Page 40 of Elora and the Crow

The fae just grinned at him, and Jonah swallowed down another bout of nausea before staggering to his feet.

Weaving slightly, he studied the fae. “Since when did the fae start pulling chickenshit moves like hitting a guy from behind?”

Dairem bared his teeth at him. “Maybe you’d prefer I knock your fucking teeth out, pretty boy.”

The other fae put a staying hand on his arm. “Don’t, Dairem. We promised Caleb we wouldn’t hurt him.”

“Fuck that kid,” Dairem snarled. “He’s a whiny ass bitch.”

“Watch what you say about my fucking brother,” Jonah said, “or I’ll kick your ugly face in.”

“I’m not afraid of you, shapeshifter,” Dairem sneered.

“You should be,” Jonah said, staring him down.

“I’m gonna kill him,” Dairem said.

“If you do, Nimera will be pissed,” the second fae said.

“Why do you think I give a fuck if she’s pissed, Witan?” Dairem said as Jonah glanced around.

They were deep in Parsons Woods, and he studied the trees, planning his best exit route after he kicked the fae’s asses.

Witan rolled his eyes. “You’re not fooling any of us, Dairem. You’re still in love with her.”

“No, I’m not,” Dairem growled.

Witan just shrugged before turning to Jonah. “Get the fuck out of here, shapeshifter, and don’t come back.”

“Fuck you,” Jonah said. His head still throbbed like a bitch, but he’d gotten his land legs back, so to speak, and fresh anger made his hands curl into fists. “If you think I’m leaving my brother under a fucking fae spell, you’re a lot dumber than you look.”

Witan sighed loudly. “Christ, don’t be an idiot. Just stay away from the complex and let your brother live his life.”

“No fucking way,” Jonah said slowly and clearly.

“Let me kill him,” Dairem said. “Otherwise, he’ll be buggering around us and the complex. I know assholes like him - they can’t take no for an answer.”

“Just… fuck him up some more. Show him what will happen if he does come back,” Witan said with a dismissive wave before grabbing his phone out of his pocket and scrolling across the screen.

Dairem cracked his knuckles before grinning at Jonah. “Oh, this is gonna be fun.”

Jonah stared witheringly at him. “Jesus, you’re a stupid one, aren’t you? You know what I am.”

“Yeah, and you know whatIam,” Dairem said.

“Your pathetic magic won’t work on an animal form,” Jonah said.

Dairem glanced at Witan, who just shrugged. “I mean, he’s not completely wrong. It’s less effective, but it’ll still work a little.”

“Fuck ‘em, I can still take him,” Dairem said.

He started toward Jonah, who grinned fiercely at him. “You ever seen a full grown hippo, asshole? I’m going to enjoy stomping your ass into the ground.”

He closed his eyes and concentrated. Nothing happened, and confusion followed by a tinge of anxiety infused his body. He opened his eyes, and Dairem arched his eyebrows at him.

“Was something supposed to happen?”

“What the fuck?” Jonah stared at his hands, which were definitely his human hands and not at all hippo feet.

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