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?

for him – he’s here, he

hurriedly, “it was a dream, Ella – we met him in the

swell of my stomach then, drawing my attention to it, reminding me that he’s

I breathe, moving my own hands so that they rest on either side of my baby. Then I close my eyes, resting my head back on the pillow, and search for him.

My bond with my baby. I reach out to him, sending all the love I have in my heart

say again, feeling my whole body relax. I open my eyes again, feeling a rush of sudden and unexpected joy. I look

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

that for a long minute as

few minutes. To come flying back to reality after such a hard few weeks, after

where else I’d want to be.

then his footsteps

room.

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

the tears that are falling

I think so?” I feel so weak but there is also…a warmth, a stillness in me that feels… I frown, looking up at her. “Did you…do something to me?”

little and running her hand 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

straighter in my bed. “Cora!” I scold. “Why?! I gave it to you – it’s yours

”

–

–

– of course I gave it back to

frankly a little mad now. “It’s a gift from a Goddess – from our mom – I worked so hard

”

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 so weak – and

I whisper, nodding up at him and then turning to Cora. “Okay,” I repeat, raising a finger to point at her. “But as

agreeing to these terms, wiping the tears off of her cheeks. “Whatever

—

in my own, when the Doctor comes in, Rafe hot on his heels. It’s a man

have to say, I’m shocked to see you awake –” He quickly grasps my wrist, feeling for a pulse and turning towards the monitors behind them, scanning them for new information. “It

looking up at Sinclair. “Not precisely

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

to the monitors. “Whatever

and wincing as a sharp pain spikes through my back. Sinclair starts at my grimace, leaning closer to

says, looking at a small monitor tucked 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

towards me and frowning. “You’re still incredibly weak. You have days yet

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 the doctor. “I want you home as well, baby,” he murmurs, “both of you. But he’s been good,” Sinclair says, glancing at the doctor. “We