Awry by Chelsea Fine Page A

way across the forest to the small hut in the shadows.
    At first, he’d done it to protect Scarlet from getting arrested by the earl’s men, or killed by greedy thieves.
    But now, he did it so he could spend time with the dark-haired huntress.
    She was fearless and feisty in the forest, but playful and gentle with her mother. She was tough and humble, and she made him feel alive in a way that was fast becoming irreplaceable.
    Sometimes after hunting with Scarlet, he would stay for a meal. Scarlet would cook while Ana told stories. They would eat and laugh and joke with one another. Like a family.
    Other times, he and Scarlet would go hunting together and nothing more.
    He’d underestimated her greatly. She was deadly with a bow and her arrows were fast and accurate. She knew how to use a knife without flinching and she was careful and precise. She walked through the trees like she was a piece of the forest. Lithe, beautiful and free.
    And Tristan was completely enraptured by her.
    He sat at the small table in Scarlet’s hut eating a bowl of soup. Scarlet was seated to his right, apologizing for how small the chairs were, and her mother, Ana, was seated across from him.
    Ana was an older version of Scarlet with long, dark hair, pale skin and blue eyes. Were it not for the few wrinkles and gray hairs she possessed, the two could be sisters.
    “I like it when you stay for meals,” Ana said, smiling at Tristan.
    “Well, I like to eat and since you like to feed me—”
    “With food you brought yourself.” Scarlet glared at him, still upset that he continued to bring them food.
    Too bad. He had access to a feast in his court’s garden and he wanted to share.
    He looked at Scarlet pleasantly, determined to break her pride if it killed him.
    And there was a good chance it would kill him.
    “I brought the food as a bribe.” He leaned over to Scarlet and loudly whispered, “I’m trying to get in your good graces.”
    Ana bit back a laugh as Scarlet rolled her eyes and said, “You are trying to drive me mad.”
    “That too.” Tristan winked at Ana, who winked right back.
    He had won Ana over and for that, he was grateful. Scarlet could pretend to hate him all she wanted, but as long as Ana welcomed him into their hut he would continue to come.
    Ana looked at Tristan and smiled warmly. “Without Scarlet’s father around, it is nice to have a man in the house.” 
    Tristan swallowed a bite and gingerly asked, “What happened to Scarlet’s father?
    Scarlet shifted uneasily but Ana looked unashamed to answer. “He became addicted to magic—”
    “Mama,” Scarlet warned through her teeth.
    Ana looked pointedly at Scarlet. “Our story is no secret, my love. It is a lesson.” Ana looked at Tristan. “Scarlet’s father became addicted to magical blue water brought back from the New World.”
    Tristan raised his brows. Blue magic water? He’d never heard of such a thing.
    Ana smiled sadly. “I met William, Scarlet’s father, when we were still teenagers. We were happily married and perfectly comfortable. But then William met my brother Francis.
    “Francis had just returned home from an expedition to the New World, bringing back two large jugs of blue water with him. He claimed the blue water was eternal youth from a fountain he’d discovered in the New World.
    “He also told William and me of a map he’d composed, leading back to the fountain, and he hoped to gain great wealth from his discovery. He wanted William’s help selling the water to the wealthy Englishmen of William’s home country and, of course, William was intrigued.”
    Ana shook her head. “I did not trust the water—or the map. I was suspicious of any magic. But William,” Ana took a deep breath, “William was desperate for wealth and seduced by the idea of eternal life. He and Francis tasted the water, growing instantly young and stronger, and knew they had found true magic.
    “Delirious with excitement, William and Francis insisted we