Page 34 of Nanny for the Demon's Twins

"My turn!" Nova waves her hand, and one leaf transforms into a thalivern. It flutters for two seconds before reverting back with a pop. Her lower lip trembles.

"Almost had it that time." I scoot closer, opening my arms. She crawls into my lap, while Luna plops down beside us, pressing against my side. "Remember what your uncle said about transformation magic?"

"Small steps," Nova mumbles into my shoulder.

"That's right. Even the greatest mages started with baby steps."

Luna pats her sister's back. "You can do it! Try again!" Her enthusiasm sparks another smile from Nova.

The girls return to their play, and I watch them work together - Luna lifting the leaves, Nova practicing her transformations. They move in perfect sync, even their failures becoming part of their game. My fingers trace the brand on my wrist absently. These moments still feel like stolen treasure, precious and fragile.

"Mama, sing the thalivern song!" Luna tugs at my sleeve. Nova claps in agreement.

"Please please please!"

My throat tightens - old habits die hard. But their violet eyes shine with such hope, and I find myself softening. The melody rises naturally, words flowing like water.

The twins sway to the rhythm, adding their own voices in sweet discord. Nova's next leaf-thalivern stays transformed a few seconds longer, encouraged by the song. Luna creates a gentle breeze to make it dance.

By the time I finish, I notice that the sun has started to dip, casting long shadows across the garden. "Time to get cleaned up, little stars." I gather their small hands in mine. "Your uncle will be done with his forge work soon."

"Can we have bubbles?" Luna skips beside me while Nova holds my other hand, still focused on changing a leaf's color as we walk.

"If you promise not to float them all over the ceiling again." I guide them through the back door through the kitchen and to the bathroom.

While the water warms, I help them out of their play clothes. Luna twirls naked around the bathroom while Nova carefully folds her dress - as well as a two-year-old can. The contrast between them never fails to make me smile.

"In you go." I lift them one at a time into the tub, adding the soap that creates their beloved bubbles. Nova immediately starts shaping them into tiny castles while Luna splashes water at imaginary dragons.

"After we do storytime?" Nova asks, knowing that I will say yes like I do every night.

"Of course. Now, hold still so I can wash your hair." I work the soap through Luna's copper curls, that only make me think of Karn right now. She squirms, distracted by a floating bubble.

"Mama?" Luna turns those violet eyes on me. "I want the princess story."

"Okay," I answer. "We can do that."

And then, with all the innocence a two year old can muster, she bluntly asks, "Why don't you kiss Uncle Karn like the prince and princesses in the story books?"

The soap slips from my hands, splashing into the water. Heat floods my cheeks. "I... that's..."

Nova pauses her bubble-castle construction to watch me with equal curiosity. "Uncle Karn looks at you like the prince looks at the princess."

"He does not." The words come out too quick, too defensive. I focus on rinsing Luna's hair, trying to ignore how my hands shake slightly. "Your uncle is very kind to let me stay here, that's all."

"But you look at him too." Luna nods, as if she's solved a great mystery. "When he's working and gets all sweaty-"

"Time to wash your face!" I scoop up a handful of bubbles, gently cutting off that particular observation. My cheeks burn hotter, remembering exactly how it felt for their uncle to kiss me. The way his muscles felt beneath my hands, the way he growled against my mouth-

"Mama's turning red!" Nova giggles, splashing water at me.

"Am not." I reach for a towel, grateful for the distraction.

I turn to grab a towel and freeze. Karn fills the doorway, his violet eyes wide as they meet mine. His work shirt clings to his broad chest, which looks to be slightly damp from a shower. My mouth goes dry. Why does he have to look so freaking good? Heat floods my cheeks as I remember Luna's words about princes and kisses.

"Uncle Karn!" The twins squeal in unison, standing up in the tub. Water sloshes everywhere.

"Careful-" I reach for them, but Karn's already there, his movements swift despite his size. He catches Nova as she leaps, wrapping her in the towel I'd dropped.

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