Page 389 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

She looked at him with blank eyes.

Devin sighed. This wasn’t good. She wasn’t even responding to him. She had completely shut down. Well, now he knew her limits.

Using the ancient technique he’d learned to control her mind and feelings, he trailed his fingers across her forehead and down her temple to her cheekbone. Her eyes closed momentarily and then opened again. This time, they were full of grief. Tears welled up and spilled over onto her cheeks. A great sob escaped her mouth and she curled over her lap. He wrapped his arms around her and let her cry. She wouldn’t shut down again. At least not for a while. Her feelings would stay raw until her brain couldn’t take anymore and shut down again. But by then she would be home.

He handed her a tissue and she blotted her eyes, though the tears kept spilling. “Why did you do that? I liked not feeling anything.”

“It’s not healthy to shut down like that, Anna.”

“It hurts!”

“I know, Baby. But avoiding the pain will just prolong it.”

“I don’t want to feel!”

“But if you don’t feel, you won’t feel anything good either.”

“What could possibly feel good ever again?”

Devin smiled and reached forward to touch her breast. She sucked in a breath and held it while he caressed her in just the way he knew she liked. “Doesn’t that feel good?”

Her eyes closed and her lips parted as she nodded.

The Immortal part of her was so predictable. “There are good things to feel, even when you’re hurting. If you shut down, you won’t feel this again.” He slid his hand under her sweater and caressed her breast over her thin cotton bra. Her nipple was taut and he squeezed it, making her gasp.

She moaned softly and then whimpered when he withdrew his hand. She opened her eyes and looked at him. “Please don’t stop...”

Devin smiled. “Baby, as much as I’d like to, I can’t fuck you here on the couch in Wilhelm’s house.”

She looked around as if she didn’t realize where she was. “Oh.”

“When you come home, I promise, I will make you feel really, really good.”

“I don’t know when I’m coming home.”

“Wilhelm can’t keep you here if you don’t want to be here. I’m leaving on Monday morning. I can get you a ticket to come with me if you’d like, but it’s up to you. If you’d rather stay here...” He shrugged. He couldn’t force her to leave. He could only make it miserable to stay.

She shook her head. “I can’t leave Wilhelm.”

“Baby, Wilhelm has a family to take care of.” He stroked her cheek.

Anna blinked, furrowing her brows, then looked away, tears filling her eyes.

“I should go. I’m not exactly welcome here, but I wanted to check on you.”

Anna nodded, staring at her lap.

Devin reached into his pocket and handed Anna a tiny plastic bag. “If things get too painful, take this. It will help.”

Anna held up the bag and looked at the small white pill. “What is it?”

“Something to help you feel better. It’s only a half a dose. You shouldn’t take it without someone being around, but I don’t think Wilhelm would approve. Only take it if you need it.” And she would need it. He was sure of it. He kissed her on the top of her head. “Don’t take it before the Gathering.”

Anna nodded and slid the bag into her sweater pocket.

Having accomplished what he came to do, Devin found his way out of the house and drove back to his hotel, confident that Anna would be returning to San Francisco with him on Monday morning.

Anna remained seated in the salon for a few minutes after Devin’s departure. When she finally rose to her feet, her heart constricted with such excruciating pain it pierced her very soul and she bent over, wrapping her arms around herself. Her need for Alex was so overwhelming, she feared it would suffocate her. Each breath was so painful, she wished she didn’t need oxygen to live.

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