Page 314 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

“And you would know?” Gretchen snapped.

Kurt flashed a wicked smiled. “Do you really want me to answer that question, wife?”

Liesl narrowed her eyes at Kurt. “You’re mean, Kurt.”

Kurt shrugged, his hands in the air. “I was just offering her a choice.”

“Why is the house guarded so carefully, Alex? Are you afraid someone will come and steal that girl away from you?”

Alex narrowed his eyes at Gretchen. “If anything happens to Anna overnight, I will find out who is responsible and tear them apart, limb from limb.”

Gretchen’s eyes widened. “I’ve never heard you speak in such a way.” Her tone was light and she laughed, but he could see the apprehension in her eyes.

“I will do anything to keep Anna safe and happy. You would do well to keep that in mind, Gretchen.”

“Alex, that’s enough,” his father said softly, walking up next to him. “You needn’t pick a fight out of your stress.”

Alex took a deep breath to calm his anger. Gretchen always seemed to take such delight in tormenting people.

“It’s almost over,” Vati said calmly. “She will be safe in less than twelve hours.”

Alex nodded to himself. “Yes, Vati. I know.”

“Are you ready?”

Alex nodded and followed his father out of the room.

Chapter 145

Alex walked into the Schloss less than an hour later. He was both thankful and apprehensive about marrying the right way this time. Thankful that his marriage would be sanctified by the Elders, but apprehensive about the marriage piercings. Whoever came up with the idea of sticking a bunch of metal in a guy’s cock was insane. He wondered if it really made a difference. Logically, he supposed, it would, but he still didn’t like the idea.

He sighed. He was too old not to be pierced properly. An Elder-Son was supposed to be married in his early twenties. His father refusing to let him have the piercings after he eloped with Mina had been humiliating, but Alex understood now. Poor Mina. He should have listened to Vati and not married her. She’d deserved better than what he’d given her.

He sighed, remembering the story Vati had shared after he’d returned home, married to Mina. He and his father had such a terrible fight that night...

Wilhelm sat at his desk in the Schloss late that night, reading the newspaper about some American dancers who had died in a tragic car accident in San Francisco. His family had always supported the arts, and he particularly enjoyed the ballet. The Frankfurt ballet company had recently closed, despite his family doing everything they could to prevent it. But he wouldn’t force his city to keep something they didn’t want.

The loss of one talented dancer was awful. Losing two was even more so. And to make matters worse, they’d left behind a twelve-year-old little girl. How tragic.

He stared at the picture, looking at the man: Trevor Perkins. He almost looked as if he were?—

A bright light filled his office, interrupting his thoughts. He looked up to see Sebastian, one of his country’s Immortals, and another Immortal that looked like...

“Trevor Perkins?” Wilhelm exclaimed softly. The dancer from San Francisco?

“I told you,” Sebastian said, raising his brows at the other Immortal.

Trevor gave Wilhelm a sad smile. “You know me?”

Wilhelm lifted the paper. “I was just reading about your... death?”

Trevor’s eyes flickered with sadness, something he’d never seen an Immortal do. His brows came together and he looked troubled. “I do not believe it was an accident.”

Wilhelm glanced at Sebastian and then back at Trevor. “Oh?” Why was he telling him this?

Trevor sighed. “I have little time. I am not even supposed to be here. But...” He swallowed. “My baby girl...”

Seeing an Immortal so emotional was, well, frankly, a little disturbing. Most showed little, if no, emotions at all. He’d never met a married Immortal, though. Few allowed themselves to be so intimate with humans.

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