Page 50 of Tamed By Air (The Nature Hunters Academy 4)

“Probably.” Tara held out her hand and waved it quickly from side to side. “Fifty-fifty chance.”

Ra looked at Elias. “Is this why Aston and his female aren’t with you?”

Elias’s lips pressed tightly together, and he gave a sharp nod. “They’ve gone to petition the dragons for help. Rory, apparently, has their favor.”

The revelation piqued Ra’s interest, enough that he was willing to use more of his twenty-four hours in order to hear what his friends had to say. Ra inwardly huffed.Dragons,why didn’t I think of that?He slipped his hands from his pockets, sat back down on the ground, then motioned for the others to do the same. “Tell me everything.”

* * *

Aston thoughtthe need for Rory would abate once they completed their bond. Nope. If anything, his desire had grown stronger. Did he watch her shamelessly as she redressed? Yes, yes, he did.

“Enjoying the view?” Rory had a smirk on her lovely face.

“You could dress a little slower. I won’t complain.” Aston, already fully clothed, sat on a large rock with one ankle resting on his bent knee. He clasped his hands and rested them in his lap. Though he still craved her, the urgency he’d felt before had indeed subsided. He no longer felt that if he didn’t bond their magic, then she’d slip from his hands. That idea had been screaming in his head from the moment he’d laid eyes on her outside the burning house. Now, his soul rested, as if completely content.

She rolled her eyes and slipped her shirt over her head, then pulled her long hair from underneath the collar. “Well, you don’t look like you’re going to rip my clothes off, so I’m guessing the bedroom eyes on your face now are just the normal desire a guy feels for his woman. Does that mean you won’t be pawing at me while we talk to the dragon king? Because that could get distracting, probably for everyone present.”

“I can behave”—he paused and then shrugged—“as long as we’re in the company of others. When we’re alone, all bets are off.”

She shook her head, but there was a light red blush on her cheeks. “Then I better get us some company ASAP. Kimba.” She called out the dragon’s name and then walked to the entrance of the cave. Aston joined her and stared out over the snow-covered landscape. Less than a minute later, the gigantic dragon hovered in front of them.

“Well, I guess congratulations are in order.” Kimba’s teeth showed in a dragon smile. The sight was a little disturbing. “I can see the bond between you, and it’s strong and complete. Also, thank you for finishing up your study of each other’s anatomies and for being fully clothed.”

“Kimba!” Rory hissed through clenched teeth.

“I’ve never beat around the tree. You can’t expect me to change now.”

“It’s beat around the bush, you crazy, flying lizard.” Rory pressed her hand to her forehead and closed her eyes briefly.

“Not for a dragon. Bushes are much too low to the ground for our wings to beat around. We definitely need trees for that.”

“I don’t think that phrase means what you think it does.” Aston could not hide his grin. He had to admit, Kimba was a trip to be around.

“She has no idea of the meaning of most of the phrases she uses,” Rory said dryly. “Enough about Kimba’s lack of human vernacular. We need to see the dragon king … like yesterday. It’s really important.”

Kimba snorted. “It must be if you’ve decided to put your human hormones momentarily on hold to have this conversation.” She moved toward them, and Aston grabbed Rory’s arm and pulled her back. Kimba set down on the edge of the cave opening and lowered her wings. Aston called on the wind to raise them up and move them onto the dragon’s back. He sat Rory in front of him.

“How long are you going to tease me about that?” Rory asked.

“For as long as it amuses me and annoys you. And since you’re so easily annoyed, I imagine it will be quite a long time.”

“Fabulous,” his bonded muttered.

Aston wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against his chest. He leaned down until his mouth was next to her ear, close enough that his lips touched her skin as he spoke. “I personally think it was time well spent.”

She shivered against him and pressed closer. “Of course you do. Though I won’t disagree.”

“I heard that.” Kimba pushed off from the ledge and rose into the sky.

Rory sighed. “Stupid dragon hearing.” Then she added, “It’s a little chilly back here. Could you help a girl out?”

Aston felt heat radiate from where he sat on Kimba’s back. He laughed. “Heated seats.”

“She has her perks, even if she is a smart ass,” Rory said, and then yelped when the “heated seats” suddenly got a little too hot. Thankfully the sensation only lasted a second. Aston was pretty sure if it had lasted longer, they would’ve gotten some first-degree burns on their butts.

The dragon’s body rumbled beneath them, and Aston decided it must be Kimba laughing at Rory. Then Kimba shot quickly up into the sky, only to arch her body downward, bringing them into a straightforward dive. Aston used the surrounding air to clench them into their seats.

“Dammit, Kimba!” Rory yelled, earning them another rumble from the dragon. “You better not kill us before we at least get to tell Sepheron what we need.

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