Chapter 180

Later that evening, Devin sat on his throne in the Great Hall, Anna trembling and naked at his feet. He had listened to his friends speak fondly of Tyler and had himself spoken briefly. He had allowed tears to gather in his eyes to show his attachment to his son, but they had threatened to choke him, and he stopped short of letting them fall. He could not show that kind of weakness in front of these men.

Now, watching as Tyler’s white robe was brought to the brazier near the edge of the platform, he held himself utterly still. The awaiting dancing flames made his son’s death all the more real. Devin’s eyes darted around the Hall—anything to hold back the reality of the moment.

A movement at the back of the room caught his attention, and he saw Wilhelm, Vlad, and Tom standing shoulder to shoulder, their faces inscrutable. Tommy stood nearby, next to Peter and Kurt.

What was going on? Why were those Elders standing together? They had nothing in common.

As Tyler’s robe was placed on the brazier, the smoke from the flames briefly blocked his view of the men, momentarily distracting him. Grief threatened to overwhelm him again, but he would not cry. He would not show weakness. He kept his face stoic and stared at the flames that represented the death of his son.

When the flames died down, he stood to speak once more, but the doors in the back of the room were violently thrown open, hitting the stone walls with a great crash. Devin froze. He stared as a giant of a man in a hooded white robe slowly walked down the center aisle, followed by four equally large men in black robes. He knew of only one person who could wear a white robe like that, but he was supposed to be thousands of miles away, in Russia.

Alex glanced over at his men before sucking in a deep breath. This was it. The moment they’d been waiting for. “Ready?”

“You sure I can’t use a meat grinder on his cock?” Seth flashed a devilish grin.

Alex chuckled. “As tempting as it is, it would be a bit messy.”

The others laughed softly, defusing the tension.

He took another deep breath, pulled the white hood over his head to hide his face, and pushed the doors open with a dramatic flair. Might as well make sure everyone noticed him walk in.

He stepped through the doors. With long, slow strides, he made his way down the wide aisle of white-clad men, his robe swaying with his deliberate movements. Every eye in the place was on him and he lifted his chin and flashed an invisible grin at Devin, who stood frozen with his hands lifted halfway in the air.

The only hesitation in his steps was when he caught sight of Anna huddling naked next to Devin’s chair, her bruises looking so much worse than they had earlier that morning. She didn’t look up as he approached. But why would she? She believed he was dead. She had no hope and it showed.

Alex stopped a few feet from the edge of the platform and lifted his head. He could tell when Devin recognized him because the Elder’s face turned ashen.

Devin slowly lowered his hands, his elbows close to his body, and lifted his chin. The slightest shake of his hands made Alex grin again. “What do you want?” Devin’s throat bobbed as he swallowed several times. A fine sheen of sweat appeared on the Elder’s forehead when Alex didn’t answer right away.

Alex stood silently for several minutes as Devin’s fingers pulled at the sleeves of his robe. He could only imagine what was going through the Elder’s mind, but he was clearly trying to maintain some sort of control over his body.

Hundreds of eyes bored into Alex’s back as he stood there, watching Devin fidget. He glanced over at the brazier and watched the last remnants of white linen transform into black ashes.

“What do you want?” Devin’s voice cracked on the last word.

Alex slowly lowered his hood and glared at Devin. “I think you know what I want.”

Low murmurs filled the room as the man in the white robe lowered his hood. Anna didn’t dare look up. Devin had promised a syringe full of pain directly into her clit and nipples again if she showed even the slightest hint of disobedience.

The air in the Great Hall had been cold against her bare skin, but it was growing warmer. The murmurs grew louder and she shivered.

Devin spoke. His voice trembled as if he were afraid.

Anna didn’t dare look up.

Another voice spoke. A voice that spread over her like a warm blanket. A voice from her dreams. Had she disobeyed and Devin had killed her again?

Don’t look up. Don’t disobey! Thoughts of Alex had been plaguing her since Tyler’s funeral that morning. She closed her eyes, leaning into the ghostly warmth of his presence close by. It wasn’t real, but his false presence was better than anything she’d felt since Devin had found her in New York.

A name began dancing in the air. Why were they speaking his name aloud? He was dead!

The voice spoke again and tears filled her eyes. “Did you like the way your son died, Devin? I did it especially for you.”

She clenched her fists. Why was his voice so real? Why were the Elders saying his name?

Involuntarily, her eyes opened and she looked up. Her heart stopped. Her jaw trembled. Tears ran down her cheeks, burning the abrasions on her face. “Alex!” She scrambled to her feet but froze and nearly fell at Devin’s command.

“Stop!”

Alex’s face screwed into a mask of anger and he stepped closer to Devin. “You dare forbid my wife from coming to me?” His eyes flashed with anger.

“You’re supposed to be dead,” Devin spat.

“You would like that, wouldn’t you? It would have been a lot easier if I really was dead.” He turned around and faced the Elders. “But he couldn’t kill me without killing Anna, so he had Vitaly capture me and keep me and my men imprisoned in Russia.”

Elders stood, shouting and raising their fists.

Devin laughed and shook his head. “That is absurd! You can’t prove that. How could I do such a thing?”

Vlad appeared at the edge of the platform and pointed a finger at Devin. “You had my father help you.” At the Russian Elder’s words, the Hall grew silent once more, and his voice echoed against the stone walls. “Even I was enlisted to help, manipulated into thinking Alex was a threat.”

“You betray me?” Devin snarled.

Vlad lifted his chin. “I consider it correcting a grievous wrong, Devin.”

Devin’s gaze turned to Tom, who had joined Vlad at the platform. “Tom?”

Tom shook his head. “You’re destroying our country, Devin. I can’t allow that to happen.”

Alex stepped onto the platform and towered over Devin, whose face had turned gray. “Tell Anna, Devin. Tell her and everyone in here how you had me captured and held in St. Petersburg, while you used her to increase your power and further your plans.”

Alex continued speaking, but Anna couldn’t hear him any longer. Desperation filled her heart to run into his arms, but her body wouldn’t listen. Her feet were frozen to the wooden platform. She reached out to him and Alex gave her such a loving look she started to cry.

Alex is alive! Alex is here! She closed her eyes again, willing her feet to move.

But then Alex’s words sank in and her eyes snapped open. Devin had taken her beloved Alex from her, and tortured her and used her and?—

White range blinded Anna as she balled her hands into fists, screaming out in primal fury.