Anew

70

Scarlet watched Tristan leave and turned to Gabriel. “The arrow is unsafe.”

She had no idea how she knew that, but it was true. The arrow was deadly.

Gabriel nodded, looking at her in concern. “Okay. Well, you don’t have to worry about it anymore. I’m sure Tristan will put it somewhere safe.” He looked closely at her eyes—her burning eyes.

“How do you feel?” Warmth trickled from her nose again and Gabriel’s eyes widened in fear.

“I feel fantastic.” Scarlet swiped at her face, her hand coming away bloody. She so did not feel fantastic. She felt nervous. And shaky.

“Scarlet, your eyes are flashing out of control.” Gabriel placed his hand against her cheek and looked at her in worry.

Nate took a step toward Scarlet. “You need to get out of the cabin. Tristan’s presence is only going to—“

“I know!” Scarlet cut him off. Why was she snapping at Nate? He hadn’t done anything wrong. No one had.

So, why was she freaking out?

“I know, I know.” Scarlet moved away from Gabriel’s hand. “Tristan’s killing me, I get it. I’ll leave.”

She was angry. And frustrated. And…sad?

What was going on with her emotions?

Scarlet moved to leave the room. “I need to get ready for the dance anyway.”

Gabriel reached for her hand to stop her. “I don’t think we should go to the dance. I think you need to take it easy. Get some rest—“

“And what? Drink orange juice and eat chicken noodle soup? No, Gabriel! I don’t have the flu. I have a rare heart condition sealed with immortal blood and curable only with magic water. I’m not sick, I’m just dying.”

Gabriel spoke softly, “Which is why I don’t think you should go to the dance tonight.”

The funny thing was that Scarlet hadn’t wanted to go to the dance to begin with. But something about Gabriel telling her not to go made her want to show him just who was in charge of her life—and her death.

“No. I’m not going to stay tucked away in my bed like a weakling, waiting for death to come get me. I want to go to the dance.”

Wow. Never in a million years did I think I would say those seven words.

“No.” Gabriel said sternly. “You need to rest.”

Scarlet took a step closer to him and looked up into his attractive, over-protective face. “I’m going to the dance, Gabriel. With—or without—you.”

She turned around and marched back up the cabin stairs, her heart still thrumming wildly within her.

She didn’t see Tristan anywhere, but she knew he was nearby. Her heart knew.

She slammed the front door behind her as she walked down the drive, got into her car, and drove home.

With every mile that passed, her raging heart quieted a beat.

But her eyes continued to burn.