I felt as much anger radiating from Alex. “I kept you from breaking a beautiful creature and sucking the life out of her.” Alex’s accented voice was equally low and deadly. “And more.”
“How dare you! You had no right—”
Wilhelm walked up at that moment interrupted him. “And what right did you have to perform that ritual? We do not treat them like this. They are not animals. They deserve our respect.”
Alex wrapped a soft blanket around me. His body radiated heat and the blanket captured it and held it next to my body. I hadn’t realized how cold I was.
Devin snorted with derision. “What do you know?”
“We know quite a bit,” Wilhelm said calmly.
I could feel a momentary flash of fear in Devin, then as quickly as it appeared, he pushed it away. “This was not your concern, Alex," he said arrogantly. “You shouldn’t have interfered.”
“Yes, it was my concern,” he growled.
Devin was silent for a moment. “I can undo it, you know.”
“I do, once she’s old enough. But I don’t plan on letting you.”
“What do you care? This isn’t your country.”
“Grandiose plans from men like you always involve more than you let on,” Wilhelm said in soft, but firm, voice.
“I will defeat him.” Devin glared at Wilhelm.
“Anything you do to me puts her in danger,” Alex said. “I hope you know that.”
There was a pause. I could sense Devin’s confusion.
“If you kill me, you will kill her.” Alex laughed bitterly. “I’m just as much bonded to her as you are. Of course, the same thing goes for me. If I kill you, I’ll kill her.” Alex paused. “That’s the only reason you’re still alive,” he growled.
Devin laughed, but not in amusement. It was more like a cackle. “You would dare kill an Elder, Elder-Son?”
“I would,” Alex said almost casually. "I’ve done it before. Recently, as a matter of fact.”
Another flash of fear skidded through Devin’s body and was pushed away. “That was you?”
“That was me,” Alex confirmed. “I only did as I was ordered.” I saw him lift his right hand to Devin. At first, I thought he was giving a rude gesture to Devin, but then I saw a gold ring glint on his little finger.
My mind was going fuzzy again. Alex had saved me from whatever Devin tried to do to me. Maybe that's why I dreamed of him. Something inside me told me that Alex was safe. Was Devin?
I don’t want to think about that now.
I lay my head against Alex's hard, muscled shoulder, and he kissed the top of my head. “Go to sleep, Schatzi. Everything will be okay.”
I closed my eyes and slept.
########
Keep going for an excerpt from
The Life of Anna, Part 2.
About Marissa Honeycutt
Marissa's story of Anna began with a dream about being kidnapped with Adam Savage from the Mythbusters (Yes, really). Over the next year and a half, it morphed into the story you just read. She has several other stories in progress, one of which is based on her kidnapped dream.
When she's not writing or editing, Marissa is taking care of two young boys, training to be an astronaut, running her household, wrestling with gorillas, playing around on Facebook, promoting whirled peas, and busting her tush for her accounting degree. She enjoys chocolate, air conditioning in the desert's summer heat, really good strawberry margaritas, sleeping, and shopping.
Stalk Marissa:
on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MarissaHoneycuttAuthor
on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8306428.Marissa_Honeycutt
On Twitter @Marihoneycutt
Reader’s discussion & support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1450699568539286/
Deleted scenes coming soon to Marissa’s blog: http://marissahoneycutt.wordpress.com/
Excerpt From The Life of Anna, Part 2
Friday Night-Alex’s Point of View
Alex sensed Anna the moment he walked into the Great Hall. He didn’t understand why he could sense when she was around, but he was glad nonetheless. Sometimes it was stronger than others, like now. Sometimes it was nearly impossible for him to keep himself from pulling her into his arms and kissing her like there was no tomorrow.
He kept caught himself before he started tapping his fingers on the arm of the chair. It wouldn’t do to appear bored or uninterested, even though the last thing he wanted to do right now was to listen to Devin babble on about whatever it was he thought was important. Devin's arrogance was grating. Alex was thankful that his hood sheltered his face from view, else he’d have to appear interested.
As it was, he relaxed his hand and turned his thoughts to the girl across the room. Anna’s obvious, deep-seated fear confused Alex. An Elder-Mistress rarely showed any emotion at all. To see one so beat down and afraid struck him at his core. She should have be a beautiful, confident young woman that took the breath away of every man she came in contact with. Nothing about her was what Alex had expected.
Well, no, that wasn’t entirely true. She was as beautiful as he’d expected, but her personality, while very sweet, was unlike any he’d seen in an Elder-Mistress before. Every time he saw the fear in her eyes, it stabbed his heart. It was his fault she was like this.
Alex looked towards the darkened corner of the room. A figure wrapped in white could just barely be seen. His heart pounded as he realized that it was Anna. His Anna. Kurt might think that Anna was a fun toy to have around, but he would never be able to care for her the way Alex did. Alex’s heart had been tied to hers long ago by her own father.
Vati elbowed Alex gently and Alex pulled his hood down and looked away. It wouldn’t do for his precautions to be undone now. He had to remain aloof or Devin would become suspicious. Neither he nor his father knew exactly what Devin had planned, but his gut told him it was nothing good, and they would be required to intercede before the night was over.
He composed his features to appear uninterested as Anna walked up the aisle to join Devin on the platform, but when Devin removed her cloak, Alex’s breath caught in his throat. Kurt had spoken of the beauty of Anna’s naked body, but to see it first hand was a different experience. He shifted in his chair as his gaze moved down her body, from the sable-brown hair that hung down her back in waves, to her shapely calves.
Her neck was long and slender, her breasts full and round. Her nipples were pink and taut and oh-so tempting. The lines of her torso, the swell of her hips.... Alex gripped the arms of his chair tightly. God, she was beautiful.
Alex growled slightly as Devin mauled her in front of the men. Devin may think that Anna belonged to him, but before the end of the night, Devin would know the truth: Anna belonged to Alex.
Devin pushed her to her knees and Alex frowned. What was Devin doing? A Deacon handed him...a piercing gun? Her kind weren’t supposed to be marked as....
Anna looked at him suddenly and he saw the fear in her eyes. He should just push Devin out of the way and take her from him now. Whatever Devin was planning couldn’t be good. Not if he was going to mark her as a slave. Those ways were forbidden and had been for centuries!
She looked back at Devin and her eyes glazed over slightly.
“What did he do to her, Vati?” he whispered.
“I don’t know, Alex,” his father whispered back. “But I can’t believe he’s going to—“
There was a click and a sharp inhale of breath as Anna’s nipple was pierced.
“Vati, you can’t let this happen,” Alex said in an urgent tone.
Why didn’t she cry out? Tears were in her eyes and she was clearly in pain.
Vati didn’t reply, but stared at Devin and Anna.
“Vati?”
Devin pierced Anna’s belly button.
“The piercings can be undone, Alex,” Vati said quietly.
They both winced at the third and final piercing.
“Let him be. H
e’s not doing anything permanent. You can still take her afterwards.”
Anna started shaking and Devin spoke quietly to her. Tears filled her eyes and she nodded before standing and walking over to Alex and his father, clearly in pain. She bowed and then motioned to the ground between them.
“Devin told you to come sit between us?” Vati asked in a quiet voice.
She nodded.
“Then do so. I would be honored to have you next to me, Anna.”
Sebastian! Alex yelled in his head. I can’t sit and watch this!
The reply from his friend came a moment later. You must, Alex. This is your chance to save her.
Vati said the piercings could be undone.
He’s not done, Alex. You must stay.
She’s in so much pain. I can almost feel it.
Put your hand on her head and concentrate.
Alex stroked her silky hair and then rested his hand lightly on top of her head. He felt warmth flowing through his body and into hers. After a few moments, she relaxed.
Devin gave him a suspicious look and Alex removed his hand. Her pain had been minimized, though Alex wished he could do more for her. He inhaled deeply to calm his heartbeat and regain his patience.
While new Brothers were being initiated, Alex’s thoughts wandered once more. He wondered what else Devin was going to do tonight. What else could Devin do? Marking Anna as a slave was insulting enough.
Ian walked over and led Anna across the platform to the table. Alex’s stomach filled with dread as he saw Ian produce a set of manacles.
“Vati...?”
Vati’s jaw was clenched but otherwise his face was inscrutable. It was his ‘angry but under control’ face he used when dealing with arrogant government officials.
“Alex,” Devin said, stepping in front of him with a slight smirk on his face. “Would you mind assisting me with something?”
Alex glanced at Vati who nodded slightly. “Of course, Devin.”
He stood and followed the Elder to the back of the platform where a goat was tethered to a post. A ceremonial knife and bowl lay on a nearby table. Ian was fastening the manacles around Anna’s wrists, chaining her to the table.
Alex felt anger bubbling to the surface. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. It would not help anything if he lost his temper. He had to stay calm. He had to.
Sebastian, what is going on?
Tell me what you see.
Alex looked around again. A goat, a knife a bowl.... Oh, God Sebastian, what the hell is he going to do to her?
What color is the goat?
Black.
There was a pause. Where is Anna?
On a stone table. I’ve never seen anything like it.
If the goat hadn’t been there, Alex would have feared for Anna’s life.
Devin walked to the front of the platform. “My Brothers, tonight you are fortunate to witness something not seen in a very long time. Something that will help us rein in those who think they don’t need us anymore.”
The men applauded and looked with interest at Anna, compliant and chained to the table.
What’s going on, Alex?
He said he’s going to do something that hasn’t been seen in a long time.
Another pause. I could get into an enormous amount of trouble for helping you.
Please, Sebastian. I failed her once already.
Sebastian didn’t answer and Alex grew nervous as Devin walked over to Anna.
Devin trailed his fingers over her body and she grimaced. His mouth latched onto her nipple and Alex suppressed a growl.
Devin stepped between her legs and stroked her pussy and she gasped in pain. She struggled against the bindings as Devin walked away, but then relaxed again.
Torn by his concern for her, Alex turned his attention to back Devin as the lights went out. Devin picked up the knife and began murmuring. Alex resisted the urge to look back at Vati. He also resisted the urge to punch Devin in the face. Alex didn’t know what was going on, but knew enough about the Brotherhood to restrain his impulses.
Devin swiped the knife across the goat's neck and it collapsed onto the stone platform, its lifeblood flowing down into the bowl at the lowered edge. Alex swallowed as his mouth filled with hot saliva. He normally wasn’t squeamish, but the whole situation set his stomach on edge.
Devin glanced at him with amused eyes as he walked to him. “You’ll need to help her drink this,” he lifted the bowl slightly, “and then hold her down if she starts moving. I wouldn’t want her to hurt herself.”
Alex forced a smile. “Of course, Devin.” Sebastian!
Tell me what he does as he does it. I will guide you through what you must do. But you must trust me.
Alex hesitated. What would Sebastian have him do? I trust you. I always have. He’d known Sebastian for ten years and he’d never been led astray.
Alex moved to Anna’s left side, his back towards the common Brothers in blue. Her guardian stood across from him with a smirk on his face and Devin’s deacon stood at her head. Devin stared intently at Anna and she returned the look. He began to murmur again in a language Alex didn’t recognize. Devin lifted the bowl over his head, said something loudly in the unknown language, and then brought the bowl to his lips.
Devin passed the bowl to Jack, who drank, and then passed it to the Deacon. The Deacon did likewise and passed the bowl to Alex.
You’re acknowledging that you’re a witness to the ritual. Drink, Alex. It’s the only way you can help her. You must be intimately part of this to save her.
Alex stared at the bowl and then tipped it towards his mouth. Disgusting. He swallowed and looked at Devin, who nodded towards Anna.
Why do I have to feed her?
Devin doesn’t realize it, but he’s giving you the opening you need. By you feeding her, you will be able to interfere with the bonding.
Bonding?
Feed her, Alex.
The Deacon lifted her head and Alex lowered the bowl to her. “Drink,” he said gently. As her lips touched the bowl, he felt a surge of warmth run through his body. “Open.”
Obediently, she parted her lips and Alex poured some of the blood into her mouth. She coughed and shuddered, blood droplets landing on her perfect breasts.
Alex handed the bowl back to Devin. Devin took another drink and then handed the bowl to Ian, who had been waiting a respectful distance behind him. Anna trembled and Alex brushed his fingers over her temple to try and comfort her.
He is going to take her mind, Alex. You must watch carefully what he does and be prepared to do the same thing. It will weaken his bond with her and hopefully bond you to her at the same time.
Hopefully?
It’s never been done before. But I believe it to be true.
Alex would have to trust his friend.
Devin moved around Anna, stroking her skin, as Alex and the other men stepped back. Devin stopped at her head and placed his hands on her temple. She looked up at him and terror filled her eyes. Her mouth moved and she trembled violently. The muscles in her neck strained and she stiffened. Alex could see the wild pulse in her neck.
Alex’s heart raced as Devin walked back to the bottom of the table. Anna was shaking so badly Alex was afraid she’d fall off the table, despite the chains. The Deacon and Jack loosened her manacles and Devin slid her down towards him.
Anna’s eyes met his, her terror ripping at his heart. What must I do, Sebastian?
Devin opened his robe and stroked his hard cock a few times before thrusting violently into Anna’s body. She arched off the table and opened her mouth in a silent scream. Why wasn’t she making any sounds?
The other men pushed her back down and Alex did likewise, if for no other reason than to keep her from falling.
It took all his strength to hold her down as Devin fucked her. Sweat glistened on Devin’s forehead and his eyes were closed. An ecstatic expression filled his face. After what seemed like forever, Devin grunted and pulled out. T
ears rolled down Anna’s cheeks as she stared at Devin, bewildered, betrayed.
Devin smirked and then walked away. Anna looked up at Alex with such a hopeless look in her eyes, it stabbed at his heart.
Sebastian!
Go to her head, I will give you the words to say.
Anna’s eyes were drooping and she shuddered as he put his hands on her temples.
Alex repeated the words Sebastian gave him. Anna’s eyelids fluttered.
“Stay with me, Anna,” he whispered, fearing he was losing her.
You must bond with her, Alex. You must fuck her.
Alex moved down to between her legs and flinched as he saw her pussy. She was bleeding, and from more than just her new piercing. What the fuck...?
Devin turned and their eyes met. Devin stepped forward and Alex steeled his mind.
“Forgive me, Schatzi,” he whispered. He opened his robe, surprised he was hard. How could he be hard at a moment like this?
Do it, Alex. If he touches her, it’s over.
“Forgive me,” he said, positioning himself at her brutalized entrance. He pushed forward and Anna’s mouth opened in another silent scream.
And no wonder. Getting into her body was like trying to shove his cock into the barrel of his rifle. He knew he was above average in size, but this was ridiculous. It was painful for him; no wonder she was screaming...silently.
“No!” Devin screamed and reached for her.
Without thinking about it, he thrust his hips forward, tears filling his eyes, for Anna’s pain and his own. He was certain he’d torn her. Would she ever forgive him?
Tears streamed down her face and he leaned forward to hold her body in place as he thrust in and out. It was not even remotely enjoyable and he prayed he’d be able to finish.
Miraculously, his balls tingled and he felt himself release into her body. It wasn’t even an orgasm. Just release. Painful release. As soon as he was done, he pulled out and rested his head on her knee, breathing hard.
What did I just do? I tore her, Sebastian.
If everything went right, you’ve bonded with her. You are both her Master now.
The Life of Anna, Part 1: Enslaved Page 20