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 at

proudly down at his son. “He’s

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

world will

can keep that title for about…five

a smirk. Sinclair just laughs and

letting it pass.

I ask, moving

a nod

five of us begin to

dove- colored robes comes

moment, going still at the sight of

behind me, his hand warm against my back, and

and I

stay at Cora’s side.

is not the same situation we

not every priestess we meet is

surely, actually

says, bowing a little and giving us a deep smile

you are welcome here. And

right on time.”

other and then look back to

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

“Can’t you feel her?”

second and then, as I realize what she

I bite my lip, feeling

her. I used up’ our bond – used the

and my gift so that I could save my

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

hard to

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

me, sympathetic, and then

priestess says, smiling around at our whole party

gaze linger on the baby,

inside.”

follow the priestess into my mother’s temple.

heart is pounding as

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

temple was elegantly sparse, and the

impressive, this one is… cozy. The architecture is

live here and treat it as a home. As

at the padded benches by the windows, at the

into alcoves and the little worn stick broom tucked into a corner, I

temple of all – and that I

not pause in the middle of the large central room of

the dome, but instead leads us across

she opens it, she turns to us with a warm smile. “Are

us a moment. to

her hair behind her ears and Roger comes

serious. He is, after

mate’s mother as such for the first time.

who Sinclair

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

grandmother. It

all ready – and Sinclair has placed a

who opens the door and leads us

immediately, we all doThe beautiful Goddess, standing at the far end

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