Page 32 of The Dark Elf's Surprise Baby

Four.

She’s four.

A grin splits across my face.

She’s mine.

“...Demethys?”

I turn to Kerym and slap him on the shoulder, hard enough that he winces visibly. “What wonderful news.”

He chokes out a small noise. “Is it? What is going on with you?”

“Nothing.” I set my glass down and breathe out slowly. “Nothing at all.”

“You’re acting strange. Do you know that woman?”

“Sort of.”

It’s the only thing I’ll say for now. Until I know for sure why Harper felt the need to leave my estates, pregnant with my child growing in her belly, then I’m not saying anything more. I trust Kerym with my life, but I don’t need him going back home tonight to his mate and telling her anything.

Not before I have a chance to talk to Harper myself and get to the bottom of things.

My child. Mydaughter.

I have a daughter.

By the Thirteen, this is the best news I’ve heard in forever.

15

DEMETHYS

WHY DID SHE LEAVE?

The words trip through my mind over and over again. Over and over again, until I can see the words swimming across my visual spectrum.

Harper had my baby. She loved me. So why did she leave?

Looking at her, my face grows warm, and my breathing becomes shallow. I lift a finger to shift the placement of my collar as it becomes more and more difficult to breathe.

Why did she leave?

My attention turns to the girl. My child.

She is beautiful, a delicate little thing, with fine blonde hair and porcelain skin.

My child.

I try to take several deep breaths, though my lungs feel as though someone has poured desert sand into them.

My head spins and my heart beats on more sluggishly than it ever has before.

Next to me, Kerym hasn’t noticed the joy and distress that is twisting around me. Instead, he stares at both Harper and Adelaide – my daughter – before speaking.

“I only wish that young Jasper had more friends like her.” He says. He takes a sip from a drink that I hadn’t even noticed he had.

My curiosity is piqued at the statement.

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