Page 38 of Plaything of the Dark Elf

Etheron

Iwake up with a slight weight on my chest. Gazing down, I see Dalia’s sleeping body over mine. Seeing her like this brings so much warmth to my heart.

She’s probably exhausted, so I don’t want to wake her just yet. Last night, I entered her room and slipped into her bed, despite her soft protests that she was too tired. I didn’t listen, I wanted her too much.

I’m afraid I kept her up for too long. We lasted for hours with few breaks in between, so she deserves this rest.

Gently, I brush the back of my hand across her cheek. There’s a faint glow to her skin, which makes her look ethereal. She’s stunning. I can look at her for hours and never get tired. I want to stay like this forever, but knowing that’s not possible, I cherish these small moments and tuck them away towards the back of my mind. That’s where I keep my fondest memories.

Thinking back on last night, I realize that I was angry. Not with her, but with myself. Due to my frustrations and my inability to recognize my emotions, I left her behind with those servants who mistreated her. Without my consent, they abused her, doing things to her body that I don’t even want to think about lest I get angry again.

I sigh, closing my eyes and pulling her a little closer. Her warm body snuggles against mine and she lets out a small, content sigh against my chest. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.

I underestimated the hate dark elves have for humans. Like a fool, I believed that she would be able to coexist silently with the rest of my servants. Even though servants wield no power, I’ve seen firsthand the things they are willing to do to a human. They will crush them like bugs underneath their thumbs, if given the chance.

Now, I know not to make a mistake like that again. I won’t let them get to Dalia. She’s too precious to hurt.

Not only that, but there’s something about her that distinguishes her from the rest of the humans I’ve encountered. There’s a light in her eyes that doesn’t seem to go out, no matter the circumstances she’s living through. She possesses a will that’s strong, one that propels her forward. What other human could survive days of torture at the hands of dark elves with their sanity in tact?

What lingers with me is her plea for mercy. Even though those dark elves hurt her, she asked for clemency. She didn’t want to see them killed for what they did to her, which is stunning.

My kind is known for crushing our enemies with our bare hands or with our magic, if need be. I don’t think I’ve met someone who wants mercy for their enemies. It’s a foreign concept. When someone hurts me, I want to tear their heart out of their chest. It’s only natural.

Not for Dalia, though. Instead, she is willing to stand by my side despite everything that has happened to her within the confines of my mansion. What have I done to deserve such a beautiful creature, laying in my arms like this?

There’s so much more to her than her beauty and her smart mouth, though. She inflames the child-like curiosity in my heart. I want to know more about her, every single detail. I have an urge to speak to her and understand why she thinks the way she does. Why does she accept me, even though I’m a dark elf and she’s a human? Matches like this are often frowned upon, but I don’t care and neither does she.

I can learn so much about her if I just ask, so that’s what I want to do. I’m willing to sit with her for hours, listening to her speak about the things that she’s passionate about. I’d do anything to see that same light in her eyes twinkle whenever she talks.

My heart yearns for her. That’s what I’m realizing. I have no plans to fight this feeling because I’m starting to like this sensation. What is this? Is this what it feels like to fall in love with someone?

Perhaps, I’m jumping to conclusions far too soon. What if Dalia doesn’t feel the same way for me?

A pang strikes my heart. It seems as if my body physically rejects that thought. I don’t want it to be true.

Dalia stirs, eyes fluttering open. In seconds, she realizes that she’s on top of me. Naked. She gasps quietly and gazes around the room before noticing me, staring down at her with a soft smile on my face. She’s a cute little thing.

“What…?” Dalia tries pushing herself up, but I pull her towards me and make her lose her balance. “Have you been watching me this whole time?”

“Ever since I woke up, yes.”

“And how long was that?”

I shrug. Dalia’s cheeks turn red and she hides her face. She presses her face against my chest and tugs the blankets tighter around her body. I can feel her warmth.

Laughing softly, I kiss her temple and wrap an arm around her torso.

“You don’t need to feel embarrassed around me. I’ve seen your body countless times already.”

“Yes, but…” Dalia hesitates. “This is intimate. It’s not what I was expecting.”

“I hope you don’t mind it too much, then. That’s how things are going to be from now on between us.”

Dalia raises her head slightly to look at me.

“Moving forward, I want to be more gentle with you. I’ve realized that you’ve suffered a lot during your stay here and I’d like to make it up to you. You deserve better than the treatment you’ve received and that’s my fault.”

Her mouth falls open slightly. “Are you serious?”

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