Accidental Surrogate

#Chapter 274 – Bonded

Ella

My head feels…so heavy. I groan, trying to move my hands up so I can press them against my temples, but I can’t move them.

“Easy,” I hear him say beside me and instinctually I turn towards his voice. Where –

“Easy, Ella,” he murmurs, his words thick with emotion. “It’s all right…”

I peel my eyelids apart, then, confused at the effort. It’s like I haven’t opened my eyes for weeks…

My vision comes back to me slowly, the room around me coming into focus with effort. I blink rapidly, looking around at Sinclair, and Cora, and Roger all standing around me, peering at me with worried faces. I feel very suddenly like Dorothy, when she wakes up from her trip to Oz.

“What?” I murmur, my voice thick and my throat scratchy. Suddenly anxious, I try to sit up, pushing at the bed beneath me but –

What the hell were all these wires, tied to my arms?

“Easy, trouble,” Sinclair whispers, pressing his hand to my shoulder, keeping me down. My body responds to his command, relaxing backwards as I look up at him. But…

“Where am I?” I ask, staring at him, and then I press my eyes closed. It’s all just too much.

“You’re in the hospital,” I hear my sister explain. “After the gift, at the temple…”

But her voice fades, almost as if I can’t hear it. I feel my heart start to pound, my breath ratchet up as my memories start to come back to me. Of being on the temple steps of Cora there, and what we learned about each other of Sinclair’s warm arms around me –

–

–

–

And then, nothing – and then clouds – and Sinclair again, and my baby –

Oh my god, where was my baby?

Rafe?” Then I start to look all around me, searching for

Ella – we met him in

it, reminding me that he’s here – of

of my baby. Then I close my eyes, resting my head back on the pillow, and

sending all the love I have in my heart down our bond, and feeling a little pulse back. He hears me.

open my eyes again, feeling a rush of sudden and unexpected joy. I look up to Sinclair and nod.

exhales a huge rush of air, grasping one of my hands

a long minute as tears start to slide down my

It’s all just…it’s a lot to take in in just a few minutes. To come flying back to reality after such a hard few weeks, after days of struggling

else I’d want

and then his footsteps move to the door, heading out the

room.

opening my eyes and reaching my other hand for her. Sinclair straightens at my side, letting us have our moment as

she huffs, laughing through the tears that are falling down her own cheeks. “Are

body. “Um, I think so?” I feel so weak but there is also…a warmth, a stillness

through her hair. “Yeah? I gave you back mom’s the Goddess’s – the gift, I gave it back to you,” she stumbles, not really knowing how to explain it.

straighter in my bed. “Cora!” I scold. “Why?! I gave it to

”

–

–

you were dying – of course

didn’t want it?!” I almost shout, frantic and frankly a little mad now. “It’s a gift from a Goddess – from

”

me, and my eyes snap to him as I feel suddenly guilty and a little childish, arguing with my sister like this in front of him, especially when I’m clearly so sick. I look up at him, my eyes apologetic, and I see his face instantly soften. “Please, Ella,” he begs.” You’re

at him and then turning to Cora. “Okay,” I repeat, raising a finger to point at her. “But as soon as I’m better, you’re taking

the tears off of her cheeks. “Whatever

—

still smiling at my sister, holding my mate’s hand tight in my own, when the Doctor comes in, Rafe hot on his heels. It’s a man I haven’t seen before certainly not one of my normal doctors – but he certainly

you awake –” He quickly grasps my wrist, feeling for a pulse and turning towards the

at Sinclair.

us confused, and I just shrug. Sinclair stands stoically beside me, still holding my hand. “An intervention from the Goddess, if you will,” he observes, a

says, turning back to the monitors. “Whatever it was it

pain spikes through my back. Sinclair starts at my grimace, leaning closer to me, scenting me, clearly working

in amongst the larger ones. “He’s fine,” he mumbles, almost to himself. “Better, if anything, than he was the last time I was in here.” “Good,” I say, almost under my breath, pleased to have my suspicions confirmed. My baby and I… we are going to make it. “Can I go

the doctor scolds, turning towards me and frowning. “You’re still incredibly weak. You have days yet in

But he slowly shakes his head too, letting me