Accidental Surrogate

Ella

The floor of the ship’s afterdeck bucks and reels on the rolling ocean waves, the deck surging up and falling beneath my feet. I grip the railing and try to breathe in the fresh sea air, keeping my eyes locked on the distant horizon. Cora appears by my side with a bottle of water. “How’s the nausea?”

“You would think a ship this large couldn’t be thrown around so easily.” I chuckle in reply, gingerly sipping the water. It’s our fourth day at sea, and I barely made it through the second afternoon before the swells became so rough that I began to feel ill. After my first bout of vomiting I fled our stuffy cabin and came up above deck which helped – but now I’m afraid to take my eyes off of the horizon, and the Goddess knows there isn’t any land in sight to spot instead.

Cora laughs, “babe this tub is a drop in the bucket.” She reminds me, patting the side of the silver watercraft. “Besides, they warned us these seas are rough.”

I groan, taking another drink. “How much longer?”

Her face lights up, “I just came from the wheelhouse, the captain says we should be able to sight the islands within the hour!”

That gets my attention. I straighten up immediately, trying to shake off my malaise. Adrenaline rushes up to beat back some of the illness, and I find myself inspecting my clothing for wrinkles and stains. Maybe it’s utter insanity, but if I’m going to be meeting my mother today I want to make a good impression, even if I am five months pregnant, sick to my stomach and fleeing a war zone.

“Easy now, it’ll be a few hours yet.” Roger chides, coming to stand on my left. He leans on the railing mirroring Cora, who determinedly ignores him. “We’ll have plenty of time to make ourselves presentable after we’ve docked.”

That does settle my wolf a bit, but I wish Sinclair was here. I pull out my phone and turn on the recording of his purrs, feeling some of my tense muscles unwind as soon as I press play. My nerves have been absolutely fried since we separated. On one hand this is to be expected – given the seriousness of our situation. However, something tells me that my anxiety is less about the wolf I left in Vanara, and more about the woman for whom I’m headed. Afterall, I know Sinclair loves me almost too much. I have no idea how my mother feels about me, and I’ve been

–

dreaming of her for as long as I can remember.

sister. “So… do you hate me?” I

occupied staring daggers at the wolf, gradually drags her attention to my face. Her brow furrows. “What

we spent our whole lives wishing for parents.” I sigh, searching my sister’s lovely face. “if the situation were reversed I think I’d feel pretty

the grace to look slightly abashed. She wraps her arm around me and rests her head on my shoulder. “But I’m

only Cora and me, looking out at the deep blue water surrounding us on all sides. I snuggle into my sister’s warmth, needing to feel her affection as I contemplate the uncertainty awaiting us. I inhale a shaky breath, “What if she doesn’t like

–

has the decency to make himself scarce as Cora pulls back from me in surprise. “Ella, what are you talking about? This woman prayed and prayed for you

arriving at an ethereal temple by the coast, and a beautiful woman in long robes running towards me with open arms. I imagine feeling her embrace… my mother’s embrace, and I shudder. “I’m afraid to hope.” I admit, gnawing on my lower lip.

better part of 30 years.” A hard edge enters her usually soft voice. “It’s much easier to believe in the things you haven’t already

sober. There’s something so lost in her deep brown eyes, and I realize she’s probably feeling about as raw as I am right now. I may be vulnerable and on–edge, but she sounds so disconsolate that I simply can’t bear it. “I’m really rich now, you know.” I

I laugh, rolling my eyes. “I’m saying that I could hire an investigator… if

face lights up for a second, then quickly falls. “No.” She answers shortly, and I wonder if she’s talking to me or her own conscience. “I hate to say it,

thin line now. I want to help my sister, but I

counters, a note of derision in

wasn’t trying to rub your

came to terms with the fact that I will never know where I came from a long time ago. Being reminded… it only hurts.” She has to bend over my swollen belly in order to properly embrace me, and her voice is full of warmth when she finally pulls back.

swells in my chest, and I cling to my sister, nuzzling her shoulder. “Maybe we can share

you.” Cora laughs, “But we should probably wait and see what she’s like