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 quietly,

proudly down

my

the world will ever see

that title for about…five more

smirk. Sinclair just laughs

letting it pass.

Cora?” I ask, moving

she says, giving me a nod

breath, the five of us begin to walk towards the temple.

woman in dove- colored robes comes out of

a moment, going still at the sight of those

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

the bond and I exhale, skipping forward a

stay at Cora’s side.

not the same situation

meet is going to

surely, actually

woman says, bowing a little and giving us a deep

“Daughters of the Goddess – you are welcome

right on time.”

at each other and then

The priestess smiles warmly at me but Cora

“Can’t you feel her?”

and then, as I realize what she means that she

bite my

up’ our bond – used the magic of it to

and my gift so that I could

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

work hard

glad you can feel her for both

me, sympathetic, and then we both

at

to let her gaze linger on the

inside.”

group, we follow the priestess into

heart is pounding

different than the ones that we’ve been in

desert temple was elegantly sparse,

is… cozy. The architecture is still bright

tell that women live here and treat it as

padded benches by the windows,

stick broom tucked into a

temple of all – and that

pause in the middle of

but instead leads us across it

Before she opens it, she turns to us

she asks, giving us

tucks her hair behind her ears and Roger

very serious. He

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

the baby, who Sinclair helps me unbuckle from the

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

It feels

all ready – and Sinclair has placed a warm

nods to the priestess who opens the door

all doThe beautiful Goddess, standing

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