“Roger,” I say quietly, thinking back on Ella’s conversation we had earlier. “Hmm?” he says, inviting me to ask whatever question is floating through my mind. “Do you think I’m your mate?” “Um,” he says, laughing a little. “Yeah, Cora,” he says, as if it’s a stupid question, “I think we’ve mad
Ella “Really, Cora?” I say, nudging my sister with my toe. I shake my head at my sister’s naked sleeping form, pressed against her mate under the single little throw blanket that’s tossed over both of them. Seriously, how are they not freezing? “Auntie Cora is going to be so embarrassed,” I whis
“You did!” I laugh, gleeful, chasing my sister to the RV’s door. “You totally did! Come on, Cora! Tell me everything!” ______________________________________ We have a very cheerful morning after that, with everyone teasing Roger and Cora, and Cora blushing and covering her face with her hands a
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 temple, inside, is different than the ones that we’ve been in before. While the desert temple was elegantly sparse, and the city temple was sweeping and impressive, this one is…cozy. The architecture is still bright and wide, but you can tell that women live here and treat it as a home. As I loo
Cora My heart is pounding as I follow my mother into the chamber beyond, as Roger shuts the door behind us. My mother crosses the room with ease – almost seeming to float. And then I blink in surprise as I realize that…she probably is floating. I mean, she’s here – she’s corporeal – but it’s all
My mother laughs again, snapping our attention back to her. “No, my daughter,” she says, smiling and shaking her head. “You misunderstand me. What I mean to say here is that…hmm,” she looks up at the ceiling as if thinking it through. “It is difficult to put into words…I do not use them often.”
Cora My eyes flash open as I gasp, fascinated and thrilled at the having finally, finally met my wolf – who has been here all along - My mother smiles warmly at me, but when I turn to Roger I only see shock on his face as he stares at me with wide eyes. “Can you – can you sense her?” I ask, th
He shakes his head at me as tears fill his own eyes and he leans forward, pulling me against him while somehow miraculously managing not to crush our children between us as he holds me tight in his arms. “So, I guess it wouldn’t matter,” he murmurs against my hair as I sniff back my tears and nod.
“Even more than the kids!?” I gasp, my mouth falling open a bit. “I mean, the kids,” he says, shrugging as if they’re not much, which makes me laugh. But then he goes a little rigid as he realizes something, raising his eyes to glare at me a bit. “Wait, are you saying you like the kids more than m
Ella “Nope,” Sinclair says, heaving himself out of bed and grabbing his phone off the bedside table as he does. “I can’t live like this, Ella – I’m calling Roger, I’ve got to know –“ “Dominic!” I say, laughing and grabbing for him, trying to catch the edge of his pajamas and failing because I’v
She laughs and I look first at Sinclair, who shrugs, and then back at my sister. “Come on,” Roger says, nodding at the crowds of people waiting to congratulate us and at the small table of refreshments. “Let’s decide this over some champagne.” Sinclair nods at me and I sigh, moving with my famil
The last image, though, lingers. Ariel, with Rafe and Jesse on either side – as they always are – and her two mates behind her. All standing together on a battlefield with Ariel at the center, magic welling between her hands and passing to her brother, to her cousin. Their faces are serious as t
Cora The images of Ariel’s future come in quick flashes, and somehow I get the impression that the Goddess is eager to share these glimpses of her life. The ones that come first are what I sort of expected, especially after seeing some images of Rafe’s childhood and hearing about the ones that
“We are not,” Cora scoffs, gently taking Ariel into her arms as Sinclair and I laugh. Roger grins, leaning forward to kiss me on the cheek before passing Jesse to me. “You know I’m kidding, right, Ells?” he whispers. I smile at my brother-in-law and gently pat his cheek. “When in doubt, Roger,”
Ella Three weeks later – Ariel was born under a waning quarter moon, not a new moon like her brother and her cousin – I stand anxiously in the woods, my little girl held tight in my arms. “I’m sensing some anxiety,” Cora says, grinning at me with a little too much glee as she comes up to my sid
“Oh my god,” I say, the words spilling out of my mouth. “Oh my god,” I sit up straight, staring at Henry, my eyes flicking to his legs – because honestly, I don’t even notice his chair anymore, or think of him at all as someone whose abilities are hindered. Or of me as someone who is able to do an