Page 84 of Sealed By Fire (The Nature Hunters Academy 2)

Osiris looked confused again.

“You need to read more,” she said.

“It’s safe to drink,” he finally answered. “I wouldn’t give you something that would harm you. That would defeat the purpose of trying to woo you.”

She snorted. “That rhymed.” Then frowned. “Fair warning. I get goofy when I’m tired.”

“Noted,” he said as he stared at her.

Shelly tried not to fidget under his gaze, but it was awkward as all get out. “What’s it like to be you?” she asked out of nowhere because she oftentimes had no control over her mouth. She looked at him, seeing the surprise on his face.

“What do you mean?”

“Do you feel anything? I mean, other than disdain?”

Osiris’s brow drew low over his eyes. “I feel something when I look at you,” he said. “It’s not disdain.”

“What is it?” She shifted on the couch, turning toward him.

“Jealousy,” he said without any anger in his voice. “I’m jealous that you can feel so much. I look at you and see the passion in your eyes for everything. I don’t feel passion for anything other than the suffering of those who end up here.”

“Why do you feel passion for that?” Shelly asked, genuinely curious.

“I want them to suffer.”

“But why?” she pressed.

“Because He loves them.”

“He?”

“God. The one who created the human race. He loves you like He loves nothing else, not even the other beings He created.” The words came out with more passion than she’d seen the entire time she’d been with him. His eyes were filled with barely contained rage.

Shelly’s heart hurt for the emotion she saw in Osiris’s eyes. “Do you wantmeto suffer?”

His eyes snapped to hers. “No. I want you to feel passion for me. I’m a selfish creature, Shelly Smith. I want you for myself. I want everything you are focused only on me.”

Her heart pounded painfully in her chest. She didn’t know how to respond. “Could you offer me the same?” she asked.

“I cannot,” he said as he stood suddenly. He took her hand and pulled her to her feet. His hand brushed against her cheek, and he stared into her eyes. “There's nothing good in me, little one. No matter how humans portray me in their stories, their movies, their tales. I am exactly what I am, and that is the opposite of anything good. I can offer you pleasure as you’ve never known. I can offer you the world at your fingertips. I can give you anything your heart desires.”

Shelly felt a tear run down her cheek. She could see the darkness in him. It was complete, but she wanted to see a glimpse of light, no matter how small. She wanted to see that he wasn’t completely beyond hope. “None of that is what my heart desires,” she said softly. “It never would be.”

Osiris’s jaw clenched so tightly she wondered how his teeth didn’t shatter in his mouth. “It’s time.” He snapped his fingers, and Ra appeared on the other side of the couch.

Ra looked at her, his eyes roving as if he were making sure she was uninjured. His eyes narrowed when they got to her face and no doubt saw the tears. “Are you all right?” he asked, his voice as smooth and calm as ever despite the concern filling his eyes.

She nodded. But she couldn’t speak, not yet. Maybe she shouldn’t have been sad, but she was. She didn’twantOsiris, but she wanted there to be a chance for him to be something other than what he was.

“Choose,” Osiris said, practically growling as he stepped away from her.

Shelly didn’t hesitate as she met Ra’s eyes. “I choose Ra.”

“So be it,” Osiris snapped.

Shelly looked at him and thought she saw a glimpse of hurt in his eyes, but it was gone so fast she wondered if she’d imagined it.

Ra walked over to Shelly and stepped slightly in front of her as if to shield her from the lord of the underworld.

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