Page 320 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

Edwin handed Vati a gun-like object. The piercing gun. Vati grasped his cock, but Alex couldn’t look down and watch. It was probably better that way. He heard a click and something like molten hot metal pierced through the top of his cock.

“Argh!” His muffled shout echoed in the silent room and he jerked against the men holding him.

Without warning, there was another click and another shot of metal. His eyes watered and he instinctively struggled against the men holding him. Stay still, Alex. You can handle this. It’s for Anna.

Vati fiddled with the piercings and then nodded, and the men released Alex. He fell forward onto his hands, tears running down his cheeks. His chest heaved as he struggled against the pain. A few moments later, the door opened and closed. He looked up to see the other Elders had left him and Vati alone.

He hung his head again and sweat dripped down his nose. “Am I done?”

“Yes, son. I am incredibly proud of you. Few men could endure what you have. This was the most rigorous trial we can subject a Son to.”

Alex smiled at the floor. “I kept thinking about Anna and how she was raised. This was nothing compared to what she went through.”

“Good, Alex,” Vati said softly. “You’re putting thoughts of Anna in front of your own. You will be a good husband.”

Alex looked up and gave Vati a tired smile.

A woman entered the room carrying a steaming mug on a tray. Vati took it and handed it to Alex. “Drink this. It will help you sleep. When you wake in the morning, you will not be in pain, though you will be uncomfortable until you consummate.”

“Will my cock calm down?”

Vati laughed. “Yes. But you will be of similar size when you consummate.”

“Then I’m glad Anna’s not a virgin. I would hurt her.”

Vati shook his head. “She will be as a virgin, Alex. You will have to show extreme self-control with her.”

“What? How is that possible? And why?” Alex didn’t like the idea of hurting Anna on their wedding day.

“Because an Elder’s bride is supposed to be a virgin. And it is another test to see if you will treat your wife properly.”

“How are you going to make her a virgin?”

“Only a virgin physically. We can’t undo what Devin made her. Sebastian and the Immortals will take care of that.”

Vati helped Alex to his feet and to the bed. “Drink and sleep. Tomorrow will be busy.”

“I don’t want to hurt Anna.”

“I know.” Vati gave him a sympathetic look. “But sometimes we must hurt the ones we love, as you have learned these last months. We do it as gently as possible.”

Vati left the room. Alex drank the sweet drink and drifted off into a deep sleep.

A hand brushed Anna’s forehead. “Anna, wake up.”

Anna slowly opened her eyes and she found herself in an unfamiliar bedroom. It reminded her of her room at Devin’s Manor. The walls were covered in painted bouquets of flowers. The canopy above her looked like peach silk and the bed was incredibly comfortable.

Sebastian sat next to her on the bed.

She sat up. “Where are we?”

“In the Schloss. There is something we must do here, and then I will take you back to the Gutshaus.”

“What do we have to do?”

“I have to give you to the German Elders.”

“Elders?”

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