Accidental Surrogate

First Night My mate listens carefully as I tell him, in full detail, everything that happened when the Dark God took me outside of time and gave our little daughter our gift.

I mostly look down at her while I tell the story, wondering how this perfect, tiny little angel being could have an ounce of darkness in her.

But even as I wonder that, I consider what the Dark God told me that not everything that is in darkness is bad.

But is that just something he said to distract me, to make me more compliant to accept his “gift?” Was it, as I suspected, a curse?

“And then I was back,” I say, looking up into Sinclair’s face as he listens closely.

“And, obviously, distracted by the insane pain of childbirth.” A smirk pulls at his lips then, but I can tell that my attempt at humor didn’t go very far towards distracting him. He’s quiet for a long moment, looking towards Rafe but really staring into space as he sorts through his thoughts.

I give him a second to work through it, but I interrupt when I can’t stand it any longer. “So?” I ask quietly. “What do you…think?” “Well,” Sinclair sighs, turning his attention back to me and to our little girl, who eats hungrily, clearly not having lost her appetite after such a dramatic early encounter. “I certainly wish that the Dark God had simply sent a flower arrangement or a toy. But…I honestly don’t know. We need much more information before we can plan any sort of action.” “Action?” I ask, a little confused.” What on earth can we do? It’s done, Dominic.

if there’s any precedent for this, if you’re all right with him knowing? And ask Cora to contact your mother, see if she has any insights?” “Of course Henry

it through, though, Ella,” Sinclair says quietly, reaching his long

“And with these gods, gut feelings…they tend to be important.” “I believe you,” he says, his eyebrows going up. “I’d just like all the intel we can get.”

asleep on your feet. Or, well, your ass – but what’s the difference.” I laugh and shake my head at him. “I need to stay awake till she’s done feeding,” I say with a yawn. “But then, yes, after that…we’re both going to need a nap. Right baby girl?” Ariel ignores me, of

“And eat if you can, yes? While you do that, I’ll get Rafe settled.” I nod, finally starting to feel completely drained as the adrenaline of the day starts to slip from me. I take a lazy bite of my sandwich, barely tasting it as I switch

of protest when he takes her from my arms, not wanting to let her go, but Sinclair just laughs softly at me and murmurs

I yawn, and settle down,

every couple of hours needing to be fed again. The next day passes pretty much in a blur, with me catching sleep when I can and attending to Ariel when she needs it. I’m not in a total fog the whole time – I still spend time with my son and talk to my mate and admire my baby – but most of the time? Most of the

Ariel and I the space we need to get used to our new patterns. He spends time with her as well, of course, holding and talking to her while she’s awake and not eating, but I can tell that

me – I definitely get to keep that title. But that first night – it’s not precisely easy on

is why I’m surprised, frankly, when Cora, and Roger, and Jesse, and Henry all come trooping in

I say, blinking at them and laughing, pleased. “Did – did I know you were coming?” “Oh my god,” Sinclair says, turning to me and cocking his head to the side.