Accidental Surrogate

Cora

I’m a little out of breath when I finally catch up with Roger and Rafe, having had to work hard to keep up with his long wolf stride.

“Rude,” I say when I finally come to a stop next to them. “You couldn’t have waited for me?”

“I’m being rude?” Roger says, raising his eyebrows at me in disbelief. “Cora, you’ve been nothing but unpleasant since the moment we stepped into the forest –”

–

I open my mouth with a little squeak of protest but Roger just rolls his eyes and ignores me, going on anyway. “This is supposed to be a sacred experience for Rafe and for us and you’ve done nothing but moan and complain. So yeah, forgive me if I wanted to get away for a moment and concentrate on the magic of this place

“Oh whatever,” I mumble, reaching out my arms so that he can hand me the baby.

“No

from you

way,” Roger retorts, holding the baby closer to his chest and turning a little away from me. “You don’t get to hold the baby now that we’re at the pool

“Yes I do!” I cry, “the priestess gave him to me!”

“I’m his godparent just as much as you are

—

“(

from the pool, and Roger and I turn to it, surprised, both of our mouths falling open. I don’t know how I know it but…well, somehow, I get the sense that the pool – or whatever magic is in it –

embarrassed. Honestly, it never

closer to the edge. We look at each other, then, united anew at being…well, a little freaked out, suddenly. We’re both

then, nodding to him, and start to say that words that the priestess taught us

pool. “We bring to you, tonight, this child, so that he may

light, and in doing so, let you see him and bring him into the spirit of your grace,” Roger continues, his own resonant voice sending

beaming brilliantly down

stomach twisting with the emotion of the moment. Because she is here, now, with us – ready to meet her grandchild. I can feel it.

my hands out for him and this time Roger does hand him to me,

streams down onto the baby, growing brighter as the moments pass. My heart fills to see Rafe looking up into the sky, to see

Dominic, have asked us to bring him here to dedicate him to

to all the magic within it. I open my mouth to say something, to tell Roger that I’m sorry, and that I’m

Roger brings a quick

back,” he says, peering into the white light of the moon, likewise trying to make

out, my arms trembling a little, and watch the story form in the

the air. Instead, it’s…felt as much as it is seen, communicated to our hearts and minds as much as our eyes. But suddenly,

and brushing the tears from her face. Then, I see him again – older, but still young.- running across a battlefield, fear on his face but courage in every line of his limbs as he pushes himself to do what is right. We’re

–

another in his hands, which he slowly lifts to place on the girl’s head as well. She smiles up at him with such

–

children – and a light–haired boy I don’t know, just

–