Chapter 37

Spring arrived and Anna’s restlessness grew. Another Gathering was approaching, and she was all too aware of what would happen. Her attachment to the baby had deepened, despite her attempts to distance herself due to its inevitable fate. This emotional turmoil left her in a state of quiet depression. She knew Peter was worried about her, but she didn’t dare tell Peter about what would happen. Devin had explicitly forbidden her from doing so. While Peter initially had no intention of attending the Gathering, Anna overheard Aaron encouraging him to reconsider.

Anna made arrangements to take time off from dancing before and after the Gathering. Isaak expressed his concerns about her absence, but she assured him she would return. If nothing else, Devin would make sure she kept dancing, no matter what happened.

The Thursday morning before the Gathering, Anna went to the hotel with Devin and Tyler. Anna shuddered every time Tyler looked at her and prayed Devin wouldn’t let him take her to his room.

Tyler leered at her in the elevator. “Dad, can I have Anna for a bit?”

“No. She needs to be in one piece for me.” Devin put his arm around Anna and rubbed her belly. She hated when he did that, but she didn’t dare change her facial expression. “You can hunt for her tomorrow night like all the other men.”

Anna tried not to react to Devin’s words. The hunt... Oh, why did she have to participate?

“I’m not ‘all the other men.’ I’m your son.” Tyler crossed his arms over his chest.

“Tyler, you’re almost twenty-four years old and going to be married in a few months. Stop pouting.”

Tyler growled. “I hate the ‘no sex ’til you’re married’ shit.”

“Only with April. If you need a fuck, go to the Manor.”

“It’s a pain in the ass to do that.”

“If you don’t stop complaining, I’ll give you a pain in the ass.”

Tyler frowned and looked away, but stopped complaining.

Devin sighed. “You can have her on Sunday before you fly back to school. How does that sound?”

Tyler grinned. “Cool.”

Anna swallowed and stared at the floor. She hated these weekends. It was times like these she especially missed Alex. He would make sure she wasn’t hurt. He wouldn’t allow?—

But he wasn’t around to save her anymore.

Devin had free rein to use Anna however he pleased, both in terms of her physical body and her abilities to persuade others. Though he had punished her on numerous occasions for failing to convince someone to comply with his wishes. She didn’t know why she’d failed. She’d done her best, but it had done no good. Thankfully he hadn’t called on her to help in a long time. But he still took pleasure in reminding her that despite her uselessness, having her by his side enhanced his image.

Devin opened the door to their suite and he and Anna walked inside. Tyler had gone to his own room.

“Thank you for not letting Tyler take me,” Anna said softly.

Devin frowned at her. “You don’t like my son?” He arched a brow.

Anna blinked. “He hurts me.”

“So do I.”

“You’re my Master. And you don’t always hurt me.” Anna smiled up at him, praying she hadn’t offended him.

Devin’s frown deepened. “When I am no longer Elder, Tyler will become your Master.”

Anna’s mouth dropped opened in surprise.

He laughed. “Didn’t think about that, did you?”

Anna shook her head, defeated. She didn’t know what she’d expected after Devin died, but she hadn’t considered the possibility that Tyler would become her Master.

“I think if you fear Tyler more than you fear me, I’m doing something wrong.” Devin took a step toward her, his voice low. “Remove your clothing.”

Anna hastily undressed, trembling and wishing she hadn’t said anything.

Devin’s eyes flashed with rage as he slapped her hard. She grabbed her stinging cheek, tears in her eyes. “You used to fear me, Anna.” He sighed. “Unfortunately, I can’t fully remind you why you should fear me until after tomorrow night. I need that baby healthy and alert.” He grabbed her chin and held it firm. “But after this weekend, I think we’ll take a trip out to the Manor to remind you just how much you should fear me.”

“No...” Her knees trembled and she struggled to stay on her feet. “Please, Devin. Don’t. I do fear you!”

Devin smiled wickedly. “You do now, but I think I need to reinforce it a bit.” He stepped back and slapped her again. “That’s for calling me by my name.” He backhanded her and she fell to the floor. “That’s for insulting my son.”

He pulled her up by her hair, dragged her into the bedroom, and threw her on the bed. “I can’t do everything I’d like to, but I can do some things.” He rummaged around in his bag until he produced a syringe.

Anna’s eyes widened and she crawled backward on the bed. “Please... no...” She whimpered, staring at the needle.

“Oh, Anna...” He smiled wickedly. “I’m just going to make love to you.” He grabbed her hair and pushed the needle into her neck, pressing the stopper to empty the liquid into her veins. He put the syringe down on the table and undressed, giving the liquid a chance to disperse through her body.

She began shaking a moment later, and he lay down next to her and made love to her in the slowest possible way he could. By the time he was finished, she was hoarse from screaming. He sent her into the shower and turned on the water, which felt like needles hitting her skin.

“Stay in here until it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

By the time she stopped hurting, hours later, Anna could barely think. She dragged herself out of the shower and collapsed onto the bed. The sun had set and she could hear men talking out in the other room. She was almost asleep when Devin came in.

“Feeling better?”

Anna nodded weakly.

He sat her up and slapped her face. “You got the bed wet, you stupid bitch.”

Anna held her cheek and turned to see that the comforter was a little damp where she’d been lying. She opened her mouth to apologize, but no sound came out.

Devin frowned. “If you hadn’t wasted all that energy screaming, you’d still be able to speak. Get dressed and come out to the other room. Dinner will be here soon, and then you have the Elders to attend to.”

Anna could barely keep her eyes open and he wanted her to go out and take care of the Elders? She tried to protest, but Devin hit her again.

“Do as I say, or I will give you another shot.”

Anna took a deep breath, stood on shaky legs, and went to get dressed and brush her hair. She emerged ten minutes later, keeping her head down as she went to sit at Devin’s feet.

She struggled to keep her eyes open as the men talked around her. At one point, Devin had to hit her on the side of the head to get her attention.

She looked up at him with questioning eyes.

“Dinner.” He stabbed a finger toward the table.

Anna stood and followed Devin to the table, sitting next to him. Once again, the men talked around her, but she had a hard time concentrating on any part of the conversation. All she wanted to do was curl up in bed and go to sleep. Her cheeks throbbed from being hit and her body ached from everything else.

“Tommy is eager to see you, Anna,” Tom, who was sitting next to her, said.

Anna offered a small smile and nodded. She’d like to see him again, too. She liked him.

“Are you not allowed to speak?” He glanced at Devin.

“She lost her voice this afternoon.” Devin shrugged.

“Ah.”

“Devin, she’s obviously exhausted. We’re fine. Let her sleep.” They had moved to the seating area after dinner and Devin had pushed Anna into Tom’s arms.

Devin frowned at Tom. “Are you growing soft toward her, Tom?” He sneered. “You needn’t concern yourself about her comfort. She’ll be fine.” He looked at Anna with a pointed look. “Won’t you?”

Anna gave him a timid smile and nodded, then turned to Tom and smiled at him, too.

“Just tell her what you want. She can’t ask.”

Tom cradled her cheek and kissed her. “I want to take you to my room,” he murmured against her lips and pulled her into his lap. Her dress pushed up to her hips and he cupped her ass. “No panties?” He grinned.

Anna smiled and shook her head. She reached for his pants and worked at freeing his hardening cock. When it was free, she stroked him up and down and glanced up at him. She raised her eyebrows to ask what he wanted.

His voice turned husky. “Ride me.”

Anna smiled and rose up to take him into her body.

When she had pleased him, she moved onto the other men. Javier and Brandon were gentle with her. The others were not. They held her hair and fucked her from behind. Oscar jabbed his cock unceremoniously into her ass, making her mouth gape open in silent screams.

When they had finished with her, Devin still wouldn’t let her go to sleep. Instead, he made her sit at his feet until the Elders were done with their meeting. By the time the men left, Anna was delirious and could hardly stand. Devin pulled her into the bedroom by her hair, pushed her onto the bed, and fucked her hard, but she hardly noticed. When he finished, he pushed her to her side of the bed and she was able to sleep at last.