Accidental Surrogate

Ella

“As happy as this is,” Sinclair says, folding his arms over his chest and looking around at the four of us. “And it is happy,” he says, looking at Cora and Roger to let them know that he’s sincere. They nod their understanding. “We do still have a problem on our hands,” he says, nodding to Rafe

in my arms.

“Yes,” I say, looking eagerly up at Cora. “Henry found out some more about the cult – I’ll tell you

all about it. It’s…not good,” I say, with a little grimace.

“Oh,” she says, drawing her brows together. “Okay – yes, I want to hear everything.” I nod, tugging at her waist so that she’ll follow me into the house. Sinclair and Roger come close behind.

“Did you find anything else out?” Sinclair asks Roger.

“No,” Roger replies, a little apologetic. “Just what we sent you from the library. Was it useful?”

“Incredibly,” Sinclair confirms, thankful. “But yes, we found out more…”

”

My mate and I take Roger and Cora into the little office and tell them everything, seating Rafe in

a little swing that we’ve placed there temporarily since we’ve been spending so much time here.

working on this issue. They’re both as horrified as we were to discover that we likely have

someone in our midst who is working for the cult, who either has already betrayed us or will soon.

Though both wrack their minds they, like us, can’t come up with a viable candidate for who it is.

“We need more information,” Sinclair growls, thoughtful, as he flips through what paperwork his

investigators have produced for the case, as if he might find something else there. I nod, agreeing,

but I look at Cora and see her fading a bit.

“You haven’t slept, have you?” I ask, concerned.

She smiles at me, apologetic, but shakes her head. “I’m sorry, Ella,” she says. “I want to help but I

think…”

“Upstairs,” I say, my voice definitive, swatting her on the rear. “Immediately, sleep.”

“I’ll take her,” Roger says, stepping forward to take Cora by the arm.

I say, putting a hand on his chest and shoving him back. Though I’m not

to stop him, Roger complies, laughing and falling back a bit.

“I just

figure it all out when you

me a steady look. “Really, we will.” And then she

as we watch them disappear form our sight. “I’m so happy,” I say, leaning against his chest and sighing contentedly. He wraps his arms around my shoulders, dipping

too,” he says, holding me tight against him. “They’re idiots

don’t say anything for a moment, considering all the things that

to always be easy for them,” I sigh. “Not

against the back of my neck. “You almost died like, four times since we’ve been together. How is

and looking sincerely up

figured out that we loved each other, and especially that

least with us, it was always smooth sailing.”

calmly down into my eyes. “But

me. “Like ours. They’re going to work it out.”

I sigh, resting my head against his chest and closing my eyes. “That’s all I

both of them.”

pass with that seeming like a very real possibility. Cora and

keep making up reasons why they can’t go, and it fills my heart with

see the tiny little touches he places on her

way she turns her face

dark, wry little jokes.

day six, Cora takes me by the shoulders and gives me

must go back to the

back on my neck and groaning.

need you!”

”

her hands back and folding her arms

me in a little love bubble with Roger so

something.”

her and

at me. “I’m not changing my mind, Ella. I’m in love with him.” I

hear her say it but she holds a finger up, stopping me. “But I have a life. And a boyfriend who I never broke up with. And a job that requires

go deal with all of that!

shoes. “Did you

ask, glancing

says, raising a guilty hand to her forehead

to be a big girl and go…do it.”

the arm