My Baby Daddy Isn’t Human

Raelynn stirred slightly, groaning as the faint noise of footsteps reached her ears. Morning had arrived, and thankfully, the nightmare didn't return when she fell back asleep. Her body still felt weak, but the dull ache had lessened compared to the night before.

"Good morning," Sloane's cheery voice broke through the quiet. Entering the room, she carried the tray as smoothly as ever. Behind her, Hera followed, carrying fresh clothes and a towel.

Raelynn blinked slowly, her voice hoarse as she managed a weak, "Morning."

Sloane gave her a warm smile as she approached. "How are you feeling today? A little better, I hope?"

"Better than yesterday," Raelynn admitted, even though she still felt completely drained.

Hera stepped forward, her gentle hands helping Raelynn sit up. "Let's get you changed and freshened up first."

It took a bit of effort, but with Hera's help, Raelynn slipped into some soft, comfy pajamas. The fabric was soft against her skin, and the change, though minor, made her feel a little more human. After that, Sloane helped her eat the plain but filling breakfast of porridge and fruit, then gave her the medicine.

Once the routine was done, Raelynn sighed heavily, leaning back against the pillows. "Back to bed again," she muttered, her tone tinged with boredom.

Sloane chuckled lightly, tucking the blanket around her. "Rest is the best medicine for now. You need it."

Raelynn rolled her eyes but said nothing, watching as Sloane and Hera left the room after bidding her farewell.

Elion, who had been quietly sitting by the window, finally stood and approached the bed. He seemed as cool as always, but his look lingered on her more than usual.

"You can't sit still, can you?" he said, his arms folded as he watched her.

"Of course, I'm restless!" Raelynn exclaimed, throwing up her hands weakly. "Even patients in hospitals get some form of entertainment. All I can do here is stare at the ceiling."

Elion let out a soft sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're supposed to rest, not entertain yourself. That's the whole point."

Raelynn narrowed her eyes at him. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one stuck here, doing nothing!"

His eyebrow went up, and he clearly wasn't impressed. "I'm the one sitting here, making sure you don't get worse."

"Oh, so noble of you," she shot back "Fine. If you're going to just sit there, at least make yourself useful."

Elion gave her a skeptical look. "Useful how?"

"Why don't you read me something?" Raelynn said, tilting her chin up stubbornly.

He gave her a flat look. "Read? What am I, a storyteller?"

"I'd do it myself," Raelynn retorted, "but every time I try to focus on words, the letters start dancing around. So, congratulations, you've been promoted to my personal storyteller."

Elion looked at her for a while before letting out a tired sigh. "Fine. What do you want me to read?"

Raelynn gestured toward the bedside table. "There's a book in the drawer. Get it for me."

He walked over to the table, muttering under his breath. "If it's some sappy romance novel, I swear—"

"It's not that one!" Raelynn interrupted quickly. "It's the other one. Vampires: 10,001 Facts and Myths."

Elion paused, his fingers hovering above the drawer as if caught off guard. Slowly, he turned his head to look at her, one eyebrow raised. "That one?"

"Yes, that one."

He opened the drawer and pulled out the book. The book was thick, wrapped in dark leather with silver lettering that shimmered in the light. The shiny gold on the page edges made the book feel both fancy and mysterious.

"This?" Elion held it up, his tone laced with skepticism. "I thought you only borrowed that fluffy romance nonsense."

Raelynn shrugged. "Axel picked this one for me, so I thought, why not give it a shot?"

When Axel's name came up, Elion's jaw clenched just a bit. His fingers gripped the book a little too firmly, though Raelynn couldn't be sure if it was just her fevered imagination playing tricks on her.

"Axel, huh?"

Raelynn narrowed her eyes. "Is there a problem?"

"No," he replied as he sat down, putting the book in her lap before meeting her eyes.

"Are you going to read it, or do I have to beg?" Raelynn teased, though she couldn't help but notice the slight tension in his movements.

Elion sighed dramatically, pulling a chair closer to the bed and flipping open the book. "Fine. Let's see what kind of nonsense this is."

He cleared his throat and began to read the opening passage.

"'For centuries, vampires have been both feared and revered. Myths paint them as monsters, while history records them as enigmatic beings shrouded in mystery. Their origins are as elusive as their existence, leaving behind only fragments of their legacy.'"

Raelynn raised an eyebrow. "That's oddly poetic for a fact book."

He continued, "'One of the most persistent myths is their weakness to sunlight. While many accounts agree that prolonged exposure weakens them, it is not the fiery death depicted in fiction.'"

Raelynn couldn't help herself. "So, no sparkling?"

Elion gave her a flat look. "Do you want me to stop reading?"

"Sorry, sorry," she said quickly, biting back a laugh. "Please, continue."

He turned the page, his eyes scanning the text. "'Vampires possess heightened senses, unparalleled strength, and natural connection to the dark. Their need for blood, often romanticized in modern culture, is an essential sustenance rather than a sinister desire.'"

As the minutes passed, Raelynn found herself relaxing, the tension in her body easing as Elion's voice carried her through the text. Her eyelids grew heavier, the words blurring together as her medication began to take effect.

"Elion…"

He stopped reading and looked at her, his gaze softer now.

"What is it?"

"Do you… believe in stuff like this?" Her words were slurred, her exhaustion making her sound like a child asking a bedtime question.

Elion's lips twitched in a faint smile. "What about you?"

But Raelynn didn't answer. She had already drifted off, her breathing slow and steady as sleep claimed her once more.

Elion closed the book gently, setting it aside. For a moment, he simply watched her. Then he leaned back in his chair, letting out a quiet sigh.

His words were barely above a whisper as he murmured, "Some things are closer than you realize."