Page 90 of The Life of Anna, Tenth Anniversary Edition, Act 2

Devin woke in his pavilion mid-morning, a cool morning breeze brushing his face, and he smiled. Last night had gone exactly as he’d hoped. Fucking the president’s face in front of everyone made it very clear who was in charge. At last, he was where he wanted to be. For now. When he had sufficient power, he would expand beyond America’s borders.

Anna’s “gift” had been extremely gratifying. Her offering it to him was so much more powerful than him taking it by force. He could feel the Immortal power coursing through his blood. Of course, he needed to make sure Anna was back under his control before they left, but it could wait until tomorrow. He liked that she was content to do whatever he told her to do, be it seducing the Mayor or bending over so he could fist her ass and make her scream in pain. God, he loved hearing her scream.

His cock stirred at the thought. Maybe he should go find her and... No, he needed her to be fuckable and able to suck cock today. He could make men do what he wanted them to do, but Anna’s influence helped ease them into it, and their desire to obey lasted longer. Who could forget the feel of her lips wrapped around his cock?

Devin opened his eyes and saw one of his girls asleep next to him. A brunette named Cecilia. She was young and extremely talented. He pulled down the blanket to look at her full breasts. She stirred and opened her brown eyes. “Good morning, Master,” she said with a seductive smile. “How may I please you?”

Devin grinned. Anna didn’t wake up asking that, but she didn’t need to. She already knew what he wanted. “Turn over.”

The slave girl immediately obeyed. He nudged her legs apart and spread open her ass cheeks, exposing her tight hole. It would stretch open easily for him but remain snug. Going in dry would make it hurt. Did he feel benevolent? No. He pressed his throbbing cock against her hole and she whimpered.

“I want to hear how much it hurts,” he said in a raspy voice as he pushed forward.

She screeched as he thrust forward, ripping her open with a single movement. He pulled back, his cock slipping out so he could see the damage. Yes, this would do nicely. He thrust back in, making the girl scream again.

A while later, he left her bloodied and passed out on the bed, and went to clean up and eat lunch. He joined Tom and their sons at a table under a tree.

Tom grinned at him. “I’ve heard good feedback about last night. They’re all very impressed with what you did with the president.”

Devin grinned. “Good.” He inhaled deeply. “Things are very good. All my planning has paid off.”

After lunch, he walked around the site, speaking with various leaders and powerful men to make sure the ritual’s effects still held, and that they clearly understood what he expected of them. Satisfied of his iron-clad control, he made his way back to his pavilion to get ready for the mid-afternoon meeting with the Elders.

“Ian,” he said, sitting down on the couch. “Is Anna up?”

“I don’t know, sir, I haven’t seen her yet.” Ian looked up from his tablet. “Do you want me to go find her?”

“Yes, please. The Elders will be here soon and I want her here.”

“Yes, sir.”

Devin sat back and people-watched as Ian walked off in search of Anna. More than once, he watched a man grab a passing slave and fuck her on the grass right there. He loved how uncouth the men were becoming.

Half an hour later, the Elders had gathered, but Anna hadn’t arrived. Devin frowned as his temper flared. She knew better than to keep him waiting, no matter how well she’d done. He looked around and caught Ian’s eye as the big man returned to the pavilion. “Where is she?” he growled.

“I don’t know, sir. I’ve been looking. Perhaps the president took her?”

Devin shrugged. It was possible. Jerry was still a bit too arrogant. He would have to keep working on that. “Go find him and bring her here. Warn her that I am not happy.”

“Yes, sir.”

Forty-five minutes later, Ian returned, but no Anna.

“Where the fuck is she?” he growled.

Ian raised his brows and lifted his chin, looking down on him with... was that contempt in his eyes? Devin stared at his lifelong friend, his mouth open, but he had no words. Ian had never looked at him so defiantly before. His hazel eyes were firm and cold. Ian looked at other people like that, not him.

Devin slowly rose to his feet. “What’s going on, Ian?” His anger simmered just below the surface. Ian knew something.

“She’s not here.”

“What do you mean, she’s not here?”

“Just what I said. She’s. Not. Here.”

Rage lit in his body, but he kept it contained so he could find out what was going on. “Where is she?”

“I don’t know.”

Devin sneered, his lip curling. “Stop playing fucking games with me!” He had sworn he would not lose control, but it was dangling by a very thin thread.

Ian smiled. “She’s gone. Away from you. Safely far from you.”

The thread snapped and his blood boiled. “You betrayed me?” he asked from behind clenched teeth. He shook with rage and his hands balled into fists. “Tom, go get me the dagger.”

Ian’s eyes never left Devin’s as Tom hurried away. He was so calm, so sure of himself. Devin would make sure he suffered for betraying him. Very, very slowly.

“After all that I’ve done for you, you dare cross me? Send Anna away from me? Where did you take her?”

“I only helped her out of the camp. She was on her own after that.”

Devin roared in rage and the entire gathering turned to look. Ian backed out of the pavilion and into the sunlight. Devin followed.

“She needed to be free. You had no right to have her and treat her as you did.” Ian’s eyes narrowed. “You made me do horrible things to her. She’s gone and there is nothing you can do. You will grow weak and be defeated.” He put his hand to his mouth, then dropped it to his side. “I’ll see you in Hell, Devin.” His mouth began to foam and he dropped to his knees on the grass, shook for a long moment, then fell to his side, dead.

Devin screamed out again, rage consuming him. His vision grew dark and his hands shook.

Tom reappeared and dropped the requested dagger nearby. Devin turned back to his Elders. “Find her,” he growled.