Page 322 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

He pushed the covers aside, sat up, and looked down at himself. His marriage piercings were in place. He’d had his double-ring since he was twenty and hardly thought about it anymore. These new ones felt strange, but he supposed he would get used to them as he had the first one. He hoped Anna would like them.

He stood and stretched, then went to look out the window.

The sun had risen on his wedding day. The day he would become Anna’s husband. Part of him was scared to death. He was determined to be a good husband, but what if he inadvertently hurt her? What if he lost his temper in front of her? She would be terrorized.

As soon as they were married, he would put the word out that he and his team were unavailable for a few months. It would give him and Anna time to get to know each other better. They could settle into their new life and new house.

Alex grinned. He couldn’t wait to show Anna the new home he’d bought her: a palatial residence in the Presidio Heights neighborhood of San Francisco. He’d found it when he was there in August, and Kurt had signed the paperwork for him in December.

As much as Alex loved his homeland, he missed his friends in San Francisco. It would be difficult to move home when it became necessary to assume his duties as Elder. He hoped everything would be settled with Anna long before that happened. He couldn’t bear the idea of having to leave her behind. But as long as she was bonded to Devin, San Francisco was her home, and he couldn’t take her away.

That was his next course of learning: to find out how to free Anna from Devin once and for all.

But that was a task for another day. Today was his wedding day and he wouldn’t let anything spoil it.

Alex hummed as he dressed and went to find his father. He wanted to go home and get ready for the wedding.

Anna’s eye snapped open and she grabbed her stomach. “Not again...” She ran into the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet before losing what little was left in her stomach.

When her stomach had settled, she rested her head on the cool porcelain of the nearby tub while she regained her breath. A soft knock sounded at the bedroom door. “Come in,” she called weakly.

The door opened. “Fraulein?”

“In the bathroom.”

A girl a few years older than herself walked in. She wore a black dress with a white apron over it. Her brown hair was neatly tucked back into a bun and her bright smile faded when she saw Anna on the floor. “Oh, Fraulein! Are you alright?” She wet a washcloth and pressed it to Anna’s forehead and cheeks. “Are you ill?”

Anna shrugged weakly. “I don’t know. I’ve never been sick before. But I’m feeling better now.”

The girl helped her to her feet. “Let me help you back to your bed.” When Anna was settled back under the covers, the girl spoke again. “I am Brigitte. I will attend to you while you are here.”

“Hi, Brigitte.”

“I have brought your breakfast. Would you like to try to eat?”

Anna looked over at the tray on the table and nodded as her stomach growled. “It smells good.”

Brigitte brought the tray and positioned it on legs over Anna’s lap. “Is there anything else you need?”

Anna shook her head. “No, thank you. It looks wonderful.”

Brigitte curtsied. “I will let die Herzogin know you are up and that you are not feeling well. I will return in a few minutes.”

Anna began to eat and her stomach felt better as she did so. Her thoughts turned to what the day would bring and she smiled. Alex.

She had almost finished eating by the time Ilsa and Brigitte returned. Ilsa hurried to the bed and felt her forehead. “You do not seem to have a fever,” she said in her accented voice. “Alex said you were ill on the plane as well.”

Anna nodded. “But I felt better after I threw up.”

“Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Ilsa sat down on the bed and studied her closely. “Is there anything else going on?” Her voice was gentle.

Anna gave a wry smile. “When is there ever not something going on?”

Ilsa laughed gently. “I meant physically.”

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