Page 3 of Elora and the Crow

Elora gave him a look. “You, a human, just happened to be in a neighbourhood that is ninety-eight percent paranormal for both people and businesses. That’s what you’re telling me right now?”

Bren grinned. “Yes?”

She poked him in his flat stomach. “Tell me the truth, buddy.”

“I wanted to make sure you were doing okay,” Bren said. “I haven’t really talked to you since the funeral.”

A wave of love for Bren washed over her. Despite only knowing Cece peripherally, both he and Kaida had attended her aunt’s funeral. Elora had been grateful for their support.

“I’m doing okay,” Elora said. “Still sad and worried about Cece, but okay.”

“Good. Kaida wants you to come for dinner next week if you have time.”

“I do,” Elora said. “Thanks, Bren.”

“Bren?” Charissa joined them, holding out a blue glass bottle sealed with wax around the cork. “This is for your mate.”

“What is it?” Bren asked as he took the bottle.

“It’s a potion. Tell Kaida to sprinkle the contents around the perimeter of your land. It’ll help keep the human lookie-loos from getting too close to the cabins.”

The dragon clan lived outside of the city in a relatively remote section of Parsons Woods, but that hadn’t stopped some humans from driving out to their property to stare at them like they were animals in the zoo. Although interest and fascination had died off somewhat in the last few months, there were still plenty of humans willing to trespass on private property for a potential glimpse of a dragon.

Bren studied the bottle, his face a bit apprehensive. “It’s legal, right?”

Elora couldn’t blame him for asking. Not only was he a detective, but with the existence of dragon shifters only recently revealed to humans, their relationship was tenuous, at best. While some humans weren’t bothered by this new knowledge, most humans, and even some other paranormals, were convinced the dragons were one breath away from destroying humanity with fire.

Elora was of the opinion that if the dragon shifters had wanted to destroy humans, they would have done it long ago, but she was one of the few who held that opinion.

But Bren obviously had a vested interest in the dragon shifters maintaining peace with the humans and wouldn’t want anything even remotely illegal connected to them.

Charissa grinned at him. “Perfectly legal, Bren. If humans get too close, the smell of the potion gives them nothing more than a case of the,” she paused, her smile growing wicked, “tummy rumbles.”

“That,” Elora said, “means she concocted something that’ll make them shit their pants.”

Charissa laughed but neither confirmed nor denied it. “It’s my way of saying thank you to your mate and her clan for supplying me with dragon scales.”

Charissa wasn’t just a powerful witch. She was also one of the most powerful potion makers in the city. Humans, paranormals, and even other witches often hired her to create potions. They were all on the up and up - Charissa was no dark witch - and her procurement of dragon scales had only made her more popular in the world of potions and brews.

Bren grinned and tucked the bottle into his inside pocket. “They’ll appreciate this. Thank you, Charissa.”

Bren waited until Charissa had returned to the counter before taking Elora’s hand. “Are you sure you’re okay? I hate that you’re by yourself in the apartment. When does Helen return from the old country?”

“Not until the spring,” Elora said.

“Does she know about Cece’s aunt?

“No,” Elora said. “But it’s because she and her sister are in the mountains for their rituals and will be for at least another month. There isn’t any cell service.”

“That seems dangerous,” Bren said. “Helen is in her seventies, for God’s sake.”

Elora smiled. “What Helen wants, Helen gets. You know that almost as well as I do. My grandmother and her sister are two of the most powerful witches I know. I’m worried, but I know they can take care of themselves.”

“You know if you need me, you can call anytime. I know it’s not as convenient now that I live with Kaida and her clan instead of right across the hall, but I have a siren on my car, and I know how to use it,” Bren said.

Elora laughed and gave him a brief, hard hug. “I love you, buddy.”

“Love you too. I’ll text you about next week.”

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