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 up

Sinclair says, grinning proudly down at his

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

world

that title for about…five more months,” Roger calls to

his chest with a smirk. Sinclair just laughs

letting it pass.

I ask,

think so,” she says, giving me a nod and reaching for my

us begin to walk

colored robes comes

a moment, going still at the sight of

I saw themBut I feel Sinclair behind

comes down the bond and I

stay at Cora’s side.

This is…this is not the same situation

not every priestess we meet is going to try

surely, actually

bowing a little and

– you are welcome here. And you

right on time.”

I smile at each other and then look back to the woman.

warmly at me but Cora turns to me with

“Can’t you feel her?”

Cora for a second and then, as I

already – I bite my

her. I used up’ our bond – used

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

suddenly, her mouth making a startled “o” of concern,

work hard to

hand. “I’m glad you can

sympathetic, and then we both turn

says, smiling around at

linger on

inside.”

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

I wonder if everyone’s heart is pounding as much

the ones that we’ve been

elegantly sparse, and the city temple

impressive, this one is… cozy.

live here and

at the padded benches by the windows,

and the little worn stick broom tucked into a

suddenly that this is my favorite temple of all – and that I

does not pause in the middle of the large central room

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

it, she turns to us with a

us a

her ears and Roger comes to stand behind

very serious.

his mate’s mother as such for the first

I reach for the baby, who Sinclair helps

but somehow I want Rafe quite close to me as we go

It feels

Sinclair has placed a warm

Cora nods to the priestess who opens the door and leads

Goddess, standing at the far end

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