Page 48 of Nanny for the Demon's Twins

"Shh, quieter." I catch her hand. "It's a secret right now. So you can't tell Mira. It's just between us."

"We can help!" Luna tugs my sleeve. "You practice. Nova, you be Mama."

Nova shakes her head, burrowing deeper into my shirt. "You do it."

"Fine." Luna straightens up, putting her hands on her hips in a perfect imitation of Mira's 'serious' pose. "Uncle Karn, ask me."

I bite back a laugh. "Alright." I shift to one knee, like I remember Ash doing when he practiced with me before he proposed to Sarah. It makes me smile a little. "Mira, will you-"

"No, no!" Luna waves her hands. "More pretty! More sparkles!"

Nova peeks out. "You need flowers too."

"I don't think-"

But Luna's already waving her hands, creating a shower of magical lights that rain down around us. "Now try again. More sweet!"

"How do you know what I should be doing?" I ruffle her hair, but she ducks away.

"From the stories! You say nice things first." Luna taps her chin. "Like how pretty she is. And…how good she cooks."

Nova tugs my sleeve. "And how she sings to us at bedtime."

"And catches us when we float too high!"

"And likes glitter."

I pull them both close, my chest tight with love for these little troublemakers. "You're right. She is pretty amazing."

"Try again!" Luna demands, adding another layer of sparkles.

"Mira." I take Luna's tiny hand, playing along. "You've made our home brighter than any magic. Will you-"

"More glitter!" Luna waves her free hand, and even Nova joins in, turning the falling lights rainbow colors.

"I don't think Mira needs quite this much glitter-"

"Always need more glitter," Luna says with absolute conviction.

"Look who's back-" Mira freezes in the doorway, taking in the shower of magical sparkles and me on my knee. "What's happening here?"

I jump up, nearly tripping over Luna. "Nothing. Just practicing magic control."

Nova buries her face in my leg while Luna opens her mouth. I clamp a gentle hand over it before she can spill everything. "Kitchen. Time to eat."

"But Uncle Karn, the sparkles-"

"Will wait." I scoop both twins up, making them squeal. "What smells so good?"

Mira raises an eyebrow but doesn't press. "Pies. Though someone," she taps Nova's nose, "ate half the berry filling before it made it into the pastry."

Nova grins, berry stains still visible at the corners of her mouth. I set them in their chairs, watching Mira move around the kitchen with practiced ease. She's made everything quick and efficient. The twins' cups already have protection spells to prevent spills, the food's cut into perfect toddler-sized bites.

Luna waves her hands, trying to make her vegetables float. "No magic at dinner," Mira reminds her, and Luna actually listens.

Wow. How has she managed that?

"Can we do shadows before bed?" Nova asks between bites.

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