Page 23 of The Dark Elf's Surprise Baby

After that nightmare, I couldn’t possibly go back to sleep. By the time I allow myself to venture from my room I feel exhausted and drained. I feel as though I’m moving so slowly all morning.

But I have to keep going. I can’t slack off now. I don’t want to work but I push myself to keep going. Ivrir reminds me to take things easy for the sake of the baby. Someone overheard me telling Bryrion and now the whole staff knows.

He insists that I only do light chores and makes one of the other zagfer take up my more heavy cleaning, which makes me anxious. I don’t want anyone to resent me. Bryrion insists that no one is resentful and they’re all just thinking of Master Demethys and how upset he would be if he came back and found out that I wasn’t being looked after.

I accept the help reluctantly but insist I can still do most of the things I did before. I still help with the grocery orders and cleaning Master Demethys’ office and I still tidy his bedroom and help out with any other chores that the servants need assistance with.

It’s important to me that they know I see myself as an equal, and not above any of them. No matter what my status with the master.

I move about, my body feeling sore in many places and uncomfortable. I know my body is changing to accommodate the child but I wish I felt a little better. I stare out the window as I absentmindedly wipe down the window in Demethys’ office, considering laying down for an hour when suddenly someone clears their throat and I startle, nearly falling off the ladder I’m standing on.

“Oh, by the gods, Harper!” Bryrion says, reaching out to help steady me as I climb down, hands protectively over my belly.

“I’m sorry,” I say, voice wavering. Bryrion looks at me with big eyes.

“Don’t apologize,” she shakes her head. “You look shaken up.”

“I shouldn’t be climbing ladders anymore, should I?” I ask, rubbing my belly and sighing.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” I tell her. “Just a little anxious.”

Bryrion looks at me, eyes brimming with unshed tears.

“I promise I’m alright,” I insist, reaching out to run a soothing hand over her arm. “I didn’t fall, see? I’m fine.”

“So you haven’t heard the news yet?” she asks, voice thick. My brows furrow.

“What news?” I ask, heart pounding in my chest. If it’s Demethys, any news is welcome. My stomach is in knots. Bryrion is silent for too long. “What news?” I ask again, voice rising. “Bryrion, what news?”

Bryrion sniffles and wipes her eyes. “Oh gods, Harper. I can’t...I thought Ivrir would have told you.”

“What’s going on?” I demand.

“I’m just worried about you. About the baby. The news came this morning, early. Why didn’t anyone tell you?” she says, sounding nearly hysterical.

“Byrion, please for the Thirteen, please tell me what is going on?”

“It’s Master Demethys,” she says, dropping her voice. “News came from the battlefield. A letter, addressed to Ivrir. Master Demethys died on the battlefield a few days ago.”

“NO!” I scream, clutching at my best friend as I sob. I almost fall but Bryrion holds me up.

“Harper, there’s more,” Bryrion says, cradling me. I can hardly calm down but I sniffle, watching her through tear-filled eyes. “His family wants to sell everything he owns. Including us!”

“No, what?” I ask, blinking and wiping away my tears. “Selling us off? Like we’re a herd of taura?”

“It’s unfair,” she agrees. “But you need to leave. You need to keep his child safe. If they sell you off, who knows what might happen to you both.”

She’s right. They might separate us. They might sell me to an even crueler master than I had before. I can’t stay here and wait for them to decide my fate.

“Thank you, Bryrion,” I tell her, hugging her tightly.

“Go somewhere far away from here. Protect the master’s child,” she says, blinking back more tears.

I nod, understanding where she’s coming from. Even though my heart aches, even though I’ve lost the love of my life, I have to do what’s best for our child. For Demethys’ son or daughter.

If I stay here, I risk getting the child sold off as a zagfer servant—or worse—as a half-human slave. No one would believe they were the child of such a prominent family and half-human children are looked down upon in dark elf society.

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