The Life of Anna, Part 4: Ensnared (39 page)

“You’re right, Trent.” A mistake like this
could cost him more than he was willing to give up. Besides, he had
no doubt Wilhelm would admit to making the call. Then Devin would
make his own call and Germany would have a new Elder.

Devin scoffed at the thought of Kurt as an
Elder.

After the police had interviewed him, Devin
went home. His anger had been simmering below the surface and he
wanted to call the mother-fucker and find out the truth.

Kaveh was waiting for him when he walked into
the lower living area. “Your imbuement of Immortality saved your
life,” the golden man commented.

“It was Wilhelm. I know it.”

Kaveh nodded. “Most likely. You did kill his
son.”

They looked at each other for a moment,
amusement filling Devin’s eyes. “I never thought Wilhelm would be
so ballsy. It will give me great pleasure to return the favor.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Kaveh
warned.

Devin whirled around and glared at him. “What
the fuck are you talking about? I have every right—”

Kaveh held up his hand. “Yes, but you’re
forgetting an important person.”

“Who?”

“Anna. She won't take it well if you kill
Wilhelm.”

“She’ll get over it,” Devin scoffed. “She got
over Alex.”

“She didn’t know that was you. This she will
know and you will be unlikely to subdue her again.” Kaveh shook his
head. “If you want to continue using her, let Wilhelm alone.”

Devin clenched his jaw. “I’m supposed to just
let this go? Like he didn’t try to kill me?”

“You’ve already meted out enough grief in his
life. Consider it...paying it forward. Once Anna is fully bonded to
you, then you can get even if you so desire. But I warn you, if you
do anything else to Anna, she will change permanently and you will
not be able to contain the beast.”

Kaveh was right, though Devin hated to admit
it. If Anna hadn’t been chained to the wall, she would have killed
him on Thursday. He had never seen anything so feral, so primal, as
Anna in a wild rage. It had given him such pleasure to conquer her.
But he couldn't leave her chained to the wall all day long. He
needed her free. He would have to let Wilhelm alone.

Fuck
.

Wilhelm raised his brow at the name flashing
on his phone. He wasn’t supposed to be alive. “Hello.”

“He missed,” came Devin’s voice.

Wilhelm stood and clenched his fist. Why was
this man still alive? He knew the assassin. He was very, very good
at his job, second only to Alex. “How?”

Devin laughed. “I chalk it up to my
Immortality. Something just told me to duck and I did. And I’m so
glad.”

Wilhelm closed his eyes, expecting a bullet
to come crashing through the window and into his skull. Only that
would dull the pain in his heart. “So when can I expect mine?”

“Oh, we’ll just call it even, as long as you
don't try again.”

Wilhelm’s mouth dropped open and it took him
a minute to recover. “What is your angle, Devin? Please, if you are
going to do it, just tell me so I can prepare my family.”

“Aren’t you so diplomatic?” Devin sighed.
“No, I won’t be making any calls. It occurs to me that Anna has had
enough tragedy for the month and I need her coherent. Killing you
would make that impossible. She loves you for some fucking reason
and that would send her over the edge.”

Yes, it would.
Wilhelm let out the
breath he was holding and slumped in his chair.

“So, let’s leave her out of this, shall
we?”

“She knows.”

“What!”

“She knows I did something, but she does not
know what. Do not punish her, she tried to call me off, but I would
not listen.”

“She’s a wise woman.”

“Amazing, considering her childhood,” Wilhelm
said dryly.

Devin laughed again. “Well, I won't detain
you any longer. I just wanted to share the good news that I’m still
alive.”

Wilhelm growled and disconnected the call. He
ran his hands through his hair. Anna had saved his life, and he
wouldn’t risk it again.

Devin was waiting for Anna when she got home
that evening. She saw him in the living room and froze. “M-Master?”
she looked at her watch. “Am I late?”

Devin stood and put his iPad on the table in
front of him. “No, you’re not late. I came home from work early.”
He made his way around the couch and walked toward her. “Someone
tried to kill me this morning.”

Anna’s eyes widened and watered. “Oh,
no.”

Devin knew better than to think the tears
were for him. “I spoke to Wilhelm and he admitted to sending the
assassins.”

Anna shook her head. “No, please. Don't kill
him, please!” She fell to the floor on her knees and bowed low.

“I’m not going to kill him, Anna, though
nothing would make me happier than to see his bloody skull in a
picture.” He sighed. “He is alive and will remain so.”

Anna looked up, relief evident in her face.
“Oh, Master!” She hugged his legs. “Oh, Devin. Thank you!”

He was so shocked when she bent over and
kissed his feet that he didn’t think to reprimand her for using his
name.

She looked up at him with wide, innocent,
eager eyes. “How may I please you, Master?”

Devin arched his brow. This was unexpected.
Perhaps the decision to let Wilhelm live was a good one after
all.

Anna walked quickly upstairs to shower,
incredible relief in her heart. She didn’t know what she would have
done if Devin had killed Wilhelm. She wouldn’t have handled it
well. Anna would do everything in her power to show how grateful
she was to Devin.

She wanted to call Wilhelm, but it was late
and she didn’t think Devin would approve. Maybe tomorrow before she
went into the studio.

She took a deep breath as she reflected on
her day. Isaak had selected Justin to dance with her. Anna had been
hoping that it would be Travis. He knew her and understood her. If
she was having a bad day, he knew how to deal with her. Justin
didn’t know anything about her.

But maybe that was a good thing. He was an
excellent dancer and she liked dancing with him. He was very nice
and considerate, not to mention handsome. But she didn’t need to
think about that. He stayed professional with her, but friendly.
She was actually a little confused about that. She didn’t know what
to do with men who didn’t want her. She couldn’t even remember the
last time she’d been around a man who didn’t want something from
her.

She had watched him carefully as he danced.
Was he gay? But no, she’d seen him with women the few times she’d
gone to the clubs with Peter.

Anna came back to the present and finished
her shower. Would Kaveh be waiting for her? Would he let her
orgasm? Would Devin let him let her orgasm? She needed one so
badly, but she wanted to please Devin. What if he changed his mind
about not killing Wilhelm because of her? She couldn't bear the
thought.

She dried herself off, braided her hair and
went out into the bedroom with her robe on. Kaveh was sitting on
the bed, naked, and stroking his massive cock absently. He smiled
when he saw her.

She smiled nervously back. “I-I’m ready to
play, Kaveh,” she said softly.

“Good,” he grinned. “Robe off.” She slipped
it off her shoulders and it fell to the floor. “Go.”

“She is eager to please,” Kaveh commented as
he looked at the sleeping woman between them.

Anna had been exceedingly obedient this
evening. She barely moved as she hung from the ceiling, even though
Devin could tell she wanted to. He’d rewarded her with an
orgasm.

“That was unexpected,” Devin agreed. “But
pleasant.” He stroked Anna’s soft skin that glowed faintly in the
low lighting. “I’m glad I listened to you.”

“We are here for guidance. I only want to
help you succeed.” He glanced back at Anna. “She is most
satisfactory.”

“Mmm. She is.” He looked at Kaveh. “Worth the
shit I put you through?”

“Yes. I haven’t fucked a half-Immortal in
centuries. It is very pleasing. Human women are weak. She is very
strong.”

“As I found out the other day. I will have to
be careful from now on.”

“You must treat them carefully. I tried to
warn you.”

“You did. I didn’t think she had anything
left to lose.”

“Perhaps you should make her the willing
sacrifice? I think if you treat her right and train her properly,
she would willingly give you her child.”

Devin narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “You
think so?”

“You have to get her to care for you. I think
it will be difficult for you, but the results would be worth it.
Kill off one of the younger girls for the unwilling.” Kaveh
grinned. “Or kidnap someone. That would get a fight for sure. Your
girls are too well trained to put up much of a fight.”

Devin was quiet while he contemplated the
Immortal’s words. He had pretended to be loving to her before. It
really wasn’t that hard. She was easy to please. He chuckled to
himself. Wouldn’t it just kill Wilhelm if he saw her in love with
him? Wilhelm would shit bricks.

“It would also help with the bonding
ceremony. Her bond with you needs to be very strong in order for it
to work.”

“That’s still years away.”

“True, but bonds are not easily formed and
broken. Her heart is still tied to Alex.”

Devin frowned.
Damn Alex!

“But when that is done, you will be able to
treat her as you’d like.”

The thought had merit. Devin needed to think
about it more. Anna had proven more difficult than he’d expected.
What made her so strong was her capacity for emotion. What was so
difficult to handle was her capacity for emotion. She was as bad as
other women, with the years of abuse piled on top. But the abuse
made her vulnerable. A wound that would never heal. She was
desperate for love and would do anything for it. He had tried to
push that emotional capacity off onto others because the burden of
being that focus annoyed Devin. But she was under his control and
she feared him sufficiently. He could make her think he loved her
without her demanding much. A few acts of kindness here and there
and she would do anything for him, as demonstrated tonight.

He needed to think about this more.

Anna felt light kisses down her back, waking
her gently. Her eyes slowly opened and she saw Devin sitting over
her, kissing her back and stroking her skin softly.

“Good morning, Baby,” he said with a gentle
smile.

“Good morning, Master,” she whispered,
confused and scared at his demeanor.

She turned on her side when he lay down
beside her and twirled a piece of her hair around his finger. “You
pleased me immensely last night, Anna. I am very happy.”

She smiled nervously. “Thank you, Master. I
tried my best.”

“You did very good, Baby.” He leaned forward
and kissed her gently on the lips. “Perhaps I’ve been too harsh on
you in the past. All you want to do is please me, right?”

“Oh, yes,” she said with growing
enthusiasm.

He pulled her close, pressing her body
against his, and kissed her again, this time with more passion.
When he pulled away again she swallowed nervously and looked into
his eyes. They were still black as night, but there was a hint of
warmth that radiated throughout her whole body. He studied her eyes
for a moment, smiled and kissed her again.

She kissed him eagerly, warming to his
approval and affection. His kisses became more insistent, but not
in a cruel way, as Anna expected. She couldn’t remember the last
time he’d kissed her.

His hand slid up her side and caressed the
side of her breast as he continued kissing her, nibbling on her
lower lip and sucking on it gently. She felt a rush of warmth and
hesitantly touched his chest.

“Yes, Baby,” he whispered. “You can touch me.
I like it.”

She ran her hands gently across his chest. He
was still lean and well built, but the black hair on his chest had
strands of silver dotted here and there. She noticed the same thing
with his hair as she ran her fingers through it. It was still thick
and soft, but tiny bits of silver caught the morning light. Anna
guessed him to be forty-six or forty-seven now.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he
asked with a smile.

She pulled her hand away. “I’m sorry,
Master.” He caught her hand and kissed her palm.

“Don’t apologize. I was just wondering what
was going on in that pretty little head of yours.”

Anna bit her lip and looked up at him. He
didn’t look angry. Was he vain enough to get upset if she told him?
“I was noticing the silver in your hair,” she said softly and
carefully.

He gave a boyish half-smile. “I am getting
older, aren’t I? Time seems to go fast at this age.”

Anna smiled shyly. “There’s not that much. It
looks...debonair.”

He laughed. “Thank you, Baby. You have
changed too. You’re definitely not a girl any longer.” He slid his
hand down her waist to her hip. “Definitely a woman now,” he
murmured, rolling on top of her and kissing her again. He moved
down to her neck and sucked on it until she squirmed and moaned.
“Though just as sweet.” He nudged her legs apart and groaned as he
buried himself slowly in her body.

Anna arched her back and gasped as he filled
her. “Master...,” she sighed.

“My name, Anna. Call me by my name.”

“Devin....”

Anna smiled to herself as she showered later.
Devin had changed since last night. He was kind and gentle again.
It was...frightening in some aspects, but she liked it. Maybe he
would be nice for a while. She liked him when he was nice. She
would continue pleasing him as best she could, and try and keep him
happy. Then maybe he wouldn’t get angry anymore.