Page 37 of Tamed By Air (The Nature Hunters Academy 4)

“Demons complicate everything,” Rory said, her voice tight. “You’re right, Gabby. The Egyptians were fools. Why would Ra want anything to do with his ancestors’ if they cavorted with demons?”

Aston turned from the window to find her seated on the big couch in the center of the library, a stack of books beside her. “His parents still believed as the pharaohs did, even in this modern age,” he explained. “And they, of course, passed that legacy onto their son. Ra, however, didn’t truly believe everything he’d been told, at least not until after his parents were killed. It was then he visited the underworld for the first time.”

“He was only sixteen,” Tara said. She sounded sad, as if the idea of someone so young enduring such an ordeal broke her heart.

“Correct,” Aston said. “But he was a very mature sixteen. When his parents died, Ra became the head of his household, and it was time for him to receive the memories of his ancestors, which was a surprise to him. His parents hadn’t prepared him for the weight that their deaths would bring onto his shoulders.”

“Talk about parents of the year award,” Gabby said. “I mean, who doesn’t tell their child that while he’s alive, he will be taking a trip to hell once they die?”

“Who would believe their parents if they did tell them that?” Elias challenged.

Gabby shrugged. “Fair enough. They’d have to get him high or drunk before he’d even entertain the validity of it.”

As one, the group went silent and stared at her.

“What?” Gabby’s eyes were wide. “People believe all sorts of crazy stuff when they’re messed up. Hence the term, ‘messed up.’”

“Babe.” Liam’s voice was gentle as he looked at her. “If I could bring your parents back from the dead, I’d beat them to an inch of their life, let them get better, and then do it all over again.”

Gabby looked down at the book in her lap, and Aston saw her jaw tighten. “I’d cheer you on while you did it,” she whispered.

The room was awkwardly quiet for a few moments, each of them taking in the oddly tender moment between the couple.

“Enough mushy stuff.” Gabby took a deep breath. “Let’s get on with it, demon boy.”

Aston dropped his arms and rubbed his hands together. He was restless, and his soul continued to distract him with his need to be closer to Rory.Focus, Aston.He mentally growled at himself. “Osiris called for Ra and took him to the underworld. Ra received the memories from his ancestors and learned abouteverythingconcerning the fate of his people, including the things his parents failed to tell him. To be fair, they probably didn’t know about the details of the bargain.” Aston wasn’t sure why he felt the need to defend Ra’s parents. Perhaps because Ra had told him they weren’t bad parents, and they had loved their son deeply.

“And what exactly was the bargain?” asked Tara.

“They promised Osiris that all of their bloodline would worship him, revere him, and pay homage to him and only him,” Aston continued. “In exchange, Osiris would set them up with an extravagant afterlife in the underworld. They wouldn’t be like the other poor souls who spend eternity there.”

“I’m guessing they didn’t keep up their end of the bargain?” Rory asked.

Aston shook his head. “As time went on, the reality of the gods, which the Egyptians had worshiped so devotedly, fell into myths and legends. New religions, some even monotheistic, began to replace the gods. Eventually, the bargain was forgotten by the pharaohs and their descendants.”

“But not by Osiris,” Gabby offered.

“Correct.” Aston pointed at the redhead. “The lord of the underworld has a long memory. Despite the pharaohs’ failings, Osiris kept up his end of the bargain, in a manner of speaking.”

No longer able to keep himself from her, Aston walked over to where Rory sat and took a seat beside her. He laid his arm across the back of the couch and let his fingers drop so they brushed against her hair. He wanted to wrap the beautiful, dark strands in his fist and hold her still while he kissed her until neither of them could breathe. The thought hit him so fast and hard that Aston jerked his hand back as if something had slapped it away.What the hell?Where had that thought come from? Sure, he wanted to kiss her. She was his. He’d already experienced how sweet she tasted, but he’d never had an all-consuming need to control her, to dominate her, to make her submit to him as her mate.

“What the actual…?” Aston muttered. He shook his head as if it might dislodge the images and thoughts.

“Aston?” Rory reached over and placed her small hand on his knee, and he nearly jumped at her touch. “Are you okay?”

He looked down at her hand and then up at her face. He thought back to their argument and how they’d both said things they didn’t mean. Dark, cruel things. Was that the problem? Was the darkness that had infiltrated their bond growing stronger? Could it be pushing further into him, taking over his desires as well?

He wanted to lie or give Rory a flippant answer. But the worried look in her eyes changed Aston’s mind. “No, I’m not. But we can talk about it later.”

Rory gave his leg a gentle squeeze. “Okay.” She nodded and then started to remove her hand. Aston grabbed it and entwined their fingers, unwilling to give up her touch just yet.

He took a deep breath and refocused before continuing. “Osiris gave the pharaohs and their bloodline something special—something that no other souls in the underworld possessed.” Aston looked up and saw that Gabby, Liam, Tara, and Elias were no longer flipping through pages of books. They all stared in anticipation. “He gave them demons. Instead of just taking their souls to the underworld when they died, Osiris paired their souls with demons.”

“Bloody hell.” Elias breathed out. The book he’d been holding fell from his hands and struck the table in front of him with a thud. “Why didn’t he tell us?”

“I don’t think he ever thought it relevant. For him to share their fate, he’d have to break a promise. And, of course, he has his oath…”

“What oath?” Rory asked. “You all mentioned it before he took off through the portal.”

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