Page 7 of Nanny for the Demon's Twins

I descend the stairs to my workshop, the sounds of morning chaos fading behind me. The familiar scent of metal and coal greets me as I check the runes on my main forge. They pulse a steady purple - perfect temperature for the protection charms I need to finish today.

The first hammer strike rings true against heated metal when laughter filters down through the floorboards. Mira's voice carries a melody I've never heard before, followed by twin squeals of delight.

"And the dragon goes - rawrrrr!"

More giggles. My hammer pauses mid-swing. The metal cools, and I curse under my breath, shoving it back into the forge.

Focus. These charms won't shape themselves.

I manage three solid strikes before Nova's voice pipes up. "Again! Do the voice!"

"Only if you help clean up your plates first." Mira's voice holds firm but kind. She's learned fast how to handle their negotiations.

The metal grows too hot while I'm listening. Sparks fly as my hammer connects wrong, and I bare my fangs in frustration. Two months I've been raising the twins alone…but I didn't realize how much it would bother me to miss out on their time now that I'm not.

"Luna, sweetheart, plates don't float to the sink on their own."

"But they could!"

"Not today they won't."

I smile despite myself. Mira's managed to redirect Luna's magic without triggering a meltdown - a skill I'm still struggling to master.

The protection runes I'm trying to etch blur together. Above, someone's singing - a soft, sweet sound that makes my chest tight. It takes me a moment to realize it's Mira. She hasn't sung once since arriving at my door three days ago, rain-soaked and trembling. But it's beautiful, just like her.

"Uncle Karn makes best dragon," Nova announces. "His eyes go all glowy."

"Is that so?" Mira's laugh flows like warm honey. "I'd like to see that sometime."

My hammer slips. The rune warps. I'll have to start over.

Dammit.

By the time I close the shop, I manage to salvage only half the protection charms I'd planned for the day. The rest sit in a pile of twisted metal - evidence of every moment my concentration shattered at the sound of laughter or song from above.

Climbing the stairs as the sun sets, I roll my aching shoulders. The door barely creaks open before two copper-haired missiles launch themselves at my legs.

"Uncle Karn! We made a fort!" Luna tugs at my work pants, leaving smudges of what looks like paint.

Nova wraps herself around my other leg, pressing her face against my knee. "With blankets and pillows. And Mira showed us shadow puppets."

"Did she now?" I scoop them both up, one in each arm. They're getting heavier by the day. "And what creatures did you see?"

"A dragon!" Luna waves her hands, sparkles trailing in the air.

"A kilmar." Nova pats my cheek with sticky fingers. "Like you showed us."

I catch Mira's eye across the room. She's curled up on our worn couch, her dark hair loose around her shoulders, wearing another of my old shirts. The sight does something strange to my chest.

"The fort awaits inspection." She gestures to the impressive structure of blankets and chairs dominating our living space. "Though I should warn you, the architects are very particular about proper entry protocol."

"You have to growl," Luna stage-whispers in my ear.

"And show your fangs," Nova adds.

I set them down and crouch, letting my eyes shift to their demonic violet glow. The girls squeal in delight as I bare my fangs and growl, crawling after them as they scramble into their fort.

"Perfect form," Mira says, and there's warmth in her voice that wasn't there this morning. "Though I think you'll need to wash up before joining the fort properly. You're covered in forge dust."

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