Page 18 of Tamed By Air (The Nature Hunters Academy 4)

“Are you going to stomp on me or something?” Rory asked, stumbling over to her. Her body radiated with anguish, causing her to be unsteady on her feet. “I might actually prefer a good stomping to this feeling.”

“Place your hand on my head and shut up,” Kimba told her. Her voice was still soft, not holding any of the bite of her words.

Rory did as the dragon asked and then closed her eyes. She felt Kimba’s magic flow into her, rushing into the empty places, through the wounded places and dark places that lived inside. This was the second time Kimba had used her magic on Rory. The first was when Rory arrived in the dragon realm and Kimba had helped Rory fight the compulsion of loyalty she felt to Danni and the witches.

“Little witch,” Kimba said affectionately, though her voice held a note of sadness, “you have no light within you.”

“What?” Kimba’s words were a punch to the gut. “None?” She dropped her hand and stepped back. “What does that mean? Am I just a big black hole inside?”

Kimba laid her head down on the cave floor and stared at Rory. “When you first arrived, you decided you would no longer be a pawn for the witches. Then, I could still sense a light inside of you. It was merely a flicker, a tiny slip of a flame, but it was there.”

Rory scowled, considering the dragon’s words. “Is ithisfault?” It had to be. Rory had light in her before Aston came, and now he was gone and her light with him. The only light left in her soul had disappeared with Aston.

“Do you hear yourself?” Frustration sounded in Kimba’s voice. If possible, Kimba’s tone was even more gravelly than usual. “Youhave to fight the darkness, Rory. You cannot let it rule you. Consider your own actions. Pointing fingers at everyone else will only foster bitterness. Allowing negative emotions inside will blind you to the good in people. In your mind, everyone will become your enemy.” Kimba’s eyes softened. “It will be a very lonely existence.”

“What are you trying to say?” Rory challenged. She raised her chin and stiffened her spine. “Would I lose you, too, Kimba?” Rory heard the words coming out of her mouth. She even understood how ridiculous they sounded, yet she couldn’t get herself to shut up. It was like every negative emotion she’d ever experienced suddenly controlled her thoughts and voice.

“Take some deep breaths, Rory,” Kimba said. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m your friend. You know I cannot lie. I will be by your side. Understand?”

Rory’s vision became blurred as she stared at the scales on Kimba’s back. She absently nodded her head while dark, powerful emotions assailed her. The feelings clung to her like thorns grasping her clothes.

“Say the words.” Kimba’s voice was stern. “Tell me you understand I am not going anywhere. When I said it would be a lonely existence, I didn’t mean you’d literally be alone. But you will reject anyone who might care about you. And you might become so poisoned that you even reject me.” Her friend moved, and the light that had been blocked by her vast form shone into the cave. “Say the words,” Kimba demanded again.

The movement broke Rory’s concentration, and she pulled her gaze away from the shiny, brown scales and stared at Kimba’s face. “I understand,” she whispered. The words sounded hollow, like the cave she called home.

Neither of them spoke for several minutes, then Kimba said, “Why don’t you do as you said and scry Aston? It might do you some good to know he is safe. But let’s cut out the part where you drag his happy ass back here.”

Rory’s hands shook at her sides. The mention of his name magnified the pain that had become constant within her.

“Rory,” Kimba rumbled. “Think about how you felt when you saw him for the first time. Hold on tothatemotion. Ignore any other thoughts you might have flowing through you right now. What did you sense when you first heard his voice? What about when he touched you, his skin against yours? What was that like? You must cling to those memories.” The dragon’s voice was desperate, pleading.

“What I felt…” Rory pictured Aston on the battlefield in the Devil’s Heart forest. She remembered thinking he looked like a warrior with kind eyes. “His eyes held no judgment.” Her brow furrowed as her mind brought up the first time she stood before him. He hadn’t yelled at her or berated her for taking him from his friends. He’d been tender. Though she’d done nothing to deserve it. He’d been understanding, regardless of the fact that Rory hadn’t considered what it would mean for her to rip him away from his life. “What have I done?” The pain in her gut twisted and writhed. Bile rose in her throat. It was as if something lived inside of her, clawing at her insides and tearing at her soul.He left you. The voice rumbled in her mind. She didn’t recognize it. It wasn’t her own.Was it?

“Get your scrying bowl, Rory,” Kimba commanded. “Reach for his soul. Despite whatyouthink, your soul knows the truth.”

Rory moved without conscious thought. She gathered the scrying bowl and placed it on the floor in front of her, along with a pitcher of water. She sat and poured the water into the bowl, then placed her hands over the liquid. Rory closed her eyes and pictured Aston’s face in as much detail as she could. She imagined his dark hair, artfully messy, and the steady gaze of his hazel eyes framed by his glasses. Her lips turned up slightly as she pictured his full mouth and the crooked smile he’d occasionally flashed at her. She loved that smile, and now she realized she’d taken it for granted. Aston’s build was slim but not scrawny. He was taller than her, which she appreciated. He certainly wasn’t a gym rat, but his abdominals were defined, and his chest was broad. Regardless of his nerd-like image, there was a backbone of steel within Aston. She had sensed it through their bond.Why would I think he wasn’t mine?

“Rory, open your eyes.” Kimba’s voice invaded the surrounding space.

She did as the dragon instructed and peered into the water of the scrying bowl. Rory’s heart skipped a beat when she saw her soul bonded walking in a forest. “Aston,” she whispered while her eyes filled with tears. Thethingwithin her thrashed like a bug caught in a jar. Rory doubled over and had to swallow down the contents of her stomach before it came flying out. A dagger of pain sliced into her heart, and Rory cried out, but her gaze never left Aston’s form on the surface of the water. She shrieked again. This time it was louder, a terrible sound that was ripped from her body. She saw Aston’s head whip around as if he’d heard her.

Rory saw dark circles under Aston’s eyes, and his lips were pulled tightly across his face. He looked gaunt and exhausted, as if he hadn’t slept in days, though it had only been hours since he left.

“Rory?” he said, searching the surrounding forest.

The sound of his voice soothed the raw wounds inside of her. Rory’s hand reached toward the bowl, though she knew she wouldn’t be able to touch him. Everything within her screamed at her to get to him, somehow. She needed him. But another voice inside screamed equally loud. The darkness within bellowed. “No! He isn’t yours!” There was desperation in that voice.

“Please,” Rory whispered. Another wave of misery rolled through her. She strained to keep Aston in focus, but no matter how hard she tried, Rory couldn’t keep her eyes open. She knew she needed to fight off the darkness that came with the pain, but it overwhelmed her. The last thing Rory saw before the darkness swallowed her was Aston’s lost eyes. And the last thing she heard was her name on his lips.

“Rory…”

* * *

Her voice waslike a soft caress carried on the wind. It wrapped itself around him, giving him a sliver of relief before it fluttered away. Aston peered at the surrounding forest, hoping Rory would emerge from the trees and sprint into his arms.How have I lived all these years without her?It was a thought Aston had asked himself over and over while wandering around the Devil's Heart forest. Now that Rory was no longer around and Aston was free of the dragon realm, clarity engulfed him. And he didn’t like what it revealed. Aston realized what a fool he’d been.

But it wasn’t entirely his own doing. Looking back, Aston realized that some dark force had been present. He could sense the way the presence had muddled his mind. It had twisted the situation until Aston could no longer see through the tangled knots of his own selfish emotions.

“Rory?” His eyes still scanned the forest, desperately hoping to glimpse her. There was no response. She wasn’t there, but somehow Aston could feel her emotions. He sensed her despair. He felt guilt and fear wracking her body. There was nothing he could do. He’d tried to get back, but the portal to the dragon realm had closed, and he had no way of reopening it. He’d tried throwing his power at it, screaming and cursing for it to admit him, but nothing worked. Since then, he’d walked aimlessly while grappling with the pain that seemed to grow in intensity with every minute he was away from his soul bonded.

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