Page 97 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

“I could do that?” Her eyes widened.

He loved watching her face light up. “Of course.” He pointed to her bracelet. “You belong to Alex and me as much as you belong to Devin. If I wanted to bring you to Germany, there is little Devin could do to stop me.” He couldn’t keep her there for a very long time, but it would be a good visit.

Her brows drew together in confusion. “I thought I belonged to Alex.”

“You do, but because Alex is not an Elder, you are mine as well. An Elder-Son cannot own a slave.” He paused, then realized she probably didn’t know much about how things worked in The Brotherhood. Alex had told him she seemed to know very little about the organization. “You are bonded to Alex because of the ritual Devin performed and he... interrupted. But as far as being a slave...” He grimaced at the word. “You belong to both Alex and me.”

“Oh.” She looked down at her lap for a moment, then looked back up at him. “What’s an Elder-Son?”

“Elder-Son. The oldest son of an Elder. Alex will be Elder once I am gone.”

“Oh.” Her brows twitched and she looked down at his hand on top of hers, her shoulders slumping the tiniest bit. He would have a firm talk with Alex before he left. Anna needed to feel secure and be able to trust him and his family. Not constantly afraid they would abandon her.

He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb and gave her a warm smile. “Do not worry. Neither Alex nor I are going anywhere, anytime soon. Except myself to Germany in the morning.” He squeezed her hand with a sad smile. “I wish I didn’t have to go so soon.”

She smiled and squeezed his hand back. He leaned forward and stroked Anna’s cheek. Thankfulness filled his chest as she leaned into his caress. It would have been a tragedy to lose such a beautiful creature to Devin’s schemes.

A few minutes later, Alex returned, looking unhappy.

“Is everything alright?” Wilhelm asked Alex in German.

Alex gave a sharp nod.

Anna watched Alex as he played with the food on his plate. She opened her mouth as if she were going to say something, but then closed it and pressed her lips together. She folded her hands in her lap, her gaze following her hands. Alex looked up and saw her changed demeanor, then glanced at Wilhelm, who nodded in Anna’s direction.

Alex was upset about something and it was disturbing Anna, but Wilhelm knew better than to press his son. He assumed it had something to do with Kirsty, but he resigned himself to the fact that the woman was Alex’s problem.

Wilhelm turned the conversation to dancing. Anna’s face brightened as he asked her about growing up with parents who were professional dancers. Eventually, Alex’s mood lightened, and by the time they finished eating, his son was smiling again.

As they rode back to Alex’s house in the town car after dinner, Anna’s thoughts turned again to Alex’s change of mood when his phone rang. She hadn’t wanted to invade his privacy to read him, and even if she had, she would have only gotten the emotions she already could see on his face, not any facts. Before that phone call, though, she’d been enjoying his company so much. His silly jokes had made her forget she was his slave. Sitting between Wilhelm and Alex had felt so right. So comfortable. So protected and cared for.

The car pulled up in front of the house and Alex leaned forward to look out the window, then growled and muttered something in German. A small red sports car was parked in the driveway.

Frau Gersten opened the door as they approached the house and greeted them. They entered and the sound of quick, light footsteps filled the room, followed by a squeal.

Anna jumped out of the way as Kirsty ran up and wrapped her arms around Alex, who hugged her lightly and pulled away quickly.

She turned away as Kirsty kissed Alex, making a serious study of the carved wooden fireplace mantel. Anna had forgotten about the other woman—Alex’s girlfriend. How could she have, though? Kirsty clearly adored Alex and they made a beautiful couple. He deserved a successful, beautiful woman in his life.

So why did it hurt so much to see them together? Him having a girlfriend didn’t change her position in his life, or even how he would care for her or use her. Kurt was married. Devin was married. Wilhelm was married. To Anna, sleeping with married men was entirely normal, even though she’d learned from movies and TV that it wasn’t supposed to be that way. Why would Alex be any different from the other men? Maybe Kirsty didn’t know about The Brotherhood since they weren’t married?

Anna clasped her hands in front of her hips and stared at the floor, trying to stay innocuous as possible, as Jack had instructed her in case of a wife showing up when Anna was around her husband.

Jack’s lessons came flooding back to her, reminding her of her position in the world. My purpose in life is to provide sexual pleasure to men. She was a sexual object to be used. Nothing more, nothing less.

“What the hell is she doing here?” Kirsty asked.

Anna glanced up without lifting her head and saw Kirsty glaring at her. She flinched and took a step backward.

Alex frowned. “What are you doing here? I told you I would see you tomorrow.”

“And I told you I wanted to see you tonight since I got home early.” Kirsty ran her hand over his chest. She narrowed her eyes when she looked back at Anna. “Is this why you didn’t want me to come over? Because you were with her?”

Anna swallowed and rubbed the backs of her hands, desperately wanting to escape to her room upstairs. The last thing she wanted to do was cause conflict between her Master and his girlfriend. Men didn’t like that.

“Anna went out to dinner with Vati and me because he’s leaving tomorrow.”

Anna turned her head the tiniest bit so she could see Wilhelm. Surely he could give her permission to leave the room and give Alex space to comfort Kirsty.

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