Chapter 351 – Keeping it in the Family

Ella

I’m the last one to the conference room – baby stuff but when I come through the door I’m very surprised to see that it’s just family gathering today.

“Where is everyone?” I ask, holding Rafe close to my chest so that he peers over my shoulder. He’s a very curious baby – he likes to look around, even though he can’t see much yet. I move over to the table where Cora, Roger, Henry, and Sinclair sit, all clearly waiting for me, all with faces which are …drawn. Concerned. And turned on me.

“What,” I breathe, freezing before I can sit down. “What’s wrong? What is it?” “Sit, Ella,” Henry says, waving to the open chair between him and Sinclair.

“No,” I say, shaking my head, the word falling out of my mouth before I can even think. “No way this looks… this looks like bad news.’

And some part of me knows that I’m being ridiculous – that it won’t be good news miraculously if I don’t hear it but still. Fear stripes through me – I really, really can’t handle more bad news now, not after the few days we’ve had. And not if it, apparently, all focuses on me.

“Ella, please,” Sinclair says, looking at me with gentle eyes and pulling the empty chair out. “I promise it’s not as bad as you think.”

“Do you all know?” I ask, going rigid.

towards me across the table, Roger’s hand on her back. “He just wanted us to be prepared, so that

whisper, slowly moving to the chair and sitting

his head at me. “I’m sorry, Ella – – I may have gone about this in the wrong way. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I just – it was convenient that you were last, so I told them first so that the focus could be on you now, as I believe that this news

I know, would be well enough

I wanted to talk about this together, with the main parties involved.” Henry’s eyes drift, now, to Rafe in

lips together in a thin line. “Let’s get on with

some kind of pre- arranged pattern. This, contrary to what they

Sinclair takes him from me tucking Rafe into the crook of one elbow before draping his other arm warmly over my shoulders. I feel at once calmer, and start to wonder – ridiculously if Sinclair isn’t just the baby whisperer,

my entire focus to him. “Yesterday, when

clench my teeth and stare at him, willing him

know, whatever magical powder allowed him to really fire bomb us, by accident, and when he realized that he was going to be able to use it – I

ask, confused.

replies, sighing a little at his inability to be clear. “I mean, slipped on his

arm. He’s gotten a hand free of his swaddle and is clenching it and opening it, apparently fascinated by

drawing

should just shut up and listen, but I can’t help myself.

says carefully, speaking slowly and calmly and watching my face to make sure I’m following along. I’m grateful for it because even though I’m not stupid, I’m panicked enough now that my mind feels like it’s

Monastic Cult of the God of Darkness. And never, in any of our materials both from centuries ago and today – have we ever seen any of the priests

say, my eyes going wide. I understand but I mean, I don’t get it. Not yet. Not in the same way that the rest of them do, apparently, judging by the worried looks on their faces as I look around the table. “What

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