The Dark Elf’s Surprise Baby (Secret Babies For Prothekan Dark Elves Book 2)
The Dark Elf’s Surprise Baby: Chapter 1

As I work, I hum a tune. I don’t recall where I heard it, nor do I recall the exact tune, but I remember it from years ago, from before I worked for the shop owner.

The tune is something old and it gives me some nostalgia for days gone by. I think my mother hummed it to me but I’ve forgotten what she looks like now.

I’ve been on my own for a long, long time. Since I could remember. I don’t recall my family, if I even had one. I must have had a mother and father at some point but the only thing I clearly remember is working for the shop owner.

But that was a long time ago now too. It was even before I started working for my current master.

I continue to dust the study, trying to get every speck of dust off the bookshelves and the bric-a-brac. It takes a long time before I’m satisfied that all the dust has been eliminated before I move on.

The sun shines in from the window, warming my back as I clean the master’s desk. He’s been gone for days now and now that he’s back I want to make sure that everything is perfect for him.

Even though it’s only been six months, it’s been the best six months of my life. Before now, I was working for a particularly cruel shop owner—one of the k’sheng caste, and he forced me to toil for hours on end, unloading heavy shipments of grain from the docks.

When Master Demethys saw me struggling with a large, heavy bag, he asked me if I would be alright with him purchasing me and giving me a position as a maid in his household.

Of course I said yes! My master at the time was quite unhappy but Master Demethys offered him quite a large sum for me and it seemed to soothe his pain. He let me go willingly and I left with a new master and actual hope for the future for the first time.

That was six months ago now. Working for Master Demethys has been something of a dream. He’s kind and thoughtful and the work I do now is miles easier than what I used to do. I don’t miss it at all. Most of the time the work I do is so light, I feel like I’m not doing enough to earn my keep.

But truth be told, I wouldn’t leave even if I found a position where I could do nothing and get paid.

Because there’s actually a bonus to the whole working for my new master thing.

My master is also my lover.

It didn’t happen right away. He never bought me to put me in the position to make me be his bedmate.

In fact, he spurned my advances at first, worried that I would see it as him taking advantage. But he gave in eventually and he’s the best lover I’ve ever had. Also, practically the only lover I’ve ever had.

Master Demethys sent word this morning that he arrived back from his mission. He’s a miou, one of the soldier class and he’s frequently called away for work.

Apparently he returned this morning at the break of dawn. I’ve been working practically nonstop since I heard the news. I want to make sure that everything is perfect for him.

Even though it’s only been six months since I came to work for him and three months since we became lovers, my life has changed for the better in every way. Even the zagfer servants have welcomed me as part of the household. I never thought I would be lucky enough to replace a family here.

Speaking of family, as I exit the office, Bryrion comes up the steps, carrying freshly laundered bed linens. She’s one of the ones who have made me feel the most welcome here. “Hey, careful,” I tell her. She’s about to lose a pillowcase and I grab it before it can fall.

“Thank you, Harper,” Bryrion smiles. She’s truly one of my best friends here. We share everything and she even knows all about me and Master Demethys. “Still bouncing off the walls?” she asks.

“Yes!” I all but shout. “He’s back! How can I not be excited?” Even though I’m human, everyone here has accepted me.

Mimlai descends the servant stairs, a pile of dirty linens in her arms. “I’ve cleared the bed,” she tells Bryrion.

“Good. We’re going to remake it with clean sheets. Give Darhine the dirty sheets and come back up to help me.”

“I can help,” I offer.

“It’s fine,” Bryrion shakes her head. “I think there’s going to be a grocery order delivered soon. You should sign for it at the back door.”

“Right,” I nod, heading for the kitchens. “I’ll tell Ivrir to start lunch!”

Ivrir is Master Demethys’ manservant and the one in charge of the household. But he’s old so sometimes he takes naps when he’s supposed to be working.

I head into the kitchen and indeed, Ivrir is sitting on a chair next to the fire, eyes shut and nodding off.

Deciding not to bother him, I speak directly to the cook, telling him that everyone is ready for him to start lunch.

The cook begins to work, directing the kitchen staff while I wait next to the back door for the errand boy to knock and deliver the groceries.

“You’re late,” I tell him teasingly. Fythed, the errand boy, rolls his eyes at me.

“I heard that your master is back today from his mission,” he says.

“Yes he is,” I confirm. “Do you have any ijanos blossoms in your cart?”

“I do,” he nods. “I can give you a dozen for ten daler.”

“Ten daler!” I stare at him. “That’s practically robbery!”

“Take it or leave it,” he shrugs. I sigh, rolling my eyes and pull out my coin purse, giving him the dalers one by one.

“Here, and be grateful that I like you!” I tell him. He chuckles and hands over the flowers before helping me unload the groceries into the kitchen. I fetch Ivrir’s coin purse from his waistcoat and pay him the four jetons for the groceries. “Now scram,” I tease him.

Fythed nods his cap and takes his leave while I carry the flowers into the house.

The ijanos, also called morning glories, are Demethys’ favorite flowers. I bring them into the kitchen and start picking off the dead leaves and cutting the stems. This was the first flower he gave me, back when he asked to court me. He wanted to prove he was serious about me and that it wasn’t just a quick roll in the hay for him.

Once the flowers are cleaned and cut, I grab a heavy crystal vase and take it with me into the front entryway, arranging the flowers inside so they’re the first thing Master Demethys will see when he walks in.

I’m just in the middle of arranging them when suddenly a hand snakes around my waist. I gasp, smiling as I slap it away.

“Let me go,” I say with a giggle. The person behind me hums thoughtfully before leaning in and kissing my neck, inhaling my scent.

“You always smell so good,” they say in a hoarse voice. Lumiolas take flight in my belly, making it feel like I’m being lit up from the inside.

“It’s because I use fresh rirzed soap,” I tell them. “Hands off.”

“Hmm. I don’t want to,” they say. I smile. I know exactly who it is. “But maybe I can trade you. A kiss for removing my hands?”

“Ah ah ah!” I tease back. “I’m working. I can’t mess around right now. You shouldn’t be touching me anyway,” I scold in a mock-serious voice.

“And why not?”

“Because we could get in trouble.”

“Ah but there’s no one around,” he points out. It’s true. The kitchen staff are busy making lunch, the other maids are upstairs tidying the rooms and Ivrir is still napping in the kitchen next to the fire.

“True but it’s still improper,” I argue back.

“What if I don’t want to stop?” he whispers in my ear. “What if I want to be close to you, to smell your sweet scent. To feel your warm skin?”

“You flatter me,” I tell him. “But perhaps you should know that I already have a lover.”

“But is he as handsome as me?” he asks.

“More,” I tell him.

“Is he as clever as I?”

“Greater.”

“Ah, but maybe he’s not as strong as me,” he offers.

“He’s got the strength of ten dripir,” I tell him.

“Well how can I possibly compete with such a man!” he says, squeezing me harder to him. “I’ll just have to seduce you away from this other man.”

“No, you must get off me,” I insist. He ignores me, nuzzling my neck and planting brain-melting kisses along it.

I shouldn’t be doing this but it feels so good. Indulging him for another moment, I take a beat before forcefully extracting his hand. “Someone might see us!” I hiss.

He pulls away, facing me. Demethys’ handsome face is exaggerated in mock horror. He puts a hand to his chest. “Oh! You wound me!” he cries out. “It’s as though you’re ashamed of me!”

Demethys pinches my cheeks and I bite my lip, feeling so much affection towards him that it’s almost maddening.

Of course I missed him. He was gone for so many days. And now he’s back and everything is perfect once more.