Page 4 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

They both gave a nervous chuckle. No, Anna knew Master Devin did not like the unexpected. On more than one occasion, she’d heard Master Jack say as much. Master Devin was a master of foresight, always thinking a dozen steps ahead and carefully anticipating the results of each move he made. Oh, he would not be happy. Anna sighed, a pit of anxiety growing in her stomach. What would happen when Devin came to get her?

Master Jack’s hand snaked out and grabbed her hair, yanking her gaze up to his. “Did you just make a sound without permission?”

Anna flinched, not realizing she’d done it aloud. “I’m sorry, Master. I-I didn’t mean to.” She cowered as he pulled his arm back to hit her, but before he could do so, a stern voice echoed across the room.

“Jack.”

Master Jack jerked and looked behind him. Anna looked over his shoulder and saw Master Devin standing in the wide doorway across the room. Why had Master Devin stopped him from hitting her? He’d never stopped him in the past.

“I think the time for that has passed, Jack. She’s twenty now.”

Master Devin began walking toward them. Instinctively, she tried to drop to her knees, but Master Jack’s grip kept her upright. She flailed, desperately trying to free herself from his grasp. What would happen if she didn’t make it to the floor by the time Master Devin arrived?

“Let her go.” Master Devin’s voice was softer as he approached.

Master Jack released her hair, and she dropped to her knees with her head bowed and palms pressed together in front of her chest, relief spreading through her body.

Master Devin stopped and stood next to Master Jack. “Ian told you about what’s going on with Alex and his family?”

“He did,” Master Jack said. “Is it something to be concerned about?”

Master Devin didn’t answer right away and Anna could feel him considering his answer. Sometimes she knew how a man was feeling just by being near him. Especially Master Devin. Useful, but scary more often than not. After a moment, he spoke. “Concerned? Yes, I think a bit of concern is warranted, but nothing to worry about yet.” He paused. “I think we can use our new little asset here to find out what they know.”

“You really think it’s a good idea, sending her into that family?”

“I can’t imagine how they could possibly know anything about who or what she is, and I want to keep them close and appeased. I think offering her to Alex’s younger brother is the best approach. He’s safe, not involved with us in any way—aside from enjoying what’s put in front of him. Apparently, he’s in a rather unfortunate marriage and would likely be interested in a pretty girl like Anna.”

Who were these men they were talking about? And why did her heart flutter at the idea of being offered to them? A flash of cobalt-blue eyes flew into the forefront of her mind—the eyes of the man from her dreams. But he wasn’t real... was he? And what did blue eyes have to do with the conversation going on above her? She pushed the image away, as she always did. The comforting blue eyes just floated into her mind whenever she felt afraid.

Master Devin’s expensive black leather shoes turned toward her. She stared at them as his gaze fell heavy on her. His mood was calm, though he always gave the impression of calm, even if he was seething beneath the surface. His self-control amazed her.

“Well, Anna, are you ready for your new life?”

A new life? Anna suppressed a shiver. The last time she’d been offered a “new life” Master Jack had hidden her away in his home, torturing and training her for four years. And Master Devin was far crueler than Master Jack. No, she wasn’t ready for another “new life.” Living with Master Jack was a nightmare, but the prospect of living with Master Devin filled her with absolute dread.

Master Devin didn’t speak, and she couldn’t come up with a good answer. He always seemed to know when she was lying, and he despised it. A few times after Master Jack began training her, she’d given Master Devin unthinking, non-confrontational answers to his questions. She wasn’t trying to lie; she was trying to answer in a way that would please him. But he made sure she understood she was never to lie to him. Very forcefully.

“I don’t know, Master Devin.” She closed her eyes, praying he’d not be angry with her.

He kneeled in front of her and cupped her chin, and her eyes snapped open. “Look at me, Anna.”

She dragged her eyes up to his, then blinked and looked away again. Never making eye contact with a man had been ingrained in her through her training. But she couldn’t disobey him for long, and her gaze immediately snapped back to his.

He studied her with his piercing, obsidian eyes beneath thick, dark brows. She swallowed and stayed as still as possible. “Thank you for being honest.” He smiled. His impeccably groomed beard and mustache didn’t look as sinister when he smiled.

Anna gave him a timorous smile and looked away, swallowing and bracing for the pain that would surely follow.

“You have been well trained, Anna. I am pleased.”

Her brows twitched and she held her breath. Were his words some sort of trick? Was he baiting her to disobey so he could punish her?

“As long as you remember your training, life will be much more pleasant than it has been for a long time.”

Remember her training? How could she forget it?

“There are rules you must follow, and I will explain them to you. Rules for here in the Manor and rules for the outside world. They are different, but you are a smart girl and I’m sure you will master them quickly.”

Anna nodded to show she was listening, but doubted the sincerity of his words. The only time men were nice was to trick her into disobedience that resulted in punishment. “Yes, Master Devin.”

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