Page 82 of Elora and the Crow

She folded her arms over her torso. “But we know that isn’t true, don’t we? You know that Jonah is so much more than what the Academy told him he was. Even if you don’t want to admit it right now.”

Caleb cleared his throat. “Jonah is the most confident person I know. He could do anything he wants, but he chooses to do this.”

“Things aren’t always what they seem,” Elora said. “Jonah is brilliant and amazing and one of the best people I know. But he was stolen from his family at four years old and put through a type of hell and trauma that you and I can’t even imagine. That type of abuse messes with you and makes you see the world a little differently than the average person. Is he perfect? No. But he loves you deeply, Caleb, and he needs a relationship with you. You’re the only family he has left.”

“I barely see him,” Caleb said. “His job and money are all that matter to him.”

“I don’t think that’s true,” Nimera said thoughtfully. “If it were, he wouldn’t be constantly trying to give money to you.”

“I haven’t touched the money in that bank account,” Caleb said hotly.

“I know, my love,” Nimera said. “But my point is that people who care about their money rarely give it away. Look at my father’s actions, and you know I am right.”

“I know how hard this is, Caleb. I’ve had the same thoughts about my sister, but I also know that she loves me deeply. I see her a few times a year if I’m lucky, but when we are together, she does her best to show me how much she loves me,” Elora said.

“You might be okay with your sister killing people for money, but I’m -”

“Okay with it?” Elora scowled at him. “I am absolutely not okay with it, but I also love my sister. Sometimes loving someone is hard and scary, but you don’t abandon them because of it.”

“Jonah abandoned me,” Caleb said.

“He told you he was trapped by a witch’s curse, sweetheart,” Nimera said.

Caleb sighed. “It doesn’t mean it’s true, Nimera.”

“It is,” Elora said. “Jonah was stuck in his crow form and spent a year trapped in a small cage in a potions shop. I bought him two years ago from the shop owner and have been trying to break the curse ever since. Jonah’s been living with me in his crow form for the last two years. I can show you pictures, and I can introduce you to friends who will confirm it. Jonah didn’t abandon you, and the first thing he did when the curse was broken was tell me about you. He loves you, Caleb, very much, and he misses you.”

“You should talk to him, Caleb.” Nimera smoothed her hand over his arm. “I’d like to meet him.”

“He thinks you have me under your influence,” Caleb said. “He doesn’t even believe that you love me.”

“Then let me show him I do,” Nimera said, touching her belly again. “I don’t want our child growing up with a father who holds sorrow and pain in his heart. And I want our child to know their family.Allof theirfamily.”

Caleb rubbed at his forehead, and Elora could see the glint of tears in his eyes.

Nimera kissed his cheek. “You miss him, my love. I know you do.”

Caleb sucked in a breath. “I can’t, Nimera. I’m sorry, but I don’t want our baby around someone who kills others for money, even if he is my brother.”

“He quit,” Elora said.

Caleb stared at her. “What do you mean?”

“He’s not taking contracts anymore,” she said. “In fact, he’s thinking about opening a greenhouse.”

Caleb’s jaw dropped, and Elora could practically see the surprise emanating from him in soft waves. “You are fucking with me right now.”

“No, I am not,” Elora said with a scowl. “I wouldn’t say it if it weren’t the truth. Jonah is out of the killing business, and he isn’t going back.”

Caleb stared at Nimera, and a silent communication passed between them before Nimera smiled and kissed him. “Go talk to him, Caleb. I’ll wait here for you.”

“Okay.” Caleb hesitated, staring at Elora as his hand tightened on Nimera’s. “You’re a witch, yeah?”

“I am,” Elora said.

“Don’t even think about hurting Nimera or doing some sort of hocus pocus spell,” he warned.

“I would never do a spell with the intent to harm someone,” Elora said, “and if she wants a hocus pocus spell, it’ll cost extra. They’re not easy to do.”

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