feel better now. I
guess maybe it’s just nerves.”

“I’m sure that has something to do with it,”
he affirmed. “Come. Let’s go get married.”

*****

Within half an hour, Anna looked up into her
new husband’s eyes. They were married. He gave her a tender look
and then captured her lips with his. She could feel his love
enveloping her entire body and she wrapped her arms around his
neck.

Soeren said something in German and Alex
nodded. They stood and faced his family, and Soeren said something
else and everyone clapped.

“What did he say?” she whispered.

“He introduced us as the new Duke and Duchess
of Hesse.”

She looked up at him, bewildered.
“Duchess?”

Alex smiled. “
Ja, Schatzi
. You are a
Duchess now. Here, they should call you
Herzogin
.”

She had a title? Her mind struggled to grasp
the idea, but before she could, they were surrounded by Alex’s
family. Hugs and kisses and congratulations were received from
everyone. Gretchen’s was terse.

“She is still vulnerable, Alex,” she heard
Wilhelm say to Alex quietly as they walked outside. “We need to
go.”

Alex nodded. “We have some rings to find and
then we will be home later,” Alex said to his family.

They said goodbye and then he and Anna got
into the SUV with Wilhelm while the rest of the family got back in
the limo. Sebastian and Seth rode in the back of the SUV.

Greg drove through the city streets until
they were on the northern outskirts. He pulled onto a narrow road
and drove for quite a while.

Anna felt her purse vibrate and opened it.
Her phone was ringing. She looked at the screen.

“Alex,” she exclaimed. “Devin is calling
me.”

She had to answer it. Devin would punish her
if she didn’t. She was about to push the screen when Alex took the
phone from her hands.

“
Nein¸
Anna,” he said sharply. “You
cannot answer his call right now.”

Tears came to her eyes. “But he’ll punish me
if I don’t answer.”

“I am your Master too, Anna, and your
husband. My authority over you outweighs Devin’s.” His voice was
clipped and stern.

Anna felt like he had just slapped her in the
face. She swallowed and turned to stare outside the SUV to gain
control of her tears. Would he change, now that they were married?
Would he become mean, like Devin and Jack had after her
birthday?

She heard Alex sigh. “I’m sorry I snapped,
Anna,” he said in a soft voice, reaching for her hand. “I shouldn’t
have done that.”

“It’s fine, Alex,” she said softly. “I’m
sorry I contradicted you.”

“Anna, he was probably tracking your phone
and got suspicious. You can’t speak to him until after we finish at
the Manor. Then my authority will be set and his will be lessened.”
He pulled her back against him. “I want you to be safe. You’re
still vulnerable until the Elders confirm our marriage.” He kissed
her cheek and held her close. “I’m sorry I hurt your feelings,
Schatzi
,” he whispered.

Anna tried to relax and told herself she was
just being overly emotional. Alex wasn’t Devin; Alex was warm and
loving, from the inside. It wasn’t a façade like Devin wore.

He stroked her hand and kissed her head. “I
love you, Anna.”

She looked up at him and smiled, the pain in
her heart easing. “I love you too, Alex.”

His eyes darkened and he cupped the back of
her head, pulling her to him and pressing his lips to hers. She
felt his arousal through his hungry kiss. It took her breath
away.

He pulled away as Greg pulled up in front of
a three-story house with peaked roofs like Alex’s home. A wide
staircase led up to the arched entryway. Seth and Sebastian got out
first and looked around, then motioned for Alex and Anna to
follow.

Anna’s phone rang again as they were walking
towards the stairs. Alex was carrying it and he frowned at the
screen. “Why does he keep calling?”

“Is it Devin?” Anna asked nervously.

Alex nodded. He pressed the button on the
side of the phone and it turned off.

Devin was going to be so angry at her for
ignoring his calls.

Alex looked around and put his hand on Anna’s
back. “Hurry, Anna,” he said softly, pushing her gently up the
stairs.

As they were walking inside, Anna heard a
shout behind her. She turned and saw three tall men coming up the
stairs. One of them looked like Kaveh.

She stopped. “Alex!” she exclaimed.

Alex grabbed her around the waist and pulled
her back. He shouted something and someone else grabbed her and
pulled her through the doors. The door closed with her inside and
Alex outside.

“Alex!” she screamed, fighting against
whoever was holding her. “Let me go!”

“Anna, you are safe in here.” It was Wilhelm.
“If you go outside, you will be in danger.”

“But what about Alex?”

“They won’t hurt him,
Liebling
.
He’ll be safe.” Wilhelm led her to a nearby couch and sat her down,
holding her hand.

Anna stared at the door, wondering what was
going on outside.

*****

Alex turned to face the Immortals after Anna
was safely inside. “Stop. You have no authority here.”

The tallest one glared at him. “She is ours.
You cannot have her.”

“She’s already mine. We were married in town
less than an hour ago.”

The Immortal scoffed. “That doesn’t matter.
She is mine.”

Sebastian stepped next to Alex. “Her father
gave her to me and I gave her to the German Elders. Your claims are
invalid, Kaveh.”

“Her father?” Kaveh narrowed his eyes. “How
is that possible?”

“I took her to see him,” Sebastian said
matter-of-factly. “My claim to her is more legitimate. You cannot
deny that.”

Kaveh turned to Alex. “You dare try to marry
an Elder-Mistress?”

“We are married. We will be confirmed
shortly. There is nothing your Master can do to stop it now.”

“He is not my Master,” Kaveh growled. “I am
no one’s servant.”

Alex smirked. “That’s not what I heard.”

Kaveh reached for Alex, but Sebastian snaked
out his hand and grabbed Kaveh’s arm. “Don’t touch him. He is under
my protection.”

Kaveh growled again. “You would dare cross
Devin?

Alex raised his chin. “I would and I have.
You tell him that by the end of the morning, he will have lost his
hold on Anna. She is mine now and there’s nothing he can do about
it. He will treat her with the respect that she deserves.” He
cocked his brow. “Or else,” he growled.

Kaveh looked between Alex and Sebastian.
“This isn’t over, human. Devin will not stand for it.”

“He doesn’t have a choice,” Sebastian
retorted.

Kaveh clenched his jaw and turned to the
Immortals behind him. A moment later they were gone.

Alex breathed a sigh of relief. “I suppose
this saves the phone call later,” he said, switching to German and
shaking his head. “How did he find out?”

Sebastian frowned. “I don’t know. There’s
nothing we did that would have tipped him off.”

“But there’s nothing he can do about it now,
right?” Alex glanced at his friend.

“No. Not right now. He can at the final
ritual, but that’s years away. By then it will be harder because
your bond with Anna will be incredibly strong and very difficult to
break.”

“I’ve never been so thankful for the rule
about foreign Immortals coming into the Schloss.”

“And that’s why the protection is put in
place. Otherwise, there would be no safe place.”

“I’m sure Anna is worried.”

Alex turned and walked through the door. A
white blur rushed towards him and held him tightly. His precious
Anna.

“Alex,” she sobbed into his coat. “I was so
scared.”

He petted her hair and held her tightly.
“It’s all right now, Anna,” he said softly in English. “They were
just trying to intimidate us. But there’s nothing Devin can do
now.”

*****

“What do you mean it’s too late?” Devin
shouted at Kaveh. “How is that possible?”

He picked up a paperweight on his desk and
threw it across the room, hitting a potted plant. The pot
shattered, spilling dirt all over the floor.

“Watch your tone, human.” Kaveh said with
narrow eyes. “We arrived when she was almost to the door. Alex
shoved her inside. I think your source was too slow in her
information.”

“Fuck!” Devin shouted. Alex had outsmarted
him. Oh, he would pay for this. Devin would make sure of it. “How
do I get rid of him?”

“You can’t, Devin. If you kill him, you will
kill her.”

“There has to be a way,” he growled. “I will
find a way and get rid of him. She is mine! I made her who she
is!”

Devin sat back in his chair. There had to be
a way to get rid of Alex. There just had to be. Fuck! Fuck!
Fuck
! Devin had never been so enraged. Everything he had
worked for was crumbling around his ears. It had to be fixed. He
would not accept failure. Failure was not an option.

His heart pounded in his ears and his blood
boiled. He looked around for something to ease his rage. Something
to throw, something to break.

He stood and stalked out of his study at the
Manor and down to where the girls were. It was after midnight, but
there would still be some up. He needed someone sweet. Someone who
would scream loudly and beg him to stop. He stopped at the doorway
of the main room where the girls stayed. No. Not an experienced
one. He needed one of the younger ones.

He turned and went to another part of the
house where the younger girls were. He walked into the large room
where they slept and turned on the light. The girls in here ranged
in age from six to twelve. There was groaning when he turned the
light on, but when they saw who it was, they quickly slipped to
their knees.

“Look at me. All of you.”

They all nervously looked at him. He searched
the room with his eyes and settled on a tiny girl in the middle
with green eyes. Like Anna.