Page 100 of Elora and the Crow

That’s a little weird, isn’t it? Considering you got your ass kicked by a dark witch?

The memory of what happened rushed into her like a waterfall, and she sat up in the bed, adrenaline hitting her veins and making her jittery.

Jonah immediately sat up, wide awake and completely alert. “What’s wrong?”

“The witch,” Elora said. “Malencia, is she…”

“She’s gone.” Jonah wrapped his arm around her waist. “You’re safe, Elora.”

She shook her head and tried to slide out of the bed. “I need to do a protection spell on the house and -”

“It’s done,” Jonah said. “Baby, stay in the bed with me.”

She stared at him. “What do you mean it’s done?”

“Charissa had her cousin’s coven come to the house and do a protection spell. She said it would last a month and would stop Malencia from entering the house again.”

Elora slumped against Jonah. He stroked her hair and kissed her forehead. “How do you feel?”

“Good. Really good, actually, considering Malencia tried to fry me like a - oh shit, your brother! Is he…”

“Malencia has him.” The pain on Jonah’s face sent an answering stab of pain straight to Elora’s heart.

“Oh, Jonah. I’m sorry,” Elora said. “I shouldn’t have fainted like that, but her magic was so strong and -”

“Elora, you didn’t just faint,” Jonah said.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

She listened quietly, her stomach clenching tighter and tighter, and dread and disbelief fighting for space in her chest as Jonah told her what happened.

“Dying,” she whispered when he was done. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” he said. “You were in a coma, and your organs were shutting down, and the doctors said there was nothing they could do to stop it. So, that’s when Bren and I asked Ronin to heal you.”

He cupped her face, staring intently at her. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so fucking sorry. I should never have -”

“Jonah, stop.” She pressed a kiss against his mouth. “This is not your fault.”

“Yes, it is,” he said. “Everything is my fault, and I shouldn’t have stuck around after you broke the curse.”

“I’m glad you stayed,” Elora said.

Frustration crossed his face. “Elora, I almost got you killed. You would have died if it hadn’t been for Ronin. Being with me is dangerous.”

She shrugged. “Walking across the street could get me killed, Jonah. I won’t live my life hiding from potential dangers.”

Jonah’s face looked like he might be having a mild heart attack. “Potential… Elora, there is nothingpotentiallydangerous about being with me. It’s just a bad fucking idea, and the fact that you nearly died should make that more than obvious.”

“You didn’t ask to be attacked by a dark witch,” Elora said.

“My actions caused this.” Jonah pulled away from her. “I should have left the minute you broke the curse and never talked to you again.”

“Why didn’t you?” Elora climbed into his lap, preventing him from getting out of bed.

“Because I…” Jonah refused to look at her.

She cupped his face and made him meet her gaze. “Why didn’t you leave? I want the truth, Jonah.”

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