Page 118 of Elora and the Crow

He laughed bitterly. “We both know that I won’t be doing jack shit today. I can’t shift, remember?”

He’d tried multiple times this morning, tried until sweat drenched him and his body shook, but it was useless.

“If you think you won’t be fighting, why did you bring weapons?” Elora tugged his jacket open, staring at the two knives strapped to the inner lining before studying the gun around his hip. He also had a blade strapped to one leg, but even as he’d gathered his weapons earlier, he wasn’t entirely sure why he’d bothered.

“Old habits,” he said. “You’ll need every bit of your magic. You shouldn’t waste any of it on a protection spell.”

“Keeping the man I love safe is not a waste of my magic,” she said before resting her hand on his chest again.

She closed her eyes and spoke an incantation, her voice rising and falling as blue light pulsed in her hands. Her eyes blinked open, and she stared directly at him. Her voice deepened, and he stared in fascination at how her eyes seemed to glow as she said, “By my power, flame and flower, protect my love from danger, fear, and harm.”

A flash of heat sank into his chest, gone as quickly as it appeared. The light in Elora’s hands faded, and she smiled at him. “See? Easy peasy.”

He pressed a kiss against her cold mouth. “Thank you, baby.”

“The spell is in place, but try not to be hit by her magic, okay? Each blast of her magic will weaken it, and while it’ll stop her from outright killing you, it’ll still hurt like hell, and eventually, she’ll weaken it enough to harm you.”

He nodded, and she slipped on her glove before taking his hand. “Ready?”

No, he was not even remotely fucking ready, but what choice did he have? His heart hammering in his chest and his fear for Elora and Caleb nearly crushing him, he led Elora toward the mill.

They rounded the bend, the rushing river water the only sound in the forest. He strained to hear any indication of life and came up empty. No birds sang, and the eerie emptiness and silence only intensified the bad fucking feeling that he, Elora, and Caleb would die among the trees today.

The old mill rose in front of them, a relic of a time long since gone. A silent, empty building with broken windows and boards weathered grey with age. The snow covered water wheel stood quiet and still, its thick wooden spokes broken and jagged.

Elora, looking small and fragile in the cold silence, stiffened beside him. He followed her gaze, his stomach dropping and fear clawing at his chest when he saw his brother floating in the air beside a large pine tree, his body gently twisting and turning. His arms were crossed over his chest, and his eyes were closed.

“Caleb!” He started forward but was stopped by Elora’s surprisingly firm grip.

“He’s okay, honey. She has him in a trance.”

She studied the clearing around the mill before raising her voice. “We’re here, Malencia. Show yourself.”

The dark witch laughed, a cackling trill that made the hair on the back of Jonah’s neck rise. He and Elora watched as she stepped out from the trees. She wore a blood-red cloak, and her long silver hair was in an elaborate updo.

She studied Elora, her head cocked to the side as Elora removed her gloves and said, “Return Caleb to us, and I will let you walk away, Malencia.”

A grin crossed Malencia’s face. She glanced at Caleb before reaching out and pushing on him. He spun in the air, and Malencia laughed in amusement. Jonah reached inside his jacket, anger infusing his body. He gripped a knife handle and, with a quick and deadly movement, pulled the knife free and let it fly. It should have hit Malencia dead center in the chest, but instead, it hovered inches from her body before dropping to disappear in the snow at her feet.

Malencia grinned at him. “Did you really think it would be that easy, shapeshifter?”

She suddenly thrust out her hands, and a beam of yellow light shot toward them. Jonah grabbed Elora, diving to the left and cushioning her body with his as they landed in the cold snow.

Elora was on her feet in a flash, speaking an incantation and pointing her hands at Caleb. Jonah jumped to his feet as Caleb’s floating body was pulled toward them like he was on an invisible tether. He shot past Elora and hovered a few feet behind her and Jonah.

“If you don’t want to die today, you should leave, Malencia,” Elora said.

Malencia squealed more shrill laughter. “You wretched little shrew. You have no idea who you’re dealing with. You think your puny magic can defeat mine?”

“I think you’re a second-rate witch whose own daughter abandoned her because she knows what a fucking loser you are,” Elora taunted.

“Oh shit,” Jonah said as Malencia’s gaze widened, and her body trembled wildly.

She opened her mouth and shrieked, a sound of pure rage that echoed in the forest and sent fear slithering along Jonah’s spine.

“I’ll kill you, you little bitch!” Malencia screeched at Elora.

Elora raised her glowing hands. “Not if I kill you first.”

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