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.

like he understands sometimes,” I say

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

kiss my baby’s forehead. “Yes, he

baby the world will

about…five more months,”

chest with a smirk. Sinclair just laughs

letting it pass.

Cora?” I ask,

so,” she says, giving me a nod and reaching for

deep breath, the five of us begin to walk towards the

a woman in dove- colored robes comes

still at the sight

feel Sinclair behind me, his hand

comes down the bond and I exhale, skipping forward

stay at Cora’s side.

This is…this is not the

every priestess we meet

them, surely, actually

little and giving

of the Goddess – you are welcome here.

right on time.”

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

at me but

“Can’t you feel her?”

and then, as I realize

– I bite my lip, feeling a

cannot feel her. I used up’ our bond – used the magic of

so that I could save

this very suddenly, her mouth making a

my head and work hard

her hand. “I’m glad you can feel her for both

then we

says, smiling around at our whole party and taking

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

inside.”

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

everyone’s heart is pounding as much as

temple, inside, is different than the ones that

elegantly sparse, and the city temple

this one is… cozy. The

here and treat it as a home.

the padded benches by the windows, at the well-loved

stick broom tucked into

that this is my favorite temple of all –

middle of the large central room

but instead leads us across it to a

she opens it, she turns to us with a

giving us a moment. to

tucks her hair behind her ears and Roger comes to

face very serious. He is,

for the first time. I

reach for the baby, who Sinclair helps me

I want Rafe quite close to

It feels

once we’re all ready – and Sinclair has placed a warm hand

Cora nods to the priestess who

Goddess, standing at the far end of the room, glowing

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