Page 68 of The Dark Elf's Surprise Baby

Slowly pivoting, my eyes widen when I take in the woman before me. Honey eyes. Black curly hair tied back from her face. Deep chocolate skin that makes her smile that much more dazzling.

“Charmaine?”

She grins. “I thought that was you.”

I drop the parchment, pulling her into my arms, and that’s when I realize there is something different about her. She’s pregnant!

“I didn’t think you worked at this shop anymore.”

She gives me a half shrug as she rests her hand on her belly. It looks subconscious, and it makes me wonder how far along she is. Her bump is fairly large, but some women carry lower. I know Layla looked eight months pregnant at only three while I barely showed until I was nearly in labor.

“I don’t. Not really.” Her eyes cast around the room, and when she comes back to me, it seems to hit her. “What are you doing back in the city?”

I grin, biting my lip. I almost feel guilty to be so happy, knowing that she was a slave just looking to survive when we last saw each other. But maybe she is happy now, too?

“I moved back.” I suck in a deep breath. “I’m marrying a dark elf.”

Her jaw drops, and I blush furiously. “Likethedark elf?”

I nod. “The very one.”

I can see the questions dancing in her eyes. There is so much to explain, but I decide to tell her as concisely as I can. “He didn’t die at war. And now that I know that, he’s asked me to marry him.”

“I’m glad to see you were safe,” she says softly, taking me in. “Did you find what you were looking for?”

I take her hand. “Thank you for getting me out. I was able to raise my little girl safely and find a great friend that brought me back. I don’t know what would have become of me without you.”

Her eyes shine, and I pull her into another tight hug – a side hug, of course. When I pull back, I decide to take a chance. “What about you? Any future…” My eyes dart down and back up. “Plans?”

Charmaine chuckles softly, even as a sadness clouds her eyes. “I do have some happiness coming to me, I believe. A family, like I’ve always wanted.”

“Yeah?”

Teasingly, she pats her belly. “I’m sure you haven’t noticed, but I’m pregnant.”

I make a show of looking shocked. “You? No!”

We both giggle, knowing that it is painfully obvious. Finally she says, “It’s not a happy ending like yours, but I think it’s what I need.”

“A human?” I venture, thinking she means that she isn’t able to escape her slavery like I was. She could still be happy, but I know it would be a hard marriage. They would have little, and I almost offer to help. Demethys wouldn’t mind.

“No,” she says before I do. “I’m afraid I am much in the same boat as you.”

I gasp softly. “A dark elf.”

Her features soften into a frown as she nods. “One that I did not lose to battle, but to his caste.”

It makes my heart sink as she says it. I know many women face this. Dark elves who do not want to take care of their ‘toys,’ who value their castes and appearances over anything else.

“Well, I can tell you that having a child is more fulfilling than a mate.” I hope she doesn’t see through my words. I love Adelaide with all my heart, but I wouldn’t give up Demethys for anything.

She snorts. “You don’t have to discount your happiness for my misfortune.” She pats her belly again. “I am happy with the hand the gods dealt me.”

“Maybe, sometime we can–”

“Harper.”

We both freeze as she turns to face whoever called her. She turns slowly, her posture rigid as I spot a tall dark elf standing at the base of the stairs behind the main counter. He must own the shop. I know most have apartments and offices above the shop floor, and it seems that’s where he has come from.

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