Free Avow by Chelsea Fine Page A

but something was pulling him that way.
    He turned into the room and his heart stopped. And then it sang.
    Scarlet.
    He sucked in a long, deep, God-given breath of redemption and miracles and all things heavenly. Never was there a better sight than this.
    She was more beautiful than he remembered, her face flushed and her dark hair loose and wild around her face, but her eyes were the same. Blue and severe, showing the strength and stubbornness she housed inside.
    As he suspected, Gabriel had found her first as was speaking to her in hushed, comforting tones. The room was empty, save for the three of them, but Scarlet had not yet seen Tristan.
    Her voice matched the smile on her face as she looked into Gabriel’s eyes and excitedly said, “I remember, now. I remember, I remember. When you said what year I was born it was as if all my memories woke up.” She put a hand over her mouth, bouncing on her toes a bit.
    An odd soiree of emotions suddenly began to swim through Tristan.
    Confusion, hope, love, fear, safety, confusion…
    He paused. Why was he feeling these things?
    It did not make sense.
    Ignoring the odd twinge in his chest, Tristan opened his mouth to call out to her when Scarlet threw her arms around Gabriel and started kissing his cheeks and his forehead giddily.
    Tristan’s insides went empty as sharp jealousy cut through him and drained him dry. She was kissing him.
    Possessiveness was coursing through his veins, but suddenly he felt safe and happy.
    What the bloody hell? This was all too strange. He could not understand what was happening to him or why he was feeling such things. It was almost as if…as if….
    Realization dawned on him.
    Scarlet.
    Somehow he knew he was feeling Scarlet. He was sensing her gratitude for Gabriel; how Gabriel made her feel happy and safe. How he made her feel loved. And how she loved him back...
    There was no more air and no more light; there was only hollow blackness clouding Tristan’s vision and pressing down on his chest as the jealousy swirled into sadness.
    She loved him back…
    Scarlet’s eyes turned from Gabriel, caught site of Tristan and, suddenly, his black world burst into color. The love in Scarlet’s chest exploded into a sensation more powerful than words, expanding inside Tristan in indescribable colors.
    Her love for him was safe and dangerous. Passionate and soft. Wild and fierce.
    It was its own being, held captive for ages and now released into new life. And it made Tristan want to shout.
    Which was exactly what Scarlet did.
    “Tristan!” Rushing over to him, her face flushed with awe and eyes brimming with tears, Scarlet crashed her body into his and wrapped her arms around him.
    An unbelievable pleasure flooded his veins at her touch, but his mind did not care to ponder the bliss. Scarlet was in his arms. Nothing else mattered.
     
    ***************
     
    Scarlet clung to Tristan, shamelessly pressing her body against his as they kissed and embraced.
    How was she alive? How was Tristan alive?
    Ah! She did not care. Whatever had happened—whatever was happening now—did not matter. She had her Hunter. She had everything.
    Her heart swelled so large it felt as though it might burst. Actually, it felt like it was bursting already. Harder and harder it beat against her ribcage.
    He tucked her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head as she pressed herself against his body.
    She inhaled deeply and the scent of leather and water met her nose, reminding her of Hunter and the time she shared with him in the forest and how he had loved her and how she thought she’d lost him. She was so happy she could cry.
    She’d been floating through this strange world for two years, so lost, so hopeless. And now she felt at home, safe and loved and happy. She buried her face even more into his chest, wanting to hide there until her world forever made sense.
    The fierce pounding inside her grew almost painful and she put a hand to