Chapter 183

Alex watched Anna kneel at the feet of Kronos. What would the Immortal do to her? Would he take her away from him? Because he’d failed to protect her? Oh, please don’t take my love from me.

Kronos’ piercing blue eyes met Alex’s. The gaze was so intense it made him step back and he sighed in relief when the Immortal’s gaze turned to Devin. Devin trembled.

Kronos turned back to Alex. “You would free our Daughter if you had the opportunity?”

“Y-yes. I would.”

“Even if it meant she might leave you? I can undo the marriage bond as well.”

Alex swallowed over a lump that had suddenly formed in his throat. His eyes burned and a knife dug into his heart at the thought of losing Anna again. He glanced at his love, who watched him with those big green eyes he loved so much.

What if she chose Kurt? Or Hugo? If she were free, she might decide that she didn’t belong at his side any longer. It was tempting, oh-so tempting, to say no. To keep her where she was: with him. But did he want to force her to be with him if she truly wanted to be with someone else?

No. He wanted her to choose him, not to be with him because she was forced to. He loved her too much to do that to her. If you love something, let it go... Only this time, she would really be free to make her own choice. There was no safety net if he said yes to Kronos. He could lose her forever.

Alex took a deep breath and set his jaw, even as tears filled his eyes. “Yes. I would choose for her to be free, even if it meant I would lose her.”

Kronos nodded, his face inscrutable, and went to stand in front of Anna. He kneeled down and spoke softly to her. Alex couldn’t hear what he said, and it took every ounce of willpower to stay where he was.

Devin still couldn’t concentrate on anything for more than a minute or two. Those dark, horrifying images kept forcing their way to the front of his mind. He shuddered as he fought another one back. Anna had torn open his mind and shoved her own memories deep into the recesses of his mind. If Alex hadn’t stopped her, Devin would surely be dead. He felt every lash he’d ever dealt, every emotional scar, every heartbreak. He winced and grabbed his head as another one loomed just out of sight.

He squinted, struggling to focus on the Immortal Father speaking to Anna. Alex had told him he wanted her free. Didn’t Devin get to answer the question?

“No, Devin. You do not.” Sebastian towered over him. “You do not deserve to have her. You have proven yourself unworthy.”

Wilhelm saw Alex’s shoulders slump as he watched Kronos speak to Anna. Alex loved her so much, but was willing to let her go if that was her choice. His son had matured into a man of integrity and kindness, thinking of others more than himself. He was so proud, even as he grieved the loss of Anna himself. She would no longer belong to Wilhelm once the bonds were broken. But if it meant her being free of Devin, then the pain in his own heart was worth it.

Kronos stood and helped Anna to her feet, and then nodded to Tom. Kronos led Anna to the side of the stage and looked expectantly at Tom.

Tom gave the Immortal a nervous smile and then glanced sorrowfully at Devin. “Devin, you are one of my oldest friends, but we cannot let you continue down the path you’ve chosen. Your selfishness has wreaked havoc on our country and has spilled over to affect the entire world. We, the American Elders, do deem you unworthy of the position of Elder. Come and kneel as we strip you of the symbols of your position.”

Low voices filled the room as Sebastian helped Devin to his feet. Devin jerked as though trying to flee, but Sebastian’s hands on his shoulders prevented it. He shook so badly he could hardly walk up the steps. “Don’t do this, Tom. Please. I’ve learned my lesson. I won’t?—?”

“No, Devin. It’s too late.”

The American Elders surrounded him and Tom removed his robe, leaving him naked in front of the entire room. Javier removed Devin’s Elder ring from his finger, and Brandon produced a tool that looked like wire clippers and handed it to Tom.

Wilhelm winced, realizing what the tool was for: Devin’s piercings. Knowing how well-seated his own were, it wouldn’t be a painless process. Tom hesitated and then turned to Alex, holding out the tool. “Would you like to do the honors?”

Alex raised his brows and glanced at Wilhelm. It would be the ultimate insult to allow a foreigner to remove his piercings, and even more so, a foreign Elder-Son.

Wilhelm nodded, and Alex accepted the tool from Tom.

Alex couldn’t move for a long moment, processing Tom’s offer. Had the American really just offered him the job? He smiled grimly and stepped forward to accept the tool. De-piercing Devin would be very satisfying.

He crouched in front of the former Elder and examined the tool. Devin’s eyes widened as the other American Elders grabbed his arms and head to hold him still while Alex worked.

“I should just cut it off,” Alex said softly as he grabbed the soon-to-be-former Elder’s cock. “But that would be too easy a punishment. You should endure some semblance of the pain you put my wife through.”

He actually heard Devin whimper as Alex put the tool to the first piercing at the top of his cock. Amusement lit his eyes. “Shall I show you mercy?” He squeezed and Devin let out a cry as the metal snapped. He pulled the piercing out and let it drop to the floor.

Devin shook so hard it was hard to get hold of the next piercing. “P-p-please...” His voice was high and squeaky. “D-don’t hurt me.”

Alex grinned wickedly as he placed the tool at the next piercing. “How many times did my Anna say that to you?” Snap . “Did you ever listen?” Snap. “Did you ever show mercy?” Snap . Devin jumped each time. One by one, the piercings were pulled and dropped to the floor.

When the normal piercings were all gone, Alex studied the spikes. “How do we get this one out?”

Devin’s face turned gray again, and the only reason he remained upright was because of the grip the other men had on him. Alex had a feeling there was no way to remove this one kindly. He glanced at Tom for direction.

Tom nodded. “They all need to be removed.”

Devin wailed. “Oh, God! Please... just cut the spikes off. Don’t pull it. Please.”

Alex hesitated, not because of Devin’s begging, but because he wondered if an honorable man would do such a thing. He would essentially be ripping Devin’s cock apart. There was a definite appeal to the thought, but Alex had made it through the whole ordeal without lowering himself to Devin’s level. Would this undo all that?

He looked at his father, who watched from the side of the room. He gave a solemn nod. Alex glanced at Kronos, who also nodded. Lastly, he looked at Anna.

Anna stared, frozen, as she watched Alex carefully remove Devin’s piercings one by one, while Devin begged and whimpered. Alex could have just ripped them out, but he was showing Devin mercy, something Devin didn’t understand. She didn’t know how she felt about Devin avoiding pain.

As awful as Devin had been to her, she felt sad to see him naked and humiliated in front of the world Elders. He had been so proud, so confident, and now he was reduced to a whimpering mess. But he had done the same thing to Alex.

The memories of Alex’s jealousy and insecurity returned, and her body tensed as anger oozed through her being at the thought of what Devin had done to Alex. A hand landed gently on her shoulder and she looked up and behind at Kronos, who gave her a gentle smile.

“There is no need to exact more revenge on Devin, Daughter,” he said in a low voice.

Her brows furrowed. “More?”

His smile deepened. “When you became... angry before, do you remember what you did?”

She shook her head.

He nodded toward Devin. “You transferred your memories to him. Everything he did to you will haunt him for the rest of his life. Your memories now live in his mind and will become more real to him than reality.” The Immortal grimaced. “I could not conceive of a more terrible punishment than that.”

“Even death?”

“Death is the end, Daughter. Life. Human life can be a gift or a punishment. His punishment will continue, day and night, until his natural life is over.”

She looked over at Devin. Alex had stepped back and she saw only the spikes were left. Devin turned desperate eyes to stare at her, his jaw trembling. “Please, Mistress... have mercy...”

She chewed her lip. “And what happens after he dies?”

Kronos didn’t respond and she looked up to see him nodding at Alex.

Anna turned back to see Alex fiddle with the tool in his hand, as if hesitant to proceed. Her heart ached for her husband. She loved him. So much. Kronos had offered to free her, not only from her slavery and position of Elder-Mistress, but also from her marriage. She and Alex had only married so he could protect her from Devin. When that was no longer needed, would Alex still want her as his wife? Would he still love her?

Alex glanced over at his father. Alex was a good man. A very good man who wasn’t driven by revenge, even though he had every right to tear Devin apart limb by limb.

When Alex looked at her, her heart pounded at the love she saw in his eyes. She opened her heart and felt every ounce of his love for her. She knew right then and there that she could not let Kronos break their marriage bond. They belonged together. He was a part of her and she was a part of him. To separate them... Was Kronos powerful enough to separate two rivers that had joined together into one? Which drops of water belonged to which river? It was impossible to know. It was the same thing with their souls, their spirits, their love. Even Kronos, the great Immortal Father, wouldn’t be able to separate them.

Anna smiled at Alex, hoping he could feel her own love for him. His eyes softened, and he gave her a gentle smile. He knew. She sighed in happiness.

Alex looked back at Devin’s cock and grasped the band of metal. Anna briefly wondered if she would feel his pain.

Anna winced and squeezed her eyes shut, leaning back against Kronos and bracing for the pain. He gently squeezed her shoulder.

There was a terrible ripping sound and Devin let out a horrifying scream.

Devin’s pain was his own. She opened her eyes and saw Devin collapse onto the floor in a heap, tears streaming down his face, his body shaking with silent sobs.

The American Elders turned and walked away, leaving Devin alone in his suffering. Like she had always been.

There was a sick gratification in hearing Devin’s scream as Alex ripped the horrible piece of metal from Devin’s cock. Surely it was only a fraction of the pain Devin had inflicted upon Anna over the years, but Alex was satisfied that he had finally been able to get a tiny slice of revenge.

With a grim smile on his face, Alex stood over the trembling, crying man. How many times had Devin stood over Anna while she sobbed in pain?

He turned and walked away, feeling no remorse or pity.

The room was silent, save for Devin’s whimpering. All the Elders had seen the consequences of Devin’s actions. A warning to any man who would consider doing something similar in the future.

Kronos went to kneel behind Devin and put his hand on his head. “I remove the Immortal essence from your body. You are no longer an Elder.”

Devin cried out and arched his back for a long minute and then went limp, staring off into space. Had Kronos killed him? He finally blinked and Alex knew he was alive.

Kronos returned to Anna and laid a gentle hand on her head. “I free you from your bonds of slavery and your obligations as Elder-Mistress.”

Alex grunted at the sharp pain in his head. Devin jerked on the floor. Alex looked at Anna and his heart swelled at the smile on her face. Her eyes sparkled more than he’d ever seen them. She was finally free. And it was beautiful.

Alex’s stomach twisted as he realized what was coming next. Kronos would sever their marriage bond. He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his fist. When the bond was severed, would it shred his heart to pieces? How could it not?

“The woman standing in front of you is a free woman,” Kronos said loudly.

Alex’s eyes snapped open. Kronos stood behind a smiling, peaceful Anna. The Anna Alex knew from their wedding day. Oh, he didn’t need to think about that day. It hurt too much.

“She is no longer an Elder-Mistress. She is no longer a slave.”

Alex winced. When would Kronos deal the final blow? Waiting was going to drive him insane.

“Do you acknowledge this?” Kronos asked the men in the room.

Affirmations in every language were heard throughout the room, and Anna grinned up at Kronos. The Immortal nodded to Anna, an affectionate smile on his face. Then he guided her to where Alex stood, still waiting for the terrible news.

“Behold your free wife, Alexander Kunzberg Herzog von Hessen, Elder-Son of Wilhelm. Take good care of my Daughter.”

Alex’s jaw dropped open as he stared up at Kronos. “What?”

Kronos smiled. “You are a worthy man, Alex. I saw your thoughts when I asked if you would free her. Only a man willing to let her be free is worthy of this precious creature in front of me.” He gave a deep chuckle, then added in a soft, “Besides, she would not let me sever the bond.”

Alex inhaled sharply and looked at Anna, who gazed up at him with an adoring smile. “Is that okay?” she whispered.

Alex grabbed her around her waist and spun her around, his heart flying into the cosmos. “Oh, my Anna. My precious Anna.” He hugged her to him as tears streamed down his face. He tipped her chin up and kissed her. “ Ich liebe dich, meine Frau, mein Schatz, mein Leben .”

“I love you, Alex.” Anna smiled lovingly up into his eyes and lay a gentle hand on his cheek. “My husband, my love, my life.”