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?”

the balls to go that far,” Cora says, laughing and giving a little shrug. “Or, well, those weren’t her precise words – but that was the sentiment. That he’s just trying to get her attention and let her know that he’s pissed – but that he knows better than to

at little Ariel who lays cuddled in my arms, drowsy but idly kicking her

“But she… she said she can’t make him take it back, Ells. That immortal gifts

I sigh, hoisting my baby up closer.

Sinclair grumbles behind me.

that report on gifts given 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

“Well, that’s

says nodding, “and sent

some of the ‘gifts’ the Dark God has given?” Sinclair asks, his voice heavy and dubious on

the body, changing the weather to ensure good crops.” He nods to Cora and I as he lists our gifts and I turn my

voice a little annoyed in his anxiety

sweeping magics. Not things that can or should be used every day. Things that…change the

and I find myself holding my

the world?” Sinclair asks, going tense

a man the gift of eclipse, allowing him to hold the moon’s shadow before the sun for days on end, only relenting when his

all go silent and

moment, only Roger is bold enough to break the

the hell, Ariel,” he breathes, leaning forward to

shake my head as Cora and Sinclair and then Henry start to laugh as well. I shake my head at my brother-in-law, so grateful for him

says, sitting up straight and running his hand through his hair, looking at his niece with wide

to shake the tension out of my shoulders. “It could be… something smaller. Maybe he’s just trying

and a deity. Roger just

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

feel a little pulse of pride and

Roger says, looking between the boys – Rafe toddling around on the floor and Jesse in Cora’s arms. “Though …none

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

Henry says, tilting his head

work, right? I mean, Cora and Ella are blessed with Goddess gifts,

mate over my shoulder. ” Excuse me, Dominic, but you have