Page 64 of Nanny for the Demon's Twins

Before we reach the door, excited squeals erupt from inside. Two copper-haired blurs burst through the entrance, leaving poor Mrs. Blackwood calling after them.

"Mama! Mama!" Luna launches herself at my legs while Nova hangs back, violet eyes bright with joy.

I drop to my knees, opening my arms wide. "Come here, my little loves."

Nova needs no further invitation. She joins her sister, and I pull them both close, breathing in their sweet scent of honey and fresh bread. Luna's hair sparkles with what looks like magical glitter, while Nova has flour dusting her nose and cheeks.

"We made cookies!" Luna bounces in my embrace.

"And changed all the colors," Nova adds softly, touching my face with flour-covered fingers.

Mrs. Blackwood appears in the doorway, shaking her head. "Those cookies were supposed to be brown. Somehow they ended up purple."

"Purple tastes better." Luna nods with complete conviction.

Karn crosses his arms, trying to look stern but failing miserably. The corners of his mouth twitch. "Did you at least save any magic for home?"

"Always have magic for home, Uncle Karn." Nova's quiet words make his expression soften completely.

I brush the flour from Nova's cheeks while Luna climbs up my back, her little hands playing with my hair. The familiar weight of them both, the sound of their giggles, fills that empty space inside me I never knew existed before them.

"Thank you for watching them," I tell Mrs. Blackwood, standing with Nova on my hip and Luna still clinging to my back.

"Any time, dear. Though perhaps next time we'll stick to non-magical baking."

"No promises!" Luna sings out, and Nova hides her conspiratorial smile against my shoulder.

The walk home feels lighter, filled with the twins' chatter about their baking adventures. Once we reach the house, Luna tugs at my skirt. "Garden! Garden!"

"Want to see the new flowers," Nova adds, her violet eyes pleading.

Karn clears his throat. "Actually, that's not a bad idea."

The late afternoon sun bathes the garden in golden light as we step outside. The twins immediately race to their play area, their copper curls catching the sunlight like flames. I move toward the herb section, checking on the mint I planted last week, when Karn's hand catches mine.

"Wait." His voice sounds rougher than usual.

I turn to find him running his other hand through his hair, mussing his copper-red strands. His broad shoulders are tense, and for the first time since I've known him, he seems uncertain.

"Everything alright?"

He takes a deep breath. "More than alright." His fingers trace the protection bracelet on my wrist, smiling down at it.. "You know what this means to me. What you mean to me."

My heart stutters as he drops to one knee. Even the twins have gone quiet, watching from behind the herb garden with wide eyes.

"I'm not good with words." He pulls something from his pocket – a ring that catches the light like captured starfire. The metalwork mirrors my bracelet's intricate patterns, but where the bracelet holds protective runes, the ring bears different ones. "But I'm good with metal. And I poured everything I am into this. Everything I feel for you."

Tears blur my vision. His violet eyes hold mine, vulnerable yet determined.

"Marry me, Mira. Be my mate, be their mother – though you already are in every way that matters. Make our family complete."

Luna bounces on her toes. "Say yes, Mama!"

"Please?" Nova whispers, clutching her sister's hand.

I drop to my knees before him, my hands framing his face. "Yes. A thousand times yes."

His arms wrap around me as he slides the ring onto my finger, and suddenly we're knocked sideways as two small bodies crash into us, squealing with delight. Karn's deep laugh rumbles against me as he gathers all three of us into his embrace.

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