Accidental Surrogate

Plans in Motion Ella “So you two,” Cora says, flicking her gaze between Roger and Sinclair, ” you’re all right now? After fifteen minutes, it’s all cleared up?” Sinclair shrugs. “We kept it pretty cut and dry. He’s on probation.” “No, I’m not,” Roger murmurs, dismissive, shaking his head to Cora.

“He is,” Sinclair growls. Roger just leans down, pretending to whisper in Cora’s ear but speaking loud enough for all of us to hear, “probation doesn’t mean anything. But it made him happy to slap a word on the lack of consequences.” Cora laughs, her face turned up to her mate, and I bite my lip to stifle my own giggle, wanting to be loyal to Sinclair, who just sighs behind me.

“Either way,” Sinclair says, moving on. “Congratulations, Cora,” he says, his focus on her now and his voice sincere. “I’m very happy for you – for both of you. It’s a big event.” “Thank you, Dominic,” Cora says, smiling at him softly and turning her head to the side, clearly touched. I beam at my sister as well. It’s not that I’ve let her off the hook for keeping the baby name a secret when I want to know so terribly badly – but? Well. I’ll bug her about it later.

“We are sorry though,” Cora says, reaching up to take Roger’s hand. “I know that…the wedding meant a lot to you, and that it was going to do good things for the nation. But…” she bites her lip, hesitating, and I can tell that she feels selfish. I open my mouth to protest against this but she continues before I can start. “But – I needed it to be like this, to be personal. I hope that you’ll forgive me.” “There’s nothing to forgive, Cora,” Sinclair murmurs, smiling at her warmly. “I completely understand you’ve done nothing wrong.” And quite suddenly, something comes to me. “Cora,” I say, turning my head to the side and leaning forward. “Does.. anyone else know? About your mark, or your little personal ceremony, besides us four?” She frowns at me, confused. “Well, no,” she says quietly. “I mean, neither of us really have social media or anything -” “Or any friends,” Roger murmurs, a little chagrined, which makes me laugh.

They don’t need friends, they have us!

“Well then,” I say, a big smile breaking out on my face. “Would you consider… doing it anyway?” “What?” Cora asks, confused.

“Well, if no one knows,” I say, my smile growing – because this could work!

“Why not just have the wedding/ mating ceremony publicly, like we thought of before?” “Oh!” she says, surprised, and then she starts to laugh, I think a little inspired by the idea. But then she realizes that she already has her mating mark and her fingers go to it, brushing it “We could get makeup artists to cover it up,” I suggest with a little shrug. ” I’m sure they can do it – they do magical things in the movies.” “Um,” Cora says, looking up at Roger, who just gives her a simple shrug, clearly communicating that it’s her choice. And then she grins, turning back to me.

“Really?” she says, “You think it would work? And – and it would help you?” “It really would, Cora,” Sinclair says warmly behind me. “I think it’s precisely the message we want to send to both our people and some of our honored guests:

Roger murmurs, drawing a finger down the opposite side of her throat and shoulder. “See if I like

throw

to take care of the baby and begin to make my plans. He scolds me for it every morning, telling me I need my sleep or that I should wake

I’m happy he gets to sleep an extra hour while I

I met at the beginning of all of this. In some ways I lost track of that man I fell

together to resemble what it

)? I see flashes of him come back. And it’s not that he’s lost the sides

if at all possible, I love him even more than

the governors to ratify the claim, and the packs to demonstrate their support by paying fealty at the coronation. It’s all gone smoothly, as Sinclair predicted it would, and so we’ve moved forward with the plans. Delegations from all the neighboring countries are set to begin arriving in our beautiful Moon Valley over the course of

including King Gabriel – but I’m also

is that the Atalaxians have indeed signaled their intent to attend, and they’re bringing

day with Sarah and Jessica, usually in the evenings, bringing Rafe with me to chat and play. They’re thriving now, and I think that they’re happy and excited about the future that they’re building for themselves but… Well, I haven’t had the heart to tell them that Xander is in Atalaxia, and that they’re sending a delegation. It’s not that I’m keeping it from them – if they asked, I’d tell them in a minute, of course. But they’re safe here, and

and she keeps not asking so…we’re at

you think the Atalaxians be like?” I ask Sinclair one night, laying naked with my belly pressed to his,