Freak of Nature (The Lost Witch Trilogy #1) (22 page)

She was just restless after the long ride in the jeep. She needed to be at a gym. If she could work out, she’d be able to get rid of the excess adrenaline she always seemed to have too much of. She stood up and stretched and then walked over to the beach. She glanced around the shoreline and smiled at the soft sand. Perfect. She would just work out here. Who needed a mat when she had sand?

Ava stretched out and warmed up her muscles before jumping into a sprint and jumping up to twist her body into a triple full layout with three twists. She landed on her feet and laughed happily.

This is what she loved the most. Doing what she loved doing without an audience. It was so much more fun to fly through the air when no one was critiquing every move she made. Ava turned and glanced at the silent cottage her father was working in and shrugged. No one to see but the trees. She grinned and jumped into another sprint and then threw her body higher than she ever had before, fueled by freedom and the joy of having complete control over every muscle.

She landed perfectly on her feet and then bent backwards, creating a flawless back bend before kicking her feet up into the air. She walked around the soft sand on her hands and then got bored, so she balanced on one hand as she brought the other close to her side.

“How long can you hold that?”

Ava squeaked and flipped quickly to her feet, frowning because not one sense had warned her that someone had casually walked up to her.

She stood up and stared at the man standing in front of her, looking at her speculatively. He was tall, probably as tall as her dad and he had glossy medium brown hair that hung just below his ears and bright clear, light blue eyes. She couldn’t tell how old he was, but he looked a little older than her. She looked him up and down quickly and recognized his strength and power immediately. What was he? A professional athlete? But there was one thing she did know for certain. He was absolutely the most stunning man she’d ever met in her life.

She pushed her long dark blond hair out of her light brown eyes and frowned at the man. “I thought I was alone,” she said, sounding as irritated as she felt.

The man grinned at her and shrugged. “I would have said hello before but then I would have missed the show. I’m Cyrus Carlston and you must be Harry Paskell’s research assistant,” he said holding his hand out to her.

Ava relaxed and smiled back. Cyrus Carlston must be the guide her father had mentioned. “I’m Ava, Harry’s daughter. It’s nice to meet you,” she said reaching out to grasp the man’s firm hard hand.

Cyrus looked surprised and he stared at her curiously, not letting go of her hand as he studied her face carefully.

“Harry’s daughter? Interesting,” he said softly, still holding her hand. He stepped closer to her, leaning down as if he were trying to see inside of her.

Ava lost her smile as she stared up into his ice blue eyes. This guy had no clue about personal space. She pulled on her hand, but he refused to let go.

“Are you going to let go of my hand now, or are you going to tell me my future?” she asked, jerking hard one more time on her hand forcing Cyrus to let go.

Cyrus looked down at his now empty hand and frowned at her, before his face cleared and he smiled.

“I see a summer filled with excitement and nights filled with mystery and romance,” he said with a grin before stepping back and shoving his hands into his jeans pockets.

Ava laughed and rolled her eyes as she glanced at the cottage. “With my dad watching every move I make? Yeah, right.”

Cyrus glanced at the cottage and stared at the door as a second later it opened and her father walked out.

“There you are. I was wondering when you were going to show up,” Harry called out as he ran lightly down the pathway to the beach.

Ava smiled in surprise. Sometimes she forgot just how fast her father could move when he wanted to. Within seconds he was shaking Cyrus’s hand and looking at her quickly with a warning in his eyes.

Ava moved back from Cyrus and stood next to her father as she studied the man who was still looking right at her.

“Harry, you never told my father that you had a daughter. How old is Ava? Eighteen, nineteen?” he asked, his eyes bright with curiosity.

Harry waited until Cyrus looked back at him before answering. Harry’s eyes had narrowed to slits and his shoulders seemed larger somehow as he stepped closer to Cyrus. “Ava is eighteen and my having a daughter is nobody’s business but my own. By birth she belongs to no one but herself. She’s half. She’s of no interest to anyone. Especially you,” he said, his voice sounding like hot metal, dangerous and violent.

Ava’s mouth fell open in surprise. Her father sounded like he was almost threatening Cyrus. But why? And what the heck did he mean by her being half? Half Canadian? Like that was a big deal.

Cyrus’s welcoming smile stayed in place as he looked at her again and she felt a little zip of adrenaline flicker down her arms. “I might disagree with you. My father wants to give you the files himself tonight after dinner but he wanted me to show you the sight of the last attack since it’s the freshest. Follow me,” he said and then walked past them and down the shoreline.

Ava looked at her father silently, waiting for some kind of explanation. Harry stared at her for a moment before walking to her and grasping her shoulders in his strong hands. “Cyrus isn’t the type of man you’re used to being around. You should never be alone with him,” he said quietly, glancing at Cyrus.

Ava frowned. “Why? Is he dangerous?” she whispered back staring in sudden fear at Cyrus.

Harry closed his eyes for a moment and then shook his head. “No, not in the way you’re thinking. Ava, you’re a beautiful young woman and you’re innocent. I’ve made sure of that. There are men who would take advantage of that and of the fact that you’re, well . . . different. Be on your guard,” he said and then hurried after Cyrus, catching up within seconds.

Ava huffed out a breath and ran back to get her back pack before following her father. She’d felt different her whole life and she was sick to death of it. She wondered sadly if there was anywhere in the world where she could fit in.

There are many people I’d like to thank who helped me along my way.
I’d like to thank Zach Hill for editing and Jessica G. for her feedback. I also want to thank LFD Designs for Authors for the amazing covers they came up with for The Lost Witch Trilogy. Love them. I also want to thank my kids for giving me a reason to push beyond myself. Without them, I’d just be sitting around reading everyone else’s books.

Katie Lee
O’Guinn has lived in many places but enjoys living in the Rocky Mountains now with her children. For more information on Katie Lee’s books, check out
www.katieleeoguinn.blogspot.com
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She has two favorite quotes: “The Creative Adult is the Child Who Survived” and "We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." – Elie Wiesel
Katie Lee spends her time being a mother, a writer and volunteering for The Millstone Foundation, a foundation for the protection of children from Sexual Abuse, Sex Trafficking and Child Pornography.
For more information on The Millstone Foundation, go to www.millstonefoundation.com.