Page 107 of The Life of Anna, Tenth Anniversary Edition, Act 2

“I’m sorry I left you like I did last night, Katrina.”

Hugo sat down on the floor next to Anna the next morning and spoke softly. “I didn’t want to hurt you, but I probably did anyway, didn’t I?”

Anna looked up from her stretch and gave him an understanding smile. “It’s okay. I understand. I... appreciate what you were trying to do.”

Hugo blew out a breath. “I was afraid you’d be angry with me.”

She shook her head. “I’m not.” She smiled. “But I’m not as delicate as you may think I am.” She grinned mischievously, with a hint of seduction.

His eyes widened for a split second, and then he shook his head and laughed. “Not nice to look at a man like that before dance class.”

Anna giggled. “Sorry.”

He smiled, his dimples deepening. “I am determined to remain a gentleman.” He gave a deep nod. “If that’s okay with you, I’d like to take you out again tonight.”

Anna smiled. “I’d like that.”

Aaron returned Sunday night and Anna greeted him at the door with a passionate kiss.

“Are you okay?” He stepped back, his eyes wide.

“Please don’t reject me, Aaron. I—I just need you to fuck me.”

Aaron grinned. “That’s what every man wants to hear when he walks in the door.” He kissed her back, and they undressed as they kissed their way to his bedroom. They fell naked into his bed and Anna rolled on top of him, straddled his hips, and impaled herself on him.

She cried out in pain and gasped for breath. She hadn’t expected it to hurt.

“Are you okay?”

“It’s been a few days.” She hung her head and tried to relax around him.

“We didn’t have to go so fast, hon.” Aaron pulled her close and kissed her gently. “I’m not in a hurry.” He held her as he rolled her onto her back, still inside her, and kissed her neck.

Anna closed her eyes and relaxed as he kissed her. When the pain subsided, she moved her hips, wanting him to move.

“Better?” he asked, moving slowly inside her. She gasped and nodded. “Good.” He grinned. “You feel so amazing...”

“How was the funeral?” Anna asked later as she ran her fingers over Aaron’s chest while they cuddled together in bed.

“Sad.” He sighed. “Matt wasn’t taking it very well. He looked like he wanted to jump into the casket with her.”

Anna stopped moving her hand. “I feel awful for him. And guilty. First Ben’s death and now Jenna’s. Does he hate me?”

“No. He knows where the blame lies: with Devin. He did ask about you, though.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I told him it was better if he didn’t know. He accepted that.”

“Did you see Devin?”

“Yes. He was there but, surprisingly, he stayed in the background. He watched me a lot, so I was careful about what I said and warned Justin to do the same.”

“What about Jenna’s dad?”

Aaron shook his head. “Luke’s not well at all. He’s so angry and I don’t blame him. I saw him and Devin arguing. I assume it was about Jenna.”

Anna closed her eyes. So many people dead because of her. She hoped Tom knew how to stop Devin and would do it soon.

“Have you found her yet?” Devin growled as Jack walked into his study at his house. Anna hadn’t taken the bait. He didn’t know what else to do. Killing off her friends until she returned was something to consider, but with Ian gone, it was challenging. And so many deaths would be hard to cover up. He wasn’t that desperate. Yet.

“No. She’s... disappeared into thin air.” Jack frowned. “There’s no trace of her anywhere.”

“That’s not possible!” Devin shouted. “She’s a fucking Immortal. She can’t just disappear.”

Devin stood and walked to the window. Fucking Ian. Devin would have gotten the information out of him if he hadn’t killed himself.

“They’ve run the security footage from all the airports in the area. She didn’t show up in any of them. Could she have teleported somewhere?”

Devin shook his head. “No. Not without an Immortal. Half-Immortals don’t have that power.” He’d scoured his books, trying to find any sliver of information as to how she could have disappeared.

“What about the missing dancer? Justin, right? He didn’t have anything to do with it?”

Jack shook his head. “Isaak caught him smoking pot and fired him. He’s back home in New York.”

“Is he dancing?”

“I don’t know.”

Devin growled and glared out his window at the street below. His powers were safe for now, but soon they would start failing without Anna to renew them.

Devin tilted his head. “He’s from New York?”

“Who?”

“Justin.”

“Yeah. Danced for the city’s ballet company until he came out here a few years ago. After Anna stopped dancing.”

“What about her other friend... Aaron? The one who was friends with Alex.”

“I believe that’s his name. Yes, he’s in New York.”

Something told him there was some connection, but he didn’t know what it was. She’d been invited to go to New York before. Maybe she went there? But how the hell did she get there, if she was there? And why couldn’t he sense her?

Devin rubbed his eyes. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

“Did you check Germany? With Wilhelm?”

“There’s no trace of her there either.”

“Someone, somewhere, has to know something,” he said, more to himself than to Jack. “She wouldn’t stop dancing. She has to be somewhere there’s a dance company.” He turned around and looked at Jack. “You’ve checked security footage around New York?”

Jack nodded.

The logical place for her to go would be there, but Tom had insisted that she wasn’t. None of the Elders were sensing her in their areas, and while there were a few that he didn’t completely trust, there was no reason Anna would go to L.A. or Houston. New York was the best option, but how the hell was he supposed to find her there? Someone had to be protecting her.

He looked at Jack. “Go to New York. Stake out the ballet companies. I want firsthand knowledge whether or not she’s there.”