Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Chapter 497- Bonded Power Ella

I give Ariel one last kiss for luck and exhale a deep breath, focusing my eyes on Henry as I lean back against my mate, who wraps a supportive arm around me.

“Actually, Ella,” Cora says, and my eyes dart to her. She smiles and me from across the couch, her arms wrapped around her baby on her lap. ” I’m the one who has news first.”

“Oh,” I say, my eyes going wide as I shift a little to direct my attention to her now. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know – ”

She shakes her head, dismissing my apology as Roger comes to perch on the arm of the couch behind her. She reaches up a hand and he takes it, giving her a little squeeze.

“Um, we contacted mom this morning,” she says quietly, apology all over her face. “To…to ask about what the Dark God could have possibly been up to. I’m sorry we did it without you – I know you would have wanted to be there -”

“No,” I breathe, even though I am a little disappointed. “I mean, I wouldn’t have been able to see her anyway, right?”

“Yeah,” she says, cocking her head to the side. “Unless we go to the temple, it is sort of a…one-on-one experience, isn’t it?”

“But we can go,” Sinclair murmurs behind me, supportive, “if we don’t get the answers you need – ”

“It’s okay,” I say, nodding to everyone around the room. “I get it – you don’t need to be so gentle with me. I was completely knocked out from giving birth and we needed information fast. It’s okay. So…” I flick my fingers at my sister, smiling at her. “Please, divulge. I’m dying to know.”

“Well,” Cora says, laughing a little and glancing up at Roger. “Mom was not happy to hear that her boyfriend visited you.”

“Really?” I gasp, a little delighted at the immortal gossip.

“Really,” Cora confirms, her eyes going wide as a grin overtakes her face. “She figured that he knew about you, but she had no idea that he’d go so far as to bestow a gift on the baby behind her back.”

“Behind her back,” I repeat, shaking my head. “Wow. So? Did she say it was… dangerous?”

was the sentiment. That he’s just trying to

say, looking down at little Ariel who lays cuddled in my arms, drowsy but

what it was,” Cora says, shaking her head. “But she… she said she can’t make him take it back, Ells. That immortal gifts they’re not like…presents

sense,” I sigh, hoisting my baby up closer. “Well, at least

mean it’s good,” Sinclair grumbles behind me.

by both the Goddess and the Dark Lord. What is interesting is that they seem to be reliable – there is one text in particular that speaks of a Goddess-given gift of healing that sounds quite

that’s interesting.

nodding, “and sent to you as

has given?” Sinclair

heart and the home – assigning mates, healing the body, changing the weather to ensure good crops.” He nods to Cora and I as he lists our gifts and I turn my head, because he’s right – while Cora and I have used

the dark god?” Sinclair presses, his voice a little annoyed in his

his son now, “prefers…more sweeping magics. Not things that

this and I find myself holding my breath as I

the world?” Sinclair asks, going tense behind

gift of eclipse, allowing him to hold the moon’s shadow before the sun

all go silent and still

a long moment, only Roger is bold enough to break the

he breathes, leaning forward

Cora and Sinclair and then Henry start to laugh as well.

niece with wide eyes. “She’s the littlest of all of us

eyes and trying to shake the tension out of my shoulders. “It could be…

skirt,” Roger murmurs, and I grin as Cora turns to smack him for speaking such blasphemy about our mother and a deity. Roger just wrinkles his nose at Cora

little in my arms so she can look around at the family. “So, she

feel a little pulse of pride

means she’ll be able to stand up to her brother and her cousin,” Roger says, looking between the boys – Rafe toddling around on the floor and Jesse in Cora’s arms. “Though …none of them are

I ask, looking around at the group. “Does it…I mean, they all have gifts from mom, right? But will her being

know,” Henry says, tilting his head and

not how bonds work, right? I mean, Cora and Ella are blessed with Goddess gifts, but

and turn to glare at my mate over my shoulder. ” Excuse me, Dominic, but you have benefited many times from my