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.

I say quietly, smiling

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

say, leaning closer to kiss my baby’s forehead. “Yes,

world

about…five more months,” Roger calls

arms over his chest with a smirk. Sinclair just laughs and shakes

letting it pass.

ask, moving

giving me a nod and reaching for my

five of us begin to walk towards the

a woman in dove- colored robes

hesitate for a moment, going still at the sight of those robes

Sinclair behind me, his hand warm against my back, and

bond and I

stay at Cora’s side.

right. This is…this is not the same situation we were in

different, and not every priestess we meet is going

of them, surely,

says, bowing a little and giving

of the Goddess – you are

right on time.”

and then look back

priestess smiles warmly at me but Cora turns to me with a

“Can’t you feel her?”

at Cora for a second and then, as

bite my lip, feeling a very deep

I used up’ our bond – used the

that I could save my child, and Cora, and

a startled “o” of concern, but I

my head and work hard to give her

glad you can feel her for both

nods to me, sympathetic, and then we

says, smiling around at our

gaze linger on the baby, admiring him.

inside.”

as a group, we follow the priestess

wonder if everyone’s heart is

inside, is different than the ones

desert temple was elegantly sparse, and

cozy. The architecture is still bright

tell that women live here and

the windows, at the well-loved

stick broom

is my favorite temple of all

pause in the middle of the large central

beneath the dome, but instead leads us

turns to us with a warm

she asks, giving us a moment.

her hair behind her ears and Roger comes to stand behind

face very serious. He is, after

the

for the baby, who Sinclair helps me unbuckle from the

do it, but somehow I want Rafe quite

grandmother. It

all ready – and Sinclair has placed a warm hand

nods to the priestess who opens

see her immediately, we all doThe beautiful Goddess, standing at the far end of the room, glowing

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