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.

understands sometimes,” I

grinning proudly down at his son.

kiss my baby’s forehead.

the world

about…five more

over his chest with a smirk. Sinclair just laughs and shakes

letting it pass.

you ready, Cora?” I ask,

giving me a nod and

five of us

in dove- colored

still at the

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

comfort comes down the bond and I exhale, skipping forward a

stay at Cora’s side.

not the same situation we were in

priestess we meet

surely,

and giving us a deep

“Daughters of the Goddess – you are welcome

right on time.”

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

warmly at me but Cora turns to

“Can’t you feel her?”

a second and then, as I realize

I bite my lip, feeling a very deep

I used up’ our bond – used the magic

and my gift so that I could save my

her mouth making a startled “o”

work hard

okay,” I say, squeezing her hand. “I’m glad you

and then we both turn back

the priestess says, smiling around at our whole party

her gaze linger on the

inside.”

we follow the priestess

heart is

different than the ones that

the desert temple was elegantly sparse, and the city

this one is… cozy. The architecture is still

live here and treat

the windows,

little worn stick broom

temple of all – and that I quite like

does not pause in the middle of the large central room

but instead leads us across

it, she turns to us

giving us

behind her ears and Roger comes to stand behind

his shoulders, his face very serious. He is,

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

I reach for the baby, who Sinclair helps me unbuckle from the

but somehow I want Rafe quite

grandmother. It feels

ready – and Sinclair has placed a

the priestess who opens the door and

doThe beautiful Goddess, standing at the far end

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