Chapter 273 – Cora’s Gift

Cora nearly skidded to a halt, bursting into Ella’s hospital room. "What?" she gasped. "What is it? Is she—?"

But Sinclair stood silently beside Ella's bed, hands deep in his pockets, staring at the door as if expecting someone else. Cora bit back her words. If Ella had… well, Sinclair wouldn't be standing still; he'd be tearing the world apart.

Cora breathed deeply, her eyes falling to her sister. God, Ella looked so frail, wired to all those machines. Her vibrant sister, so full of life, looked like a crumpled bird.

"She's fine," Sinclair snapped, pulling Cora's gaze back to him. Roger entered the room, and Sinclair's eyes flicked to him in surprise. He hadn't called for Roger; he'd called Cora. Apparently, they'd been together.

Sinclair didn't dwell on why. He didn't care. His attention returned to Cora. "Give it back to her," he demanded, his voice even and controlled.

"What?" Cora asked, straightening. "Give what back? I didn't take anything—"

"What's going on, Dominic?" Roger asked, stepping in front of Cora, sensing his brother's agitation. "Tell us. We need to understand."

Frustrated by the lack of immediate obedience, Sinclair took a deep breath, forcing himself to be patient, though he felt utterly depleted. He just wanted this over. He wanted Ella back.

"I met her," Sinclair snapped, summarizing the past few hours as concisely as possible. "In the dream state. She was there with… with Rafe." Cora's face lit up, and she opened her mouth to ask a thousand questions, but Sinclair continued. "Ella is spiritually strong, but the doctor says her body is too weak. She needs a gift from the Goddess to heal." His eyes hardened, fixing on Cora. "Which you took from her."

Cora's mouth dropped open, and she clutched her chest. "Sinclair," she breathed, "I would never—she gave it to me—I had to—"

"I don't care," he interrupted, his voice rising. "You took it, and now you have to give it back." He stepped toward her, as if he would rip it from her body to save his mate.

"Easy," Roger warned, moving closer to his brother. "Easy, Dominic. We hear you. You have a point. Just… just let Cora think."

The brothers turned to Cora, their gaze pinning her. Her breath quickened as she sorted through her thoughts. Was this her fault? Had she caused Ella's collapse by taking the gift? Was she the reason her sister might die?

"Cora," Roger said carefully. "What do you think?"

"Um," she mumbled, staring at the floor, trying to piece it together. "I don't know? I didn't mean… I didn't mean to? But he might be right? When I took the gift from her, that's when she collapsed…"

"Well," Roger said, striving to maintain calm, feeling like he was walking a minefield. "Can you give it back?"

"Maybe?" Cora replied, looking between the brothers. "But will that be good for her? She couldn't… she couldn't hold it all when she was weak…"

Sinclair growled, and Cora shrank back, overwhelmed.

"Enough," Roger snapped, glaring at his brother and gesturing toward Cora. "Can't you see she's trying? That none of this is her fault? She's trying to help—let her help, if she can." Sinclair visibly fought the urge to force Cora's compliance, to save his mate. But Roger was right—terrifying her wasn't helping, so he took two steps back to his place by Ella's head.

Cora relaxed slightly as Sinclair retreated. She looked between the brothers, hesitating. "Are you sure you want me to try this? Even if it could… hurt her?"

Roger glanced at the open door. "Do you want me to get the doctor?"

"No," Sinclair bit out. "He's done all he can. This is between us. Between… the two of you." It pained him to admit his helplessness—that this was now between the sisters, and all he could do was watch. "Do it."

Cora hesitated until Rafe came to her side and took her hand. "We have to try," he murmured. His hopeful eyes shocked her. "I think he's right, Cora. It makes sense. And it's a gift—I don't think it can hurt her." Cora's lip trembled as she considered the awful consequences. But Roger held her gaze, giving her strength and courage.

"All right," Cora whispered, nodding and moving to Ella's side, taking her sister's hand. "Um," she said, looking around. "Can I have a chair?"

Roger quickly fetched one, helping her settle. Cora tucked her legs beneath her, sitting cross-legged as she had that night in the desert with Ella and Reina. Sinclair remained stoic, watching.

Cora gave them a tremulous smile, then closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She had watched Ella that night in the desert, watched her connect with her mother, watched her be filled with the Goddess's gift and glow. Cora hadn't admitted it then, but she'd felt… jealous. The jealousy of an orphan for a friend who found her mother, of a girl feeling like a tag-along while her best friend found her mate, her true identity, her calling—a whole beautiful life, while Cora had… well, not nothing. But not that. She'd been ashamed of her envy, feeling undeserving of her place on that sacred trip.

But now, knowing the truth? Cora knew her envy and feelings of inadequacy had been self-inflicted. The Goddess was her mother, too. And she, a human, had given the gift to the world. There was no reason Ella could do anything she couldn't. Well, except turn into a wolf.

But Cora pushed that aside with her doubts. She embraced her identity and sank, as Ella had, into a deeper state. As the light behind her eyes shifted from orange to green to deep lavender, and the medical sounds faded, Cora found inner peace.

And there, at her heart's center, she found it. The gift, shining, endless, ready to be given. Cora reached for it, feeling its warmth. She imagined her mother's voice, encouraging her.

So she did. Cora opened her eyes and wasn't surprised to see the gift glowing in her hands—a real entity, lighting the room. Cora smiled, then glanced at Roger, stifling a laugh at his shocked expression.

But Sinclair hadn't moved, his demand palpable. She nodded; it was time.

Cora stepped closer to her sister, holding out the gift, leaning over Ella's heart. "I love you, sister," Cora whispered. "It's time for you to take it back."

Without a doubt, she opened her hands and gently placed the gift on Ella's chest.