Page 98 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

Patya studied Wilhelm for a long time. Finally, he nodded. “I see.”

Devin walked in a moment later, and Wilhelm stared in shock. The only hint that he had been hit was the speck of blood on his collar. There was no bruise, no disfigurement.

Wilhelm was certain he’d broken the man’s nose. He’d felt the bones give way as his fist made contact with his face. Wilhelm’s blood boiled at the realization that Anna suffered because of Devin. Devin was the reason she couldn’t heal herself. Wilhelm clenched his fist and his jaw, every instinct within him shouting at him to hit Devin again.

Patya turned his gaze on Devin. The Immortal’s eyes narrowed and he lifted his chin, a hint of disapproval on his face. “Where is the girl?” he asked in English.

Wilhelm motioned to the bed. Patya strode across the room and looked down at Anna. “Who is her Master?”

Both Wilhelm and Devin answered at the same time. “I am.”

The Immortal turned and raised his eyebrows. “She has two Masters?”

Both men answered in a growl. “Yes.”

Patya studied both men and frowned. He pointed at Devin. “You stay. Everyone else leave.”

Wilhelm started to protest, but the Immortal raised his brows again. Everyone but Devin filed out of the room and the door was closed.

Vlad shifted on his feet as they stood silently in the hallway. “Would you... like something to drink?” he asked in German.

Wilhelm sighed. “Thank you, Vlad. But I don’t want to go far from Anna.”

“I understand.” Vlad ran his hand through his thick black hair. “I’m sorry, Wilhelm.”

Wilhelm furrowed his brows. “Why are you apologizing? You didn’t cause Anna’s sickness.”

Vlad smiled weakly and shrugged his shoulders. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment.”

Wilhelm thoughtfully watched Vlad walk away. What made the Russian feel the need to apologize for something he had no involvement in?

Kurt paced back and forth across the wide hallway. Wilhelm sat in a gilt-edged chair and tried to make sense of everything that had happened today.

When the door opened, a half hour later, Wilhelm jumped to his feet and Kurt froze mid-step. Devin stood in the doorway. “She’s fine. Sleeping.”

Wilhelm pushed past him and sighed in relief when he saw the color had returned to Anna’s face. Kurt went to sit on the bed and held her hand.

Wilhelm turned and stood tall, glaring at Devin. “You may leave. You do not need to be here anymore.”

Devin smirked. “Even Patya recognized my claim to her was more legitimate than yours.”

“You relented when the other Elders pressured you. My claim is as legitimate as yours.”

“For now.” Devin glanced at Anna. “I’ll leave. But you better bring her back to me.”

“I already said I would, as much as it disgusts me to do so.”

Devin shrugged. “That’s the problem with being honorable. Doing things you don’t want to do.” He laughed and strode from the room.

“I hate that man,” Kurt grumbled in German.

“You aren’t the only one, son.”

Anna moaned and slowly opened her eyes. She was in Kurt’s hotel room.

“Anna . . .”

She rolled onto her back and saw Kurt sitting next to her on the bed. She smiled. “Hi,” she said softly.

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