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, smiling

down

leaning closer to kiss my baby’s forehead. “Yes,

the world will

can keep that title for about…five

chest with a smirk. Sinclair just laughs and

letting it pass.

you ready, Cora?” I ask,

a nod and reaching for my hand. I give it,

breath, the five of us begin to walk towards the temple. As

dove- colored robes comes out

hesitate for a moment, going still at the sight

themBut I feel Sinclair behind me, his hand warm against my back, and then

bond and I exhale, skipping forward a

stay at Cora’s side.

he’s right. This is…this is not the same situation

and not every priestess we meet is going to

of them, surely,

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

– you are welcome here.

right on time.”

and I smile at each other and then look back to

me but

“Can’t you feel her?”

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

already – I bite my lip, feeling a

feel her. I used up’ our bond –

could

making a startled

hard to give her a

say, squeezing her hand. “I’m glad you can feel

nods to me, sympathetic, and then we

smiling around at our whole party and taking

on the baby, admiring

inside.”

as a group, we follow the priestess into my mother’s

if everyone’s heart is pounding as much as

temple, inside, is different than the ones

the desert temple was elegantly sparse, and the

this one is… cozy.

women live here and

the padded benches by the windows, at the well-loved

and the little worn stick broom

my favorite temple of all – and that

the middle of the

beneath the dome, but instead leads us across it to a door

she opens it, she turns to

she asks, giving us a moment.

hair behind her ears and Roger comes to stand

his face very serious.

mother as such for the first

baby, who Sinclair helps me

I want Rafe quite close to

It

– and Sinclair has placed a

the priestess who opens the door and leads us

her immediately, we all doThe beautiful Goddess, standing at the

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