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

Sinclair says, grinning proudly down at his

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

the world will ever

about…five more months,” Roger calls

smirk. Sinclair just laughs and

letting it pass.

ask, moving again

a nod and reaching for my hand. I

of us begin to walk towards the temple.

a woman in dove- colored

a moment, going still at

I feel Sinclair behind

of comfort comes down the bond and I exhale,

stay at Cora’s side.

right. This is…this is not the same situation we were in

every priestess we meet is going to try to take my

Some of them, surely,

says, bowing a little and giving us

of the Goddess – you are welcome here. And you

right on time.”

each other and then look back to the woman.

priestess smiles warmly at me but

“Can’t you feel her?”

second and then, as I realize what

already – I bite my lip, feeling a very

cannot feel her. I used up’ our bond – used

my gift so that I could save

making a startled “o” of concern,

my head and work hard

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

me, sympathetic, and then we both

the priestess says, smiling around at our whole

linger on the baby, admiring

inside.”

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

wonder if everyone’s heart is

the ones that we’ve

desert temple was elegantly sparse, and the city temple

and impressive, this one is… cozy. The architecture

you can tell that women live here and

benches by the windows, at the

stick broom tucked into

temple of all – and that I quite like

the middle of the large central

dome, but instead leads

she turns to

she asks, giving us a

hair behind her ears and Roger comes to stand

his shoulders, his face very serious. He is, after

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

Sinclair helps me unbuckle from the carrier.

I do it, but somehow I want Rafe quite

It

– and Sinclair has placed a warm

who opens the door and leads

beautiful Goddess, standing at

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