Chapter 345


    idental Surrogate Chapter 345-Sinir


    Cora breaks the tension between E and I, but unfortunately not in a way that benefits me.


    “I agree,” she says, standing next to her sister, her eyes locked on Roger’s. I sigh inwardly, my wolf


    grumbling with discontent, as I realize that Roger’s warning at the start of this meeting was quite apt.


    Each on their own is willful, but together they’re a disruptive force.


    “It’s too dangerous,” Cora continues, shaking her head, “we don’t know enough about this magic to


    send anyone in like this – people could be seriously hurt.”


    She says “people” but I know, of course, that she really only means Roger and maybe me. Cora is not


    cold she cares about the other team members, but as a newly-mated newly- pregnant woman, I


    imagine that her main concern is, at this point, quite narrow.


    “We have to press the advantage when we can, Cora,” Roger exins, angry but wanting her to


    understand. “Time is not on our side -” Cora opens her mouth to argue but I interrupt.


    “Enough,” I snap, ring at her and at E. Sit, Imand E firmly, mind to mind. Her eyes re at


    the authority in my voice, both audible and internal, but slowly I shake my head at her,municating


    as cooly as I can that this is not the time to press me.


    I see their concern – I share it, honestly – but this is not the time for me to back down in front of my


    men. I hold her gaze steadily, not relenting, and slowly E sits herself back into her seat. Seeing her


    back off, Cora hesitates but then does the same.


    The tight muscle of E’s jaw lets me know that this fight is not over, even if she has consented to sit


    and, as she settles back in the chair, I give her a deep nod, letting her know that I will hear her. Just Not


    Now.


    Then, I turn back to my men, moving on as if it didn’t happen.


    “And where do we n to strike?” Roger asks, his voice tight but likewise working to get back to


    business. He looks down at the paperwork our father provided and, I think, figures it out based on the


    few maps that my father has ced on the table.


    “The sewer,” dad says, pointing at some underground schematics of the city which indicate where,


    precisely, entrances and exits were built for workers and maintenance in the sewer system. “The priest


    we lost yesterday set up significant shop down there and it’s likely that he cannot operate


    without some of the materials he left. If we want to capture him again – and, I propose that that is our


    best move forward then our best shot is to start there. Best case scenario he is still there, gathering the


    significant number of supplies he left, which will take a long time to move out. Worst, we can begin to


    learn his practices and his scent.”


    “Good,” I agree, nodding. “Any opposing suggestions for how to proceed?” I ask, looking at my oldest


    and most established men to see if there are any other ideas. I deliberately do not look at E and


    Cora. But no one says a wood.


    “It’s decided then,” I say, standing and crossing my arms over my chest, looking to the side at my


    brother. ” Roger and I will pick a team and take lead. We’ll give word when we are ready.”


    I decidedly refuse to look at E and Cora as the men filter out of the room, someing to have a


    quick word with me before moving on to their individual team tasks which they already know they must


    take up. Some move to check the armory and prepare the assault, others gather to discuss the best


    way to approach the sewers, and still more move to another room to prepare to select members of the


    team. Those, I know, are the ones who I will be joining in a few minutes.


    But before that…


    My father gathers up the papers in front of him and tucks him into the side pocket of his wheelchair


    before looking up at me, giving me a wry little smile. “I’ll see you two in a few minutes?” he asks..


    “We’reing now, dad,” Roger growls, turning away from thest of the men and towards the two of


    us.


    “No, you’re not,” dad replies cheerfully, beginning to spin his chair away. “You boys know that I miss


    your mother but…” heughs a little as he begins to roll towards the door. “Not quite as much, in


    moments like this.”


    Dad gives us a little wave and rolls through the door next to which Cora and E stand, my baby boy


    still sleeping happily in my mate’s arms. As soon as dad rolls out with thest of the men, E shuts the


    door and turns to renew her re.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    I fold my arms over my chest again, ring back, ready to renew our stalemate but Roger interrupts,


    walking quickly to Cora’s side.


    “Cora,” he breathes, shaking his head, shocking me with the apology on his lips. “I’m sorry, Cora – I


    know you’re upset – ”


    “Upset!” she gasps, and E spins her head to look at Cora, breaking my gaze. I blink, surprised. I had


    honestly thought we were going to be locked in that for…I don’t know. Days?


    Perhaps Roger knows how to handle them better than me. As they start to argue, I begin to slowly walk


    over and join the group.


    “Upset doesn’t cover it, Roger!” Cora spits, ring up at him and brushing away the hand he attempts


    to put on her shoulder. “We find out that we’re having a baby and the first thing you want to do is rush


    off to get killed!?”


    “We’re not going to get killed,” Roger replies, stating it in a breezy way that clearly lights a fire in his


    mate.


    “You don’t know that!” Cora shouts. ”


    Damn it, Roger!” She steps closer to him and I can see tears in her eyes now. “How am I supposed to


    let you walk out of her and put your life on your line! When we we finally -”


    And my heart twists when I see Cora relent, a little, closing the distance between them and fisting her


    hands in his shirt as if she’ll never let him go.


    I turn to E then, standing a few feet from me, hoping for the same kind of honestmunication, but


    when I meet her eyes they’re still steel.


    “Oh no you don’t,” she says, pointing a finger up into my face and setting her jaw. “Just because Cora


    is crying and is going to let Roger talk her into it doesn’t mean I will.”


    Cora gasps and turns to her, “I’m not.


    “Yes you are,” E snaps, shing Cora a little re. “He’s got you all softened up with an apology and


    now you’re puddy in his hands.”


    Cora gasps again, betrayed this time instead of surprised, and steps away from Roger,ing to E’s


    side.” She’s right!” Cora cries. “You softened me up!”


    Roger and I both sigh sharply through our noses, turning to look at each other, frustrated, and he gives


    me a little shrug that clearly says well, it was worth a shot. I nod consideringly, giving him credit for


    trying. Then, I turn back to E and try another tactic: brutal honesty.


    “E,” I say, sliding my hands into my pockets and meeting her angry gaze. This is happening. There is


    no other way. We’re not going to send our men out there without us – Roger and I are each stronger


    than four of them put together, it’s in our bloodline. This is part of our jobs, this is why we’re in charge.


    There is no other choice.”


    Her face falls a little then, and I can see that I’m making her understand. I take a step towards her then,


    my heart breaking to see her so upset, so worried. But it was the truth: we have to go. They need us.


    “Can’t you,” she says, her eyes darting a little as she thinks, “can’t you just dy – by a day or two –


    just until you get more information – ”


    “We will lose the opportunity,” I reply, taking another step closer and reaching a hand out towards her,


    begging her to see the truth of it. And then, as I look down into the face of my darling mate, I see her lip


    begin to tremble as shees to understand. And slowly, she raises her hand and takes mine, and


    then in a sh she’s pressed against me, her free arm wrapped around my waist, and I wrap mine


    around her shoulders, wanting to press her tight against me but, of course, not wanting to crush the


    baby between us.


    “I don’t want you to go,” she murmurs, and I can hear a little hitch in her throat. “I can’t lose you. We


    have so much…we just got safe…”


    “You won’t lose me,” I murmur, bending down to kiss the top of her head, meaning every word of it. “I


    promise, E. I promise.”


    “So do I,” Roger says, turning to Cora, and I turn a little to watch them, seeing him step towards her as


    well.


    But Cora surprises me by stepping back. “Oh, I don’t need your promise,” she says, holding up a hand


    between them. “Because I’m going with you.”