#Chapter 304 – The Goddess’s Light

Cora

I’m a little out of breath when I finally catch up with Roger and Rafe, having had to work hard to keep up with his long wolf stride.

“Rude,” I say when I finally come to a stop next to them. “You couldn’t have waited for me?”

“I’m being rude?” Roger says, raising his eyebrows at me in disbelief. “Cora, you’ve been nothing but unpleasant since the moment we stepped into the forest –”

I open my mouth with a little squeak of protest but Roger just rolls his eyes and ignores me, going on anyway. “This is supposed to be a sacred experience for Rafe and for us and you’ve done nothing but moan and complain. So yeah, forgive me if I wanted to get away for a moment and concentrate on the magic of this place

“Oh whatever,” I mumble, reaching out my arms so that he can hand me the baby.

“No

from you

way,” Roger retorts, holding the baby closer to his chest and turning a little away from me. “You don’t get to hold the baby now that we’re at the pool

“Yes I do!” I cry, “the priestess gave him to me!”

“I’m his godparent just as much as you are

“(

our mouths falling open. I don’t know how I know it but…well, somehow, I get the sense that the pool – or whatever magic is in it – is irritated

a step closer, a little embarra*sed. Honestly, it never occurred to me that my behavior with Roger right

freaked out, suddenly. We’re both very aware that there’s magic in the world,

then, nodding to him, and start to say that words

I begin, letting my voice ring out across the smooth surface of the silver pool. “We bring to you, tonight, this child, so that he may begin to know

into the spirit of your grace,” Roger continues, his own resonant voice sending shivers down my spine. The light

the sight of the full moon itself, beaming brilliantly down on us from above. Hey, mom, I say

of the moment. Because she is here, now,

for him and this time Roger does hand him to me, letting me take the baby and unwrap his swaddling blanket. Then, when he’s free of it, Roger and I slowly walk as close as we can to the edge of the pool and hold

the baby, growing brighter as the moments pa*s. My heart fills to see Rafe looking up into the sky, to see

have asked us to bring him here to dedicate him to

it. I open my mouth to say something, to tell Roger that I’m sorry, and that I’m glad I’m here with him to do this, when suddenly I can

suddenly afraid, but Roger brings a quick hand to my

into the white light of the moon, likewise trying to make it out. “If you do, we won’t be able

keep holding the baby out, my arms trembling a little, and watch the story form

visual. Like, it’s not like watching a movie projected into smoke in the air. Instead, it’s…felt as much as it is seen, communicated to our hearts and minds as much as our eyes.

bending down to take the hand of a dark–haired little girl who has fallen to the ground, helping her up and brushing the tears from her face. Then, I see him again – older, but still young.- running across a battlefield, fear on his face but courage in every line of his limbs as he pushes himself to do what is right. We’re pa*sed that quite quickly, though, and I see him again with that girl – though she’s older now too – laughing. And though I know there’s no reason

in his hands, which he slowly lifts to place on the girl’s head as well. She smiles up at him with such love in her eyes and then

and more of their children – and a light–haired boy I

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