Page 62 of The Dark Elf's Surprise Baby

I do not miss the way Layla sighs behind me.

Demethys nods.

“I understand why you feel that way. But Harper, I vow to you now that I will always be there for you. I will always make sure you are loved.”

“And Layla and I can help with hiring servants.” Kerym interrupts. Both Demethys and I turn to look at him.

He shrugs, smiling, a wicked glint in his eyes.

“Demethys was taking really long to seal the deal.”

I cannot help but laugh at Kerym’s carefree words.

Layla nudges him with her elbow and glares at him. He nods obediently at her but the smile remains on his face.

“We can even build a house close to this area so that you are closer to Layla. Then you won’t be isolated.” Demethys tells me.

“Really?” The thought of having my family, Demethys and Addie, so close to my friends sends warm shivers through my body.

Maybe I can actually be happy with all my loved ones so close by.

“And like Kerym says, we can hire better servants,” Demethys continues. “I know where we can find trustworthy dark elves and humans.”

The thought of letting dark elves be our servants still terrifies me. I realize then that it will take me a while to get over the trauma of the attack.

Demethys notices my hesitation right away.

“We can hire humans as servants, if that is what you want.” He says gently.

I nod then and to my surprise, Demethys starts crying. I am not sure whether he is crying from relief or exhaustion.

“I love you so much,” he says, and I kiss his wet face. “I will never do anything to let you go again.”

I sag against him, finally allowing myself to relax.

“I love you too.”

29

HARPER

We return to the manor and Demethys and I climb into bed with our very confused, very tired daughter between us.

Demethys promised me that we would hire all new staff. Human staff. I feel bad for Ivrir. He didn’t deserve to be fired, but Demethys explains that he was too old to do his job properly anymore and that he will be given a retirement stipend every month and be housed on his parents property, in a cabin with another retired servant. He’ll be comfortable and well looked after there.

The cook will be given a new position. He was never really disloyal but Demethys feels like it’s better to have a completely fresh start. The rest of the staff that were left turned out to be conspiring with Bryrion and her flunkies so they’ll be sold off as slaves for their actions.

It all works out for the best and true to his word, Demethys sells his home and we buy a new one, much closer to Kerym and Layla. Jasper and Addie get to see each other almost every day now.

And we hire an entirely new staff, with help from Kerym. We have new maids, a new butler, new kitchen staff, even a full-time nanny for our daughter now.

She’s amazing. Her name is Jenny and she keeps Adelaide entertained with her stories about her travels. Addie loves her nanny and I love having a little more free time with my future mate.

Demethys revealed the real reason he was gone so long that night finally—he was not fetching a watch but my engagement ring, which he presents to me with a flourish on one knee, in front of Layla and Kerym. He had planned a whole proposal but it was ruined by the zagfer servants attack.

I cried when I saw the beautiful zanthenite ring and slipped it on immediately. He tells me it's imbued with a protection spell, so that I will always be safe even when he’s not around.

Addie cries too, asking if that means that Mama and Dad will get mated like Jasper’s Mama and Dad. We tell her yes, and that she’ll even get a special part in the ceremony.

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