Page 369 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

“No!” she screamed into the mattress, but it did no good. He pushed forward and ripped into her ass. She screamed again as he tore into her hole, invading her body and forcing it open against her will.

He fucked her hard, pressing his hands into the back of her head, smothering her in the soft material. As her mind faded, he yanked her head up and she gasped for air. He arched her back up in a way that anyone other than a ballerina would find exceedingly painful, and she gasped for air.

He leaned down, his hot breath burning her ear. “Don’t you fucking dare say no to me,” he growled before pushing her face back into the mattress.

Just before she was about to pass out once more, he grunted and came, then rolled to his side.

She rolled to her side, gasping for breath and cradling her stomach. Was the baby okay?

After a long moment, Devin stood and walked into the bathroom. She stared blankly into the bathroom, listening to the sound of the water running and trembling, fearing what Devin would do next.

The water turned off and he walked out naked, and stood over the bed, glaring at her. She whimpered and curled into a ball, protecting her precious child. “Get some sleep. We leave early in the morning.” He pulled on his pants and shirt, then walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Alex! Why had that damned Elder called him out for a job? She squeezed her eyes shut, praying for Alex’s swift return and for the safety of her unborn child.

She stood in a large room filled with wooden furniture. A large desk stood near the wall with a big empty space in front of it. It reminded her of Wilhelm’s office, but it wasn’t as welcoming. Snow drifted past the windows in the wall across from the doorway she stood next to. Several men in black kneeled in two rows in front of the desk, their heads bowed, arms tied behind their backs. Two men stood guard on either side of the rows of men, holding automatic rifles and frowning down at them.

Two other men walked into the room, one with gray hair and beard, and the other with black hair sprinkled with silver. Neither seemed to notice her. They stood for a moment, studying the kneeling men, then the older man pointed to the blond man in the center. Two of the men with guns moved behind the kneeling man and yanked him to his feet, then pushed him forward. The man’s cobalt-blue eyes filled with defiance and pride. He stood in front of the older man, towering a good foot over him. She felt she should know the blond man. She felt... something, but her mind refused to identify him. Something prevented her from acknowledging his identity.

The old man spoke in an unfamiliar, nasally language, a wicked, amused grin on his face. The tall man glared down at the bearded man, responding in the same language. He sneered and spat into the older man’s face.

The guard who had pushed the blue-eyed man forward put his hand on his shoulder, trying to push him down. Only after a long struggle and the first man kicking him behind the knees several times did the blue-eyed man finally fall to his knees in front of the older man, panting heavily. The guard pulled the blue-eyed man’s hair, forcing him to look up at the bearded man. He narrowed his eyes and spoke in a threatening tone. The older man laughed and the blue-eyed man jumped to his feet and lunged, even though his arms were secured behind his back. The guard hit the blue-eyed man in the head with the butt of his gun and he slumped to the floor.

Chapter 171

“Time to wake up, Anna.” Devin’s voice drifted into Anna’s subconscious and pulled her out of the sweet blackness. He nuzzled the back of her neck and she opened her eyes, the threads of the enigmatic dream still tangled around her mind.

She responded automatically. “Yes, Devin.” Avoiding his gaze, she sat up and rubbed her temples, willing the pain in her head to go away. “How long do I have to get ready?”

Devin slid his arm around her waist and kissed her shoulder. “About an hour.”

“Yes, Devin.” She didn’t move until he let go of her, and then went to the bathroom to get ready.

She stared at herself in the mirror. Her eye makeup had smeared into a dark mess and her hair was a mass of tangled knots. Sadness hit her heart hard and she hung her head, tears burning her eyes.

Devin had been so cruel. Sleep had healed her body, but not the agony in her heart. Would Devin forbid her from telling Alex what he’d done to her? But what could Alex do? Doing anything to Devin would hurt her, and he would never risk that.

Her shoulders slumped. Even if he hadn’t been called out, how could Alex really prevent Devin from doing anything to her?

Stepping into the shower, she prayed the hot water would soothe her mind and body, but there was little relief to be had. Alex’s absence weighed heavily on her, leaving a gaping void in her heart. She despaired over the idea of spending the entire weekend alone with Devin.

They ate a quiet breakfast in their hotel room. Anna kept her face schooled and tried not to think of Alex. She answered questions Devin asked, and made simple comments to his observations of the Elders the previous night. She ate for the baby’s sake. The baby was her one tiny glimmer of hope in an otherwise dark day.

As they were leaving the hotel room, Devin grasped her upper arm and she bit back a whimper. He lifted her head with his finger and gave her a gentle smile. “I’m sorry I got angry last night, Anna. I—‍” He sighed. “This is an important weekend and I’ve been under a lot of stress.” He petted her hair. “I shouldn’t have hurt you the way I did.”

Anna blinked and stared at him. He was... apologizing? He never did that. She searched his face and found only sincerity. She gave him a small smile. “It’s okay.”

He kissed her and her fears melted away, leaving her breathless. He certainly knew how to kiss.

Devin took her hand and led her downstairs to a waiting limo, similar to the one they’d taken to the Gathering last fall. Anna shuddered, remembering what the Elder-Sons had done to her on the journey out of the city. What Tommy had done to her.

She crawled inside after Devin and swallowed when she saw a few of the Elder-Sons sitting at the front of the vehicle. Tommy smiled warmly at her and she smiled back as she sat next to Devin. The rest of the Elders and their Sons arrived shortly thereafter, and the limo pulled away from the curb, heading north out of San Francisco.

Devin spoke with the other Elders and kept his arm around Anna the entire drive. As time passed and Devin didn’t send her away, she relaxed. She stared out the window and played with her wedding rings. She daydreamed about being with Alex again. Only a few more days and he’ll be home.

They arrived mid-morning at a heavily wooded and hilly area. Several long lodges lined the road leading toward a gigantic grassy field like the one at the Summer Gathering, only there was no lake behind it. Just trees. A giant, polished-stone eagle sat in the middle of the far side of the field. Large pavilions lined the other three sides of the field. More than at the previous Gathering.

They got out and Devin took her to the largest pavilion, set up close to the eagle. Maggie and Ian were waiting for them.

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