The Life of Anna, Part 2: Entwined by Marissa Honeycutt

looking anxious. Not a good sign. Seth rarely showed anxiety and he cared a lot for Anna. More than Alex’s jealous heart liked.
    Something must have happened to Anna .
    He stood quickly, pushing the chair back so hard it almost toppled over, and followed Seth out of the room, leaving Kirsty at the table alone without a word.
    “What's wrong?” Alex asked quietly as they approached the stairs.
    Seth shook his head. “Honestly, I don't know. We got upstairs to her room and she just kinda collapsed onto her knees. She was mumbling something about being disobedient and needing to be punished. I tried to talk to her about it, but....” Seth looked at Alex with a concerned look in his eyes. “I'm sorry, Alex.”
    Alex ran up the stairs three at a time, followed closely by Seth.
    Anna was so concerned about being obedient, and it worried him to no end.
    Damn fucking Devin!
    Every time he thought about the man, he wanted to grab his rifle from downstairs and take it up to the roof and—
    Alex shook his head. No, killing an Elder without permission was a death sentence. He needed to do the one thing he could do, reassure Anna that she was cared for.
    Alex sighed. He was doing a terrible job at that, too.
    Okay, concentrate on the task at hand. Anna was distressed and he needed to help her.
    “Thanks, Seth,” he murmured and walked into Anna's room.
    Anna sat on her knees, hunched over and staring at the floor with wet, frightened eyes. Alex's heart broke as he walked over to her.
    She bowed before him. “I'm sorry, Master,” she whispered. “I wasn't thinking.”
    “Anna....” Alex knelt in front of her and pulled her up into a sitting position. “Anna, look at me.” He looked into her beautiful green eyes. “What did you do that you feel deserves punishment?”
    “I smirked at Kirsty. I was disrespectful.” She looked at the floor again.
    Alex wanted to laugh, but held it in check. “Anna, Schatzi, it's all right. It's not a big deal.” He cupped her chin to bring her face up to his again. “Really, Anna.”
    She looked into his eyes with such distress his thought of laughter disappeared. “I'm sorry, Master,” she whispered again. “I'm ready to receive my punishment.” She winced, bracing herself for a blow he had no intention of delivering.
    Alex frowned. “Anna, I'm not going to—”
    “Alex, you need to discipline her.” Vati spoke softly in German from the doorway, a pained expression on his face.
    “You can't be serious, Vati. She didn't do anything wrong.” Alex responded in German.
    “If she smirked at Kirsty, she was disrespectful. It doesn't matter if you don't think it was a big deal. It certainly would have been to Devin if she acted that way to his wife.”
    Alex glared at his father. For the first time in a very long time, he resented his father's presence in his life and in his home. “Vati , ” he growled. “I will not let her think of me as she does Devin and that horrible guardian of hers. I won't—”
    “Alex, I highly doubt she will.” Vati continued speaking gently. He wasn't angry; Alex was. “If you don't discipline her, you will confuse her and she won't know what to expect from you.”
    “Yes , but how does beating her make her feel better?”
    “I didn't say beat her. I disciplined you as a child, but I certainly didn't beat you.” Vati sighed. “You must think of her as a child. Children feel secure when their parents set boundaries and enforce them. Have you sat down and told her what you expect from her?”
    Alex frowned. “No. I didn't think about it.” It hadn’t even crossed his mind. Vati had a valid point. Anna was very childlike and she did need to know what he expected of her. She knew exactly what Devin expected. Alex just wanted her to be free. Perhaps that would be enough. He sighed. “How do I discipline her?”
    Vati's eyes twinkled. “Perhaps a spanking. Then you should make love to her.”
    Alex frowned again. “Vati , Kirsty is