Chapter304:TheGoddess’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 finallye 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 andin. So yeah, forgive me if I wanted to get away for a moment and concentrate on the


    magic of this ce


    “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


    —


    “(


    But suddenly, there’s a re in the light from the pool, and Roger and I turn to it, surprised, both of 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 with us.


    “Sorry,” I murmur to the pool, taking a step closer, a little embarrassed. Honestly, it never urred to


    me that my behavior with Roger right now was being…watched.


    Roger murmurs his own apology,ing closer to the edge. We look at each other, then, united anew


    at being…well, a little freaked out, suddenly. We’re both very aware that there’s magic in the world, but


    sometimes when you’re confronted with it so tantly it can be weird.


    I take a deep breath, then, nodding to him, and start to say that words that the priestess taught us as


    part of the ceremony.


    “Goddess,” 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 you.”


    “We wish to show him your light, and in doing so, let you see him and bring him into the spirit of your


    grace,” Roger continues, his own resonant voice sending shivers down my spine. The lighting off


    the pool brightens – slower this time, though, as if she’s listening.


    I nce upwards through the trees and am treated by the sight of the full moon itself, beaming


    brilliantly down on us from above. Hey, mom, I say quietly in my mind, my heartrate


    suddenly increasing and my stomach twisting with the emotion of the moment. Because she is here,


    now, with us – ready to meet her grandchild. I can feel it.


    Even Rafe begins to open his little eyes and look around. I know that he can’t really see anything – his


    vision hasn’t developed well enough yet – but he’s certainly curious. I put my hands out for him and this


    time Roger does hand him to me, letting me take the baby and unwrap his swaddling nket. 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 out over it.


    The moonlight streams down onto the baby, growing brighter as the moments pass. My heart fills to


    see Rafe looking up into the sky, to see the light surrounding him as it falls from the moon above and


    reflects upwards from the mirrored surface of the pool.


    “He is called Rafe Sinir,” Roger says softly, reverent. “His parents, E and Dominic, have asked us


    to bring him here to dedicate him to you. We do so in their name.”


    I smile as I look at the baby, and at Roger, and at the moonlight. It’s a beautiful moment, introducing the


    child to the world and to all the magic within it. I open my mouth to say something, to tell Roger that I’m


    sorry, and that I’m d I’m here with him to do this, when suddenly I can see something in the


    moonlight.


    I gasp, suddenly afraid, but Roger brings a quick hand to my waist, steadying me.


    “Don’t pull the baby back,” he says, peering into the white light of the moon, likewise trying to make it


    out. “If you do, we won’t be able to see…


    So I keep holding the baby out, my arms trembling a little, and watch the story form in the air.


    It’s not…not totally 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,municated to our hearts and minds as much as our eyes. But


    suddenly, quite suddenly, it’s perfectly clear.


    I see a little boy, tall, with warm green 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 passed that quite quickly, though, and I see


    him again with that girl – though she’s older now too –ughing. And though I know there’s no reason


    for me to know it, I sense – somehow that she, like me, has no wolf.


    –


    Rafe – he has a crown on his head, and another in his hands, which he slowly lifts to ce on the girl’s


    head as well. She smiles up at him with such love in her eyes and then the door to the room bursts


    open, his family spilling in


    –


    There’s Sinir, and E, and more of their children – and a light–haired boy I don’t know, just about


    Rafe’s age- and more children, so many more and me and…and…


    –


    Rafe is embraced by his family, who surround him,ughing and hugging Rafe and the girl, their eyes


    warm and light with hope. And suddenly, I know, that Rafe will be a great leader of


    his people, and that he will guide them with love in his heart, a love sustained and made true by this


    girl. I know that Rafe will meet his mate and that she will be…


    Human.


    I gasp, my eyes filling with tears, and slowly the moonlight fades, returning to its natural hue. I bring the


    baby back to my chest, holding him tight, and turn to look up at Roger, who looks at me as well with


    tears streaming down his cheeks.


    “Did you see it?” he whispers.


    “Yes,” I reply.


    “He will love her,” Roger continues, shaking his head, staring down at me with so much love in his


    eyes. “And it won’t matter to him – not at all –”


    I’m crying in truth then, little sobs wracking my chest as I hold my nephew to me. My nephew, with his


    whole lifeid out before him, a great love waiting for him in the future to sooth the great pain he will


    surely endure as he leads his people, human and wolf alike. I open my mouth to say something to


    Roger – to say anything –


    –


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    But no wordse out. Instead, I just tuck my head against my nephew and let myself cry.


    How can this little baby, only two weeks old, already hold so much wisdom? How can he have already


    have given me such a gift?


    I feel Roger’s arms around us then, warm and steady. He brings me close to his chest, tucking me


    beneath his chin and pressing a kiss to my hair. Then, silent, he lets me cry, lets me process the


    experience all I need. A few minutester, when I am again steady, I take a deep breath and turn my


    face up to him, ready to give him my thanks.


    But before I can say anything, Roger acts, closing the distance between us.


    And pressing a soft kiss to my mouth.