Anew

22

Tristan made his way into the study and braced himself against the old mahogany desk.

He was angry.

He was scared.

And he was sad.

Angry because Gabriel had met Scarlet before the curse was broken and now she was in his living room, completely confused.

Idiot.

Scared because her memories could return any second—as evidenced by her flashbacks in the living room—and he couldn’t have her remembering him.

Not entirely, at least.

And sad because, once again, there was nothing he could—or should—do about Gabriel’s relationship with Scarlet.

Except watch it play out before him.

He swore under his breath.

Time was of the essence.

He needed to break the curse immediately, before things got out of hand.

He pulled his phone from his pocket and texted his most recently hired assassin.

Change in plans, we’re meeting tonight.

Tristan slid the phone back into his pocket and took a few deep breaths, his heart pounding recklessly inside him.

He waited a moment, hoping his chest would calm down, but it was no use.

Scarlet was two rooms away, and his soul had never been more happy.

Or hopeless.

The immortal blood living in the center of her heart was pulling for him with its heavy thumping, and breaking her heart little by little with each pulse.

He couldn’t control his blood in Scarlet’s chest—he couldn’t keep it from tearing her heart. And the closer he was to her, the more damage it would do.

It would only get worse if she remembered him.

He needed to stay away.