Chapter 181

A chill ran down Alex’s spine as Anna’s scream turned into a shriek of rage. She fell to her knees, leaned back, and screamed again. Her entire body shook. The entire assembly turned to look at her.

Slowly, she stood, her emerald gaze fixed firmly on Devin. Her hair hung loose around her pale face. Her pupils were disappearing and her eyes began to glow.

Devin turned to look at her and his eyes widened in terror. “Oh, shit,” he whispered and backed away from her. She tilted her head and stepped forward with slow, silent steps. He whimpered and backed away even more, but his feet caught in his robes and he fell on his ass at Alex’s feet.

Alex bit back a smile at Devin’s girlish scream. He knew he couldn’t let Anna kill him, but he was truly enjoying Devin’s terror.

Devin looked up at Alex. “Help me. Please... She’ll kill me.”

“I will show you as much mercy as you’ve shown her.”

Alex actually saw tears in Devin’s eyes as Anna stopped in front of him and looked down, her expression a mix of curiosity and ice-cold rage.

Devin shook his head and pointed a finger at her. “Anna, stop!”

A wicked smile spread across her face. She slowly lowered herself to her knees and reached out, as if to gently smooth his hair away from his face. She placed a pale hand on his sweaty forehead and closed her eyes.

Devin gasped. His arms and legs shook like gelatin. Then he began to scream. He arched his back as if in terrible pain. Anna removed her hand and watched him, unblinking, as he convulsed and screamed, a faint smile on her face.

“You must stop her, Alex.”

Alex turned around to see Sebastian standing behind him. “She will kill him and you can’t allow that to happen. Killing him will break her.”

Alex frowned, but he knew Sebastian was right.

After Devin let out a particularly blood-curdling scream, Alex stepped around Devin and stood over Anna.

“Anna,” he said in a firm tone.

She ignored him.

“Anna, release him.”

She smiled as Devin screamed again.

He sucked in a deep breath. “An-na!” His voice echoed off the walls and ceiling of the room.

Anna closed her eyes for a moment, but when they opened, she was looking up at him, though her eyes were the same cold emerald.

“Release him.”

She glared at him.

“Now!”

She growled, but Devin stopped thrashing about and was still except for his heaving chest.

“Thank you,” he said softly, with a smile.

He stepped closer and she narrowed her eyes at him and tensed, as if to lunge at him.

He stared intently into her eyes. “Back away from Devin.”

She shook her head, trying to break eye contact, but couldn’t. “Back away from Devin,” he commanded again, intensifying his stare.

She didn’t move.

He continued staring at her, but neither backed down nor blinked. Suddenly, she lunged at him and he caught her wrists, holding them firmly. Damn, she was strong. His arm muscles strained to keep her hands and fingernails at a distance. She bared her teeth at him and growled.

He frowned at her. “You are being disobedient,” he said slowly and firmly. “This behavior is unacceptable. You do not attack your Master. Sit down.” He kept his voice even and firm, not breaking eye contact. She growled again, and he realized he needed to change tactics. Pain and control caused her to rage in the first place. What she needed now was love.

“Anna, love.” He spun her around and wrapped his arms around her, keeping his hands locked around her wrists. She strained against him, but could not break free. “ Schatzi ,” he whispered into her ear. “Come back to me, my love. Remember what you are to me. Remember how much I love you.”

She gave a great shudder and he mentally prepared for another fight, but then she sucked in a deep breath and began to relax in his arms. Closing his eyes and hoping she wouldn’t attack him again, he released her wrist and turned her back around so she could see the love in his eyes. Alex opened his heart to her, willing her to feel his love.

To his relief, she stepped back and sat down on her heels, hands on her thighs, head down in a submissive pose.

Alex watched Anna for a moment and then kneeled and lifted her chin to see her eyes. They were still angry, but her pupils were showing again. He sat down on the floor next to her and pulled her into his lap. He rocked her gently and stroked her hair as he spoke softly to her in German. She had always seemed to respond to his native language before, and this time was no different. Her body sagged in his arms a few minutes later. He looked down and saw that she was asleep.

Alex looked around and spotted his brother nearby. “Kurt, would you please hold her?”

Kurt nodded and rushed over. “She’s not going to attack me, is she?”

Alex smiled. “I don’t think so.”

Kurt picked her up and carried her to the far side of the platform, cradling her close and kissing her temple. Alex watched his little brother love on her for a moment and then turned to Devin.

He yanked the man to his feet. “I didn’t do that for you.”

Devin swayed and looked blankly at him. Alex glanced over at Anna. What had she done to him?

Sebastian wrapped his arm around Devin’s shoulders. “Give him to me. You do what you need to do.”

Alex released him into the Immortal’s arms and went to stand at the front of the platform in front of the world Elders. “I am Alexander Kunzberg Herzog von Hessen, son of Wilhelm Kunzberg Herzog von Hessen, Elder of Hessen and Thuringia. The beautiful woman my brother is holding is my precious wife, Anna Kunzberg Herzogin von Hessen, daughter of Trevor and Anya Perkins. I am also a Brotherhood Assassin. My team is known as the Black Eagles.”

Another murmur swept the room. Assassins never identified themselves publicly, and as far as Alex knew, he was the only Elder-Son that was also an Assassin.

Wilhelm proudly watched from the side of the room as his eldest son addressed the world Elders with dignity and confidence. Giving his team’s name could make him vulnerable, but it also let all the Elders know who they were truly listening to, the best Brotherhood Assassin in the present age. It was the simplest, quickest way to gain their respect.

“My wife’s father is an Immortal, but she was not born to be an Elder-Mistress. She was born of love between her parents, and Trevor had no intention of her knowing anything except a normal, loving home.”

Devin, apparently revived by Sebastian, tried to stand, but Sebastian held him down by his shoulder.

“When Anna was born, Devin used an ancient method to claim her for his own with the help of Anna’s guardian, Jack Koslov, who was killed earlier this year.” Alex looked at Devin. “By Anna, when he threatened to return her to you.”

Devin’s eyes widened and he looked at Tom, who raised a condescending eyebrow at his former friend. Wilhelm knew Tom had told Devin that Jack had died at the hands of the mafia.

“Trevor became suspicious of Devin, but before he could do anything, Devin caused a car accident, killing Anya and sending Trevor away. Anna came into the custody of her guardian Jack, who, along with Devin, sexually abused her until she turned sixteen .”

The Elders whispered to one another and shot Devin disapproving looks.

“Before the car accident, Trevor, in a desperate act, contacted my father and asked him to help. My father told me about it, but in my foolishness, I acted against my father’s wishes and missed the opportunity to save Anna.” Alex pressed his lips together and glanced over at Anna, sleeping in Kurt’s arms. Someone had found a blanket, and she was snuggled against Kurt’s chest.

Alex’s voice cracked as he continued. “Devin again claimed Anna on her sixteenth birthday, and then her guardian began training her to become a sex slave for Devin. Jack specialized in the brutal training of Red Girls, though was far more harsh and abusive with Anna because he didn’t have to worry about killing her.” He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw. “Just before she turned twenty, she was turned over to Devin.”

Alex opened his eyes and smiled at Wilhelm. “My father, ever wise, finally figured out where Anna had been hidden, and after my first wife died, he directed me to San Francisco. When Anna’s birthday approached, my father visited me there, and through various circumstances, we were able to intervene in Devin’s performance of the Bonding Ritual, which bound her to Devin and myself. I obeyed Trevor and my father to save a Half-Immortal from a cruel fate. I didn’t expect to fall in love with her.”

The men in the room laughed softly. Devin’s face was red with impotent fury, but only for a moment before his whole body spasmed and he brought his hand up to his head. Pain and confusion replaced his anger and he swayed on his feet.

What had Anna done to him?

“Determined to make up for my past mistakes, I set out to find a way to free her from Devin’s hand. After months of research, I discovered that the bond between husband and wife was so strong, it could balance out the power difference between myself, as a Son, and Devin, as an Elder.”

Alex twisted his wedding ring on his right hand. “Anna and I were married at the end of that year in Germany and we returned to San Francisco. As much as I wanted to, I never kept Devin from having Anna, as long as he treated her with respect.”

He was quiet for a few moments, swallowing several times. “Four and a half years ago, I was called out on a job by Vitaly Vladislav Ivanov, Elder of St. Petersburg. Anna and I had only been married a few months.” He motioned in Anna’s direction. “If I didn’t go, I would be killed for refusing to do my duty as a Brotherhood Assassin. So I went, against both of our instincts.”

“My men and I planned everything down to the last detail, and arrived in St. Petersburg as expected, but when we reached the target’s town, we were ambushed. Kept alive, but captured and taken to Vitaly’s home. Vlad was there at that time and can attest to the truth of my words.” Alex glanced at Vlad, who nodded.

“By Devin’s orders, we were to be held in Russia until Anna turned twenty-six and the final ritual could be performed. He couldn’t kill me because of the bond I share with Anna, so he had me imprisoned, and everyone believed me and my team had been killed.” He paused and took in a deep breath as the memories threatened to consume him. “Three of my men died trying to escape, and the rest were nearly beaten to death—more than once—with Devin’s blessing. We were imprisoned for four years. Four years of our lives wasted. Four years for that man,” he jabbed a finger at Devin, “to abuse the woman I love. That so many of us love. A sweet, loving, incredible woman. An Elder-Mistress. Four. Years.”

Held in Sebastian’s tight grip, Devin realized everything he had worked so hard for was slipping through his fingers. He stared at the floor, feeling the condemnation of the world’s Elders as Alex told them how Devin had abused Anna and consumed her powers in order to become the Chairman. He told them how he had been able to completely take control of Anna with Alex out of the picture.

Tom had betrayed him. Only he could have told Alex everything he was sharing with the Elders. Tom had kept Devin from finding her all these months while she was in New York. Tom had helped her escape, along with Vlad, Brandon, and Wilhelm, and their damn Sons.

His mind searched for a way out of the mess. For a plausible explanation the Elders would believe and accept. But he couldn’t focus on anything for more than a moment before dark images filled his mind. Dark images that became clearer with each minute that passed. He saw himself, whip in hand, lashing out, and somehow he felt the brutal kiss of leather on his nipple. He nearly cried out with the pain.

He buried his face in his hands. If only he could think...

Tyler was dead by Alex’s hand. The room was against him. The most he could hope for was to retain his Elder status under the watchful eye of the rest of the Elders. They wouldn’t strip him of his position... would they?

At long last, Alex stopped speaking. Devin clutched his head, trying to rid himself of the dark images Anna had planted in his mind. Dark memories that he finally realized were her own memories. Somehow, she had given him her memories of all the times he had abused and tortured her. And he could feel her pain...

The room filled with the low rumble of men speaking amongst themselves. After a few minutes, Shaw stood and approached Alex. He studied him for a moment and then walked to Devin, looking down at him and radiating disapproval. “These are serious charges, Devin. Do you deny his accusations?”

Devin gritted his teeth and lifted his head, forcing his mind to focus long enough to sneer at the British Elder. With monumental effort, he shook off Sebastian’s hands and stood. “This is my home country. I did nothing that the other American Elders disapproved of. If they had such a serious problem with what I was doing, they should have said something.”

Brandon stood up in the middle of the crowd. “And risk being killed? By the time we knew exactly what your goals were, you were too powerful to resist.”

Devin rolled his eyes, pleased to feel his composure beginning to return.

“You used Anna to manipulate the dissenters in that hotel room, Devin,” Tom said.

Shaw’s mouth dropped open. “You manipulated your own Elders?”

Devin lifted his chin. “I did what needed to be done. Great things are only accomplished when men take risks.” He glared at Shaw. “This is America. We do as we please.”

“That’s true...” Shaw stroked his chin and then shrugged. “Fine. The American Elders will decide what happens to you.”

Devin’s heart nearly stopped at the realization of why Alex had been given the job of killing the other American Elders and Sons.