The Dark Elf’s Surprise Baby (Secret Babies For Prothekan Dark Elves Book 2)

“Demethys,” Kerym’s hand gripped my shoulder. “What’s going on with you?”

I shake my head, not able to find the words.

“You have me worried, friend.” He tells me. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

That’s because I believe I have. But admitting that to someone, let alone a close friend, is too embarrassing to bear. He would not only think I’m crazy and lost it, but that I need to be checked out by a medic in case some kind of psychosis has set in.

And what if it has?

“I, ah.” I stutter. “The lady in green. Did you see where she went?”

I have to check for myself—make sure that the ghost of my haunted past is actually just that and not actually Harper in the flesh. I wouldn’t be able to bear it if it were really her and after all this time, she’s come back.

“Mmm. A lady in green…” Kerym looks around thoughtfully.

“Yes, a green dress. Dirty blonde hair, perhaps?”

My heart pounds at the small description of Harper. It’s a bit dark in here with the romantic lighting, so I could’ve been mistaken, but it’s the only other description I can come up with that he may recognize.

“I’m sorry, Demethys. I didn’t see anyone recently with that description.”

I sigh to myself and nod. Just as well. I wouldn’t want to harass some poor woman simply trying to enjoy the party who just so happens to resemble the only woman I’ve ever loved.

I turn and nudge Kerym away from me, giving me room to head over to the large table of drinks and refresh my empty glass for a new one. The alcohol is bitter as it hits my tongue and burns as it travels down my throat.

It wasn’t my intention to come here tonight and get completely trashed, but forcing myself to stay here while my heart is on the floor and sober sounds like absolute torture. I down another glass and turn to grab a fourth.

“Woah.” Kerym blinks at me. “You sure are lively tonight.”

It’s his subtle way of telling me to slow down. But I ignore the words in favor of drinking from my new glass. He can stand there and judge me all he wants, he has no idea what it feels like to lose someone precious and to be constantly reminded of them each and every day.

He has a perfect life and a perfect mate and son to be proud of. My jealousy and envy for it is a hard thing to stamp down, even when I’m not in my more foul moods.

I should’ve never come here tonight. It’s only made my loneliness feel that much more isolating.

Surrounded by happy couples and singles looking for a bed to warm tonight when all I want to do is go home and curl up in my own bed and dream of my sweet surri.

My throat tightens, making it hard for me to breathe.

“Oh,” Kerym’s shoulder bumps against mine. “Is that who you were talking about? That woman in the green dress?”

My eyes lift to where he’s nodded his head and for the second time in my life, my world stops spinning.

The woman in green, hand in hand with a small child, steps back into the hall. Her long dirty blonde hair cascades around her face and down her shoulders in elegant waves. The dress she wears, a dark emerald green, compliments her ivory skin. She looks soft and beautiful under the shimmering magic overhead.

She turns her head, her eyes scanning around the room.

Harper.

It…

It’s really her.

Kerym laughs. “She’s quite the beauty, isn’t she? She’s a friend of Layla’s, actually.”

“Oh?” I breathe out, not being able to take my eyes off of her.

She crosses through the crowd of people collecting in the center of the hall, Layla leading her over to a large table full of desserts while both children cheer loudly.

“Yes. She’s from Zerva and is staying with us for a little while. We’re helping her get back on her feet.”

I swallow thickly, my glass of alcohol all but forgotten in my hand.

“I-I see.”

“She’s a lovely woman,” Kerym crosses his arms over his chest. “She and Layla have become close friends. It’s nice for my mate to have someone else around to keep her company. And the kids play together, so that’s always a bonus.”

Kids.

My eyes dart down to the small child that is lifted off of the ground by Harper and balanced over the table. Her little finger points to one of the desserts on top—a small cake from the looks of it.

As Harper sets her down, she reaches over and plucks it off of the display, bending down to get eye level with the little girl to feed her a small piece.

“She… has a daughter?”

“Mmm, Adelaide. Sweet little girl and she plays well with Jasper.”

My heart pounds in my chest, the nest question burning on the tip of my tongue.

Do I dare ask? What if it’s an answer I don’t want to hear?

From here, the child looks human—pale skin, blonde hair and a short stature that is common with human children.

It would break my heart to find out that the real reason Harper ran away was to be with someone else and have a child with them. Perhaps she’d grown tired of waiting for me to constantly come back from my missions. Perhaps she’d grown tired of me in general.

Whatever it was that made her leave my estate without a trace has been ruminating inside of my head for the last four years. To the point that it’s caused me a great deal of agony.

I’ve spent so long searching for her, hoping that it was all one big misunderstanding. But finding her to no avail has only made this ache in my chest grow worse.

And now that I see her with a child that looks just like her?

My hand tenses around the glass.

“Her child…”

I feel Kerym’s eyes on me.

“How old?”

“Oh,” he shrugs. “About four, I believe. Why?”

My entire body goes still.

Four? Did I hear that right?

“You’re sure?”

“Sure… of what? Of the girl’s age?”

“Yes.”

“Well. As far as I know, that’s her age. Why? Demethys, you look pale.”

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. My daughter.

I have a daughter.

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