Page 27 of Elora and the Crow

“The Witches and Warlock Council have been busy with more important things as of late. They have a huge backlog of dark witch accusations to get through,” Charissa said.

“What’s more important than bringing in a dark witch? That’s literally their main job,” Elora said.

“Yes, but you know as well as I do that there are bigger problems in the witching world right now,” Charissa said. “Anyway, for all we know, this witch who cursed Jonah could have given up the dark arts or could be dead.”

“Yikes, that’s a bit extreme, don’t you think?”

“Witches who practice the dark arts don’t usually live long,” Charissa said. “Either a spell goes wrong and kills them, or they get on the wrong side of another dark witch. The best a dark witch can hope for is the WWC catches them and imprisons them for life.”

She stirred the potion slowly as Elora inched away to escape the smell. “Anyway, my point is - don’t take it personally that Jonah said it was a mistake. Shapeshifters don’t do relationships.”

“I know,” Elora said. “And I also know the only reason he kissed me is because he was a crow for years, and now that he’s a dude again, he’s horny as fuck. I just happened to be the first pair of lips he came across.”

Charissa laughed hard, nearly spilling some potion from the bowl onto the counter. “Oh my God, Elora.”

“What? It’s true, which sucks because, Charissa, I am seriously attracted to that guy. Even though he knows every embarrassing thing about me and has seen me scrubbing my naked ass in the shower, I still want to bang his brains out, which is also freaking weird because that’s not me. I usually like to get to know someone first.”

“To be fair, you haven’t been laid in a long time,” Charissa said. “Thanks to Jonah.”

She paused in her stirring and gave Elora an assessing look. “That’s a little weird, don’t you think? Jonah spent his entire time as a crow preventing you from sleeping with other guys, and one of the first things he did once he was human was kiss you.”

“He said it was a mistake,” Elora said.

Charissa shrugged. “Or maybe he wants to bang you as much as you want to bang him.”

“Then he should just say that,” Elora said. “I’m not looking for a relationship from him or anything. I’m young, and I haven’t been laid in two years, and there is nothing wrong with a woman just wanting casual sex, Charissa.”

“Didn’t say there was,” Charissa said before adding another mysterious dark liquid to the potion.

Elora knew Charissa wasn’t judging her, but she could feel herself getting worked up anyway as her voice rose and the magic pulsed in her veins. “All I’m saying is that it’s kind of a dick move on his part to assume I would even want a relationship with him in the first place. I don’t really know Jonah, and he could be an asshat for all I know.”

“Maybe. Also, you don’t have to yell. I’m standing right here,” Charissa said.

“I can’t help it. I’m fired up!” Elora said, her voice going even louder. “But just because neither of us wants a relationship doesn’t mean I can’t bang him, right? Jonah’s probably amazing in bed, so why shouldn’t I get a piece of that? He basically owes it to me after cockblocking me for two years, right?”

Charissa glanced up from the bowl, her dark brown eyes widening as she stared at someone behind Elora. “Uh oh.”

“What?” Elora said.

“A handsome man is standing behind you,” Charissa said. “I’m guessing it’s Jonah by the amused look on his face.”

“No, he isn’t,” Elora said as panic settled in her bones. “If a customer had come in, we would have heard the bell over the door, Charissa. I didn’t hear a bell. Did you hear a bell? We didn’t hear a bell. Therefore, no one is standing behind me, and even if there were, it is definitely not Jonah.”

“I think your very impassioned speech drowned out the bell, little witch,” Jonah’s deep voice said behind her.

Elora sucked in a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Hello, Jonah.”

“Hello, Elora.”

She opened her eyes as Charissa stepped out from behind the counter. Knowing her face was beet red, Elora spun around slowly, the flush turning even hotter when Jonah grinned at her.

“So, you’re the guy who’s been shitting on my floor for the last two years,” Charissa said.

Jonah bellowed laughter before stepping forward and, ignoring Charissa’s outstretched hand, scooped her up in a hard hug. “Hello, Charissa.”

He released her, and Charissa eyed him up and down. “She’s right. You are hot.”

“Thank you,” he said before grinning at Elora.

---