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,

Sinclair says, grinning proudly down at

to kiss my baby’s forehead. “Yes, he

the world will ever

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

with a smirk. Sinclair just

letting it pass.

I ask,

she says, giving me a nod and reaching for my

breath, the five of us begin

colored robes

still at the sight of those

Sinclair behind me, his hand

and I exhale,

stay at Cora’s side.

right. This is…this is not the same

every priestess we meet is

Some of them, surely, actually serve my

the woman says, bowing a little and giving us a deep smile as

Goddess – you are welcome here. And

right on time.”

smile at each other and then look

at me

“Can’t you feel her?”

Cora for a second and then, as I realize what she means that she

bite my lip,

I cannot feel her. I used up’ our bond

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

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

my head and work hard to give

hand. “I’m glad you can feel her for both

nods to me, sympathetic, and then we both turn

the priestess says, smiling around at our whole party

to let her gaze linger on the

inside.”

a group, we follow the priestess into

everyone’s heart is pounding

different than the ones that we’ve been

desert temple was elegantly sparse, and the city temple

one is… cozy. The

here and treat it as a home.

by the windows, at the well-loved books

alcoves and the little worn stick

of all – and that I

pause in the middle of the large central room

the space beneath the dome, but instead leads us

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

giving us a moment.

ears and Roger comes

face very serious. He is, after all, about

mother as such for the first time. I smile at both of

who Sinclair helps me unbuckle from the carrier.

but somehow I want Rafe quite close to me as we go

It feels

– and Sinclair has

– Cora nods to the priestess who opens the door

beautiful Goddess, standing

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