Accidental Surrogate

Chapter 265 To the Temple

Ella

As soon as the boat pulls up to the dock, I’m by the gangplank, eagerly waiting for the sailors to lowes it. One of my hands rests on the underside of my swollen belly, holding my child close. The doctor that Sinclair assigned to come with us examined me the moment we stepped foot onboard after our trek home from the desert and confirmed that Rafe’s heartbeat is still there, though fainter than he’d like.

I need to get of this boat, now, I think, my eyes wide as I watch the sailors hurry to lower the plank so that I can scurry off of it. I have a job to do, and the sooner it’s done, the sooner I can rest.

Stop, my wolf begs inside of me a word I don’t think I’ve ever heard her say. She’s usually run!, or fly! or go! Never stop, caution, wait. But today, I can feel her pacing inside me, worried.

We are weak, she cautions. The pup…

I can’t, I growl back at her, impatiently watching the plank finally touch the dock next to us. We have a job to do – we have to help everyone survive

“Ella!” Cora calls, running out of the boat’s small cabin. “Ella, wait!”

I turn to her, my face fierce. “Either come with me or stay here, Cora,” I warn, my eyes flashing. But you can’t hold me back –”

–

“Ella,” she says, grabbing my arm as I put my foot on the gangplank, ready to rush forward.” Please, you barely made it out of the desert – you are not well enough for this – your doctor ordered you onto bedrest weeks ago – he told you to walk no more than forty minutes a day! You’re risking your health, your child!”

bite out, spinning on her. “How many will die, if I don’t get to that temple and deliver the Goddess’s gift?” My eyes fill with tears and my lip trembles

word. “At least, to me – Ella, I can’t

from her

anymore,

grasp, I hurry down the gangplank and am surprised to hear footsteps following me. When I stand firmly on the dock, I turn, my

shrugs when her feet too

alone,” she protests. “If you insist on killing

that I have my sister at my side. I turn and as

hear Roger’s voice call out behind us, but neither of us turn. If he wants

–

have to chase me, and damn it – weak or not – I’m faster than him. Cora and I pick up our pace, determined not to waste any

untouched while others are in total ruin. Whole neighborhoods which I used to walk

can get there….damn it, but

speak to Sinclair if he, too, were dreaming. It was a huge disappointment, not to have been able to

–

would have given

that my poor baby is the one paying the price of all of this. It’s the cause of all of my anxiety, the only thing that I thought about during the long trip here. The all–encompassing question that kept me up at night: was my child the price we would pay for peace? And then, was it a price I

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