“Because I love you, Anna.” Alex scooted off the bench and dropped to his knee. “I know I hurt you by leaving you. And by keeping my distance. But it was the only way I knew to keep you safe until I could learn how to protect you better. If I hadn’t failed you when you were younger.... Things would have been so different. But I will make it up to you, Anna. I promise.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. “Anna, I love you with all of my heart. Will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Anna couldn’t think straight. The whole situation seemed unreal. Alex wanted to marry her? He loved her? It was too good to be true. At least it seemed too good to be true. She searched his eyes and then opened her heart to read him once more. The love that radiated from him stole her breath away.
Alex was the one person in the world that Devin couldn’t take away from her. Alex knew exactly who she was and still loved her. There was no barrier between them like there always would be with other men. He was her Master. Like Devin was. But Alex loved her. Anna felt safe with him. He could stand up to Devin. He could protect her.
Anna looked into Alex’s hopeful blue eyes. “You really love me?” she whispered, afraid she’d misread him.
“Ja, Anna. I love you. With everything that I am. I have for a very long time. I just couldn’t tell you for fear of what Devin would do to you.”
“Will he let me marry you?” Fear rose in Anna’s heart at the thought.
“He doesn’t have a choice.” The determination in Alex’s eyes was almost frightening. But Anna understood that it was determination to protect her, not to hurt her. “But it’s up to you, Anna. I won’t force you. I want you to marry me because you want to. Not because you feel obligated to.”
Alex could easily make her do what he wanted her to do. But he’d never done that. He’d always given her choices. Devin made her do things she didn’t want to do.
“Yes, Alex,” she said, her heart filling with joy. “I will marry you.”
His eyes lit up, unlike anything she’d ever seen. Her heart overflowed with happiness, knowing it was her answer that had made him so happy.
He pulled her down off the bench and hugged her tightly to his chest, then pulled back slightly and cradled her cheeks with both hands. “You have made me the happiest man, Anna.” He crushed his lips to hers, bruising them, but she didn’t care. She clung to his neck and kissed him back with abandon.
He pulled back a while later and took her left hand. “In Germany, we don’t normally give engagement rings, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask an American girl to marry me without a ring. When we went back to San Francisco, my friends would kick my ass.”
Anna giggled softly as he put the ring on her finger. It was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. The center diamond was large and round and perfect. And huge. On either side were three smaller round diamonds, descending in size slightly as they moved away from the center stone.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, smiling shyly at him. Anna wrapped her arms around his neck. “You have made me so happy, Alex.”
“That is my goal. I always want to make you happy, Schatzi.” Abruptly his expression changed and he looked at her nervously again. “Anna, are you...okay with what I told you about myself?”
Anna nodded slowly. “You have accepted me for who I am. How can I not accept you for who you are?”
“I won’t do it forever, Anna. Once I am Elder, I will be forced to retire. But I promise you, I will always protect you. Being my wife will keep you safer than you ever have been before. Men will think twice before hurting you.” He stroked her cheek with his hand. “I never want you to be hurt again, Schatzi.”
“But Devin will try, won’t he?”
Alex nodded reluctantly. “I’m afraid so. But he will be severely limited in what he can do with you after we are married. I will have the advantage over him and he will have to respect my decisions regarding you.” He smiled.
Anna gaped at him. “Really?”
“Ja, Anna. I came home to Germany to learn what I could to protect you from Devin and to minimize or get rid of the control he has on you.”
“Is it possible? I mean, for him not to control me?”
“I believe it is, Anna.” He stroked her hair gently. “I have more research to do, but I believe that you can be free of him someday.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Would I be free from you?”
Alex blinked. “Do you want to be?”
The thought of being disconnected from Alex pained her heart. “No,” she whispered.
He smiled tenderly. “Gut. I want you to be free, Anna. But I don’t want to leave your side. Ever. Our marriage will bond us for life. There is no separation, except in death.” He stroked her hair. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you,” he said softly.
“I’d like that,” she whispered.
“Me too.” He was quiet for a few minutes as he continued to stroke her hair.
Anna would have been perfectly content to stay there all night with him.
“Anna, Devin will not want us to marry. If he finds out about our engagement, he will try to stop us.”
Anna looked up at him, concerned. “What can we do?”
He turned her to face him. “Marry me tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Isn’t there planning and...stuff that needs to be done?” Anna didn’t know much about weddings, but any event had to be planned.
Alex chuckled. “I have been working on it since I found out the best way to protect you was to marry you. For some stupid reason, it is very difficult to get married here. But we must be married here in Germany. And it must be approved in the Schloss by the Elders and consummated there. Everything is ready.” He looked at her tenderly. “I just needed you to accept me.”
Anna grew concerned. “Are you marrying me just so you can protect me?” Did he feel an obligation to marry her?
“Nein, Anna. Nein. Not at all. I wanted to marry you before I found out about the added protections.” His cheeks turned pink. “I had planned on returning from Germany and courting you. Now, if you are willing, we’ll return as husband and wife.” He took her hands. “Anna, even if we waited to be married six months from now, our actual wedding ceremony would not be any different. In Germany, the only way to marry is in a civil ceremony in a government official’s office. Then later there are parties and sometimes a church wedding. It’s very different from in America. But we can have a reception when we get home to San Francisco. And...well, my family usually has a New Year’s Eve party here, and my parents and I thought it could be our reception here. Most of the people who would be at the reception will be at the party on Wednesday anyways.”
Alex looked so earnest. Anna could tell he was trying to make her happy. She would have been happy with just marrying him, and he was talking about parties. She supposed that most people had parties to celebrate weddings, though she had never been to one.
She squeezed his hands. “Alex, it’s more than I ever dreamed would happen. I never thought I would marry, especially after what...Devin did. He warned me if I had any more distractions, that he would eliminate them. I swore I’d never date anyone again.” She smiled tenderly. “But he can’t eliminate you, can he?”
“Nein, Anna. He cannot. He would only be hurting himself and you if he did so.”
Tears filled Anna’s eyes again, but this time they were tears of joy. “Then let’s get married tomorrow.”
Alex grinned. “I will hardly be able to sleep tonight.” He hugged her again and then stood and helped her to her feet. “Kommen Sie. Let me introduce you to my family.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Alex held Anna’s hand as they walked up the spiral staircase. She hid behind him slightly as he led her into a long sitting room where his very large family was gathered. She hadn’t realized there would be so many of them. Wilhelm and Ilsa sat near the fireplace in large, comfortable looking le
ather chairs, each with a book in hand. They smiled as Anna and Alex walked in the room
Greta had been lounging on a couch and jumped up when they walked in. “Did you ask her?”
“Ja, Greta. I asked.” Alex laughed. “Can I introduce her to Liesl and Gretchen before I make the announcement?”
Greta shook her head and said something in German.
Alex rolled his eyes. “English, please. Greta. Anna doesn’t understand German.” He gave his sister a charming smile. “Would you please go get Sebastian and the others?”
Greta stuck her tongue out at her eldest brother and then bounded out of the room without saying another word.
Alex walked over to a group of couches where Kurt sat with two women in their early twenties. One had dark blond hair and blue eyes, and looked very much like Ilsa though without the friendly smile. The other woman had medium brown hair and brown eyes and looked very tired and grumpy. Anna guessed this was Gretchen.
“Anna, this is my sister, Liesl.” He indicated the blonde. “And Kurt’s wife, Gretchen.” He indicated the brunette.
“Hello, Anna,” Liesl said politely, standing and shaking Anna’s hand. She wasn’t overly warm, but at least she wasn’t radiating outright hostility at her like Gretchen.
Gretchen didn’t stand, but nodded sharply and said hello.
“Anna!” Kurt said enthusiastically, standing quickly and walking over to her. He kissed her cheek and looked her over with a concerned look on his face. “Engel, you look pale. Have you been ill?”
“That’s hardly a way to greet a woman, Kurt,” Ilsa admonished.
“I am sorry, Anna,” Kurt apologized. “I did not mean to imply anything. You look as beautiful as ever.”
“It’s okay, Kurt. I haven’t been feeling very well lately. There’s been a lot going on.”
Kurt gave her a sympathetic look. “I remember. I am so sorry I had to take Vati away from you.”
Gretchen murmured something to Liesl in German.
“There’s nothing to apologize for Kurt. You needed to get home. How is the baby?”
Kurt smiled broadly, his face lighting up. “Wunderbar. He is sleeping, thankfully, right now.”
Gretchen said something to him in German, making Anna wonder if she spoke English.
Kurt turned to her and responded sharply. “Don’t be rude, Gretchen. You speak English as well as the rest of us.”
Anna had never heard such a sharp tone come from Kurt and was a little startled. She could almost see the hostility between them that Alex had spoken of.
“How was your flight over, Anna?” Kurt asked. “It is unfortunate that the new jet was not ready for you to take.”
Anna smiled. “It was good, as far as I can tell. I slept the whole time.”
Everyone except Gretchen laughed.
“That is the way to travel,” Wilhelm said, walking across the room to join them.
Ilsa came and stood next to Wilhelm. “Will there be a need for champagne, Alex?” she asked with a smile.
Alex pulled Anna in front of him and put his arms around her waist. “Ja,” he grinned.
Ilsa motioned across the room. Anna looked and saw a woman wearing a black dress and white apron. When Ilsa motioned to her, she curtsied and disappeared through a door behind her.
A moment later, Anna heard the commotion of footsteps coming up the stairs. Anna looked to see Seth, Tony, Greg and several other men behind him. Seth beamed at her.
“Anna, these are my friends. You know Seth, Tony, Greg...and Sebastian, of course.”
Anna nodded and the Immortal bowed his head slightly and smiled at her.
“The ones you haven’t met are Jesse, Michael and Jason.”
Each man nodded as Alex introduced them. They were all tall and muscular, as would be expected from the military-type men Anna assumed they were. Jesse looked like he was of some Hispanic or Caribbean heritage and his head was shaved bald. Michael was slightly shorter with short brown hair and gray eyes. Jason had red hair, light green eyes and freckles.
“Erich will be here tomorrow with my aunt and uncle. He’s my cousin. Well, our cousin.”
All the men looked at her like they were happy to meet her. She felt no hostility or ill will in them.
“Well, now that everyone is here, I can make the announcement,” Alex said loudly, giving Anna an affectionate look. “I asked Anna to marry me and she said yes.”
There was excited chatter and applause. Anna was instantly surrounded by people giving her hugs and kisses.
Ilsa hugged her tightly. “I am so pleased to welcome you into our family, Anna.”
A champagne glass appeared in her hand and Anna looked at Alex. “I’m not old enough to drink,” she protested.
Alex laughed. “Anna, the drinking age here is sixteen. And you’re in a private home, so it doesn’t matter.”
“Oh.” Anna blushed.
“Zum Wohl!” Alex exclaimed, raising his glass. He glanced down at Anna with a grin. “It means ‘cheers,’ like a toast.”
“Zum Wohl!” everyone else responded, raising their glasses in the air and then drinking.
Anna took a sip of the bubbly drink. She wasn’t sure what she expected, but it tasted sweeter than she’d thought it would. The only time she’d had alcohol before was with Devin. But she liked this better.
Alex hugged her to him and she leaned her head on his chest. Laughter and talking filled the room.
“Alex, you should show Anna to her room, and then we need to leave,” Wilhelm said quietly, stepping close.
“Where are you going?” Anna asked, suddenly afraid. She hadn’t even finished her champagne and he was leaving?
Alex kissed her head. “I have to go to the Schloss tonight to prepare for tomorrow.” He smiled and stroked her cheek. “Don’t worry, Anna. Sebastian will stay with you. His room is right next to yours.”
Alex took her hand and led her up to the third floor and down a hallway, past several doors and around a corner to a door at the end of a short hallway.
“I hope you like it, Anna. It’s only for the one night.”
Alex opened the door to a beautiful room, decorated in cream and pale green. The dark wood floor had several large rugs covering it, and the cream-colored walls made the room feel bright and cheery. Directly across from the door was a large window covered in heavy pale green and cream brocade curtains.
“You’ll have a beautiful view in the morning,” Alex said.
“It’s beautiful, Alex,” Anna said, turning to him with a smile.
“I want to show you something before I leave.”
Alex took her hand and led her back out into the hallway to a small staircase a few feet away.
“Where are we going?” Anna asked as she walked down the stairs in front of him. They walked down two flights and through a narrow door that opened into a large, dark paneled room.
“Oh!” she exclaimed as her eyes adjusted to the dim light and she saw the rows and rows of books.
“This is our library. I thought you might like to see it.”
An enormous fireplace took up a large portion of one wall in the two-story room. Two wrought iron staircases led to the upper balcony. Red velvet and dark wood furniture made up several cozy reading areas.
Anna walked over to a table with a chair next to it. She ran her fingers along the smooth surface, remembering her vision. “This is where you were when I saw you in August, isn’t it?”
“Ja. I spent a lot of time in that chair the last few months.” He smiled. “And ever since I saw you, I would find myself staring at the spot you had been standing. Wishing you would come again.”
Alex leaned against the table, pulled Anna to stand in front of him, and hugged her close. “I am so glad you are here, Schatzi,” he said quietly, kissing her head.
“Me too.” Anna wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her head against his hard chest. His heartbeat was soothing.
All too soon, Alex sighed. �
��I should take you back to your room so you can rest. It will be a long day tomorrow.”
“A good day, I hope.”
“I am sure it will be, Schatzi. We are getting married. No day will ever be better than tomorrow.” He kissed her hand, then stood and led her back upstairs to her room.
Sebastian was waiting in the hallway. “Your father is looking for you.”
*****
Alex frowned at the look of disapproval on his friend’s face. “I was showing Anna the library.”
Anna smiled up at Alex with a sparkle in her eye. She looked so happy and it thrilled him to know that he was the one who had made her feel that way.
Alex took her small hand in his and walked her to the bedroom door. “If you need anything, you may ask Sebastian or there is a button on the nightstand you can press. Brigitte will be attending to you, and she will come and get you what you need.” He took both her hands in his. “Anna, please do not call anyone at home until after we’re married. If you do, Devin is likely to hear about it and...it wouldn’t be good. Do you understand?”
Anna nodded solemnly. “I won't call anyone, Alex. I promise.”
“Brigitte will bring your breakfast in the morning and help you get ready. I believe my mother has many dresses for you to choose from to wear tomorrow. She’s been enjoying the secret wedding planning.”
“Okay. I hope I can sleep.” She yawned and then quickly covered her mouth, her cheeks turning slightly pink. “I’m still tired, though, so I might be able to.”
“The remote to the television should be on the nightstand. Your bags should be in the closet. Call Brigitte if you need anything.”
“You’re going to be at the Manor all night?”
Alex nodded. It wouldn’t be a very pleasant night for him. “I’ll be back in the morning and we’ll go into town together with my family.” He leaned down and kissed her soft lips. He looked forward to kissing her every day for the rest of his life. “I love you, Schatzi.”
“I love you too, Alex,” she said as her cheeks turned an even more endearing shade of pink.
Alex stared at her for a long moment. She hadn’t said it when they had been downstairs. “You...love me, too?” It was more than he’d expected. He had hoped that she would eventually grow to love him, but hadn’t expected it so soon.
The Life of Anna, Part 3: Embraced Page 14
