Accidental Surrogate

Ella

“We have to go,” Sinclair commands, looking at his brother and then at me, both of our eyes trained on him. “To one of the bunkers. Where we’re better prepared for a siege, if need be.”

I don’t know what he means – not entirely – but I just give my mate a single nod, agreeing to his plan, trusting him. Roger nods as well, and I’m sure he knows more about it than I do. Sinclair shifts his gaze to the team standing wide–eyed behind Roger and nods to them. Understanding Sinclair’s command to prepare to move, they turn away, instantly in action.

Roger, however, stays perfectly still. “Cora,” he says, looking into Sinclair’s eyes, his intention perfectly clear. He won’t go without her.

“We’ll find her,” I answer, my voice assured. “She’s coming, Roger. I won’t have it any other way.”

Roger looks between us for a moment, his mouth tightening, and then nods once before turning to leave the room to make his own preparations.

“Ten minutes!” Sinclair calls after him. “Less, if we can!” I see the back of Roger’s head nod in

understanding, though he doesn’t turn to say anything else.

Then, my mate turns his attention to me, loosening his arms around me and the baby and coming around to look down into my face. “You’re a mess, little mate,” he murmurs, smiling a little.”

Though I have to admit that I rather like the sight of you covered in the blood of your enemies,

“Thanks,” I say, tossing my hair over my shoulder and pretending a casual air I don’t feel. “I hear it’s the next big thing in fashion. Very chic.”

He laughs a little at my joke and shakes his head at me, but still looks down at me. “Are you all right, darling?” he asks, and something about his voice – the worry in it, the need for me to be

okay, loosens the resolve in me. I feel my face fall then, my knees go a little weak –

Because, really, I can be weak now with him here. My baby needed me before – I don’t regret a moment of it – but I have Sinclair at my side now to keep me safe and I’m free to be vulnerable again.

“I’m not okay,” I say honestly, shaking my head, my voice trembling a little. Sinclair looks

steadily into my eyes, listening. “But I will be.”

me close and placing a single kiss on my hair:

back up a little and squaring my shoulders as I look

the bunker,” he says, shaking his head a little bit and

worst of it from our faces and hands? But the rest of the

– we need to pack the essentials and get

a little, heading to Rafe’s changing station with Sinclair in

wipe my own face. “To think, when I bought these,” I murmur, “this is not the task for which they were intended

”

–

a little but we both move on quickly,

two small bags with the essentials – a bit of our clothing, and Rafe’s, and

changing essentials as we can fit. Neither

passing him between our arms when the other needs both

keep him

came out of this horrible day largely unscathed, we are both, I

a few minutes and head for the

off

Sinclair asks, passing through

of

him. “But

down the stairs, not wanting to leave

shoulder, a group of soldiers next to him

into the living room quickly, where I grab it off the table.

finished, the group of us move out of

There are second cars behind

I don’t ask about the plan, trusting that Sinclair and Roger already

place for this kind of event.