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

—

“(

mouths falling open. I don’t know how I know it but…well, somehow, I get

to the pool, taking a step closer, a little embarrassed. Honestly, it never occurred to me that my behavior

look at each other, then, united anew at being…well, a little freaked out, suddenly. We’re both very aware that there’s magic in the world, but sometimes when

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

pool. “We bring to

him and bring him into the spirit of your grace,” Roger continues, his own resonant voice sending shivers down my spine. The light

beaming brilliantly down on us from above.

emotion of the moment. Because she is here, now, with us – ready to meet

– his vision hasn’t developed well enough yet – but he’s certainly curious. I put my hands out for him and this time Roger does hand him to me, letting me take the baby and unwrap his swaddling blanket. Then, when he’s free of it, Roger and I slowly walk as close as we

moments pass. My heart fills to see Rafe looking up into the sky, to see the light surrounding him as it falls from the moon above

“His parents, Ella and Dominic, have asked us to bring him here

smile as I look at the baby, and at Roger, and at the moonlight. It’s a beautiful moment, introducing the child to the world and to all the magic within it. I open my mouth to say something, to tell Roger that I’m sorry, and that I’m glad I’m here with him to do this, when suddenly I can

gasp, suddenly afraid, but Roger brings a quick hand to

the baby back,” he says, peering into the white light of the moon, likewise trying to make it out. “If you do, we won’t be able to

a little, and watch the story form

it’s not like watching a movie projected into smoke in the air. Instead, it’s…felt as much as it is seen, communicated to our hearts and minds as much

ground, helping her up 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 passed that quite quickly, though, and I see him again with that girl – though she’s older now too – laughing. And though I know there’s no reason

–

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

–

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

–