Page 128 of Elora and the Crow

“Are you sure,one hundred percent sure, about this?” Elora asked.

Jonah crowded up behind her, slipping his arms around her waist. “Yes, why wouldn’t I be?”

“Why wouldn’t you… Jonah, your house is, like, super bougie and everything in here costs an arm and a leg.” She waved her arm at the altar in the corner and the bookshelves that now overflowed with spell books, parchment scrolls, candles, and a rat skeleton. “My things don’t exactly fit the decor.”

“This is your house now, too, and I want you to be happy and comfortable.”

“Yeah, but I could have all my witch stuff in a spare room or something,” Elora said. She loved that Jonah was so cool with having her stuff everywhere, but she was also worried that he might grow to hate it.

“I like it right here in the living room,” he said. “It makes this place feel like a home, remember?”

She sighed. “Your cleaning lady is really going to hate me now.”

“She’s already told me she wants a raise,” Jonah said.

Elora swung around to stare at him as two cats, one a tabby and the other black with a blotch of white on its chest wandered into the room. “Shit, are you serious?”

“Yep, although she referred to it as danger pay after that spell book bit her.”

“I told her not to dust the spell books,” Elora said indignantly.

Jonah laughed. “It’s fine. I agreed to give her a pay raise, and she agreed to stop touching your books.”

Elora relaxed in his arms, throwing her arms around his shoulders as the cats rubbed up against their legs. “Are you happy, Jonah?”

He glanced at the cats. “Despite the cats living in my house, I am incredibly happy.”

“You don’t like cats?” she asked.

He laughed. “Nah, they’re fine, but I will admit I never expected to see Caleb so gaga over cats. He treats them like they’re his babies.”

“It’s adorable,” Elora said. “I can’t wait to see him once Nimera gives birth. The baby will probably never leave his arms.”

“Probably not,” he agreed. He rubbed her back. “Areyouhappy, Elora?”

“I am.” Her face turned solemn. “I know you’re worried about your past, that it will come back to hurt me or our future family, but I -”

“I’m not worried,” he said. “Not anymore.”

“Are you sure?” Elora asked.

Jonah smoothed her hair back. “Baby, I’m pretty fucking sure you’re now the most powerful witch in the whole city. If we are in danger, it’ll be you who saves our asses, not me.”

She hugged him hard before asking, “Did you hear back from the university?”

“I did,” he said, loving how her face lit up with excitement.

“And? Don’t keep me waiting,” she said.”

“I start in the spring,” he said. “You’re looking at the newest student of Ashdale University. I’ll probably join a frat and become super obnoxious.”

She squealed and kissed him hard. “Oh my God, that’s awesome!”

“About joining a frat?” he said.

“No, you dork. No frat joining. You’ll be too busy getting your business degree to go to keggers.”

“Are keg parties even still a thing?” he asked.

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