Chapter 173

Aaron was pleased to see Anna handling Alex’s second departure better than the first one. Monday and Tuesday, he’d hardly seen her smile at all. Today she smiled a few times.

After lunch, they ran through Hugo’s ballet. Aaron was in it as well. He especially liked the part where both he and Hugo got to dance with her.

It was in the middle of this dance when Aaron began to feel a little dizzy. He thought he was getting sick until he saw Anna stumble and grab her head.

“Katrina?” Hugo said, putting his arm around her.

Anna looked up, her eyes wide and filled with fear as they darted around. Finally, they locked on Aaron’s. Her jaw moved a few times before she gave a great shudder. “Devin...”

Aaron’s heart stopped and he couldn’t move for what felt like an eternity. He shook his head, forcing himself to repeat what Anna had said. Devin. “Hugo, find someone to rehearse with so it doesn’t look like we’re missing.” He sprinted across the stage to grab his and Anna’s bags.

“Wha—why? What’s going on?”

Aaron turned to look at Hugo, fear coursing through his body. “Devin’s coming.” Hugo’s face turned ashen as Aaron grabbed Anna’s hand. “I’m taking her to her place. I’ll call you later.”

He dragged a stumbling Anna off stage and a second later heard Hugo calling names. Aaron knew he could trust Hugo to do what needed to be done.

Aaron’s phone rang in his bag. He ignored it as he pulled a stumbling Anna through the maze of the backstage. It started ringing again and he stopped and pulled it out. He didn’t recognize the number, but answered it anyway. “Hello?”

“Aaron, oh, thank God! It’s Kelsey, Tom’s wife. I’ve been trying to call you for half an hour.”

Aaron froze. “Kelsey?” He’d met Tom’s wife a handful of times.

“Tom and Devin are on their way to the theater. Tom told me to call you since he couldn’t get away.”

“Anna felt him coming. I’m dragging her out as we speak.”

“Tom said to take her to her condo and into Seth’s bedroom. That’s all I know.”

“Thanks, Kelsey. I will.” He shoved his phone into the pocket of his sweatpants and glanced at Anna as he started dragging her forward again. Her face was pale and damp with sweat. She stumbled every other step. How was he going to get her home?

“I know she’s fucking here, Tom. What the hell is wrong with you?” Devin stood in Tom’s kitchen, shouting at his friend. “Why can’t you feel her?”

Tom frowned. “Watch your language, Devin. My kids are home.”

Devin had flown into New York to spend the day with Tom before flying into Boston in the morning. He hadn’t told Tom he was coming. He might be paranoid, but he was beginning to not trust anyone. Even his oldest friend. Someone was calling hits on his loyal supporters. He wouldn’t rule anyone out. Who would be next?

A wave of unease washed over him. He knew what was going to happen in the morning and didn’t want to be anywhere near Boston until it was done.

As soon as he’d landed, he felt her. Anna . His elusive prey. She was here.

Tom sighed and shook his head. “I think you’re being paranoid.”

“Am I?” Devin glared. “I don’t think so. Let’s go visit the ballet company again. I’ll bet anything she’s there.”

Tom rolled his eyes. “Fine. Let me tell Kelsey I’m leaving.”

Tom parked his Jaguar behind the theater and Devin had his door open before he’d turned the ignition off. Devin could feel Anna as easily as he could feel the cool breeze on his face. They strode through the back entrance, the security guard balking until he saw Tom’s nod.

He heard the music coming from the stage as they approached and didn’t bother to wait for the dancers to stop before walking onto the stage. That black man was in the middle of the stage, dancing with the woman he’d manipulated the last time he’d been here.

The music stopped suddenly and everyone turned to look at him and Tom. Anna was here, somewhere. He looked around as the ballet master approached.

“Hello, gentlemen,” he said pleasantly. “May I help you?”

Devin glared at him. “Where is she?”

“Where is who?” The older man glanced at Tom.

“Anna,” Devin snapped, walking up to the woman standing in the middle of the stage. He gave her a small smile and she stared. “Where is she? Where is the woman who stole the man from you?”

“I-I don’t know what y-you’re talking about.” She was clearly terrified of him, which pleased him to no end.

“Anna.” He turned to the black man. “You lied the last time I was here. You’re lucky to be alive.”

The man narrowed his eyes, mirroring Devin. “She’s not here.”

Devin clenched his hands and looked around, noticing Aaron wasn’t around. “Where’s Aaron?”

“He went home sick,” Vincent said, walking over with a firm look on his face. “If you don’t mind, we are in the middle of rehearsals. Whoever you are looking for is obviously not here.”

Devin grabbed him around his neck and stared into his eyes. His powers weren’t as strong, but if he concentrated, he could glean a little bit of information from his mind. He saw Anna dancing and... Devin growled. “You fucking bastard. You will pay for hiding her.” He shoved the man away and stalked back to Tom. “She was here. She left with that fucking Aaron.”

Without a backward glance, Devin stormed off the stage. He needed Kaveh.

Anna huddled in the corner of Seth’s room with Aaron’s arms around her. She could feel Devin searching for her and Alex wasn’t here to protect her.

“Shh, Anna. It’s okay.” Aaron held her tightly and stroked her hair. “It’ll be okay.”

There was a flash of light, and Sebastian appeared, immediately kneeling in front of them. He lifted Anna’s chin and studied her eyes. “It will be alright, Anna,” he said in a soothing voice and then stood and closed his eyes.

Warmth wrapped around her like a blanket and she sucked in a deep breath and relaxed. She leaned her head on Aaron’s chest, knowing she was safe. She felt Aaron relax, too.

Sebastian stood like a sentinel in the middle of the room, glowing like a bronze statue. He would keep Devin from finding her and then Alex would be home tomorrow night and everything would be okay.

Suddenly, Sebastian’s eyes snapped open, and there was another flash of light. Anna screamed as Kaveh appeared. He was broader than Sebastian and his face was twisted into a mask of fury. He snarled to Sebastian in a language she didn’t understand. Sebastian laughed and replied in the same language.

Aaron pulled her to his other side, away from the Immortals, as a flaming sword appeared in Kaveh’s hand.

Kaveh swung at Sebastian, who jumped out of the way, and a similar sword appeared in his hand. Sebastian swung at Kaveh and Kaveh blocked it, sparks flying into the air around them. Anna winced at the loud metallic clangs as the two Immortals fought, moving quicker and quicker until they became a blur of light and fire. The wall blasted open and they moved out into the hallway.

Devin stood outside the building where Kaveh had said Anna was hiding. It was a luxurious private building with a doorman. He couldn’t feel Anna, but knew Kaveh wouldn’t steer him wrong. Kaveh had missed Anna as much as he had.

Suddenly he could sense Anna as if she’d just stepped into the room. He looked back at Tom with a malicious grin. “She’s here. Get me in.”

“Devin, this is a private building with three dozen apartments. How the?—?”

Devin grabbed his collar. “If you don’t get me into this building, I will have to question your loyalty.”

Tom pressed his lips together and pulled away from Devin. “ My loyalty? After all we’ve gone through?”

Devin growled. “Then get me inside.”