Page 97 of Elora and the Crow

Jonah turned, more surprise washing over him. Hudson and Judd were replacing the front door. As he watched, Judd lifted the door, and Hudson grunted in satisfaction.

“Perfect. Hold it steady.” Using a drill, Hudson attached the final hinge at the top of the door before stepping back. “Let it go.”

Judd stepped back as well, and Hudson swung the door back and forth before closing it and opening it a couple of times. He closed it a final time and locked it. Judd held out his fist. “We still fucking got it, buddy.”

Hudson fist bumped him before tucking the drill into its case.

Judd joined Jonah and Ronin, giving Jonah a cheerful smile. “Okay, the new door is installed. We got lucky, and the frame wasn’t damaged, so all we needed was a door that would fit the frame. It’s nothing fancy, but it’ll do for now until you have time to replace it with something better.”

“Thank you,” Jonah said. “I really appreciate it.”

“It was nothing,” Judd said. “Hudson and I worked in construction back in the day, building new homes. It was just like old fucking times. Am I right, Hudson?”

The big polar bear nodded before picking up the drill case. “I gotta go. Rosalie’s waiting up for me.”

He left without saying goodbye, and Judd laughed. “Hudson isn’t much for socializing.”

Tori and Kaida walked into the foyer, both ignoring the chanting witches and warlocks as they walked past them.

“Be honest with me, Kaida. How difficult is it for you not to burn a human to a crisp? Because swear to God, if I were a dragon and someone cut me off in traffic, I’d fry that fucker.”

Kaida laughed. “I can honestly say I’ve never been tempted to fry someone in traffic.”

“You’re a better woman than me,” Tori said. She took Judd’s hand, smiling up at him. “Hey, big guy. You ready to go home?”

“Good to go,” Judd said.

“How’s the nose?” she asked, her grin widening.

“Healed,” he said, “even though you did your best to break it in several spots.”

“It had to look real,” she said innocently before turning to Jonah. “How’s Elora?”

“Sleeping,” Jonah said.

“But she’s healed?” Tori asked, pitching her voice low as she glanced at the witches and warlocks behind her.

“Completely,” Ronin said. “I have an ironclad satisfaction guaranteed policy, bunny girl.”

Tori rolled her eyes, but before she could say anything, the five witches stopped their chanting and blew out the candles. They spoke quietly to Charissa and Cece before filing past them without speaking.

They left, and Judd said, “Jesus, they’re fucking creepy.”

“Watch it, bear shifter,” Charissa grinned as she joined them, “one of them is my cousin, and I don’t want to have to put a hex of boils on you for insulting her.”

Judd grimaced and took a step back. Charissa’s grin widened. “I’m kidding. I love my cousin, but she is one hundred percent creepy.”

“What were they doing?” Jonah asked.

“Performing a protection spell on the house.” Charissa’s face sobered. “Any spell that Cece and I did wouldn’t be strong enough to keep out Malencia. My cousin belongs to one of the more powerful covens in the city, and they agreed to do the spell as a favour for me. It’ll hold for at least a month and will keep Malencia from entering the house.”

“Thank you,” Jonah said.

Charissa gave him a hard hug. “You’re welcome. Are you ready to tell me what you did to heal Elora yet?”

“I can’t,” Jonah said. “I’m sorry.”

“But she is healed?” Charissa said.

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