Page 37 of The Dark Elf's Surprise Baby

“And remember what Mama said!” I call after her. I know that she is frustrated, but I also know that she will be obedient to me.

“So,” Layla crosses her arms over her chest, turning to me. Her expression becomes more gentle. “I just had a very interesting conversation with my husband.”

“What about?” At least Layla is taking my mind off Addie's questions. I know I need to wrack my brain to figure out how to answer her questions soon.

When I focus on Layla, I see that the steely look has remained in her eyes, even though she is trying to look gentle.

“Who is Adelaide’s father?” The question knocks the breath out of me.

My stomach turns and I feel like throwing up, but I do my best to keep my expression nonchalant.

“He died, Layla. A very long time ago.” The lie does not sound like the truth anymore.

Even though it used to.

Layla sighs heavily, as though she is disappointed with me.

“That is not the answer to my question Harper.” I have never seen Layla this solemn before.

Her lips are pressed together in a thin line before she speaks.

“I’ll rephrase, to make this easier for both of us. If he died, then what was he? Before he died?”

I want to lie. I have an arsenal of lies that lay underneath my tongue, ready and sweet and easy.

But I turn from Layla, the movement unconscious, my eyes skipping over the crowd in the hall.

Demethys is no longer at the back of the hall where I had imagined I saw him.

When I turn back to Layla, she is looking at me with her right eyebrow arched and her lips pursed.

I sigh inwardly. I might have just betrayed myself, and I am still not sure whether I actually saw Demethys, or if I was just imagining him.

I probably did imagine him. I have been fretting in this corner for no reason all night.

But Layla’s expression says different. And when she actually speaks, my breath catches in my throat.

“Do you know a dark elf named Demethys?” She asks me the question, but reaches out instantly when I stumble backwards.

Breathe,I tell myself.Just breathe and you’ll be okay.

I look up almost violently at Layla. I am still trying to breathe, trying to find my way onto my feet, even though the weight of Demethys’s name drags me down.

I cough before I speak.

How much can I say before I have to tell the truth? It seems that Layla already knows more than I want her to?

“I used to work for a dark elf named Demethys.” I try to make it sound like a bigger confession than it is.

Layla does not say anything, still looking at me, her arms still crossed over her chest.

“He died. Years ago.” My voice is hoarse from saying the words that I haven’t quite accepted yet.

Of course you haven’t accepted that the love of your life is dead yet! You’re seeing entire bloody apparitions of the man!

I almost laugh out loud at the ferocity of my thoughts.

I jump with surprise when Layla closes a hand around my wrist.

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