Page 81 of Elora and the Crow

“You’ll lose him forever,” Elora said.

He nodded, looking so sad and lost that her heart ached for him. He forced a smile and said, “I’m going to the greenhouse.”

“I’ll stay here. I’d like to meet Caleb if you’re okay with that?”

He studied her before nodding. “I am, but don’t feel like you have to.”

“I don’t,” she said. “I want to meet him because he’s important to you, and you’re important to me.”

He hugged her before giving her a brief, hard kiss and pulling away. “I have to go. Caleb will be here soon.”

She watched him leave, rubbing her hands nervously on her robe before quickly taking it off and draping it over the altar. She walked out of the living room and into the foyer, reminding herself that despite what Caleb had said and done, Jonah loved him very much. Elora would not widen the gap between them by being a dick to Caleb.

Then why are you here? You should go with Jonah to the greenhouse. You know you’ll say something you’ll regret to Caleb if you stay.

No, she wouldn’t. She would stay calm. She would be polite and friendly and make sure that Caleb knew in apolite and friendlyway that Jonah was not the goddamn monster he tried so hard to make Jonah believe he was.

Her hands glowed blue as her magic spiked, and Elora took a deep breath. Oh, she was doing a bang-up job of staying calm. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

The lock on the door clicked, and adrenaline rushed through her as the door swung open. Caleb stepped inside, followed by a tall and muscular fae woman with short brown hair and… Elora’s eyes widened as she gazed at the woman’s midsection. She was very obviously pregnant.

Caleb stopped in the foyer, giving her a mistrustful look. “I said if he were here, I wouldn’t stay.”

“He isn’t here,” Elora said. “He’s in the greenhouse.”

Caleb glanced at the woman, who gave him a reassuring smile. Elora joined them, holding out her hand. “Hi, I’m Jonah’s friend Elora.”

Caleb shook it briefly. “Caleb.”

His arm went around the fae’s waist, and Elora could hear the pride in his voice when he said, “This is my fiancee, Nimera.”

“Hello, Nimera. It’s nice to meet you.” Elora shook the fae’s hand.

Nimera smiled in a friendly way. “You as well, Elora.”

Caleb took Nimera’s hand. “Come on, honey, let’s get my stuff and go.”

“Caleb, wait,” Elora said as they headed toward the staircase. “Can I speak with you about your brother?”

“No,” Caleb said. “I have no interest in talking about our relationship to my brother’s flavour of the week.”

“Caleb,” Nimera said gently as she rubbed her round belly.

“I’m not interested,” Caleb said sharply before sighing. “Sorry, babe. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”

He started walking again, and Elora said, “My half-sister is a shapeshifter.”

He gave her a startled look. “Are you fucking with me?”

“No,” Elora said. “My sister is a shapeshifter, and our relationship is very similar to yours and Jonah’s.”

Caleb glanced at Nimera, his hand visibly tightening on hers. “I’m listening.”

“Sarina wasn’t around much when I was growing up because she was forced into the Academy just like your brother. Like Jonah, she was taken against her will and forced to do things she would never have willingly chosen to do.”

Caleb scoffed. “You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do,” Elora said firmly. “Sarina would never have chosen this life, just like Jonah wouldn’t have. But life isn’t always fair, is it? And the people who were supposed to protect them didn’t. Now they both believe that this is the only thing they’re good for, the only skill that makes them worth anything.”

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