Chapter 87

Anna stood next to the platform, wearing a long white silk dress. Ian stood behind her, his hands heavy on her shoulders. Devin spoke to the crowd of men in the grass and Anna watched him with adoration. He looked so handsome; his black hair and tan skin were such a contrast to the white Elder robe he wore. He glanced over a few times at her and winked, making her flush with emotion. He normally didn’t give her so much special attention during the Gatherings, but he had been very attentive all afternoon.

Ian gently pushed her forward as Devin smiled and extended his hand in her direction. She walked across the platform to him and the world spun again when he touched her. He wrapped his arm around her waist and spoke again to the men sitting on the grass. His words were muddy in her ears. The men cheered and Devin led her to a stone table at the side of the stage. The three Immortals watched her with golden fire in their eyes.

Kaveh smiled and helped her onto the table, then moved behind her, acting as a backrest. His hands spread out over her stomach and his chest rumbled as he spoke in a language she didn’t understand.

Out of nowhere, a sharp, shooting pain tore through her stomach and she gasped.

Devin stood in front of her and took her hand. “It’s alright, love. He’s helping you give me your gift.”

She squeezed her eyes shut as her lower belly cramped. Devin kneeled down between her legs and pushed her feet back to her thighs, her dress falling aside and exposing her naked pussy to him.

“Anna, it’s time to give me your gift.” He looked at her intently and she nodded.

Kaveh held her knees near her shoulders as another pain erupted in her belly and she groaned. Devin thumbed open her pussy and leaned forward to lick her. The pain of the cramps mixed with the pleasure of his mouth and she could hardly tell up from down.

“Close your eyes, Daughter,” Kaveh said. “Close your eyes and give it to him. Give him your daughter.”

Oh, the pain was excruciating! Only the feel of Devin’s mouth on her kept her from screaming. This was for him. He needed her baby and she wanted to give it to him.

The pain grew along with the pleasure. She opened her eyes and met Devin’s. He nodded his head at her and she closed her eyes and released everything to him. Her orgasm. Her pain. Her child.

“Yes, Anna . . .”

A few moments later, the pain dissipated and Anna opened her eyes to see Devin holding a bloody mass in his hands. He dropped it into the bowl on the brazier, as he did each year. She could hardly keep her eyes open and felt herself fading away. Everything she had, she’d given to the child that Devin had taken from her.

Anna’s eyes fluttered closed and the world spun again. She felt mouths on her pussy again, licking and sucking on her until she writhed in pain. There was no pleasure in this touch. She tried to open her eyes, but they seemed glued shut. She had no idea what was going on. The little essence that was left was taken, and she lay limp in Kaveh’s arms, hoping he wouldn’t let go.

Someone picked her up and carried her for a moment before placing her on another hard surface. They forcefully pried open her jaw and inserted something hard between her lips. Kaveh . She knew his taste. She eagerly sucked at him as he rubbed the back of her head.

“Devin wants you healed, but you do not have to participate in the orgy tonight,” Kaveh said after she felt herself again.

Anna opened her mouth to ask a question when a blood-curdling scream from the platform made her freeze. She turned and saw a teenage girl tied between two pillars, naked. Devin was in front of her, holding a dagger with a long, thin blade and jeweled handle. The girl struggled against her bonds as Devin dragged the blade against her belly, leaving a red streak behind.

Anna watched in horrified fascination as Devin drew the dagger across her body in strange patterns. It must have been very sharp because he wasn’t pressing very hard and blood came quickly after his movements. The girl kept screaming, but she could hardly hear it over the men’s shouts and cheers.

Anna looked away and stared at the grass beneath her knees, nauseous. She swallowed hard, determined to keep her stomach contents in place. Devin would be upset if she distracted the men from his ritual.

The girl’s screams continued, some higher and louder than others. Finally, a last scream was cut short by a gurgling sound and Anna looked up without thinking. The girl’s head hung backward, blood streaming from a gash across her neck. Blood flowed freely from her nipples, below her breasts, and down her inner thighs. Devin bent to suck on a bloody nipple and then invited several of the men to come up and “partake of the sacrifice,” including the president.

Anna tore her gaze away, swallowing hard to keep from throwing up. Devin’s eyes were wild as he watched the men approach the platform. Then his gaze turned to Anna and they turned fierce. His eyes were more gold than black now and the warmth that had been there earlier was completely gone. Anna looked away and blinked back tears. Foolish girl!

When the other men returned to their places, the president remained on the platform. He kneeled before Devin and took Devin’s cock into his mouth. Devin put his hands on the man’s head and leaned his head back in ecstasy. The man’s neck bulged as Devin shoved his cock all the way down his throat. After several more thrusts, Devin leaned his head back and let out a primal scream. He held the man’s lips against his hips and pumped hard into his mouth. The orgasm seemed to last forever, and the man looked up at Devin with dazed adoration.

Devin made some sort of declaration and all the men bowed to him as he held his hands up in the air and smiled in triumph. “Now go and celebrate,” he announced. The women made their way into the crowd and the orgy began.

Anna stared at the ground, completely aware of how Devin had used her to gain his power. He’d lied to her, manipulated her, all so she would willingly give him what he wanted. Her stomach twisted once more, but not from anything that was happening in the grassy field. No, she’d been used—she’d allowed herself to be used—by Devin. Again. Nothing he’d said to her was true. She was his tool to be used and disposed of as he willed.

So it had been for years and so it would continue. Nothing would ever change. Alex was gone and there was no one to fight for her. No one could. Devin was too powerful. All because of her.

Ian appeared at her side. “Anna, come. I will take you where you can sleep peacefully tonight.”

Anna looked up at Kaveh, who smiled and nodded. “Rest, Daughter. You did well.”

Anna’s legs shook as she followed Ian along the outskirts of the crowd to the opposite side of the field from hers and Devin’s pavilion. The shouts as cries from the orgy faded the further they walked until the sound was just a dull buzz.

He pulled open the front curtain of a small pavilion at the furthest corner of the Gathering site and let her pass through first. The curtain dropped back into place and Anna jumped as two men stepped out of the dark corner.

Travis and Tommy.

“Wh-what are you doing here?” She backed away until she ran into Ian.

Tommy held out a bundle of dark cloth. “There’s not much time. Put these on.”

Anna frowned and took the bundle. “What are you talking about?”

He gave her a tender smile. “Please, Anna. It’ll be explained later. Do you trust me?”

“Of course.” She had a feeling that before the night’s ritual, her answer to that question would have been very different. But now...

Anna pulled off her gown and dressed in the dark blue jeans and a black long-sleeved t-shirt. Travis handed her a pair of socks and black boots. She sat to pull on the socks. “I still don’t understand what’s going on.”

“You’re leaving,” Ian said from behind her.

“Here, get her jewelry off,” Travis said. “I’ll do her boots.” Travis kneeled and tied her boots as Ian stepped closer.

“What do you mean, leaving?” Anna looked up into Ian’s hazel eyes. “I can’t leave . . . I don’t . . . want to . . . leave . . .” She frowned. Did she really mean that?

Ian shook his head. “He’s not going to stop hurting you, Anna, or controlling you. Do you even remember the last few months?”

Anna looked away. Hazy memories flitted through her mind. “He told me he loved me.”

“And he tortured you for the fun of it.”

Anna winced. “Not at the end.”

“Because he needed you to give him voluntarily...” Ian grimaced. “Do you really want to live like that? Do you want to keep being beaten and raped at his whims? Do you want him to take your powers and your babies so he can control you and everyone around you?”

Anna closed her eyes and shook her head slowly. He fiddled with her bracelet, and she opened her eyes to see him unlocking it. He quickly pulled it off her wrist and re-locked it.

Ian kneeled and cupped her cheek, his eyes filled with pain and regret. “You deserve a better life, Anna. And Devin... needs to be stopped. We can’t stop him if you are with him.”

“We?”

“Don’t ask too many questions right now,” Tommy said. “Ian’s been helping us. He’ll make sure Devin doesn’t know you’re gone until at least tomorrow afternoon, and by then you’ll be out of the state. Hopefully, Ian will be able to buy you more time, but that’s what we’re working on.”

Anna looked back at Ian, her heart dropping in her chest as she realized the full implication of what they were doing. “He’ll kill you if he finds out.” She looked around. “All of you.”

“He won’t know any of them were involved, Anna. Only me.” Ian held up the key to her bracelet. “Only he and I have keys to your bracelet.”

Tears filled her eyes. “He’ll kill you . . .”

“Probably.” He brushed away a tear with his thumb. “Anna, I have done horrible, terrible things to you. If you being free means I have to die, then so be it.” His warm hazel eyes glistened and his voice broke. “I hope you can forgive me.” He paused. “Knowing that will allow me to die in peace.”

“Oh, Ian!” Anna threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “Of course I forgive you. I don’t hold anything against you. I know you wouldn’t have done it on your own.”

He hugged her tightly for a moment and then released her. He removed her necklace. “You are empty of him right now. He won’t be able to trace you.”

Travis and Tommy both hugged her.

“Go, Anna. I’ll see you in a few days,” Tommy said, pushing her toward Ian. “You need to get moving.”

Few days?

“Ian’s gonna take you to the road where Justin’s waiting for you. He’ll take you to your destination.” Travis grinned. “I’ll come visit you.”

Her two friends disappeared through a back panel and Ian took her hand. “We have to hurry.”

Ian led her through the dark woods. The remaining sounds of the Gathering faded as they climbed down one hill and up another. When they were far enough away, Ian turned on a flashlight and they were able to move at a faster pace. After about twenty minutes, the trees ended and a road appeared.

A black sedan was parked a few feet away. The driver’s side door opened and Justin stepped out. “Any problems?”

“All went as planned,” Ian said.

Justin extended his hand. “Thank you, Ian. For everything.”

The two men shook hands, and then Ian turned to Anna. “Anna, it’s alright. I’ll be okay. I’m ready to be free of him.”

Anna swiped at the tears that had fallen down her cheeks. Ian knew he was going back to his death and had no hesitations. What a brave man. She reached up onto her toes and kissed him on the cheek. “You’re a good friend, Ian.”

Ian stepped back and nodded. “Be free, Anna.” He gave her a last smile and then disappeared back into the dark woods.

Justin opened the passenger side door. “Get in. We have a long drive and not much time.”

She glanced back at the dark trees for a moment more, heart full of thankfulness for Ian, and then got into the car.