Chapter 264 – To the Temple
Ella
As soon as the boat pulls up to the dock, I’m by the gangplank, eagerly waiting for the sailors to lowes it. One of my hands rests on the underside of my swollen belly, holding my child close. The doctor that Sinclair assigned to come with us examined me the moment we stepped foot onboard after our trek home from the desert and confirmed that Rafe’s heartbeat is still there, though fainter than he’d like.

I need to get of this boat, now, I think, my eyes wide as I watch the sailors hurry to lower the plank so that I can scurry off of it. I have a job to do, and the sooner it’s done, the sooner I can rest.

Stop, my wolf begs inside of me a word I don’t think I’ve ever heard her say. She’s usually run!, or fly! or go! Never stop, caution, wait. But today, I can feel her pacing inside me, worried.

We are weak, she cautions. The pup…

I can’t, I growl back at her, impatiently watching the plank finally touch the dock next to us. We have a job to do – we have to help everyone survive

“Ella!” Cora calls, running out of the boat’s small cabin. “Ella, wait!”

I turn to her, my face fierce. “Either come with me or stay here, Cora,” I warn, my eyes flashing. But you can’t hold me back –”

“Ella,” she says, grabbing my arm as I put my foot on the gangplank, ready to rush forward.” Please, you barely made it out of the desert – you are not well enough for this – your doctor ordered you onto bedrest weeks ago – he told you to walk no more than forty minutes a day! You’re risking your health, your child!”

“And if I don’t?” I bite out, spinning on her. “How many will die, if I don’t get to that temple and deliver the Goddess’s gift?” My eyes fill with tears and my lip trembles as I look my sister in the eye, my hand still pressed against my poor child. “Are their lives worth less than mine? Worth less than my child?”

word. “At

her hand. “Don’t watch. But you

do this. But I can’t not not anymore, not knowing what I know. I

hurry down the gangplank and am surprised to hear footsteps following me. When I stand firmly on the

feet too

can’t let you go alone,” she protests. “If you insist on killing yourself, I’m going

a little lighter now that I have my sister at my side. I turn and as one we head out into

but neither of us turn.

not – I’m faster than him. Cora and I pick up our pace, determined

the city, which is filled with smoke and rubble. I’m horrified by what I see. Some houses look almost untouched while others are in total ruin. Whole neighborhoods which I used to walk through are demolished, their beautiful tree–line streets ripped to shreds. It’s horrible to see what Damon has done to this place,

I can get there….damn it,

boat on the way here. My anxiety kept it light, kept me from the dream state that would have allowed me to speak to Sinclair if he, too,

my steps. I feel as if I could sleep for days, my adrenaline the only thing that’s keeping me going. And of course – of course I know that my

question that kept me up at night: was my child the price we would

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