The Life of Anna, Part 4: Ensnared (27 page)

They walked to the ballroom where they would
eat breakfast. The tables were back in place and most of them had
men sitting around them. The other Elder-Mistresses were there as
well, dressed in pale colored dresses that made them look elegant
and aloof. Anna looked down at her black dress and wondered if
she’d dressed appropriately.

“Anna, you are not like them,” Wilhelm said
softly. “It is all right. You look beautiful.”

They sat down at the table they’d sat at the
night before and within minutes had plates full of delectable
breakfast foods in front of them. Anna sat between Wilhelm and
Kurt.

Several other men sat at the table. Wilhelm
and Kurt introduced them to Anna after greeting them in German.
Three of the men were younger. Sons, Anna assumed. She looked at
them warily until Kurt put his arm around her and gave assurance
that they wouldn’t hurt her. She ate quietly while the men spoke
around her in German. She might not have understood what they were
saying, but she still felt more comfortable at this table than she
had at Devin’s table.

Anna could feel Devin’s gaze from across the
room and looked up at him. She gave him a timid smile and he
frowned, his eyes cold and disapproving. Tommy sat next to his
father and he smiled at her, but she only returned a timid nod. She
didn’t want to upset Devin any more than he already was.

After breakfast was over, she walked with
Wilhelm and Kurt out to a line of waiting limos. The distance was
short, just over a river and onto a small island to what Kurt said
was a former fortress. The line of cars and limos awaiting their
turn to drop off their passengers was long, though, and extended to
the bridge, which made Anna nervous.

She stared out the window at the water below
and shivered.

Kurt put his arm around her. “I know you do
not like bridges,
Engel
. I am sorry.” He nuzzled her neck.
“We will be moving soon.”

Anna leaned her head on his shoulder and
traced the blue ribbon that crossed his chest diagonally. The same
ribbon Alex had worn to the New Year’s Eve party after they were
married.

“We should have brought yours, Anna. I am
sorry,” Wilhelm said softly, remorse evident in his eyes. He wore
the same ribbon as Kurt. “Ilsa would have remembered.”

“It’s not necessary, Wilhelm. I’m not—”

Wilhelm frowned. “Do not even say it Anna,”
he said in a stern tone. “You are. Your position in our family has
not changed. You are still
Herzogin
.”

Anna shrank back at his tone and he softened
his gaze.

“I should not have said it like that, Anna.
Forgive me.” Regret filled his eyes as Wilhelm reached out and
stroked her cheek. “I hate what he has done to you,” he added in a
whisper.

Anna walked next to Kurt, their fingers
intertwined, across a large courtyard to a huge yellow and white
cathedral that sat in the middle of the fortress-island. It felt so
right, being with him. Kurt’s care diminished the pain of losing
Peter.

The courtyard was filled with people:
dignitaries, heads of state and, of course, the Elders and their
sons. There were very few women; the Elders did not attend events
like these with their wives.

“Anna!” She heard a female voice call to her
and turned to see Jackie walking quickly to her.

Anna smiled brightly and stepped forward to
greet her. The two women hugged and Jackie looked up at Kurt with
narrowed eyes and glanced at Wilhelm.

Anna introduced Jackie to both men and she
eyed them suspiciously. “Jackie is Peter’s mother,” Anna explained
and Wilhelm nodded. She looked at Jackie. “They are Alex’s father
and brother.”

Jackie looked at the two men again and then
at Anna. “So, everything between you and Peter was fake?” she asked
with a pained expression.

Anna chewed her lip. “He came to keep an eye
on me. I...I care for him a great deal, but we went into it knowing
it wasn’t real.”

Jackie nodded. “He told me a little bit about
what went on. I didn’t even know he’d gotten married until
yesterday.” There was hurt in her eyes. “I had hoped....” She
smiled grimly. “You’re a good girl, Anna. If you ever need
anything....” She gave Kurt a fierce look. “If you ever hurt
her....” she began in a firm voice.

Anna stopped her and put her hand on his.
“They’ve never hurt me, Jackie. Quite the contrary.” Anna swallowed
back tears. “They saved me.”

Jackie hugged her again. “Would you mind if
we came to see you dance again sometime? We can’t always get out
here to see Peter and we loved watching you.”

Anna nodded and smiled. “I would love that,”
she said sincerely.

“Be sure to find Peter, if you can. He’s been
looking for you. If I see him, I’ll let him know you’re here, if he
hasn’t already found you.”

Anna nodded and then watched her walk
away.

Kurt kissed her cheek and they made their way
slowly to the cathedral. Wilhelm stopped every so often to speak to
someone. Kurt held her hand tightly in the increasingly tighter
crowd.

Tommy made his way over to them. “Hey, Anna,”
he said kissing her cheek and then glancing up at Kurt.
“Sorry.”

Kurt grunted.

“It is good to see you, Tommy,” Wilhelm said,
extending his hand.

Tommy smiled and shook it. “It’s good to see
you, sir. I understand you’re now able to come to the country
again.”

Wilhelm nodded. “I plan on doing so
often.”

“I hope you do.” He glanced at Anna. “I
haven’t seen her smile like this in a while. It’s nice.”

“Your father is around, I assume?” Wilhelm
asked with a strange look on his face.

“He is,” Tommy answered solemnly. “He’s
trying to keep Devin’s temper at bay. Devin’s not...happy about
yesterday’s dinner.”

“Understandable. But necessary.”

“I agree, sir.”

They exchanged looks again and then Tommy
said goodbye and walked away.

It was a strange exchange, Anna thought.
“Have you met Tommy before, Wilhelm?” she asked, looking up into
his thoughtful eyes.

Wilhelm’s face became impassive. “Briefly, at
Alex’s funeral. He came to comfort you, remember?”

Anna vaguely remembered Tommy trying to talk
to her and her coldness to him. She was thankful he hadn’t held it
against her.

They made their way with the crowd towards
the building. She saw Vlad and Peter standing near the doorway,
greeting people. Their wives stood next to them, looking sad but
composed.

Dariya saw her before Peter did and smirked
at her, until she noticed Kurt and Wilhelm. Her eyes widened as she
looked at the tall men standing like soldiers on either side of
her.

Peter saw her and smiled broadly. “Anna,” he
said, walking toward her. He seemed to have changed since
yesterday, a new dignity overlying his dancer’s grace. He looked
like an Elder-Son now. A nice one, though. He kissed her on the
cheek, and then greeted Wilhelm and Kurt.

“How are you doing, Peter?” Wilhelm asked in
a friendly manner. They appeared to know each other already.

“I’m doing well, sir. As well as I can.” He
glanced at Kurt and then Anna. “You okay?” he asked her softly.

She nodded shyly as Kurt put his arm around
her. “You?”

He gave her a sad smile. “I miss you
already.”

“I miss you.” She looked up when she saw
Dariya approach.

“You certainly do not waste time, do you
Anna?” Dariya said her low, thickly accented voice, eying Kurt’s
hand on Anna’s shoulder.

“Dariya, Anna was married to Kurt’s brother
before he died,” Peter explained softly. “She’s an
Elder-Mistress.”

Dariya looked at Anna, then looked around the
crowd at the other women. “You do not look like one,” she commented
coldly.

“She’s not supposed to be one,” Kurt said
shortly. “Her father raised Anna as a normal girl until Devin
interfered and forced it upon her.” He paused for effect. “She is
also a
gertsoginya
.”

Dariya started at the last word and curtsied
slightly. “I did not know. I am sorry.”

Anna looked up at Kurt, who smiled at
her.

“I didn’t know that,” Peter said. “I suppose
it makes sense....”

“Didn’t know what?” Anna asked.

“That you were a duchess. You never told me.”
He looked hurt.

“I don’t think about it. I—” She looked up at
Wilhelm. “It seems just a part of my past that died with Alex. I’m
sorry, Wilhelm.”

Wilhelm gave her a sympathetic smile. “It is
all right, Anna. I know it is difficult.”

“Wilhelm,” Vlad said, walking over to the
group. He extended his hand in greeting, which Wilhelm took and
shook. Nina was with him and gave Anna a sad smile.

“Hello, Vlad. I am sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you, Wilhelm.” Vlad cleared his
throat. “I hope that you will not hold my father’s rudeness against
me. We...did not see eye to eye on many things these last few years
and I hope I can undo some of the things he did.”

“Thank you, Vlad. I would not—”

Wilhelm was interrupted by Devin’s
arrival.

“Hello, Vlad,” Devin said, his voice cold
with a hint of warning. “I see you are looking to rekindle past
friendships?”

Vlad clenched his jaw at Devin’s words. “My
family and Wilhelm’s have been friends for a long time. I hope to
undo some of the things my father did.”

Devin’s eyes narrowed and he arched a brow.
“That is an interesting idea,” he said slowly. “Your father was a
wise man. I hope you can also learn from things he did.” There was
an air of a threat in Devin’s tone and the air grew cold around
them.

Anna shivered and Kurt put his arm around
her. “Are you all right?” he whispered.

“Cold.” She stepped closer to Kurt for his
body warmth, but the cold seemed to come from inside her.

Devin looked around the group and stopped his
gaze at Anna. His black eyes beckoned her and she tried to step
forward, but Kurt held her close and wouldn’t let her go.

Devin looked sharply at Kurt. “You only have
her for a few weeks.”

“And I will cherish every moment and strive
for more,” Kurt said coldly.

Devin laughed. “So idealistic.” He reached
out and stroked Anna’s cheek with long, cold fingers. “I can’t wait
to have you home with me, Baby,” he said softly, and ran his
fingernail down her neck, stopping where he normally gave her the
painful injections. He looked around and then gave Vlad a pointed
look. “I will see you all inside.” He strode away with purpose,
people stepping out of his way as he walked.

Vlad looked at her with sadness and then
inhaled deeply. He glanced around. “We must return to greeting
people.” He gave Wilhelm a sad look before turning and leading Nina
back to the side of the building.

Peter bowed his head slightly at Wilhelm and
smiled apologetically at Anna. “I’ll see you later?”

Anna smiled and nodded, and he and Dariya
walked away.

Wilhelm and Kurt spoke softly in German above
her as Kurt held her close. The coldness had not dissipated when
Devin walked away and she stepped even closer to Kurt, pressing her
body against his for warmth.

“Anna, you look pale. Are you sick?” Kurt ran
his hand over her forehead and frowned. He glanced at Wilhelm.
“Does she seem feverish to you?”

Wilhelm leaned down and pressed his lips to
her forehead, and then frowned. “That is not right. Devin is still
here. She cannot get sick this quickly.”

“I’m okay,” Anna said softly. “I’m just tired
and cold.” She giggled softly. “I was up late last night.”

Wilhelm smiled and looked at his watch. “Let
us take her into the sunlight. We have a little bit of time.”

They moved and Kurt stood with his arms
around her, her head leaning against his chest and the sun’s warmth
on her back. It felt good. She closed her eyes and listened to the
rumbling in his chest as he and his father talked softly in
German.

Wilhelm sat in the large cathedral
contemplating the exchange between Vlad and Devin. The service was
in Russian, which he spoke fluently, but his thoughts still
strayed. What did Vlad want to undo that Vitaly had done, and why
did Devin care? He had seen Vitaly and Devin together several times
over the years, but Wilhelm couldn’t imagine the stubborn old
Russian doing something for Devin.

Anna shivered next to him, despite being
wrapped in Kurt’s jacket and her own. Her face was pale and a sheen
of sweat glistened on her forehead.

How could she be sick? It wasn’t supposed to
be possible. Was it because of Devin? Should he not have insisted
on taking her to Germany? Was it his fault? But Wilhelm loathed the
idea of Anna being with Devin any more than she had to. Maybe he
and Kurt should take her home to San Francisco and visit with her
there. Ilsa was looking forward to seeing Anna, but she would
understand if Anna needed to go home.

Maybe he should speak to the other Elders
that had Mistresses. Perhaps they could shed some light, though
none of the Mistress’s were owned like Anna. As far as Wilhelm
knew, the bonding ceremony was not practiced anymore, the general
consensus being that it was cruel and unnecessary. Wilhelm agreed
with the general consensus, especially after seeing what it did to
Anna. Well, to be truthful, it wasn’t as much the actual bonding as
it was to whom she was bonded.

Pain twisted his heart at the remembrance of
that time. When Alex was still alive. His beloved son. Not that he
didn’t love Kurt. He loved all his children with all the fatherly
love he could muster. But Alex was to be his heir, the man who
followed in his footsteps. Kurt was doing a wonderful job at
learning what he needed to know, but it was a struggle for him.
Wilhelm admired his tenacity. Tenacity he didn’t know that Kurt
had.

Oh, Alex
. The pain was no longer
raw, but it was still pain. He would never stop missing Alex. He
often wondered about the dreams Anna had, wondering if they were
perhaps real; that Alex was still alive somewhere. It was painful
to hope. The dreams of a half-Immortal could be significant. But
Anna was also desperately in love with Alex, and perhaps part of
her was just loathe to let him go. Even Wilhelm dreamed of Alex
sometimes. Dreams were sometimes just dreams