Page 295 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

“You’re the one who forbade it.”

Alex blew out a breath and shook his head. “That didn’t give him the right to be unkind. I should pummel him again.”

“It won’t do any good. What’s done is done. You must decide what to do from here.”

Alex stood and walked to the side of the terrace to look down the street at Anna’s apartment building. “She has feelings for Hugo?”

“Yes.”

He closed his eyes. Of course she’d had relationships since he’d been gone. Peter and Kurt included. Could she ever love him again? Would she want to be with him once she didn’t have to? Or would she just stay with him because she had to? “I wish I could torture Devin to death.”

Sebastian chuckled. “Perhaps once the bond is broken.”

“Will it really dissolve on its own?”

“I believe so. If the final ritual is not performed, there is nothing to reinforce the first ritual, which is the entire purpose of the second ritual. She should be freed from both of you.”

“But not our marriage?”

“Marriage bonds you for life, Alex. Nothing can destroy that.”

“What if she doesn’t want me?”

“You will have to work hard to make her want you again. You two can’t be separated. Kurt could divorce Gretchen because he wasn’t an Elder-Son. You and Anna were married and bonded by the Elders. Only death destroys that bond.” He gave him a sad smile. “It’s why she could never get over you. If you had really died, she would have been able to.”

There was comfort in Sebastian’s words. It gave him hope. “But I don’t want her resenting me.”

“Maybe you should set her free and trust that she’ll come back to you.”

“But I can’t, can I?”

“Technically, no, but you can give her the freedom to choose you. Have your father lift his restrictions, or override them yourself.”

“I can do that?”

“You shouldn’t, but yes, you can. With her.”

Alex nodded. “If you love something, set it free...”

Anna’s phone rang that evening and she ignored it. It was Wilhelm. Again. She didn’t want to talk to him. What else would he forbid her from doing?

Her phone rang again. This time it was Aaron. “Hi.” He was out with Cameron.

“Wilhelm’s trying to get ahold of you.”

“I know.”

“He says he needs to talk to you.”

She sighed. “Is he ordering me?”

“No. He said he wouldn’t command you, but asked you to please call him.”

He wouldn’t command her? “Really?”

“Yes. Please call him. He sounds concerned.”

Anna sighed. “Alright.” Perversely, she was more inclined to call him knowing he hadn’t commanded it.

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