Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

Ella

I watch Cora struggle with her choice, biting her lip and trying to figure out how she feels. My heart goes out to her now, because I know that she thinks it is an impossible ask to tell us that she wants to put a coronation on hold so that she can visit a temple.

But suddenly, quite suddenly, it’s all I want for her. Because Cora has been here for us through all of this and she deserves answers to these questions.

And I open my mouth to say this, but Sinclair beats me to it.

“I think we should go,” he says, and I whip my eyes up to see him giving a casual shrug. “It will only take a few days,” he adds, looking down at me to see how I feel. “And, quite frankly, we could… use a break before the madness begins again.”

A little smile creeps over my mouth.

“Would it,” Cora begins, and then hesitates again. But we all wait, letting her find her voice.” Would it be safe?” she asks.

“We think it would,” Roger says steadily at her side. “Xander’s on the run, which means he’s scrambling. He’s an old man and we took out the forces that he was using to physically attack us. Even if he’s working to get more, we think that we have…at least a small window of time.”

“We would have to move quickly and quietly,” Henry adds, more cautious now than he’s been in the past I think spooked, still, by the disastrous results of our last plan. “No planes or anything flashy just….a small, anonymous family trip.”

I turn my attention back to Cora, wanting to know what she thinks. But she’s still sitting perfectly still and quiet, clearly putting her thoughts together.

“I can’t ask you to do this,” she says after a long, quiet minute. “I we need to get the coronation going, to keep us all safe.”

“You don’t have to ask us to do it, Cora,” Sinclair answers quietly, and I turn my eyes up at my mate. “We’re telling you we want to do it. Right?” he looks at me now and I nod eagerly.

“Honestly, Cora,” I say, leaning forwards her. “It’s what I was thinking I think it’s right I think we should go ”

Roger says nothing, simply staying steady at Cora’s side, letting her make up her own mind But she just continues to shake her head “But there’s already so much to do here” She sight, putting her head down in her hands for a moment as she collects her thoughts “The Cult, and the priests, and Xander it was already s dia action from the aftermath of a war with the humans that has

now, “we could be spending this time going to the refugee camps, actually helping people, now that we have the gift

I realize that she’s right. That there is so much to do

those problems and surely everything else that’s

a lot of dedication

is one of the people I want to help. She deserves it as much

that has to

I say, leaning forward and giving her an encouraging smile.

and I can see that she’s tempted, even if she hasn’t given

the side, “if I told you that we’d be going in a very fancy RV? With a real bed that you and Roger could sleep in, and not be wedged together

to her

let out a little cry of joy, throwing up the hand that’s not holding my baby to my chest. “Yes!” I shout, laughing now. “Road trip! This is so exciting! I’ve never been on a road trip

me, pleased to see

him and Cora “This will be so cool! I’ve always

with me “It’s not

feet, carted away a little by my excitement “We get two days,” I say. holding up two fingers to everyone in the room “Two days before we dedicate our lives to helping the people of this world, and destroying our enemies, and running a nation so if I get two days respite from all of the awful things that have been happening to ur lately? They’re going to be the

around the room, holding Rafe up in the

I turn back to my family everyone is smiling, laughing

tell it’s with excitement this time as I move

give her a kiss on the cheek. “I’m so excited,”

talk to mom! And get all of the answers to your

says, a hesitant excitement building in her now. “I just hope….well, I hope that

what I want to hear,

I say, smiling and placing a hand on her cheek. “Things

can feel it. Now let’s get packed! Because we’re going on

and throw my

his phone already in his hand as he starts putting

into action. “Come on, trouble,” he says, glancing at me. “Let’s go get packed