Accidental Surrogate

Chapter 492: A Gift

Ella

I go rigid at the idea of this dark god giving my daughter anything.

“No,” I gasp, attempting to push myself away from him – but I struggle to move

“Fear not, moon daughter,” he says, the corner of his lip tilting up. “I do not give curses to those who are my chosen ones – only gifts.”

And with that shadows begin to swirl in his hand. My eyes go wide as they build and build into an orb of smoke and shade.

“No!” I protest again, my voice a little breathless this time.

“Careful, girl,” he growls, taking a step closer, bending over me now. “If you anger me, I will not be so eager to bestow my gift. You would not to incur my ire for your life, instead of a blessing for hers, would you?”

I cringe away from him, not knowing what to do – not knowing which will be worse-

The God of Darkness stretches out his hand over me and the shadows begin to spill down from his fingers, surrounding me.

“A blessing,” he murmurs, “for the first granddaughter of the moon from her benefactor. Long may she live, dwelling in darkness as well as light.”

The shadows, when they touch me, are soft – gentler than I imagined they’d be, like velvet or mist. When I breathe, they flow into me through my nose and my mouth. I gasp, worried – but the smoke, it tastes faintly of…of mint, and cool mornings, and it soothes my aching throat…

I look up at the God in wonder, tilting my head at him.

“See?” he says softly. “Not all that dwells in darkness is wicked.”

And then he smiles at me – a wayward, vicious thing – and gives another short bow before

Before he disappears.

I blink, and the world – my room – it’s

of me now, shining a light in

my side as I blink rapidly, trying to clear my

I’m fine,” I

taking my face in her hands, studying me with horror on her features. “Ella, they went all

nod, taking a deep breath, the scent of mint still clinging to the back of my mouth. As I exhale I run my hands over my stomach and check on my bond with my

still there. She’s just as strong – just as

the next contraction coming steadily on. “It was it was really weird, all right, but right now?”

back into doctor mode, moving down on the bed to position herself between my knees, nodding. “All right, Ella,” she says, pulling me a little lower so that I’m flatter

down our bond – my fear, and my shock, but alongside it my conviction that…that I’m okay, right now, and so is the

low as he sits up and puts his hands my

and my sister ready to welcome my little

later, our little baby girl

inconsolable as Cora places her in my arms, the tears dripping down my face as I peer at my baby, reaching out a finger to stroke her teeny tiny fingers, her perfect

close behind me, peering at our baby over my

really is,” I say between gasping breaths. “Oh

a hand over her little head. We’re quiet for a long moment as I press my child against the skin of

Cora murmurs, her voice almost reverent. “And I love her, and I’m going to be her

Sinclair murmurs, his voice a little

coos, tapping the baby’s little belly with a single finger, “I’d be the best.” She leans forward, kissing me on the cheek. “I’ll give you two a couple of minute, all right? Go break the news to the drunk ones in

nose at me and turns to the door, taking the team of nurses with her. Everyone

much as I want to shout my thanks out after them, all I can do is

Sinclair as I study her face and he wraps his arms around me,

just like you, Ella,”

I protest, honestly a little shocked. “Dominic, she’s

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