Caution to the Wind: Book One of the Elementals Series Read Free Page B

to partying, boozing, and a laundry list of offenses, he was one of the media's favorite targets. Each week there was a new article about his dalliances. Loren read the headlines at the supermarket checkout.
    He must be very careful about his powers if he'd never been caught using them in public. The secret identity made a lot of sense to her. Word couldn't get out that the Morgan family had a skeleton in their closet, especially not this skeleton.
    “Are you a crime fighter?” she asked as she finished tying her shoe.
    Avery closed the book. A dark eyebrow lifted. “Excuse me?”
    She made a gesture toward him. “The hood. The voice thing. Stopping that mugger. Are you a vigilante?”
    His mouth twisted into a smile. “No, not strictly speaking. I help people when they need help.”
    “A hero, then?” Loren stood.
    “A friend to the city and the people in it, I prefer.” He put the book back on the shelf. “I’m no hero.”
    “Oh.” Her voice only sounded a little disappointed. Maybe he wouldn't notice.
    He didn't. “You should pack a bag. I can’t guarantee how long it will be until you come back here.” He looked away from her, scrutinizing the apartment with lifted eyebrows. “Or if you’ll come back at all.”
    She looked around, taking in her residence. It wasn't one of the best places to live. It was in a terrible neighborhood and her landlord was a pig, but it was hers. She'd been here for long enough for it to feel like a home.
    The idea she might not come back weighed heavily, but she shook it off. After all, Avery was used to big, fancy houses so leaving a small, shitty apartment probably didn't give him a second thought. She didn't need to think about it either—or let the judgment of her living conditions get to her.
    “Okay. Sure. Just give me a minute to do that, okay?”
    “Try to hurry.”
    Loren nodded and headed into her room again. What should she take? She focused on the basics—clean clothes, lotion, shampoo, deodorant, and hairbrush. It didn't take her long to emerge with an old duffel bag in hand. “I uh guess I'm ready.”
    “Good.” Avery stepped over and took the bag from her. He was close enough for Loren to smell his aftershave. It was nice, manly. She gave him a shy smile.
    He didn’t notice. His free hand reached into his jacket again before he pulled the hood over his head once more. “Let's go,” he said in his modified voice.
    Loren grabbed her jacket and made sure her keys were in the pocket, as well as her cell phone. She took it out to check the battery. It was full.
    “Leave it.”
    Her eyes widened and she looked up at him. “What?”
    “Leave the cell phone. You won't need it.”
    “But what if someone texts me?”
    He gave her a pointed look. “Then they can wait.”
    No one would text her. It was as if he knew. She shut off the phone and put it on the table.
    Avery gave a satisfied nod and held the door open for her. After she shut and locked the door behind them, he began to walk and she fell into step beside him.
    Loren gave one last look back to her apartment. “I’m leaving my world behind,” she said quietly.
    Silence fell, but Avery’s hand touched her arm. She flushed and remained quiet.
    “Think of it as a new start instead,” Avery suggested. “Leaving an old world behind, starting a new one?”
    What did this new world have in store? Loren’s stomach knotted in anticipation and anxiety.
    There was only one way to find out.

Chapter Three
     
    Fairhaven Manor.
    Loren couldn’t believe she was actually here. In the broad spectrum, she should’ve focused on her recent discoveries.
    But Fairhaven Manor .
    The mansion completely blew her away. Having only seen the Morgan family home in photographs, it was surreal. Only the most prestigious of the prestige ever came here.
    And here she was.
    Avery chuckled at her awe of the place. “You’ve seen nothing,” he told her. Maybe that was true. After all, she’d barely glimpsed the garage