Page 29 of The Dark Elf's Surprise Baby

“Least they’ll sleep well tonight.” I tell her, spinning around with Addie in my arms.

She giggles, happily clinging to me. The ends of my dress fan out around me, kicking up a soft breeze along my feet when I come to a stop and let it fall back down around my legs. My little agelios grins up at me, her sparkling blue eyes wide with excitement.

It’s the same ones I used to look into when Demethys was still alive. Their vibrant color is one of the only things she inherited from him, other than her eager spirit and giant heart.

“Mama! There’s a cake inside! Can I have some?”

“Oh, I don’t know, my agelios. Don’t you think you’ve had enough sweets for tonight?”

I tickle her belly, delighting in the sound of her high-pitched giggles.

“No!”

“Oh, really.” I tickle her more. “Is that so?”

She giggles again, bending her body backwards far enough that I have to balance her onto my hip in order to keep her from toppling over. I love how fearless she is, but boy is she going to be a force to be reckoned with when she gets older.

I can only imagine the armies she will command with a simple fluttering of her lashes.

“Why don't we head inside and look at the dessert table,” Layla slides me a look. “There’s no harm in window shopping.”

Both of the kids cheer, causing me to snort.

I know this is a clever tactic to get me back into the party and around the single bachelors again, and it is certainly working now that both of the kids are raring to go. I do have to say, Layla is nothing if not persistent in her pursuits.

No wonder she snagged Kerym. His gentle nature never stood a chance.

“Alright, alright.”

I bend and slowly set Addie back down onto her feet, holding out my hand for her to take.

“But only a small treat. That’s it. Or else you’ll be up all night.”

“Yay!” she cheers, tugging at my hand to pull me back to the party.

Layla lets out a small laugh, her and Jasper not far behind us.

As the sounds of the party grow nearer, I can’t help but feel apprehensive again. It’s silly to think that my imagination will run wild enough to create the illusion of Demethys actually being here, but what if I really have lost my mind?

What if I’ve been shattered for so long, that I’ve started hallucinating?

That thought hits me hard, causing me to stop short right before the entrance leading back into the hall.

“Harper?” Layla says, coming up from behind me. “You okay?”

My lips press together as I try not to make it so obvious that I’m having a hard time with this.

But what even is ‘this’ anyway?

“Yeah… yeah I’m fine.” I rub my hand over my forehead. “Just a headache.”

“Well, let’s get you some food and water. That will help.”

Moving around me, and with Jasper still in her arms, she heads through the entrance and back into the party, looking over her shoulder at me expectantly.

I breathe out slowly before stepping inside.

All I need to do is relax and not let my mind wander.

---