Anew: The Archers of Avalon, Book One Read Online Free PDF Page A

slowed her steps to eye him more clearly, but a group of people passed in front of her, blocking her view.
    When the crowd cleared he was nowhere to be found.
    Scarlet stretched her gaze across the park as far as she could but found nothing. He’d been there one moment and was gone the next.
    Just like the memory.

2
    Familiar pain gradually reentered Tristan’s veins as he drove away from the festival.
    Away from Scarlet.
    He tugged on the collar of his black shirt, adjusting to the chronic ache he suffered without her.
    Tonight had been an accident; seeing Scarlet . . . feeling her so close to him. Had he known she’d be at the festival, he never would have gone.
    He’d almost gotten used to the grief that wracked his body in her absence; almost learned to live with it. But tonight had undone any hope he had of peace without her.
    Tristan rubbed the back of his neck as his green eyes stared at the dark Georgia road ahead of him.
    Long ago, he’d been cursed with a fever of desperation.
    Nonstop, unrelenting desperation.
    Bursting from his heart two years ago, it had taken him by the soul and wrung his insides dry with need.
    A need so impossible, so all-consuming, he could not deny it.
    And he could not silence it.
    The sound of his soul, crying out for Scarlet, was deafening.
    Two years ago, the summons had started as a murmur; soft, faint and gentle.
    But over time it grew into a scream; bleating out in need and resonating in his chest without reprieve.
    It was the sound of Scarlet’s heart, alive and awake, beating steadily inside her chest, and echoing in his.
    Haunting him.
    Like a call. A ruthless demand to find her—to be with her.
    He’d tried to ignore the supernatural pull. He’d tried to pretend his soul wasn’t screaming in separation.
    But it was.
    He’d resisted the siren for years. And it nearly drove him mad.
    Scarlet’s heart calling to him, begging him.
    Like it always did
    And he had broken down and answered.
    Like he always did.
    He had come to Avalon. Close enough to ease the fever. Close enough to quiet his screaming heart.
    But distant enough to maintain his sanity.
    Until tonight.
    His accidental nearness to Scarlet tonight at the festival had eased his torment, but filled him with a longing he couldn’t indulge.
    He needed to stay away.
    Far away.
    Tristan drove into the thick woods outside Avalon and made his way to the large cabin he shared with his brother.
    After seeing Gabriel talking to Scarlet tonight, Tristan was furious.
    He turned his car down the cabin’s driveway and parked.
    Cursing under his breath, he exited the car and made his way inside.
    The cabin sat upon twenty acres of forestland and had a main floor, a basement, and an upstairs. The main floor held the kitchen, a living room, the den, and an office. The upstairs and basement were identical in layout; each with a sitting room, master suite, and a spare bedroom.
    The upstairs belonged to Gabriel and the basement belonged to Tristan.
    They didn’t like living together, but it was necessary.
    For now.
    Tristan stretched his neck.
    Now that he was miles away from Scarlet, Tristan’s physical pain intensified; a constant reminder that he was, and would always be, without her.
    After slamming the front door behind him, Tristan found his brother in the living room. “What were you thinking ?”
    Gabriel, who’d been searching for the remote control under the couch cushions, looked up at his brother. “What are you talking about?”
    “You talked to Scarlet tonight? Are you kidding me?” Tristan tried to calm himself down, but he was too racked with anxiety to lower his voice.
    “What, are you spying on me now?” Gabriel went back to his hunt. “That’s creepy.”
    “You messed up the plan, Gabe.” Tristan bored his green eyes into his brother. “You agreed not to meet her until the curse was broken. Is the curse broken? No.” He started pacing the living room, fear and nervousness coiling inside him.
    It