Accidental Surrogate

Ella

I stare at Henry in utter belief, my conversation with my impossible sister immediately slipping my mind. “You found her?” I gape, instinctively reaching for Cora’s hand. Her warm palm settles in mine, squeezing tightly.

“It wasn’t easy.” Henry admits, moving further into the room. “I reached out to every surviving contact I could think of, to no effect. Then I tried the news archives from the time, since they reported on the King’s death and Reina’s departure so thoroughly. They all said the same thing – that she was devoting herself to the Goddess, but none seemed to know where she was going to serve.”

“So how did you figure it out?” Cora asks, sounding every bit as excited as I feel.

“I followed the money.” Henry explains, in a statement so vague and cliched I could scream with impatience. “I had one of Gabriel’s computer forensic specialists hack into the royal banking records back home in Moon Valley. Luckily Damon hasn’t destroyed the financial archives dating back that far.” He shares eagerly. “He discovered that Queen Reina purchased a one-way trip to the Altaran islands just before the King’s death.”

“The Altaran islands?” I ask, racking my brains to try and place this name.

“They’re a remote island chain between the hidden territories and the royal continent,” Henry tells us, “so remote that all but the largest island are completely uninhabited. And the big island is only home to one thing: the most sacred temple known to shifters. It’s considered so hallowed that they don’t even allow pilgrimages to the site, only the most devout and worthy priests and priestesses are permitted to serve there.”

I press my hand to my racing heart, “so Reina wouldn’t be going there unless she intended to devote herself as a priestess.”

“Exactly,” Henry smiles, “and the fact that she was even allowed to go indicates that her journey was Goddess-blessed.”

“So how do we get there? How long will it take to reach the islands?” I ask, my blood feeling positively electric.

“You’ll have to go by ship.” Henry tells us with a small frown. “You can’t fly in the third trimester and I don’t even know if there’s access from the air. Reina traveled by boat, so you will too.” He pauses meaningfully, “I have to tell you that Dominic isn’t going to like it, though. There aren’t any doctors or hospitals, no resources to help you if you encounter trouble.”

safer hands than the Goddess’s,” I counter, practically bouncing up and down. “How long

I were you I would try to show a bit more hesitance about the risks when you talk to

arms around my

beyond moved when she murmurs, “I’m so happy for

glowing with happiness. “You know Reina, and I couldn’t

in an offended

she’s already coming.” I

says in a strange voice. “But if I’m being honest I’m not particularly eager to renew the

have any idea if my mother was in on the plot, but it’s

to kiss my cheek. “Besides, Dominic needs me here – as an advisor. He’s already arranged for you to have plenty of protection and company, and I think he’s worried about being short-staffed as a result.” This is news to me and I don’t entirely understand his meaning,

told him the news yet?” I ask, secretly hoping that he

sly expression. “That’s up to you,

nod, hugging him tightly.

___________________

3rd Person

battle fronts spread out on the center table. He growled with barely contained frustration, quickly

was an insult to grievous injury to be defeated by such inferior beings. The furious emperor was ready to murder his war council, convinced that they’d do about as much good to him as corpses as they currently

the same clowns who’d recommended he send his best troops to the Western front had cautioned him about the fallout, but who would have ever believed those neanderthals could mount a competent defense against his elite forces? It seemed the weak creatures had been investing in advanced weapons systems

sides had not united against their common enemy. Now, Damon didn’t particularly care about the death of his men – a soldier was little more than cannon-fodder after all – he had plenty more where they came from. The far greater blow was the impossibility of governance amidst the sheer chaos of the collapsing societies. He couldn’t get control of any town or city beyond Moon Valley, especially since he’d dismantled every institution and power structure