My Baby Daddy Isn’t Human

Raelynn sat cross-legged in the oversized armchair tucked in the farthest corner of the library, a thick novel open in her lap. But she hadn't turned the page in over twenty minutes. Her thoughts were hopelessly entangled, spiraling around a singular, absurd incident: the accidental kiss with Elion.

She leaned her head against the chair's soft backrest, letting out a frustrated groan. "What is wrong with me?" she muttered under her breath.

One kiss, and her heart still refused to settle. She slapped the book shut, startling herself with the sharp sound. "We have a baby together!" she hissed, as if scolding her unruly emotions. "He's seen me naked! I've seen him naked! And now—" She groaned again, dropping her head into her hands. "A little lip brush, and I'm acting like a teenager."

Raelynn peeked out from between her fingers and spotted a stack of books she'd abandoned earlier in her attempt to distract herself. With a huff, she stood, smoothing down her skirt. "Focus, Raelynn. Books. Not… whatever this is."

Raelynn exhaled loudly, clearly fed up, rubbing her temples as if that might somehow calm the storm in her mind. All I wanted was to look at his eyes up close, she thought, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks again. Those annoying, glowing red eyes that kept her awake, but they were nowhere to be seen. How was she supposed to know her legs would betray her at the worst possible moment?

She groaned again, sinking deeper into the chair. But no, my ridiculous stumble had to ruin everything, she mulled it over in silence. First, her ankle wobbled, then her knees decided to give up entirely, and before she knew it, she was colliding with Elion in the most embarrassing way possible.

"Guess I need Sloane to check my leg. My feet have a knack for getting me into trouble—first the lake, now this."

Meanwhile, in his study, Elion was having his own battle. He stared blankly at the documents spread across his desk. His pen hovered uselessly over the paper as he replayed the moment Raelynn's lips had brushed against his. His hand dropped to the desk with a thud, and he muttered a quiet curse.

"This is ridiculous," he said aloud, pushing back his chair and standing abruptly. "I'm acting like a fool."

He began pacing the length of the room, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. But the more he paced, the more restless he became. Giving up, he walked to the door and left the study, deciding a walk around the estate might help clear his head.

His feet carried him with no particular destination in mind, until a faint sound from the library caught his attention. Curious, he approached and pushed the door open.

There she was.

Raelynn was perched on a ladder, one hand gripping the side for balance while the other stretched for a book just out of reach.

Raelynn glanced over her shoulder, her eyes widening when she saw him. The ladder wobbled slightly, and she gripped it tighter. "Oh! I didn't see you there."

Elion blinked, regaining his composure. "I didn't mean to startle you," he said, his voice steady despite the way his heart had suddenly picked up its pace.

"It's fine," she replied, her tone light but a little too high-pitched to be entirely casual.

Elion stepped further into the room, his gaze never leaving her. "Are you… sure that's safe?"

Raelynn scoffed, though her grip on the ladder tightened. "I'm perfectly fine. I've climbed ladders before, you know."

As soon as the words left her mouth, the ladder gave another wobble, this one feeling more dangerous. Elion's eyes widened. "Raelynn—"

Before he could finish, the ladder tipped slightly, and Raelynn let out a small yelp as she lost her balance. Elion surged forward, his arms outstretched. She tumbled into him, the impact knocking them both to the ground in a heap of tangled limbs.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

"Are you okay?" Elion asked in panic.

Raelynn scrambled to her feet, her face flushed with embarrassment. "I'm fine! Totally fine! I'm so sorry!" She brushed imaginary dust off her clothes, her movements hurried and awkward.

Elion sat up slowly, rubbing the back of his head where it had bumped the floor. "You have a knack for falling into me," he said dryly, his lips quirking up in a faint smirk.

Raelynn's cheeks burned hotter. "It's not on purpose!"

Elion's smirk softened into a more genuine smile, but before he could say anything else, a shadow crossed his expression. His eyes focused, and he stood up quickly.

"Wait, what—" was all she managed before Elion picked her up effortlessly, cradling her in his arms.

Her eyes widened in shock. "Elion! What are you doing?"

"We're going to see Sloane," he said firmly, already heading toward the door.

"What? Why?"

Elion glanced down at her, his expression deadly serious. "You just fell. We need to make sure you and the baby are okay."

Raelynn blinked, her mind racing. "Elion, it wasn't even that bad! I didn't hit the ground hard. And I landed on you!"

Without saying a word, he kept his face firm and focused.

"Elion, seriously, I'm fine!"

He glanced at her again, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and something else she couldn't quite place. "Humor me," he said simply.

Raelynn sighed, realizing there was no point in arguing. She leaned her head against his shoulder, her frustration giving way to a small smile. "You're such a drama king, you know?"

"Possibly," Elion replied, his voice a bit more relaxed, though the worry in his eyes hadn't completely faded.

As they exited the library, Raelynn caught sight of their reflection in a nearby mirror. Her flushed face and his determined expression made for quite a sight. She let out a soft laugh.

"What's so funny?" Elion asked, glancing down at her.

"Nothing," she said, shaking her head. "Just… thanks, I guess."

He raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

"For always catching me when I fall," she said, her voice quiet but sincere.

A faint, barely-there smile tugged at his lips before he kept moving.