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.

sometimes,” I say quietly, smiling up

proudly down

to kiss my baby’s

the world will

about…five more

his chest with a smirk. Sinclair

letting it pass.

you ready, Cora?” I ask,

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

us begin to walk towards the

dove- colored robes comes out of

moment, going still at the sight of

Sinclair behind me, his hand warm against my

comfort comes down the bond and I exhale, skipping

stay at Cora’s side.

not the same situation we were in

is different, and not every priestess we meet is going to try to take my

of them, surely, actually serve my

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

Goddess – you are welcome here. And you

right on time.”

I smile at each other and then look back

smiles warmly at me but Cora turns to me

“Can’t you feel her?”

second and then, as I realize what she means that she

mother here already – I bite my lip,

up’ our

and my gift so that I could

her mouth making a startled “o” of concern,

my head and work hard to

“I’m glad you can

to me, sympathetic, and then we both

the priestess says, smiling around at our whole party

her gaze linger on the baby, admiring

inside.”

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

heart is

the ones

temple was elegantly sparse,

impressive, this one is… cozy. The architecture is

but you can tell that women live here

by the windows, at

the little worn stick broom tucked

is my favorite temple of all – and that I

does not pause in the middle of

the dome, but instead leads

she turns

she asks, giving us a

her ears and Roger comes to stand

his face very serious. He is, after all,

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

who Sinclair

somehow I want Rafe quite close to me as

grandmother. It feels

we’re all ready – and Sinclair has

the priestess who opens

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

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