Chapter 96

“So, what’s your relation to Katrina?” Anna asked as she and Wilhelm lay naked together in her new bed. She ran her fingers through the white hair on his chest.

“I have been trying to figure that out. I will not be able to come out very often and see you, but I do not want to hide it when I do.” He twirled her hair around his finger. “I think a guardian of some sort. Or, perhaps we should just make it simple, and I can be who I am, the father of your deceased husband.”

“I don’t think people would approve of us sleeping together.” She had learned enough about the world to know that most people would find the sexual activities of those in The Brotherhood odd at best, revolting at worst.

Wilhelm tweaked her nipple. “Definitely not. But I was not planning on revealing our sexual relationship to anyone.” He grinned. “I do know how to play the part of a gentleman in public.”

Anna smiled. “I know. You are always the perfect gentleman.”

“As I was brought up to be, and brought my sons up the same way.” He paused for a moment and continued to play with her hair. “Anna, if you—I am sorry for what I did to you... with getting you pregnant. I should have asked, but I thought?—?”

She shook her head and gave him a warm smile. “I would have loved to have carried your child. I still would.”

He splayed his hands over her stomach. “We will wait until you are ready to stop dancing for a while. I want you to get used to being free before I put any burdens on you. And, if that does happen, I would really prefer you to be in Germany with me. But that cannot happen until your bond with Devin is broken.”

“When I’m twenty-six?”

Wilhelm nodded. “Besides, you may decide you want Kurt for a husband after all.”

Anna softened at the mention of Kurt’s name. “It would be right for us to marry, wouldn’t it?”

He sighed. “ Ja , Anna. It would. Kurt still loves you, even though you tried to help him get over you. You are an Elder-Mistress. It is good to marry an Elder-Son. But I do not want you to think about that right now. I want you to enjoy your freedom. Kurt can court you as any other man.” He chuckled. “And probably will. You will have to learn how to say no, Anna. Many men will want to date you. A benefit of being a Half-Immortal. But Aaron will help you if you ask.”

They dressed a while later and Wilhelm took her shopping for electronics, toiletries, clothing, and, of course, dance clothes. The highlight of the shopping trip was finding a dress for the ballet company’s Spring Gala: a strapless lavender gown with a sweetheart neckline and full skirt.

Shortly before two o’clock, Anna was waiting for Justin outside the studio. Wilhelm had dropped her off so she could establish herself on her own, and they planned to meet for dinner later. Justin came sauntering around the corner a few minutes later.

“Aren’t you nervous?” Anna asked, amazed at his confidence.

Justin shrugged. “A little. Just trying to act brave.” He laughed.

Anna giggled as he opened the door.

Justin led her through a small lobby where several dancers stood around chatting. The dancers glanced at them as they walked by, but didn’t say anything.

Down a long white hallway and around a corner, Anna heard piano music and a man speaking loudly. “. . . two . . . three . . . four . . . and up . . . yes, good . . . turn, turn, turn . . .”

Anna’s stomach had tied into knots when she and Justin finally walked through the studio door and stopped just inside the room. The music finished and dozens of heads turned and looked at them. Anna flushed and looked at the floor.

“Justin, Katrina, I’m so glad you came.” The man Anna vaguely remembered as Vincent Marsellis approached them with a big smile on his face.

Movement in the corner caught Anna’s eye, and she saw Aaron with his hand on another man’s arm, holding him in place and whispering to him. The man looked directly at her, and she found herself lost in a pair of whiskey-brown eyes. Nate? He was older now, but still had the same eyes. Anna didn’t have a chance to reflect on much more because Vincent stepped in front of her and blocked her view of him.

Vincent shook hands with Justin and gave him a knowing smile. He kissed Anna’s cheek and gave her a fatherly smile. “I’m so glad you’re both here.” He turned around and spoke loudly to the dancers in the room. “I’m sure some of you remember Justin Sawyer, who has returned to dance with us.” Vincent put his arm around Anna. “And this is Katrina Engel.” He smiled. “I’ve been trying to get her out here for years,” he added in a softer voice.

Anna looked at him wide-eyed and then blushed, which made his smile grow even wider.

“I wanted them to come and see a rehearsal before they join us tomorrow. Yes,” he said over mumbles around the room. “They will be dancing with us in the spring program, and I expect you all to help them as much as you can.”

“Are they principals?” a Spanish-looking woman asked.

“Yes,” Vincent said. “From San Francisco.”

Anna glanced at Aaron, who nodded. She didn’t know if she was supposed to be from San Francisco or not. Tom had only said California.

Her heart skipped a beat as she felt Nate’s intense gaze on her. She desperately tried to resist the urge to look in his direction, but eventually, her curiosity got the better of her and she found herself unable to look away from his penetrating stare. She hadn’t seen him since the evening of their student performance. So many years ago.

Justin pulled at her arm and led her to the side of the room where they sat along the wall and watched the rehearsal progress. The dancers were mesmerizing. Some had better technique than others, though the ones with lesser technique danced with a heart that she could feel.

Nate had gotten even better since she’d last seen him. His jumps were magnificent, and she loved watching him soar across the room. He and Aaron danced a bit together and she smiled, remembering thinking Nate would be as good as Aaron someday. And he was.

Whenever Nate had a break from dancing, his attention always rested on Anna, and no matter how hard she tried to resist, her eyes would inevitably find his.

Watching him dance with one of the women brought back so many memories. Oh, he was still so handsome! What had he been doing all these years, aside from dancing? Had he thought of her at all? Was he dating anyone? She didn’t see a wedding ring on his hand, so she assumed he wasn’t married.

When the rehearsal was over, she stood next to Justin, twisting her fingers together as Vincent gave the dancers last-minute instructions. The ballet master dismissed the dancers, and several of them hurried over to her and Justin. They seemed happy to see Justin; two girls in particular were not subtle when flirting with him. He grinned sheepishly at Anna, who smiled back, amused.

“Justin, I arranged for you to stay with Dave and Kris for now,” Aaron said. “They have a three-bedroom and just lost a roommate.”

Dave and Kris seemed to know Justin, and there was much hugging and back-slapping.

Anna stepped away and backed into something solid. Some one solid. She turned around and found herself looking up into Nate’s whiskey-brown eyes.

“I can’t believe you’re here...” His hand twitched at his side, as if he wanted to reach out to her. “How did you get here?”

She gave a small shrug and smile. “I ran away with some help.”

“Aaron?”

She nodded. “And Justin. And a bunch of others.”

He stared at her for a long minute. “It’s been so long,” he whispered. He had lifted his hand, but someone called out to him and he froze.

“Nate, man. C’mon, I’m starving.”

Anna turned to see one of the dancers making a face at him, his arms crossed over his chest.

“That’s Clayton, my roommate,” Nate said, and held up his hand to the other man. “Okay, man. Just hang on a sec.”

Clayton walked over to them. “Katrina, right?” He flashed a seductive grin.

Anna blinked, wondering who Katrina was, before she remembered she was Katrina. She nodded and gave a hesitant smile.

Clayton glanced at Nate with a grin. “You know her or just making fast moves?”

Nate rolled his eyes. “I’m so like that.” He scrunched his face. “Of course I know her. I’m from San Francisco, remember?”

“Oh, yeah. I forgot.” Clayton grinned and looked at Anna. “Wanna join us for dinner?”

“Thanks,” Anna said softly, “But I already have plans.”

“You do?” Nate’s brows shot up.

Anna nodded. “With Wilhelm and Aaron.”

“That’s... Alex’s dad, right?” he asked, squinting thoughtfully.

Anna nodded.

Aaron walked up to them. “Nate, can I talk to you for a sec?”

Nate nodded and followed Aaron to the other side of the room.

Clayton wagged his eyebrows. “So, how do you know Nate?” His dark brown eyes were full of curious mischief.

“Oh...” Anna glanced at Nate, who was listening intently to Aaron. “Um... we danced together before he came here.”

“Is that all?”

Anna bit her lip.

“I thought not. I saw how he was watching you during class.” Clayton tilted his head. “Did you come hoping to get back together with him?”

“I... no.” She shook her head. “No, I’d forgotten he was here.” But how could she have forgotten Nate? Sweet Nate.

“He’s got a girlfriend. Not sure how serious they are, but thought you might want to know.”

Anna nodded, her mind wandering. Part of her was relieved, part of her was sad. At least she didn’t have to worry about hurting Nate, since he was already involved with another woman. “That’s good.” She smiled. “He’s a great guy.”

Clayton grinned and wagged his eyebrows. “If you’re too broken-hearted over him, I’d be happy to cheer you up.”

Anna stared at him for a moment and then laughed. Hard. The mock seductive look on his face was priceless.

Aaron and Nate returned to where she was standing, and Nate raised his eyebrows. “What’s going on?”

Anna pressed her lips together, trying to stop laughing. “Your roommate is very funny.”

Clayton grinned and Nate scrunched his face, but his eyes gleamed with amusement as he shook his head. “Don’t encourage him.”

“We doing dinner?” Aaron asked Anna, who nodded.

“You know her too?” Clayton shook his head and raised his eyebrows at Anna. “Geez. Is there anyone here you don’t know already?”

Anna nodded. “I hardly know anyone.”

Nate rolled his eyes again. “Aaron’s from the same place.”

“I’ve known An—Katrina for a really long time.” Aaron grinned at her. “Too long, I think.”

They chatted for a few more minutes, and then Clayton dragged Nate away. Nate waved at her before he walked out the door of the studio, and Anna bit her lip.

“He’s got a girlfriend,” Aaron said as Anna followed him across the room to get his bag. “Just so you know.”

Anna nodded. “I know. Clayton told me.”

“Of course he did.” Aaron chuckled. “Hey, Justin,” Aaron said, turning to the small group of dancers nearby. “You comin’ to dinner?”

“Do I need to?”

Aaron shrugged. “Didn’t know what you had planned.”

“I think I’ll go see my new place.” He grinned at his new roommates and the women with him. “And catch up with some old friends.”

“You coming, Aaron?” a woman asked. Kayla, Anna thought her name was.

Aaron shook his head. “Gotta get Katrina settled in.”

Kayla and the other women raised their eyebrows. “She’s living with you?”

“She’s a really old friend. Have to keep her safe in the big city.” Aaron nodded toward the door and Anna followed him through the studio and out into the cool evening air. “Did you get a phone?”

She pulled the smartphone out of her pocket and showed it to him. “Top of the line, as I understand it.” She shook her head. “Wilhelm always insists on the best for me.”

“Why shouldn’t he? You deserve it.” Aaron’s eyes filled with longing.

Anna looked away, not sure how she should respond. With everything that had happened the last few days, the chaos still fresh in her mind, she hesitated at the thought of getting involved with Aaron again. At least not yet. She needed a moment to gain the bearings of her new life.

They walked the short distance to their building. The doorman greeted Aaron by name as they approached, and Aaron introduced Anna. “James, this is Katrina, my new roommate. Katrina, this is James.”

“Hi.” Anna smiled and gave a little wave.

“Hi, Katrina.” James smiled back.

They walked inside and to the elevators. Aaron hit the button for their floor and the doors silently closed. “So, what’s up for dinner?”

“I don’t know. I told Wilhelm I’d call when we were home.” She smiled. Home. With Aaron. She liked the sound of that.

“I’m gonna shower,” Aaron said as they walked into their apartment. “Why don’t you call Wilhelm and find out what’s going on.”

“Okay.”

Anna went into her room and called Wilhelm.

“Hello, Anna, er, Katrina.” Wilhelm laughed. “Perhaps I should just call you Liebling .”

Anna giggled. “I like it when you do.”

“As do I. How was your afternoon?”

“Good.” Anna sighed. “Their dancing is so different from Isaak’s. I mean, not foreign, but... I don’t know. Different.”

“Do you like it?”

Anna stared at her comforter, thinking back to what she’d seen at the studio. “I don’t know. I’d heard that Balanchine was different, but... it will take some getting used to.”

“I am sure you will do wonderfully, Anna. You are one of the finest dancers I have ever seen.”

“Thanks, Wilhelm,” she said softly, her heart warming at her encouragement.

“So, are you hungry?”

“Yes. Justin went to spend time with old friends, but Aaron is showering right now.”

“Alright. How about I pick the two of you up in about twenty minutes?”

Anna, Wilhelm, and Aaron ate dinner together at a lively German restaurant on the other side of the city.

When they returned to the apartment, Aaron said goodnight, and Wilhelm and Anna sat on the couch in the living room. “Anna, I must return to Frankfurt,” Wilhelm said. “If Devin knew I was here, he would become suspicious. Tom is shielding me, but I would rather him put his energy into protecting you.”

“Oh.” She stared at the floor, her heart heavy in her chest. “When?”

“Tonight. Gavin is waiting for me in my hotel room.”

“Oh.”

Wilhelm wrapped his arms around her. “I am sorry, Liebling . But we will speak often.”

“You can’t come back?”

Wilhelm frowned. “Eventually, ja . But I do not know when.” He stroked her cheek. “You do not need an old man like me hanging around. You need to embrace your new life.”

Anna blinked away tears. “I like you being here.” She looked up at him. “I hate the idea of you being absent from my life.”

He smiled gently. “Anna, I will always be a part of your life. But you need to be safe, and my being here could attract Devin’s attention. Once he is weaker, it will be easier, but he is too strong for now. The longer you are away from him, the better.”

Anna nodded, understanding, though she didn’t like it. “I’ll miss you.”

“And I, you, Liebling. Tom is available if you need anything. And Aaron.” He leaned down and kissed her. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Wilhelm didn’t linger, but gave her another kiss and left the apartment. His quick exit made it easier to smile and say goodbye to him without her voice betraying her sadness, but once he left, she hurried to her room and fell onto her bed, sobbing. Aaron came in a few minutes later, lay down behind her, and held her until she fell asleep in his arms.