Page 46 of Witch Way to the Diapers

Sayer groaned, shaking his head. “I thought we agreed never to speak of the squirrel incident again.”

Fia perked up, her curiosity piqued. “Oh no, you have to tell me this story!”

As Posey launched into a hilarious tale involving a young Sayer, a misguided shapeshifting attempt, and a very angry mother squirrel, Fia felt a wave of contentment wash over her.

“Look, Vienna,” Fia cooed, pointing to a group of glowing butterflies that fluttered by. “Aren’t they pretty?”

Vienna giggled, reaching out to try and catch the magical insects. Her laughter was infectious, drawing smiles from passersby.

As they wandered through the festival, Fia’s guard began to lower. The atmosphere was so joyful, so filled with light and love, that it seemed impossible for anything to go wrong.

That’s when she noticed the woman with the glowing balloon.

At first glance, there was nothing remarkable about her. Just another festival-goer, enjoying the sights. But something about the way she watched them made the hair on the back of Fia’s neck stand up.

Before Fia could voice her concerns, the woman approached, a friendly smile on her face. “What a beautiful child,” she said, her voice oddly familiar. “Would she like a special balloon?”

Vienna’s eyes lit up at the sight of the glowing orb, its surface shimmering with swirling colors. Fia hesitated, her instincts screaming that something was wrong.

But in that moment of hesitation, Vienna reached out, her tiny fingers brushing the balloon’s surface.

There was a flash of light, a rush of wind, and suddenly, Vienna was gone.

“Vienna!” Fia screamed, her arms suddenly, horribly empty. “Vienna!”

Sayer roared, his eyes flashing gold as his lion surged to the surface. Posey whirled around, her eyes scanning the crowd.

But the woman with the balloon had vanished, taking Vienna with her.

Panic clawed at Fia’s throat as she spun in circles desperately searching for any sign of her niece. “Please,” she begged the startled onlookers. “My baby, she’s gone. Someone took her!”

The festival ground erupted into chaos. Sayer shifted partially, his muscles bulging as he prepared to give chase. Posey was already on her phone, alerting the authorities.

“Fia!” Ivy’s voice cut through the noise. She pushed through the crowd, Daisy and Sera hot on her heels. “What happened?”

Through tears, Fia explained about the woman and the balloon. Realization dawned on Ivy’s face. “A transportation spell,” she muttered. “Clever, but we can track it.”

As if summoned by the crisis, more of the town’s magical residents appeared. Luna, her silver hair gleaming in the festival lights, began weaving a complex tracking spell. Jasper, his ghostly form flickering with agitation, offered historical insights into similar kidnappings.

“We need to split up,” Sayer growled, his voice rough with the effort of holding back his full transformation. “Cover more ground.”

Teams formed quickly, each group equipped with magical tracking devices courtesy of Sera and protective charms from Luna. Fia found herself in a daze, moving on autopilot as they combed the festival grounds and beyond.

Hours passed in a blur of frantic searching, magical pings, and false alarms. With each passing minute, the knot in Fia’s stomach grew tighter. Where was Vienna? Was she scared? Was she hurt?

As minutes turned to hours, Fia felt her legs give out. She sank to the ground, a sob tearing from her throat. “We have to find her,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “We have to.”

Sayer knelt beside her, pulling her into his arms. His body trembled with suppressed rage and fear. “We will,” he promised fiercely. “I swear to you, Fia, we will find our daughter and bring her home.”

Posey joined them. “No one’s giving up. We’ll find her, Fia.”

As the search party regrouped, preparing for another round of hunting, Fia clung to that promise. They would find Vienna. They had to. Because the alternative was unthinkable.

With renewed determination, Fia pushed herself to her feet. There was no time for despair. Her niece – no, her daughter –needed her. And Fia would move heaven and earth to bring her home.

TWENTY-FOUR

Sayer’s heart thundered in his chest, matching the frantic pace of his thoughts as he gathered the rescue team. The festival lights, once joyous and celebratory, now seemed to mock their desperation. He scanned the determined faces before him—Luna’s wise eyes, Celeste’s fierce protectiveness, Ivy’s quiet strength, and the resolute expressions of Kade, Reed, Roarke, and Bram. Each of them stood ready, their very presence a balm to his frayed nerves.

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