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.

understands sometimes,” I say

proudly down at his son. “He’s

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

world will

keep that title for about…five

arms over his chest with a smirk.

letting it pass.

you ready, Cora?” I ask, moving again to

a nod and reaching for my

five of us begin

woman in dove- colored robes comes out

for a moment, going still at the sight of

time I saw themBut I feel Sinclair behind

and

stay at Cora’s side.

is not the same situation

is different, and not every priestess we meet is going to try

surely,

bowing a little and giving us a

of the Goddess – you are

right on time.”

and then look back to

warmly at me but Cora turns

“Can’t you feel her?”

second and then, as I realize what she means

bite my lip,

our

that I could save my child, and Cora, and

a startled “o” of concern, but I

hard

glad you can feel her

then we both turn back to the

the priestess says, smiling around at our

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

inside.”

follow the priestess into my mother’s temple. And as

I wonder if everyone’s heart

the ones that we’ve

the desert temple was elegantly sparse, and the

cozy. The architecture is still bright

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

by the

alcoves and the little worn stick broom tucked into

my favorite temple of

middle of the large central room

space beneath the dome, but instead leads us across it

she turns

asks, giving us a moment.

ears and Roger comes to stand

his face very serious. He is, after

such for the first time. I

Sinclair helps me unbuckle from the

it, but somehow I want Rafe

grandmother. It

– and Sinclair has placed a warm hand on

Cora nods to the priestess who opens the door and leads

we all doThe beautiful Goddess, standing at

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