ELOWEN
The steam from the bathwater was the only thing keeping the chill from settling into my bones. My skin still felt the ghost of Jarek's terrifying, magnetic gaze, and my mind was a messy blur of the Rogue King's warnings and the crushing grief I carried for my father.
"You're shivering, Ellie. The water is nearly boiling, and you're shaking like a leaf."
Marisol's voice was the reprieve I needed. She was standing behind me, her sleeves rolled up, a sponge in her hand. She was the person who had stayed up with me through every night of mourning, wiping away my tears when even Gideon's patience had run thin.
I leaned back, letting her gentle hands massage the tension in my shoulders. "I'm just tired, Mari. Last night was... a lot."
Marisol's hand stilled. She then bent closer to whisper. "The clinic? Did you see Dr. Aris? Tell me everything. I've been holding my breath since you climbed out that window."
I looked down at the soap bubbles, feeling a twinge of guilt. Marisol had risked her job to help me sneak out. She was the only one who understood that I wasn't just trying to save a legacy; I was trying to save my marriage.
"I didn't see her. I arrived, but... I couldn't go through with it. I saw Greta—you know how she is, always loitering and spreading rumors in the pack. I panicked. I thought if she saw me entering a fertility clinic alone at midnight, the rumors would destroy Gideon. I had to retreat."
The silence that followed was heavy. Marisol pulled back, and on her face, I thought I saw what looked like genuine frustration.
She was almost snapping. "You didn't see her? Ellie, you took such a massive risk! To go all that way, to dodge the guards... and you just turned around because of a gossip? I thought you wanted this!"
I flinched, surprised by the edge in her voice. Marisol was always so soft and submissive. To hear her speak to me with such bite felt... wrong.
Seeing my reaction, her expression immediately crumbled into one of deep regret. She knelt beside the tub, taking my damp hand in hers, her eyes swimming with tears.
"I'm sorry," she breathed in a trembling voice. "I'm so sorry, Ellie. It's just... my heart was in my throat all night. I was so scared you'd get caught, and to think it was all for nothing... I just want you to be happy. I want to see you smiling again, with a babe in your arms and Gideon looking at you like the queen you are. I'm just protective of you."
I softened instantly. That was Marisol—always worrying more about me than herself. "I know, Mari. I'm sorry I worried you. I felt like a coward."
"You're not a coward," she insisted, squeezing my hand. "You're a Goldbane. You were being careful. But a year is soon upon us, Ellie. If we don't find a solution, the Council will take everything. What are we going to do?"
I felt a spark of warmth in my chest. It was the first bit of hope I'd had in weeks. Thanks to my one true mate.
"Actually, Gideon gave me his blessing this morning. He said if it's the only thing that will bring me peace, he'll consider the surrogacy. He asked for one day to think it over."
Marisol let out a gasp, her face lighting up with a radiant, beautiful joy. She looked like she had just been told she'd won the lottery.
"Ellie! That's incredible!" she squealed, throwing her arms around my damp shoulders. "Oh, the Goddess be praised! I knew he would come around. He loves you so much, he just needed time to process the idea."
I hugged her back, feeling a swell of gratitude. Gideon was a good man. He was stressed, yes, and sometimes cold, but he was trying. And Marisol... she was an angel sent to guide me through the dark.
"He told me to think about who I'd want," I sighed, pulling back. "But that's where I'm stuck. Who can I trust with something this sacred? My best friend Sarah-Jane left the pack years ago. I don't have any cousins left. I'm the Luna of a Great House, and I'm completely alone."
Marisol's eyes searched mine, filled with a deep, soulful sympathy. "Search your heart, Ellie. There must be someone. Someone who has been by your side through every tear. Someone who loves you enough to carry this burden for you."
I looked at her, and the answer felt so obvious, so perfect, that it took my breath away. Marisol had been my shadow. She knew my secrets, my fears, and my heart. Why was I looking for a stranger when the person who loved me most was right here?
"Mari," I whispered, my heart racing. "You've been my only friend. You're practically family. You love this house as much as I do."
Marisol held her breath, her eyes widened.
"Would you?" I inhaled heavily. "Would you be my surrogate, Marisol? I couldn't trust a stranger with Gideon's child. But you... I know you'd protect that baby with your life."
Marisol let out a choked sob, burying her face in her hands. She looked completely overwhelmed by the weight of the request. When she looked up, her face was flushed.
"Ellie... I... I'm just a maid. I don't deserve such an honor. To carry the Goldbane heir? To do this for you?" She took a shaky breath, her gaze full of devotion. "If Gideon agrees... then yes. I would do anything for you, Ellie. Anything to see you whole again."
"Thank you," I sobbed, pulling her into another hug.
I felt so lucky. I had a husband who was willing to set aside his pride for my happiness, and a friend who was willing to give me her body to save my legacy. The world felt right again.
"We should get you dressed," Marisol said, sniffing back her tears as she stood up. "Vector is back today. He and Gideon must be waiting for you in the dining hall. We shouldn't keep them waiting."
"Vector has arrived?" I asked, standing up as she draped a warm towel around me. "I haven't seen him since before the funeral. Gideon said his mother had a stroke."
"Yes, he resumed this morning," Marisol said, already pulling a soft cashmere dress from the wardrobe. "Poor man, he looks exhausted. But Gideon is relieved to have him back. You know how much he relies on Vector's mind."
I nodded. It made sense. Everything was finally falling into place. The missing pieces were coming home.
As I walked down the hallway toward the dining room, I felt a sense of peace. The Rogue King's words about "houses on fire" felt like a distant, feverish dream. Jarek Ashthorne was a man of violence and shadows; of course, he saw darkness everywhere. But here, in the golden light of the estate, surrounded by people who loved me, I felt safe.