Page 99 of Elora and the Crow

He didn’t look particularly pleased about that, but Jonah couldn’t blame him for it. Being around Jonah put Elora in danger, and nothing Jonah said or did would change that.

“It’s late.” Bren glanced at his phone before taking Kaida’s hand. “Kaida and I can stay here if -”

“No, that’s okay,” Jonah said. “The protection spell will keep us safe.”

“If it actually works,” Bren said.

“It will. Charissa wouldn’t say it did if she didn’t know it was true,” Jonah said.

Bren stared solemnly at him. “What are the odds that your brother is still alive?”

Jonah winced but secretly appreciated Bren’s bluntness. It weirdly helped stifle some of the panic he felt whenever he thought of Caleb. “I think they’re good, actually. I think she’ll use him as bait.”

“That makes sense,” Bren said thoughtfully. He glanced at Kaida as she stifled a yawn. He squeezed her hand. “C’mon, gorgeous, let’s get you and the baby home to bed.”

Kaida nodded, rubbing absently at her belly. She looked tired, and the vibrant blue streaks in her hair were duller than usual.

She caught Jonah studying her hair and smiled ruefully. “The closer a dragon gets to giving birth, the more energy the baby takes from her. It affects her body in different ways, one of them being this.” She touched one of the streaks of blue in her hair.

“Which is why you need to rest,” Bren said, tugging her toward the door. “Jonah, ask Elora to text me in the morning, all right?”

“I will.” Jonah followed them to the door, breathing in the cold night air as Bren and Kaida walked to their car. He studied the black SUV parked in the street across from his house before he closed the door and rested his forehead on it.

After a few minutes, he walked upstairs to his room. He stopped in the doorway, studying the more than a dozen small balls of blue flame that floated above his bed.

Cece was sitting on the bed beside Elora, holding her hand and studying her face. She glanced at Jonah. “She’s been mumbling spells the last ten minutes.”

A few of the fireballs blinked out of existence, and Jonah hurried over when a couple of others floated across the room toward the curtains.

“Don’t bother,” Cece said. “They aren’t setting anything on fire. The fireproof spell she did on your room is still intact. I’m not sure how, but it is.”

“That’s a good sign, right?” Jonah said.

“Yeah, probably.” She kissed Elora’s forehead before standing. “Since it’s almost one in the morning, I’d like to crash here if you’re okay with that?”

“Of course,” Jonah said. “Stay for as long as you want, Cece.”

She smiled wearily at him before tucking her phone into her pocket. “Good night, Jonah.”

“Night, Cece.”

She headed toward the door, turning when Jonah called her name.

“I’m sorry, Cece,” he said. “So damn sorry that Elora was hurt.”

“I know,” she said. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

She left, closing the bedroom door behind her. Jonah quickly showered and brushed his teeth before sliding into the bed beside Elora. He nuzzled her soft hair and kissed her cheek.

“I love you, Elora,” he whispered.

She mumbled something he didn’t understand, but another half dozen fireballs appeared above the bed. He pulled Elora into his embrace and watched the flames flicker and float.

CHAPTER31

Elora opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling as her magic hummed and sparked in her veins. She lifted her hand, concentrating on her magic and smiling when flames erupted from her fingertips. She watched the flames for nearly a minute, enjoying the heady rush of magic flowing through her before shaking her hand and extinguishing the flame.

Jonah was warm and solid behind her. A big spoon to her little, his arm draped over her waist and his thighs snug against hers. She could hear him snoring lightly as she glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was just after six in the morning, and Elora couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so rested or her magic so strong.

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