Accidental Surrogate

Accidental Surrogate Chapter 376-The Cost Ella

My internal screaming continues, echoing through me as I grab whatever bond I

have to my Goddess mother and pull on it as hard as I can –

And I’m still screaming, there, in my mind and honestly maybe from my throat as

well, I’m too far beyond myself now to know – when suddenly…

…She’s here.

My mother’s presence materializes first in my mind as she reaches for me,

worried.

“Ella!” I hear her say, her voice chiming against my own frantic screams, “Ella, I

am here!”

Shocked shocked to feel her, shocked that it worked – I find myself thrown out

of my meditative state and into my own body, which is still freezing cold. But

when my eyes fly open I gasp to see that she’sShe’s actually here. Not just present in my mind – but standing before me. And

as I blink frantically, letting my eyes adjust, I realize that she’s not… physically

here. Not in the way she was when we met her in the desert. But she’s here in

her spirit – she presents herself before me in an echo of her true form, a

glowing, beautiful specter that reaches her hands out towards me.

“Mother!” I gasp. “Mom please – I need my baby – please release me -”

“Ella,” she says, coming forward and reaching for me, though her hands can’t

quite touch my face. I feel her, though something about her touch tingles against

my cheeks as she tries and fails to take my face in her hands. ” I don’t

understand, child – I don’t know what’s happening -”

And then I’m sobbing, looking up at her, desperate for her to know but so cold

now so incredibly cold – and unable to find the words to express it all-

“Close your eyes, darling,” she murmurs, looking down at me with her beautiful,

glowing face. “Show me.”

And I do. I press my eyes shut and, sobbing, I press my thoughts – my

memories – my fears – my ideas everything forward towards her. And I hear her

gasp at first in shock, and then coo with understanding. –

“All right, Ella,” she says softly, and I open my eyes again to see her shaking her

head at me. “Your gift is bound, my love and I cannot – ”

up at her

– go out go out and kill

see her grief on the goddess’s face, her desire to help as well as

I know she is bound

believe that there’s not something she can

her face goes grim. “Once, Ella,” she says, her face

can interfere physically in your world once in your life.

again. Are you sure that you want

desperate. There is nothing else – – no other situation that

that could be worse – ” Please, mother,

a price,” she says, looking clearly into my eyes. “You will…not be

Ever, Ella. It is the last time we will speak outside of

of my temples.”

I look up at her, as I realize that the price for

down into my eyes as she nods, realizing

understand.

softly to me. “I just wanted you to know what

you could save

think about it more – that I should hesitate

part of me does. Sharply, I nod. I

my heart – I accept

darling,” she murmurs and then she

all right.” And for a moment the

forehead feels the same as her hands

slowly, her lips grow warm and corporeal

skin.

as I feel my wolf come howling back to

at the injustice done to her,

to help our baby

mother, then – knowing it is done – knowing that she

magic of our bond to unbind my wolf and her gift. And

has been…

love you, Ella,” she says as she begins to fade

me,” she says, reaching

gift grows warm. “Use

quite suddenly, she

back to myself realizing thatThat even though that felt like a few long

have passed –

get to my son. Now.

me. And I hold onto it, and access its

– through my mind, my heart, my skin And

ice begins

Sinclair

of rage, dashing

holding

my wolf and bellowing in pain as

wounds on my skin stretch horribly,

them scream in protest against

fear and adrenaline, pushing myself to go after

though my body screams in

ignore it, forcing myself forward beyond the pain,

locked in

as I stream towards her, as I ignore my pain

into the chase.

me – she her hesitate in her steps, turnHer eyes go wide with horror as I pull together my last bit of will and leap