Chapter 138

Wilhelm sighed and walked to the window. It had been over twenty minutes since Aaron had returned from Anna’s room, saying she’d be out shortly. Would Anna avoid coming out here? He knew she was upset with him. He hadn’t been as attentive as he should have been, but his life had turned upside down—mostly in a good way. Until recently, he’d spent most of his days at the Schloss , planning with the other Elders, or with Alex in his study, planning out the details of his upcoming missions. He was exhausted but looking forward to being able to rest, now that the end had finally begun.

“Hello, Wilhelm. Hello, Kurt.”

Wilhelm spun around to smile at his precious Anna, but instead found himself staring at the man standing behind her, looking rather possessive, with his hand on her shoulder. He assumed the man was Hugo. Anna’s arms were crossed over her chest and she frowned at him.

Kurt stood up from the couch, looking between Anna and the other man, hurt evident in his face. It was quite obvious what they had been doing. Wilhelm clenched his jaw and sucked in a long, deep breath. Getting angry would only aggravate the situation.

But how could she stand there so defiantly, especially with Kurt in the same room? Had she grown so cold? Kurt had told her that they couldn’t be together until they were married, and they’d argued about it. And yes, Kurt’s conduct hadn’t exactly been commendable during their previous meetings. But to continue seeing her ex-boyfriend? That was so unlike her.

Wilhelm cleared his throat. “Hello, Anna.”

“I thought you were going to Philadelphia.”

“We do not have to be there until tomorrow morning. You asked when I would come to visit you...” He shrugged. “This was a good opportunity.”

Anna grimaced and glared at Kurt. “You were supposed to call me before you came out.”

Wilhelm sighed. Her attitude was worrisome. And irritating. He took another deep breath and walked over to her and kissed her cheek. As he straightened, he extended his hand to the man behind her. “Hello. I am Wilhelm Kunzberg Herzogin von Hessen.”

The man smiled and extended his hand. “I’m Hugo Sintzenich. It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

Wilhelm thought he detected a hint of a German accent. “You are German?”

Hugo nodded and glanced at Kurt. “Yes,” he responded in German. “I grew up in Dusseldorf.”

Wilhelm chuckled. Anna certainly liked her Germans.

Anna huffed as Wilhelm and Hugo spoke in German above her. She hated not knowing what they were saying. It was bad enough that Wilhelm and Kurt had shown up without warning her, but to exclude her from the conversation by speaking in a language she didn’t understand? And with Hugo, no less? She growled and turned to leave the room. “Let me know when you want to talk to me,” she snapped.

“Anna. Stop.”

She froze mid-step, unable to move forward. He had commanded her. But she wouldn’t back down. She and Hugo were finally together the way they wanted to be, and she wasn’t going to let anything change that. She spun around, ready to defy at Wilhelm, but the anger in his eyes made her rethink what she was about to do.

“Would you mind excusing us, Hugo?” Wilhelm smiled and nodded to the door. “I need to speak with Anna for a bit.”

Hugo glanced at Anna and then back at Wilhelm. “Of course.” He turned to Anna. “See you tomorrow afternoon?”

Anna’s anger softened at his loving smile, and she nodded. “I’ll walk you to the door.” They stopped, Hugo’s hand on the doorknob. She reached up to caress his cheek. “I really enjoyed this afternoon.”

He pulled her close. “I did too.” He bent down and kissed her deeply. “Call me if you want me to come back over tonight.”

A thrill ran through her body at the idea of him staying the night with her. Of being with him again. “I might do that.”

He grinned and kissed her again. “I will await your call,” he murmured, and then left.

Anna returned to the living room and crossed her arms, frowning at Wilhelm. “What do you want to talk to me about?”

Wilhelm frowned. “I thought you two broke up.”

“We did.”

“And yet, you are sleeping with him still?” Kurt asked.

She rolled her eyes. “Still? It was our first time.”

Wilhelm’s frown deepened, as if he didn’t believe her. “So you admit to betraying Kurt?”

Anna’s mouth dropped open in shock and then her eyes narrowed. “Betraying? Really?” She narrowed her eyes at Kurt. “What would you call screwing Jasmine every time you come into town?”

Wilhelm’s brows raised and he looked at Kurt. “What is she talking about?”

Kurt’s eyes narrowed. “I have a right to?—?”

“Oh, screw your rights!” Anna’s chest heaved as she glowered at her fiancé. “Why the hell do you care what I do? You told me if I was discreet, you didn’t care.”

“So, you hooked up with your ex?” Kurt snapped. “How can I trust that it is not just physical?”

“Why does it matter what I feel about him?”

Kurt sighed and ran his hand over his face, his shoulders slumping. “Look, Anna. I know I have not handled things well, but?—?”

“ Handled things well? You flew all the way here from Germany to yell at me!”

“You were in another man’s bed!”

“You said I could do what I wanted to!”

“You were not being discreet!”

Anna growled. “I was this time,” she snapped. “It’s not my fault you came uninvited.”

“Enough!” Wilhelm’s deep voice filled the room as he stared, unbelieving, at Anna. “What has gotten into you, Anna?”

“Me?” She stabbed a finger in Kurt’s direction. “He’s the one who’s turned into an asshole.”

Kurt shook his head. “I told y?—?”

“He is your fiancé, Anna,” Wilhelm said sternly. “He deserves your respect.”

“I didn’t ask for him to be my fiancé. In fact—?” She glared at Kurt. “He didn’t even ask me to marry him. He just told me and threw the ring at me.”

Wilhelm frowned at Kurt. “You said you were going to apologize for that.”

“I did not throw it,” Kurt muttered.

Wilhelm sighed. “Regardless of how it happened, Anna, you are still engaged to him and you need to act accordingly.”

“I don’t want to be engaged to him!” She threw her hands up in disgust. “I was told that I was free here! You told me—and Tom told me—that I was free. Then Kurt shows up one day and tells me I have to marry him. He didn’t ask me. He told me.”

“Anna, things have changed,” Wilhelm said softly. “I need you to trust me.”

Anna snorted. “Why? So you can ignore me again?”

“Anna, that is quite enough.” Wilhelm gave her a warning look. “You have no idea what is going on, and I need you to trust me.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her chin. “No.”

Wilhelm’s jaw clenched, his nostrils flared, and he sucked in a very long, very deep breath. She blew out a short breath and clenched her jaw, refusing to acknowledge the terror racing through her body at the sight of his anger. She knew what Alex’s anger did to him. Pushing her fear aside, she narrowed her eyes and clenched her teeth, growling out “I hate you” very slowly and very deliberately. Then she turned on her heel and stormed toward her bedroom.

“Anna! Come back!”

Anna’s feet froze to the floor at his command, nearly making her fall to the floor. She had to obey. She didn’t want to obey. Her entire body shook as she fought his command. Finally, she yelled, “No!” and managed one more step against the invisible force holding her in place.

Her head exploded in blinding pain and she shrieked and fell to her knees.

Aaron ran out into the living room at Anna’s scream and saw her curled up in a ball, holding her head. He’d heard the shouting and had been rather impressed at Anna holding her own, but then she’d screamed... “What the hell did you do?”

“Aaron, stay away from her,” Wilhelm ordered sharply. “She has been disobedient.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Aaron, back off.” He picked Anna up, carried her to the couch, and sat down with her by his side.

Her face was screwed up like she was in a tremendous amount of pain, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Aaron looked at Kurt, who watched her with pained eyes.

Wilhelm stroked her hair back from her face. “Anna, will you stop rebelling?”

She didn’t answer right away. She started to respond, then shrieked again and grabbed her head.

“What the hell is going on?” Aaron growled. “What are you doing to her?”

“He is not doing anything, Aaron,” Kurt said softly. “She is doing it to herself.”

Aaron could hardly bear to watch her and turned away. “Okay, what’s she doing?”

“She ignored a command from her Master,” Kurt said. “The pain will not stop until she stops rebelling.” He gave a small smile. “I never knew she could be so stubborn.”

Aaron frowned. “I did.” Anna shrieked again and Aaron winced. “I suppose I never imagined her acting out against your father, though.”

Kurt sighed and pressed his lips together. “Please believe me. I never wanted to hurt her.”

“Then why did you?”

“I did not mean to... I just—?” He shook his head. “I cannot explain it right now.” He gave Aaron a pleading look. “Please encourage her to trust us. I promise everything will make sense soon.” He turned back to look at Anna with such longing on his face, Aaron hurt for him.

“Alright,” Aaron said after a few minutes. “But can you stop being such a jerk?”

Kurt nodded.

Wilhelm stroked Anna’s hair back from her face as she slowly calmed down. He was truly amazed at the amount of stubbornness in this little girl. Well, she wasn’t a girl anymore. She was twenty-five. Oh, time flew far too fast.

She shuddered and then drew in a deep breath and blew it out, staring at her hands. “Are you going to punish me?”

“Do I need to?” he asked gently.

She swallowed and gave a tiny shrug. “You are my Master.”

He pulled her into his lap and cradled her head against his chest. “I think you have learned your lesson.” He kissed her forehead and held her until she was completely calm.

Kurt and Aaron had disappeared a while ago, and he was alone with Anna in the apartment.

“Do you love him?” he asked quietly.

“Hugo?”

Wilhelm nodded.

She didn’t answer right away, instead twisting her hands in the ties of her robe. “I don’t know. I might. I care for him a lot.”

Wilhelm was certain Hugo cared just as much for her as she did for him.

“We broke up because of what you told me about marrying Kurt. That was the only reason.”

“Ah.” He hoped she would forgive him for what he was about to say. “Anna, I must forbid you from having sex with him anymore. It is not a good idea for you to become attached to him, or anyone, for that matter.”

She stared at her hands. “Yes, Wilhelm.”

He saw something hit the side of her hand resting in her lap and realized it was a tear.

“May I go?” she whispered without a hint of rebellion.

He knew he had wounded her with his command, but it was the right thing to do. He hoped she would understand once Alex returned to her. “Yes,” he said in a gentle voice. “You may go.”

Anna stood, trying to contain her tears. She had learned her lesson. A painful lesson about rebellion. She would never do that again.

“Would you like us to stop by on our way home on Monday?”

“Whatever you would like.” She turned and gave him a respectful nod, and then hurried to her room and fell onto her bed. Her pillow still smelled like Hugo, and she cried herself to sleep.