Page 57 of The Dark Elf's Surprise Baby

I can’t stay here. It isn’t safe. Not for me and certainly not for Adelaide. I have to protect her from them. From him.

Slowly dragging myself up to my feet, I limp to my daughter’s room. She’s asleep, hair splayed out across the pillow, long lashes resting against her cheeks. I hate that I have to disrupt her entire world once again but I can’t let her be hurt by those vicious zagfer or by her own father.

“Addie,” I shake her gently. “Addie, wake up.”

“Mama?” Addie asks, blinking up at me with sleep in her eyes. She rubs her face and I try not to cry. She’s so young. Gods!

“We have to go,” I tell her. “We’re leaving and going to see Auntie Layla and Uncle Kerym.”

“We are?” she asks. “What about Dad?”

“We’ll see him later,” I lie, not ready to tell her that her father is a cruel, soulless monster yet.

“Okay,” she says, getting up slowly. I hurry around, picking out clothes for her and packing them in our small traveling satchels. When that’s done, I sneak her to my bedroom and pack my own satchel as well.

I don’t know where we’ll go. Maybe back to the island. Maybe we’ll go to Milthar. I’ve heard that if you work for five years for the minotaur there, they will grant you freedom and citizenship. I’d like Addie to be able to grow up as a free citizen.

Once I’m done packing my things, I hoist Addie onto my back and carry our bags, careful to avoid running into any of the servants. I can’t trust any of them now. Who knows whose side they’re on.

I thought Bryrion and the other girls were my friends. I thought they cared. The only person I can trust anymore is myself. I won’t let Addie get hurt.

It takes a while to walk to Layla’s home but I arrive and bang on the door. The butler answers, looking shocked at my state. “Will you please fetch Madame Layla?” I ask, eyes filling with tears.

Layla appears quickly and her eyes grow large when she sees us.

“What happened, Harper?”

27

DEMETHYS

I’m frustrated as all glacies by the time I get back. What an utter disaster. It took hours for help to arrive and then it was so late I nearly missed picking up the ring.

And then the jeweler couldn’t find my order anywhere. He finally remembered it was in his safe when I threatened to cancel my order and demand a refund and then do my best to put him out of business.

Thank the Thirteen that I was able to hire another cab from the jewelers to take me home but by now it’s already midnight and I’m sure Harper is asleep.

Gods, I had theworstluck today. My carriage has a broken axle and that’s why the wheel popped off. It needs to be repaired before I can use it again. I limp into the house, exhausted and so ready for this day to be over.

I head up the stairs, gripping the banister tightly under my hand. I need to calm down. I need to breathe in Harper’s soft, warm, floral scent. I need to wrap my body around hers and hold onto her until the tension bleeds from my body.

I head into our bedroom and stop short. She’s not in here. Blast it all. She must have gone to lay with Addie then. She might not have wanted to sleep alone. I’ll go find her and wake her up.

I head into my daughter’s room and open the door slowly, trying not to disturb them too much if they’re both asleep. A lamplight is on though and I approach the bed, confused.

Where are they? Neither Addie, nor Harper are in bed. My heart beats faster, the urge to panic rising inside me.

Maybe they went to the kitchen for some warm milk, or maybe a little late night snack? I head downstairs immediately, rushing to the kitchen. I’m sure I’ll find them in there, enjoying thick slices of the bread I made with some fruit preserves and giggling together over something cute Addie said.

I pull up short though when I swing open the kitchen door and it’s quiet and dark inside.

“Addie!” I call out. “Harper!” No one answers. “Addie!” I yell. “Harper!”

I start running around, trying to find them. Where could they possibly have gotten off to? Are they in the library? My office?

My search is fruitless and my heart is pounding in my chest. “Addie!” I scream. “Harper!”

The servants are waking up now and they come downstairs, gathering at the foot of the stairs in their nightclothes, confusion on their faces.

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