Chapter 59

Days later, Vlad visited the cellar. Alex heard the door open and was in Vlad’s face before he could take more than one step inside. “Is she alright?” he asked in Russian.

Vlad stepped back and raised his eyebrows. The guard behind him raised his handgun, but Vlad waved him off and the man backed away. “Yes, Alex. She’s fine. Your father publicly challenged Devin during dinner the first night and she is with him and your brother now.”

Alex slumped against the wall, relief flooding his body. He sensed Seth and the others relaxing, too. But the way Vlad spoke of what had happened sank in a moment later, and he straightened. “Do you think she’s better because she’s with my family?”

Vlad frowned, emotions flitting across his face. “If I were to answer that in the positive, my family would be in danger.” He looked back at Alex. “The look of joy on her face when she was allowed to return to your father was... most pleasing.”

Alex read between the lines. Vlad didn’t approve of how Devin treated Anna, and maybe even disapproved of what Devin was doing, period.

“You can return to your rooms now.” Vlad motioned to the door.

Alex and the others immediately gathered their things, eager to be out of the Russian ice box. Alex carried Erich’s things and followed behind his cousin as Tony and Greg helped him walk up the stairs and out of the freezing room. It had been difficult on Erich especially. The cold was not good for his healing.

Seth limped ahead of the others. He was still in pain from what Devin had done to him and had been withdrawn ever since. His drawings had taken a darker turn. Alex worried about him and hoped that once they were out of the room, he would begin to heal mentally.

“I will send the doctor up this afternoon to see how your cousin is doing,” Vlad said as Alex walked by. “And Seth. I heard about Devin’s visit.” Vlad frowned. “I didn’t know he was coming until after the fact.”

Alex paused and looked at Vlad. “Thank you.” He drew his brows together. “Why are you doing all this?”

Vlad shrugged and Alex turned to leave the room.

“You should spend some time in the library soon.”

Alex turned back around to study the new Russian Elder. Vlad raised his eyebrows the slightest amount and nodded. Alex slowly nodded back. “Perhaps I should go now?”

Vlad nodded and pulled his phone out of his pocket and tapped the screen. “Please do not betray my trust.” He glanced up. “At least not yet.” The man smiled and looked back down at his phone.

Alex frowned and hurried through the huge mansion, eager to take his and Erich’s things to their room and return to visit the library. As he walked, though, he noticed the guards. Or rather, the lack of guards. Normally, armed guards would follow them everywhere and were stationed in every hallway.

Seth, Tony, Greg, and Erich were several yards ahead of him and there was not a single guard in sight. Alex glanced back to see Vlad watching from the staircase that led to the lower parts of the house. Vlad turned and walked into the dining room.

Alex searched the walls and ceilings all the way back to the tower, looking for cameras or anything else that might allow Vlad to keep track of their movements, but there was nothing. Perhaps that’s what he meant by not betraying his trust. He’d removed the guards and trusted Alex and his men to not make him put them back into place?

After dropping off his and Eric’s things in their respective rooms and sharing with the men what Vlad had said, Alex made his way back downstairs. He arrived in the library several minutes later and stood in the entryway, wondering where to begin his search for what Vlad thought he might find interesting.

He slowly wandered around the perimeter of the room, looking for any changes. Alex knew this room almost as well as his own family’s library. He’d used many of the books to teach Seth, Tony, and Greg Russian so they could communicate better and understand what was going on around them.

He paused by the window and stared out at the garden where he and Peter had talked about Anna. Raising his hand to his cheek, he closed his eyes, remembering the feel of her small hand against his cheek, the warmth of her body next to him. Her face going pale as she absorbed his sickness into her.

But she was okay. More than okay. She was safe. At least for the moment. Devin wouldn’t allow her to stay with Alex’s family long term, and she couldn’t even if he had given permission. But his father could protect her now, at least a little. And Kurt... Alex sighed. His little brother had taken his place as Elder-Son. Would Vati encourage Kurt to marry Anna?

His heart squeezed at the thought, even though he knew Kurt was the logical person to replace him as her husband. Kurt cared deeply for her and would treat her well, assuming he’d divorced Gretchen, which Alex was certain Vati would have encouraged once he became a Son.

What would happen if Anna married Kurt and then Alex escaped? Vlad’s change of demeanor had ignited a spark of hope in his heart that they might actually get back home someday. Before Devin planned for him to return home, that is.

The thought lit a fire in his chest. He had something to fight for again. Hope was alive and he believed with all his heart he would see Anna and his family again. Maybe not right away, but soon.

Alex looked around the room with new eyes. What was different? What was it that Vlad wanted him to find? A bookshelf in the corner caught his eye. Something was different.

He crossed the room in a few quick strides and saw that some of the books were closer to the edge of the shelf than the surrounding books. Thinking there was something hidden behind, he bent down and reached behind, but felt only the wood of the shelf.

One of the larger books had a bent and ill-fitting dust cover. He pulled the book out, opened the front cover, and inhaled sharply at the sight of the elaborate script of the ancient language used in the forbidden Elder tomes.

Three volumes of the Books of the Elders had been banned centuries ago. Alex had found the first two before he’d married Anna, and it was inside those ancient writings where he’d discovered the power of marriage. The book in his hands was the illusive third volume! The writings that Alex had been certain would show him how to free Anna from Devin’s control.

He stared at the words, his heart pounding so hard it made his head hurt. This book had not been in the library before today. He was certain of it. Had Vlad put it here? He had to have done so, otherwise, why would he have told him to go to the library?

Changes . . . Anna . . . Devin . . . Freedom?

Alex snapped the book closed, made sure the dust cover was in place, then turned and practically ran out of the room, holding it to his chest. Vlad walked around the corner and Alex stopped dead in his tracks, blood chilling in fear of what Vlad would say.

Vlad glanced down at the book and his lips twitched. “Did you find anything interesting?”

“I . . . uh, yes, I did.”

Although Vlad didn’t smile, his gaze softened. “Good. I hope you find it... educational.” He nodded and continued down the hallway.

Alex stood in the middle of the hallway for a split second more before walking as quickly as he could to the tower, up the stairs, and into his room. He put the book on the bed and sat next to it, carefully opening it up to the middle. He slid his fingers over the text, recognizing a few of the words. It would take a while to remember the language and decipher the book, but not as long as it had the first time. If Vlad had left this book for him to find, would he also provide a means of escape?

First things first. He settled onto the bed and turned to the first page. Starting right now.