Respect filled Scarlet as she looked at the hunter beside her. The hunter who had surrendered his kill to her, saved her from thieves, shared his food with her mother.
“You are already the man you describe.”
As the sun filtered in through the trees and splashed against their cloaks and hunting gear, Scarlet looked Tristan over and a realization struck her, causing her heart to beat wildly in her chest.
Somewhere between the trees and the dirt, Scarlet had fallen in love with the hunter. Hopelessly in love.
For there was no hope for love between a thief and a nobleman.
His eyes locked on hers for a thick moment before a flock of birds rushed into the sky above them.
At first, Scarlet thought nothing of it. But when she moved forward to walk on, Tristan gently grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to him. He placed a finger in front of his full lips and motioned for her to be quiet.
Scarlet searched the trees surrounding them, but saw nothing, heard nothing. And Tristan had yet to let go of her wrist.
Which she did not mind at all.
A distant rustle, a pounding of hooves and Scarlet realized someone was coming toward them.
No.
A group of someones were coming toward them.
Tristan’s eyes shot to the sound and Scarlet followed his gaze. Several men on horseback were making their way through the trees in the far distance.
Scarlet’s eyes widened in panic. It was the earl’s men, coming to collect thieves from the forest. She immediately pulled for her bow to defend herself, but Tristan took tighter hold of her wrist.
She shot her eyes to him in frustration.
“Wait, Scar,” he said.
Scar.
He called her Scar. Like he knew her. Like she was his to name.
Halting her movements, Scarlet waited.
Tristan glanced around the clearing then looked her up and down in worry. He hesitated, then pulled her behind a large tree. Setting her back up against the tree, Tristan began tucking her cloak in around her. Like it was a blanket and she was a cold child.
She opened her mouth to ask what he was so afraid of—after all, these were his father’s men. These were men that would have no business arresting Tristan. Right?
But Tristan set a gentle finger on her lower lip to keep her quiet. Scarlet looked up at his eyes for answers, but his only response was a look that said trust me.
And she did.
Keeping silent eyes on Tristan, Scarlet listened as the hooves grew louder and the trees around them began to sway with the commotion. Dust kicked up, small rocks flew and, from the corner of her eye, Scarlet saw a squirrel dart up a nearby tree trunk in fear.
How many men were there? Dozens?
As the group drew closer, Tristan moved his body closer to Scarlet’s as if shielding her. His finger still rested on her bottom lip as he looked around carefully.
Scarlet’s eyes traced up and down his profile, distracted by how truly handsome he was and how much she enjoyed the feel of his finger against her mouth.
Tristan’s large body, now nearly pressed up against hers, was warm and inviting, filling Scarlet’s head with deliciously inappropriate thoughts. Her eyes traced his square jaw, wondering what it would be like to run her finger along his dark stubble and down to his throat….
He dropped his finger from her mouth and leaned in even closer, his heat against her as he moved his head to the side to look around the tree.
Scarlet felt small in between the tree and Tristan’s body. Small and safe.
Tristan shifted, his chest brushing against hers. Pounding hooves came to a stop not far from where they hid and Scarlet’s palms began to sweat.
Why was Tristan nervous? His neck was only inches away from Scarlet’s face as he strained to see the earl’s men. Scarlet spied his beating pulse just below the skin of his neck, and it was running high.
They must be in danger.
A low voice croaked out from the group of men, “I’m sure I saw someone right here.”
“Very well,” another voice sighed. “Spread out, all of you! Search this area until we find the thief!”
Tristan pulled his head back to her and closed his eyes as he silently cursed. Opening his eyes, he looked at her sternly and brought his mouth up to her ear.
“Stay. Here,” he whispered.
His hot breath sent tingles down her spine. Good tingles. Tingles Scarlet wanted to bottle up and take home.
Scarlet’s lips parted to ask why, but Tristan was already gone, pushing away from her and walking out to the men behind her.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” she heard Tristan say. “On a hunt, are we?”
Scarlet kept her back up against the tree and her cloak tucked around her. The only reason she wasn’t reaching for her weapon or running through the trees right now was because she trusted Tristan.
With her life.
***************
Tristan stared up at Tennius, his father’s most trusted guard. Tennius was a burly man, with great strength and blind obedience, who hated Tristan with a passion.
“Lord Archer,” Tennius said. “What brings you out to these woods?”
“Hunting, of course,” Tristan motioned to the bow on his back and kept his hands steady. Scarlet was just yards away, covered only by a tree trunk. If the men were to move even ten feet in her direction, they would see her.
And they could not see her.
His heart started to pound.
Tennius looked at him skeptically. “You have no need to hunt, my lord. Especially not in these murderous woods.”
“I am aware of my surroundings.” Tristan lifted his chin. “But I hunt for my pleasure.” Tristan looked around and counted over a dozen men on horses. “What is you hunt today, Tennius? Surely not deer. I could give you a lesson in stealth if you wish to eat venison for dinner.”
Tennius was not amused. “The earl has discovered vagrants living on his land. They pay no rent and are thieves in his forest. He has ordered that these woods be thoroughly searched for such vagabonds and that the criminals be put to death.”
Tristan’s heart jumped into his throat and nearly choked him. If they looked for settlers in the forest long enough, Scarlet and Ana would surely be found. “I see my father is craving blood again.”
“Your father is a just man trying to keep order on his land—”
“Yes, yes.” Tristan mocked a smile. “We all know of your loyalty to my father. No need to announce your allegiance out here…among the birds and deaf stones. I’m sure they do not care.”
Tennius shifted on his horse. “We have work to do, my lord.” He turned to his men. “We move forward!”
“If you are in need of criminals,” Tristan said, desperate to send Tennius as far away from Scarlet as possible. “I would suggest you head to the south. I know of three thieving men who make their home there.” Tristan thought back to the men who attacked Scarlet.
Tennius raised a brow. “You’ve seen these men?”
Tristan nodded. “I occasionally have confrontations with those who wish to steal from me.” Tristan smirked, thinking of the first time he met Scarlet. “And believe me when I say, the thieves out here are not like anything I’ve seen before.”
He held his breath as Tennius eyed the wooded area around them.
“Very well.” He kicked his horse and started south. “This way, men!”
Tristan exhaled slowly as the men turned on their horses and disappeared into the trees.
A minute passed before he saw Scarlet creep out from her hiding spot. He looked at her for a moment, flooded in relief that she had not been found.
“Why did you hide me? Were those not your father’s men?” Scarlet walked up to him, confusion lining her face.
Tristan exh
aled. “Yes, those were my father’s men. But I did not want them to see you.”
“Why not? You could have simply told them you brought me hunting with you. There was no need to hide me.”
Tristan pursed his lips together. “I wanted to keep you hidden. For your safety.”
“For my safety?” Scarlet’s mouth fell open. “Then why do we bother hunting together at all? If I am not safe hunting with you, then I may as well hunt on my own. You baffle me, hunter. You beg and plead to accompany me on my hunts, claiming your presence will protect me, but it does not.”
“You don’t understand.” Tristan rubbed his jaw.
”Did you keep me hidden because I am poor?”
Tristan dropped his hand. “Of course not.”
“Because I am dirty?”
He glared at her.
“Because I am small?” She raised her voice. “Because I am a girl? Because you are embarrassed to be seen with—”
“Because you are beautiful!” Tristan shouted, frustrated with how much he cared for the dark-haired girl standing before him. “You are young, and unmarried, and striking,” he explained. “I do not want large groups of men knowing there is a beautiful girl running around the eastern woods on her own. I can keep you from being arrested, but I cannot keep you safe from all other evils. And I cannot be here at all times to protect—”
“Hunter,” Scarlet said, her face flushed. “I am not yours to protect. You do not need to burden yourself with my safety.”
“Burden?” Tristan stared at her for a moment, wishing it was that simple. His mouth fell open. “I want to protect you.”
Scarlet blinked. “Why?”
Tristan inhaled slowly. “Because you are worth protecting.”
Scarlet looked at the ground, keeping her eyes and her blushing face away from him.
Tristan stared at her downcast eyes, his heart clenching with an unfamiliar emotion. Love.
He was in love with the girl thief.
He was a fool after all.
23
Gabriel arrived home from school just in time to see Scarlet walking out from the back of the cabin and heading for her car.
“Hey,” Gabriel said to Scarlet as she neared. “Why were you behind the cabin?”
Scarlet looked up at him. “I was shooting arrows. With Tristan.”
She said it casually. Like she hadn’t just been hanging out with the one and only person that could kill her with his proximity.
She smiled at Gabriel. “How was your history thing?”
Gabriel stared at the side of the cabin for a long moment, not sure if he was mad at Scarlet or Tristan. “Boring. Pointless.”
Tristan. He was mad at Tristan.
Scarlet twisted her lips sympathetically. “Sorry.” She absently kissed his cheek and continued walking to her car.
“Are you leaving?” He followed her with his eyes.
Scarlet turned around. “Yeah. I promised Heather I’d hang out after school. See you later?” She gave him a small smile.
Gabriel nodded. “Later.”
After Scarlet climbed into her car and started the engine, Gabriel marched to the back of the cabin.
Tristan had just drawn a fresh arrow when Gabriel turned the corner.
“Uh, what just happened?” Gabriel stood between Tristan and the back porch.
“Don’t start, Gabe.” Tristan let the arrow sail.
“What part of ‘stay away from Scarlet’ don’t you understand?”
Tristan scowled and lowered his bow. “The part that makes you sound like an overprotective guard dog.”
“I have a reason to be overprotective.”
Tristan rolled his eyes. “I didn’t touch her, so you can relax.”
“Relax?” Gabriel was incredulous. “I haven’t been able to relax for centuries. How am I supposed to relax when you’re always lurking around, making Scarlet worse?”
Tristan walked to the side of the cabin and set his bow against the wall. “She came to me, asking for answers. What was I supposed to do? Banish her from my presence?”
Gabriel crossed his arms, slightly hurt that Scarlet asked Tristan for answers instead of him. “Well, you certainly weren’t supposed to give her archery lessons and pretend like you’re not trying to make her remember you.”
Tristan raised a brow. “Now you sound insane.”
“Do I?” Gabriel stepped forward. “You miss her. You love her. I get it.” He shook his head. “I really do.” Pressing his lips together, he inhaled deeply. “But you can’t ask her to love you back.”
Tristan said nothing.
Gabriel lowered his voice. “Asking her to love you back is the same as asking her to die.” He paused. “Don’t ask her to die for you.”
Whistling wind flew past the porch, wrapping around Gabriel and shooting out into the forest.
Tristan looked to the trees for a moment, before staring back at Gabriel with a tight jaw.
Gabriel said, “You’re not safe—”
“I know.”
“Then act like it.”
Tristan narrowed his eyes and shrugged. “What do you want me to do, Gabe? Wear a shock collar that paralyzes me when I come within five feet of her?”
Actually, yes.
“Of course not,” Gabriel said.
“Then what?” Tristan stepped forward. “What do you want from me?”
Gabriel thought for a moment. He knew what he wanted. He just didn’t know if it was fair for Tristan.
But, then again, Tristan wasn’t the person he was trying to keep alive.
Gabriel inhaled. “I want you far away from Scarlet so she won’t be curious enough to get herself killed.”
It was unfair, asking Tristan to leave. Asking Tristan to put himself through horrendous pain by being away from Scarlet.
But it was the safest way to keep her alive. Would Gabriel regret it?
Maybe. Probably.
Did it matter?
No.
Turning to head up the porch stairs, Gabriel didn’t look back when he said, “I want you gone.”
***************
Scarlet drove to Heather’s house as the afternoon sun began to dip behind the tree line. She was grateful Heather had asked her to come over—she needed some distance from a certain green-eyed Archer.
She bit her lip, torn by her feelings. Every time she was around Tristan, her heart went wild and her soul came alive. When she felt his sadness, it hurt her heart. When she felt his guilt, she wanted to kiss it away. And when she felt his desire….
Well, she wanted to do a lot more than kiss him.
Tristan was a beautiful, broken enigma and she wanted to piece him back together one touch at a time.
I am the worst girlfriend ever.
Scarlet dropped her head to the side, wishing she didn’t care about Tristan and his brokenness.
She pulled up to Heather’s house and parked. The Baxter family lived just a few streets down from Scarlet on Cherry Drive. Heather’s house was two stories, like Scarlet’s, but much smaller. The front yard was meager, but well cared for, with a slim flowerbed beside the front door and a mostly-green square of grass by the driveway.
Scarlet got out of her car and walked to the red front door. She raised her hand to knock, but the door swung open before her fist hit the red wood.
“Scarlet!” Heather’s little sister Emily squealed, pulling Scarlet inside. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve been trying to draw a castle all day, but my drawings keep looking like birthday cakes. Since you know how to draw, will you help me? Please, please?”
A happy eight-year-old, Emily had long, curly blonde hair. Lighter than Heather’s, it tangled around her face and glowed like a halo, fitting Emily’s sweet and innocent disposition perfectly.
Lots and lots of roosters.
Rooster magnets, rooster salt and pepper shakers, rooster cookie jars….
Scarlet couldn’t help but think cock-a-doodle-doo every time she entered the room.
Heather’s two brothers, Jason and Wade, were standing beside an open refrigerator. Jason was pouring chocolate syrup into his mouth, and Wade was drinking milk out of the carton.
Ick.
At seventeen, Heather was the oldest of the Baxter children. Then came Wade, followed by Jason, and Emily was the baby.
Emily held up a piece of paper with a lopsided castle on it. “See?” She pouted her lips. “I’m no good at drawing castles.”
“Sure you are.” Scarlet took the paper and sat down at the round kitchen table in the center of the room. Crayons, markers and crumpled drawings of castles littered the rooster tablecloth. Finding a clean piece of paper, Scarlet picked up a pink crayon.
“The trick to drawing a good castle,” she began, “is starting with the main tower.” Scarlet sketched a tall tower, surrounded by two smaller towers and a castle wall.
It was weird to think that she had, at one time, lived when castles and drawbridges and knights in shining armor were a common thing.
Scarlet watched Emily try to mimic Scarlet’s castle. “There you go.” Scarlet looked at the little girl affectionately. “Your castle looks great.”
Emily finished the sketch and stared at her drawing with a proud smile. “Wow. It doesn’t look like a cake.”
“Ew, get out of the fridge.” Heather entered the kitchen and stared at Wade, who was now drinking orange juice from the carton. “You’re such a pig. You’re like a little Neanderthal, with oversized feet and a germ-ridden piggy mouth.”
“Oink, oink,” he retorted, making a point to put his lips fully around the juice carton’s spout.
Nasty.
Heather made a disgusted face at Wade before looking at Scarlet. “You wanna come upstairs?”
Awry (The Archers of Avalon, Book Two) Page 11
