Anew: The Archers of Avalon, Book One by Chelsea Fine Page B

for him, thrumming fiercely and tearing itself in half. Bringing her closer to death.
    He needed to run away—somewhere far from the beautiful girl before him.
    He needed to keep her safe from her own heart.
    But instead, he stood there, drinking her in like he was a thirsty man and she was water in the desert.
    Because his soul…his foolish and hopeful soul…wanted her just as much as she wanted him.
    He needed to get himself under control—immediately.

20
    Gabriel had a twin.
    An identical twin, it seemed. Their eye colors were different, and Gabriel’s dark hair was shorter than his brother’s, but every other detail about their appearance, was identical.
    Scarlet’s drumming heart refused to calm down.
    She blinked as she realized the guy standing before her was, without a doubt, the same mysterious boy in the black shirt from the festival.
    The boy who had stolen her breath.
    The boy whose presence teased her with the promise of a memory.
    Scarlet hadn’t seen his face at the festival, but somehow she just knew she was looking at the same guy.
    And She was unbelievably drawn to him.
    Scarlet could barely control her body. Her hands wanted to roam across his chest, her legs wanted to wrap themselves around his, and her mouth wanted to run itself up and down his jaw.
    It was by sheer miracle Scarlet was able to keep her hands and feet to herself.
    Her mouth, on the other hand, wasn’t being as obedient.
    Her lips nearly pressed against his cheek as she brought her face close to his in examination.
    She knew him.
    Instinctively. Completely.
    Every fiber of her being was in tune with his and pulled for him.
    Longed for him, even.
    If Gabriel made Scarlet feel normal, this boy—Gabriel’s twin—made her feel… extraordinary.
    He was undeniably familiar, which terrified and excited her at the same time.
    Who was he?
    She couldn’t help but continue to run her eyes over him.
    Shamelessly.
    She asked again, “Who are you?”
    He paused before answering, “Tri—“
    “Tristan Archer,” Scarlet said, barely above a whisper. She knew his name.
    She knew his name.
    How did she know his name?
    “Tristan Archer,” she said again, feeling his name on her lips.
    It sounded right. It sounded safe.
    It sounded perfect.
    Her heart tossed itself up against her chest repeatedly. Like it was trying to escape…trying to pry itself from her body.
    Why was she responding in such a powerful way to this stranger?
    “Tristan Archer,” she repeated. “How do I know you?” She cocked her head to the side and forced herself to back a few inches away.
    He searched her eyes for a moment before asking, “Do you know where Gabriel is?”
    Click.
    Scarlet’s eyes involuntarily closed at the timbre of his voice.
    His voice was like Gabriel’s, pouring into her ears with familiarity and comfort.
    But where Gabriel’s voice was almost perfect, Tristan’s voice was faultless.
    A sound with a direct line to her heart.
    She was connected to it somehow, and desperate to hear more of it.
    The snippets of memory she’d experienced when he first opened the door had been fleeting. Too slippery to hold onto, but thick enough to be more than just her imagination.
    Tristan had some connection to her past. He was there, in her memories, floating along. She just had to find him….
    “Scarlet,” Tristan said.
    He knew her name.
    “Scarlet,” he said again, clearing his throat like it pained him to speak.
    Her eyes flew open, bringing her back to reality.
    Agh.
    Was she really just closing her eyes?
    Way to be creepy, Scarlet .
    She looked up at him and tried to compose herself.
    “Did Gabriel come with you?” he continued.
    Scarlet scrunched her nose. “Uh…no…?”
    How was she supposed to explain she’d followed Tristan—a complete stranger—to his cabin in the woods all by herself?
    How was she going to spin that so she didn’t sound like a stalker?
    He blinked. “Then where…? Never mind. Come in.” Tristan stood back