Accidental Surrogate

Chapter 390

Chapter 390:The Temple

Ella

It is, indeed, a long climb. Cora and I are panting by the time we get to the top,

and even though Sinclair took Rafe from me halfway through the hike I have to

take a moment to catch my break when we pull ourselves up to the final level.

Roger has the indecency to look a little smug about the fact that he barely looks

winded and Cora gives him a little shove on the shoulder as she works to take a

few deep breaths and wipe the sweat from her brow.

Even as I work to bring my heartrate back down, I absolutely marvel at the sight

before me.

The Goddess’ temple, like the one in the city, is built completely with white

marble. But unlike the one in the city, this one looks…ancient. Vines grow in

ropes all over it, looking almost as if the structure is part of the forest itself,

having grown up organically from it. The temple is tall and wide, the pillars in

front drawing my eyes upward to the slanted roof which curls into a dome. At the

very peak of the dome is a golden crescent moon, reaching up towards the sky,

glinting in the bright sunlight.

“Wow,” Cora says, standing straight next to me and likewise marveling at the

temple. “Mom has some… impressive property.”

“I know, right?” I mutter back, crossing my arms and shaking my head. If

someone had told me, when I was a little girl sleeping in my creaky little orphan

bed, that my mom lived here…

Well. I probably would have believed them.

But I was a very imaginative child.

“Um,” Roger says, looking anxiously at Cora. “Shall we?”

I smile at him, seeing that he’s eager to move on but also that he wants to give

her room to process this experience. It’s more intense for her than it is for him,

and I think that it’s very sweet that he realizes this. Roger really has come leaps

and bounds as a person from when I first met him.

Sinclair comes to stand next to me and I grin at him and then turn to my baby,

taking his hands and speaking to him quietly, asking him how he likes it here

and if he’s ready to meet his granny for real this time. Rafe claps and gurgles

like he really is excited.

like he understands sometimes,” I

says, grinning proudly down at his son. “He’s

I say, leaning closer to kiss my baby’s forehead. “Yes, he is. The

world will ever see

about…five more months,” Roger calls to

his chest with a smirk. Sinclair just laughs and

letting it pass.

ready, Cora?” I ask, moving

so,” she says, giving me a nod and reaching for my hand.

five of us begin to

a woman in dove- colored robes comes out of the

for a moment, going still at

last time I saw themBut I feel Sinclair behind me, his hand

down the bond and I

stay at Cora’s side.

is not the same situation we were

not every priestess we meet is going to

of them, surely,

bowing a little and giving us

of the Goddess – you are welcome

right on time.”

and then look back to the woman. “Is she

The priestess smiles warmly at me but

“Can’t you feel her?”

second and then, as I realize what

here already – I bite my lip, feeling

her. I used up’ our bond – used the

could save my child, and Cora, and my

mouth making a

hard to give her

“I’m glad you can feel her for both

me, sympathetic, and then we both

smiling around at our whole

her gaze linger on the baby, admiring

inside.”

as a group, we follow the priestess into my mother’s

I wonder if everyone’s heart

temple, inside, is different than the ones that we’ve been

temple was elegantly sparse,

this one is… cozy. The

tell that women live here and treat

benches by the windows, at the

alcoves and the little worn stick broom tucked into a

is my favorite temple of all – and that I quite

in the middle of the

beneath the dome, but instead

opens it, she turns to us with a warm

asks, giving us a

her ears and Roger

his shoulders, his face very serious. He is,

as such for the first time. I smile

baby, who Sinclair helps me

but somehow I want Rafe quite close to

grandmother. It

once we’re all ready – and Sinclair

Cora nods to the priestess who opens the

standing at the far end

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