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 say

Sinclair says, grinning proudly down at his

my baby’s

baby the world

keep that title for about…five more months,” Roger calls

his chest with a smirk. Sinclair just laughs and shakes

letting it pass.

Cora?” I ask, moving again to her

me a nod and

another deep breath, the five of us begin to walk towards the temple. As

in dove- colored robes comes out of the

for a moment, going still at the sight of those

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

bond and I exhale, skipping

stay at Cora’s side.

is not the same situation we

different, and not every priestess we meet is going to try to

of them, surely,

woman says, bowing a little and giving us a deep

the Goddess – you are welcome here.

right on time.”

at each other and then look back to the

smiles warmly at me but Cora turns to me

“Can’t you feel her?”

and then, as I realize what she means

our mother here already – I bite my lip, feeling a very

her. I used up’ our bond – used the

wolf and my gift so that I could save my child,

very suddenly, her mouth making a startled “o”

my head and work hard to

glad you can feel

nods to me, sympathetic, and then we both turn

at our

let her gaze linger on the baby, admiring him.

inside.”

the priestess

heart

different than the ones

temple was elegantly

cozy. The

can tell that women live here and treat it as

padded benches by the windows, at

and the little worn stick broom tucked into a

my favorite temple of all – and that I quite

the middle of

the space beneath the dome, but instead leads us

back. Before she opens it, she turns to us with a warm smile. “Are

she asks, giving us a moment.

ears and Roger comes to stand behind

shoulders, his face very serious. He is, after all, about

the first time. I smile at both

for the baby, who Sinclair helps me unbuckle from the

somehow I want Rafe quite close to

grandmother. It

– and Sinclair has placed

priestess who opens

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

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