My Baby Daddy Isn't Human-Chapter 199: On Guard

Reinhart stood rigidly in the dimly lit hallway, his back pressed against the cold stone wall. The faint glow from the sconces along the corridor bathed him in flickering amber light. His gloved hands were clasped behind him, the leather creaking slightly as his fingers flexed unconsciously.

His sharp ears caught every word exchanged between Elion and Sloane. Though his face remained carefully blank, his mind churned with the pieces of information. The vague explanations. The subtle tension in Elion’s voice. The way Sloane’s responses sounded rehearsed rather than genuine.

Reinhart’s gaze remained forward, unfocused on the empty hallway before him. What troubled him the most was the fear laced beneath Elion’s calm facade—fear he was trying desperately to bury.

When the door finally opened, Elion stepped out, closing it quietly behind him. For a brief moment, his silver eyes flicked toward Reinhart, measuring. The silence between them stretched, but Reinhart remained still—a perfect picture of discipline.

"Anything?" Elion asked, his voice low.

"Nothing," Reinhart answered evenly, his face betraying nothing.

Elion nodded slowly, glancing toward the door as if to reassure himself. Without another word, he walked away down the hall. Only when the sound of his footsteps faded did Reinhart’s fingers tighten behind his back, his brow knitting slightly as he returned to his silent vigil.

Raelynn stirred much later into the night, the cool touch of moonlight filtering through the half-drawn curtains. The room was hushed, filled only with the soft crackling of a distant fireplace and the steady rhythm of her own breathing.

Her eyelids fluttered open, and for a moment, she simply stared at the canopy above her. The ache in her stomach had faded, leaving behind a dull memory—one she would rather forget. She shifted beneath the heavy blankets, testing her body. No pain. A small wave of relief washed over her.

Her hand instinctively found her belly, palm pressing lightly over the slight curve.

"Please, kid... don’t do that to me again," she whispered, her voice barely more than breath. "I can’t handle another surprise like that."

A faint smile tugged at her lips, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. There was still a lingering fear curling deep in her chest—a fear she couldn’t quite name.

Slowly, she sat up, pushing the blankets away. The cool night air nipped at her bare arms, sending a small shiver through her. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, her feet brushing against the plush rug. For a moment, she simply sat there, listening to the quiet. Then, with careful movements, she pushed herself to her feet.

Her legs wobbled slightly, but she steadied herself against the bedpost.

"Okay... not so bad," she muttered under her breath.

She padded slowly toward the door, each step cautious. The room seemed larger at night, the shadows stretching along the walls. When she finally reached the door and pulled it open, the hallway’s dim light spilled over her face.

The sight waiting for her made her heart nearly leap out of her chest.

"Ah!"

Reinhart stood just outside, motionless as a statue. His dark eyes snapped toward her at the sound, widening ever so slightly in surprise before quickly masking the reaction.

"God, Raelynn—" His voice sharpened in alarm. "Are you in pain again? I didn’t hear anything."

Raelynn pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm her racing heart. "Gods, Reinhart... you scared me half to death."

"My bad." His posture stiffened, but his gaze swept over her carefully, as if searching for any signs of distress. "I was told to stay nearby... in case something happened."

Raelynn’s brow furrowed. "Elion asked you to guard me?"

Reinhart’s mouth tightened. "Just for a while."

Raelynn glanced down the hall, her fingers brushing against the doorframe. She wanted to argue—to insist she wasn’t some fragile thing that needed constant watching—but the memory of the searing pain earlier still clung to her mind. Maybe... maybe this was necessary.

Instead, she sighed, her voice soft. "I guess that’s... understandable."

Reinhart’s expression flickered, as if he hadn’t expected her to accept the answer so easily. Before he could respond, footsteps echoed from further down the corridor.

Elion.

His presence filled the hallway long before he reached them, his silver eyes gleaming beneath the dim lights. His gaze locked onto Raelynn immediately, flicking over her from head to toe as if confirming she was unharmed.

"What are you doing out of bed?" he asked, his voice quiet but carrying an unmistakable edge.

Raelynn opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Elion had already closed the distance between them. His hand brushed her arm gently, guiding her back toward the room with a touch that was both firm and tender.

"You should be resting."

"I’m fine," she mumbled, but the warmth of his hand against her skin made her limbs feel heavier.

"You fainted earlier." His voice softened as they crossed the threshold back into the room. "I won’t take any risks."

Reinhart lingered in the doorway for only a moment longer before silently retreating, disappearing down the hall without a word. Raelynn watched him go, her brow slightly furrowed.

Elion followed her gaze before gently steering her back toward the bed. "I asked him to stay... just in case."

Raelynn sat down slowly, letting the mattress sink beneath her weight. A small smile played at her lips, though her eyes were distant.

"Save me, huh?" she murmured. "I didn’t know I needed saving."

Elion’s jaw tensed as he pulled the blanket back over her legs. "I won’t let anything happen to you. Not again."

The words were quiet—almost too quiet—but they stirred something deep in Raelynn’s chest. Her gaze flicked up to him, searching.

A small silence stretched between them before she shifted, leaning back against the pillows. Her fingers absently traced over the fabric of the blanket.

"By the way..." Her voice broke the hush, tentative. "About saving me... how did you come so fast earlier? You were already there... before I even called for you."

Elion’s hands froze. The faint flicker of the fireplace caught in his silver eyes. For a moment, he simply stood there—too still.