Page 105 of Elora and the Crow

He stepped back, and she stood in the foyer, her slender body shivering lightly and her hand resting protectively on her belly.

Elora pushed past Jonah, taking Nimera’s free hand. “Are you and the baby okay?”

“Yes. Have you… have you found Caleb?”

Elora shook her head, and the fae’s fragile composure immediately crumbled. She started to cry, and Elora pulled her into her embrace, rubbing her back. “I’m sorry, Nimera. I’m so sorry.”

“He isn’t dead,” Nimera sobbed. “I know he isn’t. My heart would know if his had stopped.”

“I don’t believe he’s dead either,” Jonah said as Cece handed Nimera some tissues.

Elora kept her arm around Nimera’s shoulders, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “Come have some tea with us, Nimera.”

When they were settled at the island again, Jonah said, “I believe Malencia will use Caleb as bait rather than kill him.”

“Do you know where this Malencia is?” Nimera asked. “Where she might be keeping Caleb?”

“No,” Jonah said.

“We’re trying to find her,” Cece said.

“We will find her,” Elora said confidently. “We’ll find her, and we’ll bring Caleb home safe to you and us.”

“What about your family?” Jonah asked. “Can they help us find Malencia?”

Not that he wanted the fucking fae anywhere near Elora after what they did to him, but their magic would be helpful in saving Caleb.

Nimera hesitated before nodding. “Yes, they’ll help.”

Jonah studied her. “You sure about that?”

Before she could reply, someone pounded on the front door, and Jonah could hear the squeal of outrage coming from outside, even from the kitchen.

“What was that?” Elora slid off the stool, and the hairs on the back of his neck rising at the shrill caterwauling, Jonah followed her toward the door.

CHAPTER33

Elora yanked the front door open, her hands already starting to glow as the magic pulsed through her veins. She took a deep breath, trying to control the surge brought on by her adrenaline.

She’d brushed it off with Jonah, but she’d been a little disconcerted by how strong her magic was when she’d woken. She felt much like she had during puberty when her magic had been a constant pulse through her body, a hard to control force bubbling just below the surface of her skin, demanding to be set free.

More screeching jolted her back to the current problem.

Fenton, the cheetah shifter from the security company, stood on the doorstep. Dangling from the big shifter’s hand, an imp kicked his feet furiously and swore a blue streak.

“Let go of me, you hairy motherfucker!” The high-pitched whine of the imp’s voice instantly grated on Elora’s nerves.

Apparently, she wasn’t the only one because Fenton growled and gave the imp a shake. “Quiet, you little shit.”

“Suck my dick, cat boy!” The imp grabbed his crotch and thrust it at Fenton. “Put me down before I put a hex on you that keeps your tiny dick limp for the rest of your fucking life.”

Nimera pushed past Elora, reaching out to cup the imp’s face. “Be calm,” she said softly.

The imp calmed immediately, hanging limply from Fenton’s hand as he stared at Nimera.

“I saw him skulking around the house,” Fenton said. “Took me nearly five minutes to catch the little fucker.”

“I let you catch me,” the imp said. “You think your clumsy ass could catch me if I didn’t want you to?”

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