My Baby Daddy Isn’t Human

Elion lounged in the big armchair by the window, legs crossed and face blank, the book Vampires: 10,001 Facts and Myths open on his lap. He ended up reading a chapter titled Legends of the Bloodline.

"…and according to this, the so-called 'Monarch of Midnight' could summon an army of shadows with nothing more than a drop of their own blood. Ridiculous," Elion muttered under his breath, his brow furrowed as his fingers lightly traced the edge of the page.

Without realizing it, his usually flat tone gained a hint of intrigue. He lingered on each word, occasionally pausing to scoff or smirk at the descriptions. "Silver burns their skin instantly? Whoever wrote this really had an overactive imagination."

From the bed, Raelynn stirred, her voice breaking through the quiet. "Is that you actually… enjoying the book?"

Elion's head snapped up, and for a moment, his composure slipped. He hastily closed the book, his long fingers wrapping tightly around its cover. "You're awake," he said, setting the book aside on the small table next to him.

"I am," Raelynn replied with a groggy smile. Her hair was slightly disheveled, her cheeks flushed from the warmth of her blankets. She propped herself up on one elbow, watching him with a teasing glint in her eyes. "And I could've sworn I saw you looking pretty into it."

Elion raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "Hardly. Just passing the time. It's not like there's anything else to do while you sleep."

Before Raelynn could respond, the door creaked open, and Sloane entered with a tray of steaming tea and a small dish of biscuits. Her light footsteps and soothing presence seemed to make the room feel brighter. "Hello, you two" she greeted, setting the tray on a side table. Her gaze shifted between Raelynn and Elion, a curious smile tugging at her lips. "What's this? A little book club?"

Raelynn laughed softly. "I had Elion read to me—it's that vampire book Axel got for me." She gestured vaguely toward the book. "You know, 10,001 facts or something."

Her eyebrows lifted in surprise as she glanced at Elion, now stiff in his seat. "You? Reading that? I thought you hated those kinds of things," she teased, pouring a cup of tea.

"He does," Raelynn chimed in with a grin. "But I caught him enjoying it. He even sounded invested."

Elion leaned back, his expression neutral. "It's poorly researched. Someone ought to correct the author."

Sloane chuckled as she handed a cup to Raelynn. "Oh, I'd love to hear what corrections you've made." She pulled over another chair, settling in with her own tea. "Go on, Elion. Share some of your wisdom."

Elion shot her a pointed look, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward. "It's not wisdom—it's common sense. Half the entries in this book are laughable. Garlic? Please. I'd love to meet the person who decided that seasoning would repel anyone, let alone a vampire."

Raelynn laughed, nearly spilling her tea. "Wait, are you saying garlic doesn't work? Should I cancel my anti-vampire kit?"

Sloane leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Oh, definitely. And don't bother with holy water either," she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Raelynn squinted at her. "You're both awfully opinionated about this. Makes me wonder if you're secretly vampires yourselves."

For a split second, an awkward silence hung in the air. Then Sloane burst into laughter, shaking her head. "If I were a vampire, I'd have far better taste in tea," she joked, holding her cup like royalty.

Elion let out a low chuckle, though his posture remained a little too stiff. "You'd also have to give up basking in the sun, Sloane. A tragedy, really."

Raelynn smiled, though her gaze lingered on Elion. There was something about the way he spoke—so certain, almost as if… No, she shook the thought away.

Sloane reached for the book, her fingers brushing its worn leather cover. The title, embossed in faded gold, caught the light: Vampires: 10,001 Facts and Myths. "Alright, let me take over. I don't want to hear Elion's monotone delivery anymore."

Elion raised an eyebrow but made no move to stop her. "Be my guest," he said dryly.

Sloane flipped to a random page and cleared her throat dramatically. "Chapter 14: Ancient Monarchs of the Night." Her voice was lively, dripping with playful exaggeration. "In the hidden courts of the vampire clans, the rulers were said to possess unparalleled power, able to command their subjects with a single word."

Raelynn listened intently, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Sounds intense. Were there really courts like that?"

Sloane smirked, glancing at Elion. "Who knows? Maybe they're still out there. Hiding in plain sight."

Raelynn rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. If vampires were real, I think we'd know by now."

As Sloane continued reading, Raelynn found herself oddly drawn to the descriptions of secret clans and ancient rituals. Her fingers toyed with the edge of her blanket as she listened, her mind wandering to strange, vivid dreams she couldn't quite remember.

Sloane mumbled softly to herself while turning the pages, her words too quiet to hear. "She's asking all the right questions."

Elion's gaze snapped to her, his expression hardening. He answered softly, "Not yet," making sure Raelynn didn't catch the words.

Yawning softly, Raelynn's eyes fluttered, struggling to stay open. Sloane closed the book with a satisfied sigh. "Well, that was a productive day," she said, standing up and stretching.

Raelynn smiled sleepily. "Thanks for the entertainment." Her gaze shifted to Elion. "And thanks for putting up with me."

Elion offered her a tiny, barely noticeable smile. "Rest now. You'll need your strength."

As Raelynn drifted off, the room fell into a quiet stillness. Elion watched her for a moment before glancing at Sloane. They glanced at each other, communicating without a word.

"Keep an eye on her," Elion murmured, his words carrying a weight that didn't match his earlier attitude.

Sloane gave a serious nod. "Always."