Page 21 of Elora and the Crow

Elora didn’t reply. As a cop, Bren knew some of what the shapeshifters were capable of and that they killed people for a living, but he didn’t know just how bad it was. Didn’t know how they were kidnapped from their families and trained to become ruthless, unstoppable killers. Very few people did. And the ones who did find out didn’t tend to live long after that.

“Does your sister know you broke the spell and he’s a shapeshifter?” Bren asked.

“Sarina is off the grid for a couple of months,” she said.

Bren frowned. “That’s a long time for her.”

“It is,” Elora said.

Bren glanced at Kaida, who squeezed his hand. “Elora can take care of herself, my mate.”

He nodded, although he didn’t look entirely convinced, and gave Elora a rough hug. “If you need me, text me.”

“I will, buddy,” Elora said. “Love you both.”

“Love you too,” Bren said as Kaida hugged Elora.

They left, and Elora locked the door before returning to the kitchen. As Jonah joined her, she added the dinner plates to the dishwasher.

“Convinced the detective and the dragon that I wasn’t a threat, I see,” he said. He carried the remaining plates to the counter, and she loaded them into the dishwasher.

“More like I convinced them I could take care of myself if you were a threat,” Elora said.

He ran the dishcloth under water and wiped the table clean. “I have no doubt, little witch.”

She put the napkins in the garbage as Jonah wiped the counter. When they were finished, awkward silence descended over them. It was time to drive Jonah to his house, time to let him get back to his brother and his friends and his life that didn’t include her. So, why wasn’t she?

“Elora, did you -”

“Jonah, are you -”

They both stopped, and he made a ‘go on’ gesture. She cleared her throat. “Are you ready for me to drive you home?”

“It’sChoppednight,” he said.

She blinked at him. “What?”

“You watch a marathon ofChoppedon Tuesday nights,” Jonah said.

“How do you…” she shook her head. “Right, of course, you know that. You watched it with me.”

She cocked her head, sudden hope blooming in her chest. “Or maybe you didn’t? Did you comprehend things the same as a crow that you would as a human?”

“I did,” he said. “Why do you look so upset by that?”

“Because, Jonah, I told you shit that I didn’t tell anyone else, not even Cece. You know all of my insecurities and fears and secrets,” Elora said. “Do you have any idea how embarrassed I am?”

Her face was red, and she was alarmingly close to tears.

“Baby, don’t be embarrassed.” Jonah stepped closer. “I would never tell anyone the things that you shared, okay?”

“That’s not the point,” she said. “I wouldn’t have shared them with you if I’d known that you… you were you.”

Hurt flickered across his face before he nodded. “I know, and I’m sorry. What can I do to fix this?”

“It can’t be fixed,” she said. “You know everything about me - the good and the bad, and nothing can be done about it.”

His face was pale, and he looked physically ill, but he said, “Do the amnesia spell on me.”

---