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

says, grinning proudly down at

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

the world will ever see

that title for about…five more months,” Roger calls

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

letting it pass.

ready, Cora?” I ask, moving again

nod and reaching for my hand. I give it,

five of us begin to walk towards

a woman in dove- colored robes

still at the sight of those

last time I saw themBut I feel Sinclair behind

of comfort comes down the bond and I exhale, skipping

stay at Cora’s side.

he’s right. This is…this is not the same

we meet is going to try to

them, surely, actually serve

a little and giving us a deep smile

Goddess – you

right on time.”

and I smile at each other and then look back to

warmly at me but Cora

“Can’t you feel her?”

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

bite my lip, feeling a very deep

our bond

wolf and my gift so that I could save

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

head and work hard

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

me, sympathetic, and then we both turn

priestess says, smiling around at our whole

to let her gaze linger on the baby, admiring him. “Please, do

inside.”

so, as a group, we follow the priestess into

if everyone’s heart

is different than the ones that we’ve been

temple was elegantly sparse,

impressive, this one is… cozy. The architecture

tell that women live here and treat it

the

stick broom

temple of

not pause in the middle of the

the dome, but instead leads us

Before she opens it, she turns to us with a warm

she asks, giving us

behind her ears

serious. He is, after all,

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

the baby, who Sinclair helps me unbuckle

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

It feels

Sinclair has placed

Cora nods to the priestess who opens the door and leads us

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

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