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?

to look all around me, searching for him – he’s here, he has to be, I remember him, my

Ella –

the swell of my stomach then, drawing my attention to it, reminding me that he’s here – of course he’s here, I haven’t

own hands so that they rest on either side of my baby. Then I close my eyes,

I can feel him, my ties to him. My bond with my baby. I reach out to him, sending all the love I have in my heart down our bond, and feeling a little pulse back. He hears me.

again, feeling a rush

of my hands and lowering his head

long minute as tears start to slide down my cheeks,

unstoppable. 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 in the dream state to get here. It

else I’d want to be.

then his footsteps move to

room.

Sinclair straightens at my

through the tears that are falling down her own cheeks. “Are you?”

to help myself, and then glance down at my poor beat up little body. “Um, I think so?” I feel so weak but there is also…a warmth, a

she says, laughing a little and running her hand through her hair. “Yeah? I gave you back mom’s the Goddess’s – the gift,

sit up straighter in my bed. “Cora!” I scold.

”

–

–

ridiculous – you were dying – of course I gave it back to you I

from a Goddess – from our mom – I worked so hard to get it

”

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 so weak – and she saved you with it – it can’t possibly matter –”

to Cora. “Okay,” I repeat, raising a finger to point at her. “But as soon as I’m

she laughs, agreeing to these terms, wiping the tears off

—

in, Rafe hot on his heels. It’s a man I haven’t seen before certainly not one of my normal doctors – but he

you awake –” He quickly grasps my wrist, feeling for a pulse and turning towards the monitors behind them, scanning them for new

up at Sinclair. “Not precisely a

and I just shrug. Sinclair stands stoically beside me, still holding my hand. “An intervention from the Goddess, if you will,” he observes, a little humor in his voice. The doctor’s face screws up further with confusion but then he simply exhales quickly and shakes his

the monitors. “Whatever it was it

all right?” I ask quickly, working to sit up further and wincing as a sharp pain spikes through my back. Sinclair starts at my grimace, leaning

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

and frowning. “You’re still incredibly weak.

up at Sinclair then, my eyes pleading. I know that if I ask him, if I want it enough, he’ll pick me up and carry me bodily out of this hospital right now. But he slowly shakes his head too, letting me know he agrees with