Anew

50

Tristan gathered his arrows from the bull’s-eye for the fifth time that morning.

Target practice wasn’t helping.

It should. It usually did. But something was off.

And Tristan knew exactly what it was.

The cold morning wind whipped around his head as he walked back to his aiming point. He could stay outside all day, if necessary. And he would, if that would keep him away from Scarlet.

Gabriel was a fool.

The more Scarlet was around Tristan, the faster his blood would break her heart.

He just needed to keep his distance for the next twenty-four hours and pray her heart didn’t weaken anymore than necessary.

Whoosh.

Bull’s-eye.

Whoosh.

Another bull’s-eye.

He heard the upstairs shower turn on—Gabriel’s shower.

Scarlet was in Gabriel’s shower.

Tristan swallowed and drew back another arrow.

Whoosh.

Miss.

He hung his head.

The next twenty-four hours were going to be harder than he thought.