Accidental Surrogate

Ella

Sinclair’s face immediately closes off, “Baby we talked about this.” He rumbles, sounding unhappy but not angry.

“We started to,” I agree, remembering that last painful conversation. “And then the bomb went off and everything went crazy.”

“Ella, I know how badly you want to meet her. And I would love nothing more for us to be free to go searching right this minute – but it’s not the time. There’s too much going on.” Sinclair proclaims, repeating much of the same sentiments he had when we first discussed this matter.

“But this isn’t just about finding her because I want to meet her.” I correct him. “You told me yourself that after Xavier died, Queen Reina left Moon Valley and became a devotee of the Goddess. That can’t be a

coincidence.” I insist, silently begging him not to shut this possibility down without hearing me out first. “My mother met the Goddess, she spoke to her. Whatever they discussed, it had to have been far more substantive than the fairytale version the Goddess told me as a pup. Even if that’s all she knows – she still has answers we don’t.”

Sinclair doesn’t reply, but I can see the gears working in his head, his thoughts racing a thousand miles a minute. Taking advantage of his contemplative mood, I forge ahead, “But what if that’s not all? What if she’s been serving the Goddess these last five years learning the secrets of my blood so she’ll be ready when I come? What if she knows how to get in direct contact with the Goddess, and can help me do the same? It’s obvious that the Goddess’s priests and devotees have powers and knowledge we don’t – far more than any elder council. If anyone can help us, surely it’s her.”

All of a sudden I feel a violent burst of defiance from Sinclair’s wolf, the beast lashing out against the man. It explodes through our bond in a vicious haze of passion and protectiveness, rage and refusal, determination and fear. Sinclair clamps his eyes shut with the effort of getting the animal under control, and his fingers dig into my hips with unexpected force. Understanding sinks in when he slowly drops his head back against the sofa, emitting a very soft, drawn out, “fuuucckk.”

My heart leaps in my chest. “I’m right, aren’t I?” I exclaim excitedly, bouncing a little in his lap. “I’m right?”

his thighs with my swollen belly pressed flush to his abs, and the next I’m alone on the couch while my mate paces back and forth across the room, overflowing with feral energy. I watch him warily, feeling torn. I’m desperate to find my mother, but the last thing I want is to be away from my mate, especially as the war escalates and my due date nears. I’m sure

not sure what to do to help

He snaps, even though I hadn’t planned on repeating my earlier question. “I swear, I could strangle the Goddess for doing this to us. If she wanted to create a mortal child she should have stayed with you and raised you and been a real fucking parent. She never should have torn you from Reina and Xavier, sacrificed you to be abused by the humans!” His thundering growls have evolved into a full-on roar, and his

and go to him, but I can tell he needs his space at the moment. He needs to get all of his fury out into the open – especially if I want him to agree to this. Even so, I feel the strangest compunction to defend my celestial mother, “In my memory, she said that I had to go through all

You could have been raised by Damon himself and still turned out the sweetest

think that’s true.” I counter gently, “that’s not how people

“I will never, never forgive

distance between us. I reach up and place my small hands on either side of his scruffy jaw, forcing him to look down at me – even though he clearly doesn’t want to. He grimaces and looks anywhere but at me. I patiently wait, and he eventually concedes, his green eyes shining. I tilt my head to the side, letting

his ravenous gaze. His arms reflexively wrap around my body, and he lowers his forehead to mine. There’s still so much turmoil swirling through his consciousness, and the stubborn man doesn’t want to give in. “If the cost of giving you the life you deserve was living

and Rafe for anything in the whole world, and it frankly infuriates me that you would even suggest such a thing,” I continue with a scowl. “I am the woman I am today because of everything I survived and overcame. I’m not saying I like it, or that I wouldn’t spare myself

an expression suspiciously close to a pout. “You’re more important.” I realize I’m talking

smile, ‘This was all set in motion so that the God of Darkness’s schemes on earth wouldn’t result in the destruction of shifters

He digs his heels in, clutching at me with newfound vigor, his voice hoarse with emotion. “Never

logic before, and though my brain wants to freak out in existential angst, I know I have to keep it together