Page 48 of The Dark Elf's Surprise Baby

Her words pierce my heart like the arrow that nearly ended my life. It feels as though my heart shatters into a million pieces. I can’t do anything but stare at her as she turns on her heel and walks out of the room, head held high and not bothering to glance back at me.

Gods! I’ve screwed it all up. My hurt and anger and feelings of betrayal got to be too much and I let it boil over into my confrontation with Harper instead of listening to her like she wanted. And now she’s walking out of my life forever.

Is it really over? I can’t let it be over. I can’t live without her. I’ve got to find a way to win her back. But would she even listen? Or have I hurt her too badly?

And is it because of my cruel words or is it the deep hurt that came from thinking I was dead? I pushed her too far and now there’s no coming back. The tears spill from my eyes as I think about how I messed up my only chance.

I didn’t mean to hurt her so much. I was drunk and an emotional wreck at the time and it all came spilling out. Well,I’ve really put my foot in it now. There’s no coming back from the dead this time.

22

HARPER

After our confrontation, Demethys left. I didn’t see him, I went out into the garden with Addie and Jas but Kerym told me he left.

When Layla came out to join us a little while later, she asked me if I was alright but didn’t press the issue. I was grateful that she didn’t ask.

I thought that would be the last I would see of Demethys at the time. I hoped that he got my message loud and clear—we were through. I would never let anyone treat me the way he treated me and still be in my life. I was done with arrogant elves.

But the next day he showed up again. He tries to talk to me but I resolutely ignore him, not giving him the time of day. He stays for a while at breakfast, chatting politely with Kerym and making small talk but I get up as soon as Addie is done with breakfast and take her to play in the nursery. I’m not interested in having anything to do with Demethys and clearly he’s not getting the hint.

He comes to the playroom though, and watches us silently for a while. I ignore him but Addie keeps trying to engage with him. He seems so genuinely happy to see her, to know thatshe’s his child. There’s a look in his eyes that I can’t quite place. Longing, maybe? I’m not sure but I don’t feel sorry for him. He lost his chance the minute he grabbed my arm.

He finally leaves and I breathe easier, knowing that he’s not going to be bothering us anymore. Maybe he’s getting the picture—we’re over and I’ve moved on. There’s nothing he can do to change my mind.

But he shows up again the next day. Well, he’s nothing if not persistent. Demethys doesn’t talk to me or try to engage Adelaide again but he does sit outside with us, next to Kerym and watches the children playing in the garden. I chat with Layla as we sit at the outdoor patio table and we sip tea and I pointedly ignore Demethys.

Unfortunately Addie’s innate curiosity draws her towards Demethys. She starts asking him questions and when I try to shoo her away, it doesn’t work.

“What do you do for your job?” she asks, twirling her fingers in her hair.

“I used to be a soldier, just like Jasper’s Dad,” he tells her. “But now I’m a Captain.”

“Is Jas’ Dad a Captain too?”

“No, he’s a Lieutenant,” Demethys tells her. “Mr. Kerym–”

“Uncle Kerym.”

I grin. “Right. Uncle Kerym is higher up than me at work. He tells loads of people what to do. I only tell a few people what to do.”

“Mama tells me what to do all the time,” Addie announces proudly. “Does that mean she’s a Captain too?”

“She’s the Captain of my heart,” he tells her solemnly. I frown, upset that he would say such a thing to my daughter.

“What does that mean?” she asks.

“It means that she can tell me what to do too, anytime.”

I roll my eyes but my heart flutters at that, remembering our time together.

They keep chatting but I notice that Demethys is more careful after that not to upset me. I think he senses he’s pushed my boundaries enough for the day and if he tries to push them any harder, I would have Kerym force him to leave.

That afternoon, when I’m laying down for a nap, what I don’t know is that Demethys has approached Adelaide in secret while she’s in the nursery. I find out later when she tells me at dinner that the handsome man told her that he was her Dad.

Immediately I’m infuriated. How dare he tell her that information! I almost start yelling but Addie is so excited, telling me that she knew he was her Dad because they have the same eyes, just like I told her.

“Did the gods make him come back from Helias?” she asks me. “You said my Dad was an agelios! That he was in Helias and he was a spirit guide. Did he come back down just for me?”

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