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.

he understands sometimes,” I say quietly, smiling up

says, grinning proudly down at his son. “He’s

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

world will

title for about…five more months,”

over his chest with a smirk. Sinclair just

letting it pass.

Cora?” I ask, moving again to

nod and reaching for my hand. I give it,

the five of us begin to walk towards the

colored robes comes

going still at

I saw themBut I feel Sinclair behind me,

comes down the bond and I exhale, skipping forward a

stay at Cora’s side.

This is…this is not

every priestess we meet is

Some of them, surely, actually serve my

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

the Goddess – you are

right on time.”

each other and then look back to the

priestess smiles warmly at me but Cora turns to

“Can’t you feel her?”

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

already – I bite my lip, feeling a very

up’ our bond

gift so that I could save my child, and Cora,

very suddenly, her mouth making a startled “o” of

and work hard to

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

and then we both turn back

priestess says, smiling around at our whole

her gaze linger on the

inside.”

as a group, we follow the priestess

heart is

the ones that

was elegantly

one is… cozy. The architecture is still

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

padded benches by the windows, at

alcoves and the little worn stick broom tucked into a

is my favorite temple of all – and that

in the middle of the large central room of

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

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

giving us a moment.

ears and Roger

shoulders, his face very serious. He is, after

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

the baby, who Sinclair

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

grandmother. It

Sinclair has placed

priestess who opens

doThe beautiful Goddess, standing at the far

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