Page 218 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

He jumped back and laughed. “Your feathers tickle.”

Anna giggled. Her elaborate, red-feathered headdress was always getting in the way. Dave said he got a mouthful of feathers every time they danced together. Hugo wrinkled his nose and Anna laughed. “Sorry.”

He rolled his eyes and laughed. “Poor Dave.”

Dave was standing a few feet away. “What?”

“I just got a face full of feathers. I know why you make the face now.”

Dave laughed. “I try not to on stage.”

When Vincent was satisfied they were ready for the evening performance, he dismissed them so he could rehearse the other ballets. Anna headed back to her apartment after carefully hanging her costume in her dressing room.

After showering, she lay down on her bed and stared out the window across the room. Her eyes slowly closed and she fell asleep.

Chapter 114

Alex waited in his bedroom for Sebastian. Alex was going to become like an Elder. The thought both thrilled and frightened him. He’d seen many funerals where Elder-Sons became Elder, and it never looked particularly enjoyable. Would it hurt? How would it feel? It had never occurred to him to ask a new Elder.

Sebastian appeared a few minutes later with... Irina? The Russian Elder-Mistress?

Alex frowned. “What’s she doing here?” There would be only one reason an Elder-Mistress would be here. Irina was beautiful and sensual, but cold. Like all the Elder-Mistresses. He wanted his sweet, warm Anna.

“Alex, I cannot give you my essence straight. It would be too much for you right now when you are not fully an Elder. Irina will make it easier for you to partake of.” Sebastian gave him a sympathetic smile. “I know she is not Anna, but she is a Mistress we can trust.”

Irina smiled at him and moved closer. “Let me help you, Alexander. My sister has been abused for far too long, and Sebastian assures me you are the one to free her.”

He stared at her for a long moment, then gave a curt nod. This was for Anna. He would do anything for his beloved.

An hour later, Alex felt different. And guilty. Sebastian had sex with Irina and then Alex had ‘partaken’ of both of their essences from Irina’s body. Then he’d fucked her senseless. He hadn’t been thinking when he did it; he just did it. Lust had consumed him.

Sebastian had taken Irina back to Russia and Alex sat on his bed, staring at his wedding ring. Was that what it would be like when he became Elder? Becoming so consumed with lust that he would fuck anyone? Is that what the Immortal essence did? He couldn’t do that to Anna. It would kill her. Why, oh why, did he have to be his father’s son?

But he was. And Anna was an Elder-Mistress. They would always have to share one another with others. Maybe he could fake his own death after he took care of Devin. Then he and Anna could?—

“Ready?”

Alex jumped at the sound of Sebastian’s voice. He turned and looked mournfully at his friend. “I can’t believe I did that.”

“Did what?”

“Fucked Irina.”

Sebastian studied Alex for a few minutes. “Alex, the first time is very difficult.” He chuckled. “We are sexual beings. Your body does not quite know what to do with it. But it will get more comfortable.” He took a step toward Alex. “Once you and Anna are reunited, you will need to do that with her.”

Alex gave him a horrified look. “I can’t use her like that.”

“With the right relationship, it is not using. She will want to give of herself.”

Sebastian’s words triggered a memory from long ago. Before he’d married Anna, they’d made love and Anna had tried to give him of herself. He didn’t know how he knew, or even if she knew at that point, but he had told her not to. That he didn’t need it. How had he known?

“She loves you, Alex. She will want to give it to you.”

“Will you fuck her first?”

“It would be a good idea if I did so every once in a while. Maintaining is much easier than re-doing. And it will give you the strength to fight Devin.”

That perked Alex’s ears. “Really?”

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