Page 25 of The Dark Elf's Secret Baby

I don’t know who this one will be – and that’s what scares me the most. I came here to protect Jasper, and I fear that I am not going to be able to do that soon.

Unlike me, a human who is meant for work, Jasper is seen as an abomination on most of Protheka. He’s a ‘mixed breed’ as I’ve heard some people say. I will do anything to ensure his safety, but there’s not many places I can take him where we won’t be in danger.

And I really don’t want to leave this home behind. The only place I’ve ever found peace.

Still, I have to think of my son, and I know that if it comes to it, I will get him out of there. Just in case, I’ll start packing this afternoon while I have the time.

My head tips back to check the sun tracking across the sky. It’s hitting right above, which means it's midday. Time for us to go.

“Jas, are you ready to go home?”

He looks out across the water, and then back at me. I know he loves to fish, so, to sweeten the deal, I add, “Adelaide is going to come over.”

At that, his eyes light up, and I chuckle as he pulls his pole from the water and scrambles toward me. I hand him a small basket with ice and his fish to carry, and he puffs his chest out proud as I collect the rest of our product and bait. It was a good day for fishing, as if the currents were steering them all here, and we have a basket nearly overflowing.

“Come.”

I settle a hand between his shoulder blades as we walk forward to the overseer’s station. Even from here, I can see Olias standing watch over the docks. He’s an older elf, and he’s soft on the kids, even my Jasper.

“Jas!” He shouts as we approach. “You came to help your mama today?”

“Yes!” Jasper puffs out his chest and thrusts his hands forward. Any other dark elf would take the fish and reprimand me – probably punish me – for stealing.

But Olias just squats down and examines the fish like it’s the most fascinating thing in the world. “Wow. That’s a mighty fine fish. Did you catch it all by yourself?” When Jasper nods, Olias’s eyes blow wide. “Incredible.”

I chuckle under my breath and Olias turns his soft smile on me. “Good turn out today, Layla?”

I heave the basket on the counter. “Over the quota.”

“Glad to hear it.” He weighs it and marks it down. “Have a nice rest of the afternoon.”

As we step away from the station, I take Jasper’s pole so I can hold his free hand. He’s babbling on about how much fun he had, half the words I can’t even make out, but I’m smiling. I’m so glad he’s happy.

But just before we make it off the docks, a loud commotion sounds. Dark elves are shouting, humans are being ushered away, and I turn around to see a massive ship approaching. That must be the Lieutenant. And he’s early.

I waver in place. I’m tempted to stay here, to get a glimpse as they anchor the ship to the dock and lay out the gangplank. I just want to see who the Lieutenant is, to see how he treats people as he comes in.

But I don’t want Jasper to be spotted. I fear for any outsider to meet him, and I do not trust a Lieutenant to not hurt my son.

Jasper, though, has a different idea. He jerks out of my hand before I have a chance to turn us away, and darts forward. He’s babbling insistently, pointing at the ship as he weaves between people trying to get home.

“Jasper!” I call, but he’s too interested in the ship. I’m practically shoving people out of the way to get to him.

Before he gets too close to the pier that the dark elves are unloading to, I sweep him. Both poles are still in one hand, his basket with his fish pressed between us as I hold him with my free arm.

“You cannot run off like that! You could fall in the water or get hurt!”

Jasper’s eyebrows pinch together. “Sorry,” he mumbles, his bottom lip poking out, and I almost fold right there. He looks too damn cute.

“Don’t ever do that again,” I conclude, deciding that I’m not going to chide him too much for being interested in a ship. I don’t want to diminish his excitement, especially not so young.

“Wow,” someone says behind me as I go to start toward our house.

“He’s…young.”

“And handsome.”

I turn around slowly to see, my curiosity overwhelming me. And a small part of me wishes I hadn’t.