Page 72 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

She glanced up at Alex, who was watching her with an inscrutable expression on his face. She didn’t understand how any of this was possible, but she didn’t dare question him. While he may have claimed otherwise, she knew men got violent when they were angry. She let out a small, “Oh,” and looked back down at his chest. What else could she say? He undoubtedly knew more about the world than she did.

Was this why Devin wanted to control her so completely? Because The Brotherhood controlled the world? That didn’t make any sense. How could controlling her help him control the world? “So, you... saved me?” Saved me from what? She didn’t dare look up at him, though she desperately wanted to.

“Ja, Schatzi, I did.” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and she shivered.

His hand lingered in her hair, and she leaned into him and closed her eyes. “Why?” It felt good when he touched her. He was gentle.

He didn’t answer right away, and she could feel him looking at her. “Because I had to.” He sighed and his hand dropped away. “I had the opportunity and obligation to stop him.”

“Oh.” The blood drained from her face and she pulled away from him, opening her eyes to stare at his chest once more. He hadn’t saved her because he cared about her. He saved her because he had an obligation to do so. For some reason. She rubbed the backs of her tingling fingers. Why did that idea hurt so much? “So, both you and Devin are my Masters?”

Alex grimaced and looked at the window behind her. “Ja.”

He was her Master. Devin had changed when he became her Master. So had Master Jack.

Alex claimed not to be violent, but that would likely change, too. Masters were only cruel. She needed to fulfill her purpose to him. “Master, please...” She reached out toward his stomach. “I am well trained. I can please you?—‍”

“Nein, Anna,” he growled.

She snatched her hand back and swallowed as an icy chill ran through her body. Why wouldn’t he let her please him? Why had he become her Master if he didn’t want to use her? Although he had just said he’d done it out of obligation. He didn’t really want her. He just didn’t want Devin to have her to himself. But why? She closed her eyes and her shoulders slumped.

After a long moment, Alex spoke again, his voice gentle once more. “Anna, tell me how you were trained.”

She opened her eyes and looked up into his face, drawing her brows together. Why would he ask that? His father was an Elder. Surely he knew how slaves were trained. “In the normal way, I suppose. Though Master Jack said he could be harder on me because I healed with sleep.”

“What does training have to do with a healing ability?”

She furrowed her brows. “Aren’t your slaves trained?”

“Of course they are.”

“Wouldn’t the trainers enjoy it if a slave could heal overnight?”

He tilted his head, drawing his brows together. “I don’t understand the connection. What does training have to do with healing?” He sucked in a sharp breath and looked her directly in the eyes. “Anna, tell me how you were trained,” he said, his voice firm.

Her eyes widened as she felt the command. So that’s what it feels like to be commanded to do something. “When I was sixteen, Master Jack—well, he was Uncle Jack then. He brought me here and Devin and I had sex.” She paused. “Then Master Jack took me home and started training me. Well, he told me that my training had really begun when I was younger because I started learning about sex after my parents died, but?—‍”

“What did he do to you after your parents died?”

Anna shrugged. “He and Devin showed me how good sexual touch felt.”

Alex’s stomach turned over. How could she speak so matter-of-factly about Jack and Devin molesting her? She couldn’t have been older than twelve when that happened. Alex knew when her parents had died. How could someone have the audacity to touch a young girl in such a disturbing manner?

“Master Jack said it would help me forget the pain in my heart from my parents dying.” She shrugged again. “He wasn’t wrong.”

“Why do you call Jack ‘Master Jack’?”

Anna frowned. “He’s—‍” She looked thoughtful. “He’s not my Master anymore, is he?”

Alex shook his head.

“You are. And Devin.”

He nodded.

She chewed her lip. “Okay.”

He couldn’t quite read her expression, but it was a mix of relief and apprehension.

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