Page 25 of The Dark Elf's Surprise Baby

Istare out through the window at the fading light over the horizon, the night rapidly coming upon us.

It’s nights like these that remind me of the times I’d spent in my garden, walking and dancing with Harper until our feet were sore and our hearts filled with so much love that it felt as if it would burst through my own chest.

I’d spent so many nights wishing—dreaming—of the day she would come back to me. Hoping that I’d hear her familiar laughter chiming throughout the halls of my own and wander into her bent over cleaning something just like I’d always used to.

My heart aches now, left empty and cold over the last four years since she’s been gone. I still can’t understand it—why she would leave my estate so abruptly when she’d promised me she’d be back here waiting for me to come home.

And with no letters coming in, or word of where she had run off to, I couldn’t help but wonder…

Had it all been a lie? One big ruse in order to wrap her perfect hands around my heart only to rip it out when she saw fit?

No…

No, Harper would never. Shecouldnever.

That is simply the loneliness and heartbreak talking.

Or, at least that’s what I tell myself to get me through the days that have long since grown tiring. My heart over the years has only grown more attached to her, clinging to our wonderful memories and those smiles that haunt my dreams. Nothing feels complete anymore, all of it fleeting now that I no longer have someone to share it with.

“Demethys!” A hard hand comes to slap me on the back of the shoulder. “I’m glad you could make it!”

I turn to look over at my long time friend, Kerym, whose party I am attending tonight. He’d gone all out decorating the hall, beautiful twinkling lights overhead that remind me of the stars right outside the windows, peeking through fluffy looking clouds that subtly trail along the ceiling in lazy motion.

It must’ve taken a lot of magic to fuel something like this, but Kerym isn’t one to skimp out on showing off when it comes to special occasions, such as this one.

A mating ceremony, if I remember correctly.

The word stabs me right in the heart.

Kerym grins at me with a radiant smile that is hard not to mirror. He’s always been a gentle soul, a strange thing for a dark elf to possess, especially with his family’s traditional values, but it had certainly given him quite the advantage when it came to winning over his mate.

Speaking of which…

“How are Layla and the baby?”

Pride shimmers in the dark elf’s eyes. “Not quite a baby anymore. But they are both doing wonderful.”

With a sweep of his arm, Kerym moved away from me to gesture towards the center of the hall to where I can see Layla, his mate, twirling around a little boy. They laugh witheach other, swaying to the orchestral music that swells over the expanse of space surrounding us.

It’s a sight that I can’t look away from, my mind running wild as I imagine myself in Kerym’s shoes, watching his mate and son gleefully play together. I can’t help but think that this could’ve been me, had Harper stayed.

Us, with our own family, together celebrating an anniversary.

It’s a heartbreaking thought that has me downing the rest of the alcohol in my glass and gesturing for one of the waitstaff to come over and refill it immediately.

I don’t catch Kerym’s eyes on me until I’m halfway through the second glass and give myself a proper chance to breathe again.

“You alright?” He asks me, worried.

“Oh.” I clear my throat, and nod towards the party. “It’s beautiful, what you’ve done with the place.”

I’m usually horrible about subtly changing the subject, but Kerym has never been one to call me out on my taurashit. It’s always been attentive like that, knowing when someone wants to move on from a difficult subject without bringing too much attention to it.

That’s what I’ve always appreciated about him.

“Yes, and the food is delicious, isn’t it?”

I force myself to smile, my shoulders easing slightly. “Yes. I’m glad to see you and your family happy.”

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