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.

like he understands sometimes,” I say quietly, smiling

grinning proudly down at

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

world will

about…five more

chest with a smirk. Sinclair just

letting it pass.

ask, moving again to

says, giving me a nod and reaching for my hand. I

five of us begin

in dove- colored robes

hesitate for a moment, going still at

last time I saw themBut I feel Sinclair behind me, his hand warm against my back, and

down the bond and I exhale,

stay at Cora’s side.

is not the same situation we were

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

of them, surely, actually serve my

woman says, bowing a little and giving us a

“Daughters of the Goddess – you are

right on time.”

and I smile at each other and then

ask. The priestess smiles warmly at me but Cora turns to

“Can’t you feel her?”

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

mother here already – I bite my lip, feeling

her. I used up’ our bond – used the magic of

that I could save my child, and Cora, and

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

and work hard to give her

her hand. “I’m glad

to me, sympathetic, and then

around at our whole party

her gaze linger on the

inside.”

so, as a group, we follow the priestess into

wonder if everyone’s heart is pounding as much

inside, is different than the ones

elegantly sparse,

and impressive, this one is… cozy. The architecture

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

the windows, at

into alcoves and the little worn stick broom tucked into

suddenly that this is my favorite temple of all

middle of the large central room

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

she opens it, she turns to

she asks, giving us a moment. to

her hair behind her ears and Roger comes to stand behind

very serious.

as such for the first time. I smile at both of

Sinclair

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

It

Sinclair has placed

the priestess who opens the door and leads

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

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255