Page 124 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

Anna nodded.

“You heal quickly because you’re not completely human,” Alex said quietly. “There’s no way you would have survived otherwise.”

Anna was quiet for a few minutes, then her head snapped up. “Immortals can’t die?”

“No, they can’t.”

Anna asked the question without words and he shook his head as he reopened them.

“It wasn’t possible for any human to survive that accident, Anna. He had to leave. If he’d stayed, it would have raised too many questions. He did what he could to protect you.”

Before he “died,” Anna’s Immortal father had been suspicious of Devin and had approached Alex’s father with a desperate plea for help, in case something happened to him. A girl with brown hair and green eyes, Trevor had said. You’ll know her when you see her.

If Alex had only listened to Vati, Anna would have been saved from so much pain. He wished he could tear his heart out of his chest and throw it into the pool below to extinguish the searing regret.

“Can’t he come back now? Since I know why he left, and it’s been so long?”

Oh, her words were like daggers in his burning heart. He shook his head. “I don’t know all the rules, but I do know that if they ‘die’ here, there’s a very long period of time that they must stay away. And your father was rather famous. I don’t know if he’ll ever be allowed to return.”

She didn’t say anything for a minute, staring at Alex’s feet. “Where did he go?” she whispered, wet eyes moving up to look into his.

Alex sighed. “I don’t know, Schatzi. I’ve never asked.” He knew there was a place the Immortals came from, but he’d never thought to ask about it.

He’d met his Immortal friend and guardian, Sebastian, about eight years ago. Right around when Anna’s parents had died. Sebastian kept pretty tight-lipped about most things. Alex didn’t even know he was an Immortal until a few years ago when Sebastian got shot on a mission... and didn’t die. His presence gave Alex hope that he hadn’t completely failed to save Anna. That there was still a way to help her, otherwise why would he still have an Immortal guardian?

Unless he was needed in San Francisco or on a mission, Sebastian stayed in Frankfurt. He never explained his reasons, but Alex suspected it had something to do with being near Devin. Sebastian could be in San Francisco within seconds if Alex needed him, and he always seemed to know precisely when Alex was in trouble. As demonstrated during Devin’s forbidden ritual.

For Anna’s sake, he wished he’d asked Sebastian about his home.

Alex sighed to himself. The more he learned about Anna, the more complicated things got. He wanted to help her, to save her, but he could only do so much. Feeling helpless was an unwelcome sensation. He always knew how to fix things, how to get things done, and what to do. With Anna... it was such a different arena than he’d ever fought in. His enemy was right in front of him, but he couldn’t eliminate him because it would hurt her.

Aaron smoothed his hand over Anna’s hair, and Alex’s heart fell. He was intruding in their time together. “Anna, are you alright?” He wanted to leave as quickly as possible, but he needed to make sure she was okay before he did.

“Yes, Alex.” She didn’t look at him and his shoulders slumped.

Aaron nodded to him, and Alex knew he’d take care of her.

“Thanks,” Alex said softly. “Call me if you need anything.”

“Will do.”

Alex raised his eyebrows at Travis and jerked his head toward the door. Travis jumped up and hurried out of the room, with Alex following. He glanced back and wished he hadn’t. Watching his best friend kiss the girl he loved and had failed to protect was just too much.

Chapter 50

Anna stared across the room, thoughts racing through her mind. She half-heard Alex ask if she was alright and nodded absently. She honestly didn’t know how she was going to process everything Alex had told her.

Aaron brushed away her hair from her face. “What can I do to help?”

She looked up at him, his eyes full of tenderness. She shook her head. “I don’t know what to think. Or do.”

Aaron leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. “I’m here for you, Anna,” he whispered against her mouth.

Anna closed her eyes and savored his gentle kiss as it dulled the pain that had crept into her heart at Alex’s words.

Aaron’s lips were firm but tender, enveloping hers. He sucked gently on her lower lip and she sighed. She struggled to get her arm out of the blanket so she could wrap her hand around the back of his neck, fingers sliding through his soft hair. She clung to him as if he were her lifeline. Away from, or back to, reality, she wasn’t sure. But she needed him.

Aaron pulled away, breathing heavily. “I don’t want to do anything we’ll regret,” he whispered.

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