Free Anew: The Archers of Avalon, Book One by Chelsea Fine

and Gabriel stopped.
    “Okay.” He turned to look at her with a smile. “This is your surprise.”
    Scarlet eyed the trees before her. “A…wall of pine trees?”
    “Yes.” He smiled. “I thought we’d get an early start on shopping for Christmas trees.”
    Scarlet laughed. “What?”
    He laughed and shook his head. “Close your eyes.”
    Scarlet hesitated, biting back her smile.
    “Come on…” Gabriel prompted.
    “But what about the bears?”
    Gabriel raised his eyebrows. “Did you coat yourself in honey before we left?”
    “No, but I did roll around in sugar water.”
    “Hmm.” Gabriel tried to sound serious. “Well, that explains the mosquitoes.”
    Scarlet laughed.
    “Come on.” Gabriel gently placed his hand over her eyes. “Close your eyes.”
    Scarlet sighed with a smile and lowered her lids. “I’m trusting you.”
    She felt him kiss her cheek. “You can always trust me.”
    With a smile, Scarlet thought about how much she really did trust Gabriel, and how comfortable she was around him. She’d only known him for a short time but he just felt...right.
    After she heard some shuffling, Scarlet felt Gabriel’s strong arms come behind her and guide her forward, weaving her through the wall of trees. A few yards later, they came to a stop.
    Scarlet listened as a bird sang out the last song of day. Leaves rustled, the wind whistled softly, and somewhere nearby was the gentle slapping of…water?
    “Okay,” came Gabriel’s musical voice from behind her. “Open your eyes.”
    Scarlet opened her eyes and her lips parted.
    She stood at the edge of a large lake, surrounded by the majestic trees of the forest swaying peacefully in the twilight sky. And on the horizon was the enormous Harvest Moon, hung low in the sky and glowing a rusty orange as it shone its soft light across the smooth surface of the lake.
    It looked unreal.
    “Do you like it?” Gabriel stood beside her, taking it in.
    “It’s…breathtaking.”
    From the corner of her eye, she saw Gabriel smile. “Surprise.”
    The first stars of night began to peek out from the purple sky above as Scarlet said, “Totally worth the mosquito bites.”
    Gabriel softly laughed. “Okay, now time for dinner.”
    “Dinner?”
    “Yep. Well, it’s really more like a picnic since, you know, we can’t get pizza delivered out here.” Gabriel swung his backpack off and unzipped it. He pulled out a large blanket, sandwiches, and bottled water. He spread the blanket out on the dry shore of the lake, smoothed out the wrinkles and motioned to Scarlet. “Dinner is served.”
    Scarlet smiled widely. A picnic under the stars, against the giant moon, at the edge of a serene lake?
    Best. Date. Ever.
    The moonlight was bright and illuminated the forest around them as Scarlet sat down on the soft blanket and took the sandwich Gabriel handed her. He sat beside her, both of them facing the glorious moon.
    Scarlet took a bite. “ Mmm . Peanut butter and jelly. My favorite.”
    Gabriel smiled and took a bite of his own sandwich.
    The purple forest was happily quiet but for the soft ripples of water hitting the shore and the hidden crickets.
    “So.” Gabriel swallowed. “Tell me something real.”
    Scarlet swallowed as well. “Something real?”
    He nodded with a crooked smile. “Tell me something that’s not empty. Something honest and Scarlet-specific.”
    “I’m guessing my favorite color probably won’t suffice?” Scarlet raised a teasing eyebrow.
    “Nope. It has to be meaningful.” Gabriel’s eyes sparkled. “And besides, you’re favorite color is blue.”
    “Lucky guess.” Scarlet smiled. “Okay…something meaningful….”
    Should she just go for it and tell him everything? Give him the whole I’m-a-weirdo-amnesiac story?
    She trusted him, she felt safe around him, and he seemed mature enough to handle it.
    Probably.
    Gabriel looked at her pleasantly, waiting.
    Scarlet cleared her throat. “Well. I have amnesia.”
    There. She’d