Anew

72

Tristan heard Nate enter the den, but refused to turn around. He continued staring up at the wall of weapons, holding the arrow from Scarlet’s hiding place in his immortal hand.

“Don’t do this,” Nate said.

Tristan kept his back to him. “Did you see Scarlet’s eyes? Her bloody nose?” His voice cracked, but he didn’t care.

Once Scarlet’s nose started bleeding, she usually only lived a few more days—if that.

He heard Nate take a step forward. “We can still find the fountain.”

Tristan shook his head. “There’s no time. And, let’s be honest here, the fountain probably doesn’t exist. What am I supposed to do?” Tristan turned around and looked at his longtime friend. “Let her die a hundred more times because I’m too selfish to die for her? No.” He shook his head. “It has to be now.”

Nate was silent for a long time, staring at the floor.

“You and I have had many lifetimes,” Tristan said. “But Scarlet has not. She’s had a handful of partial lives, all of them lost and confusing. None of them full and happy. She deserves this, Nate.” Tristan swallowed and softly said, “You know I’m right.”

Nate looked up and slowly said, “You don’t have to do this.”

“Yes.” Tristan nodded. “I do.”

Slowly and hesitantly, Nate said, “This is forever, though. There’s no going back after this.”

Tristan turned the arrow over in his hand. “That’s the plan.”

Nate shifted uncomfortably. “What do you want me to tell Gabriel and Scarlet?”

Tristan swallowed back his emotion. “The truth.” He pulled two envelopes out of his back pocket and handed them to his oldest friend. “I’ve kept these in the safe for the last few years. They’re my final words to Gabriel and Scarlet. I don’t want…either of them to think I wanted to leave their world.”

Nate’s eyes looked pained as he took the envelopes.

Tristan took a deep breath. “Thank you, friend.”

Nate said nothing as Tristan exited the den.

For the last time.