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.

he understands sometimes,” I say quietly, smiling up at

says, grinning proudly down at

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

world will

can keep that title for about…five more

smirk. Sinclair just

letting it pass.

ask, moving again to

nod and reaching for my hand. I give

five of us begin to walk towards the temple.

woman in dove- colored robes comes out

going still at the sight

I feel Sinclair behind me, his hand warm

down the bond and I exhale, skipping forward

stay at Cora’s side.

is…this is not the same situation we

priestess we meet is going to

of them, surely, actually

and giving us a deep smile as

the Goddess – you are welcome here. And you

right on time.”

other and then look

The priestess smiles warmly at me but Cora

“Can’t you feel her?”

blink at Cora for a second and then, as I

already – I bite my lip, feeling a

used up’ our

so that I could save my child, and Cora, and

suddenly, her mouth making a startled “o” of concern, but

and work hard to give her a

hand. “I’m glad

to me, sympathetic, and then we both turn back to

around at

gaze linger on the

inside.”

the priestess into my mother’s

heart is pounding as

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

desert temple was elegantly sparse, and the city temple

impressive, this one is… cozy. The architecture

tell that women live here and treat it as a home.

by the windows, at the well-loved books

little worn stick broom tucked

that this is my favorite temple of all – and that I quite

priestess does not pause in the middle of the large

but instead leads us

she turns

asks, giving us a moment. to

tucks her hair behind her ears and Roger comes to stand behind

very serious. He is, after all, about

such for the first time. I smile at

baby, who Sinclair helps me unbuckle

I want Rafe quite close to me as

It feels

ready – and Sinclair has placed

– Cora nods to the priestess who opens the door and leads us

her immediately, we all doThe beautiful Goddess, standing

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