Accidental Surrogate

Accidental Surrogate Chapter 386-The Long…Long Road

Ella

It takes me just a little over an hour to realize that…I hate road trips.

“Oh my god,” I murmur to Cora as the vibrations of the gigantic RV continue to

shake through us, making poor Rafe grumble uncomfortably. “Is it night yet?

Can we stop?”

“You’re being a baby, Ella,” my sister replies, looking up at me with a smirk,

jumping her red king over three of Roger’s black checkers and capturing them.

“It’s fun!”

“You’re only having fun because you’re kicking Roger’s ass for the third time at

that game,” I murmur, sighing as I glance out the window.

“Seriously,” Roger sighs, leaning back against the white leather of the

kitchenette’s booth. “You should quit that, Cora. For Ella’s sake – she’s trying to

enjoy herself.” He runs a frustrated hand through his hair, staring at the board.

“Yes,” Cora replies, laughing. “For Ella’s sake, I’ll go easy on you.”

“I just thought it would be prettier,” I sigh, looking out the window at the endless

highway miles. “Like, purple mountains majesty. Fruited plains. Etcetera.”

Instead, it’s just hour after hour of looking at cars, and asphalt, and the sad little

pine scrub that borders the highways.

“Maybe when we get further out,” Cora offers, hopeful. “Nah,” Roger replies,

making his next move on the checker’s board. “After the forest it’s all corn for

days.”

I groan, leaning my head back. “I hate corn.”

“No, you don’t,” Cora chides, instantly making her next move on the board and

capturing two more of Roger’s pieces. He gasps in protest and then slumps

back again.

“How are you doing this,” he murmurs, studying the board. “Are you a witch?”

“Maybe,” she says with a shrug.” Guess we have to ask mom.”

I smile at her then, bouncing my fussy baby in my arms. And I inhale a deep

breath, silently ordering myself to cheer up because even if I decidedly do not

like riding in the RV, I’m still excited to take this trip for my sister, to get her the

answers she so desperately wants.

Eventually Cora and I retire with the baby to the bedroom where Sinclair

feel the movement of the RV as much. The

maps and

find endlessly fascinating for some weird

them to it. Cora and I

spend our time chatting, watching movies, and napping lightly with

baby between us.

day in the little sun-soaked room at

and talking with my sister, reconnecting

my life since

broke through my window.

really over?” I ask her in a quiet

sink to the horizon.

I’m talking about – she already

honestly. “I think…well,

we’re going to have

have them because the next challenge is

going to have to fight to make that peace in

going to try to steal it

napping baby, trailing a little finger down

ask quietly. ” Did we choose wrong? I mean –

our fated mates. We picked this…should we

Cora laughs, and I look up

shaking

I ask, sitting up straight, ” Cora, I was

to live quietly alone with

says, waving a hand at me in dismissal. “That was just

you were always going to be a

side, “but…you were never going to stop

that you ended up being

you to help thousands when he is king, and

that was

she’s saying. And I guess…well, I

right. That this was perhaps always the life I wanted, even if

I

her voice dropping

my fated mate,”

going wide.

she says, frowning. “But… Ella, this

I don’t…know how to explain it except

that.”

a mating bond snap into place?”

she says, turning back to

rainstorm – that day when

motel.”

at her, knowing what happened that day, and

lean forward eagerly, wanting to know.

was his mate,” Cora replies, giving a little shrug. “But the way he said

choose you as my mate.

say, impressed, a little jealous. I have

know that what’s between us is far beyond anything

mate. But still – it’s an experience I’ll

“did you ask him

says, shrugging

“Why not?”

she sighs. “I…like the idea. I don’t want him

say simply, scooching forward on the

she gasps,