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.

I say quietly, smiling up at

says, grinning proudly down at his son. “He’s very

kiss my baby’s forehead. “Yes, he is.

world will ever see

that title for about…five more months,” Roger

arms over his chest with a smirk. Sinclair

letting it pass.

ask, moving again to

giving me a nod and reaching for my hand. I give

five of us begin to walk towards

in dove- colored robes comes out of

a moment, going still at the sight

the last time I saw themBut I feel Sinclair behind me, his

the bond and I exhale, skipping forward

stay at Cora’s side.

This is…this is not the

we meet is going

of them, surely, actually serve my

little and giving us

you are welcome here. And

right on time.”

other and then look back to the woman. “Is she

The priestess smiles warmly at me but Cora turns to

“Can’t you feel her?”

Cora for a second and then, as I realize

– I bite my lip, feeling a very

I cannot feel her. I used up’ our

gift so that I could save my child, and Cora,

this very suddenly, her mouth making a startled “o” of concern, but I

head and work hard to give

I say, squeezing her hand. “I’m glad

then we both turn back

the priestess says, smiling around at our

linger on the baby, admiring him. “Please, do

inside.”

follow the priestess into my mother’s temple. And as

heart is pounding as much as

temple, inside, is different than the ones that we’ve been in

was elegantly sparse, and the city temple

impressive, this one is… cozy.

but you can tell that women live here and treat it as a

by the windows, at

worn stick

my favorite temple of all – and that I quite

priestess does not pause in the middle of the large central

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

she turns to us with a warm smile.

she asks, giving us a moment. to

hair behind her ears and Roger comes to stand

shoulders, his face very serious. He is, after all, about to

to his mate’s mother as such for the first time. I smile at both

baby, who Sinclair helps

somehow I want Rafe quite close to

grandmother. It

Sinclair has placed

to the priestess who opens the door

doThe beautiful Goddess, standing at the far end of the room, glowing with

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