Page 13 of Demon Daddy's Little Girl

"Vashti." Dezoth straightens, the thalivern dissolving. "I wasn't expecting you today."

"Clearly." She winks at Rose, who watches the twins with obvious curiosity. "Luna, Nova, come say hello."

The slightly taller twin - Luna, Vashti says - steps forward first. "You have pretty eyes like us!" She points to Rose's violet irises.

Nova follows more cautiously, freckled nose scrunched in concentration. "Can you do magic too?"

"I just started!" Rose bounces on her toes. "Captain Dezoth-” She is not getting any better with that pronunciation. “Made thaliverns!"

Luna gasps. "Uncle Dez, you never make thaliverns for us!"

"Uncle?" I mouth silently. Dezoth's just shakes his head, and I'm sure he'll explain later.

"Watch this!" Luna waves her tiny hands at Rose's batlaz pillow. The stuffed animal lifts wobbling into the air as Rose claps in delight.

Nova, not to be outdone, creates a shower of rainbow sparkles that rain down around them. "I can make pretty colors!"

"Mama, look!" Rose tries to catch the sparkles. "Can I try?"

The three girls huddle together, Luna patiently showing Rose how to position her hands while Nova adds more colors to her magical display. Their giggles fill the previously quiet house.

"They're natural teachers," Vashti murmurs, moving to stand beside me. "Luna especially."

I tense at her proximity, but she radiates a warmth so different from her brother's stoic presence. "You're... Dezoth's sister?"

"The fun one." She grins as Nova turns Luna's hair bright blue, earning a squeal of protest. "Though someone has to be, with him being such a grump."

"I can hear you," Dezoth growls, but there's no real heat in it.

"The twins are my neighbors, but they spend some time with me. Their mama thought it would be nice if they came to meet someone their age."

The girls pay no attention to the adults, lost in their own magical world. Rose's face glows with joy as she manages to make her pillow twitch slightly under Luna's guidance.

Vashti settles onto the couch beside me, her flowing emerald dress pooling around her feet. I shift away instinctively, but her warm smile never wavers.

"You remind me of Mira when she first arrived," she says, watching the girls attempt to create a rainbow between them. "Same wariness in your eyes."

"Mira?"

"A dear friend. Human, like you." Vashti's voice drops lower. "She found sanctuary with my neighbor Karn after escaping her master. Now she helps run his shop and cares for these little troublemakers. His nieces."

At that moment, Luna sneezes, sending a burst of golden sparkles over Nova and Rose. Their delighted shrieks draw my attention to Dezoth, who watches the scene with softened eyes. When his gaze drifts to me, I quickly look away.

"The twins adore her," Vashti continues. "She's become family, really. Even taught her blacksmith husband to lighten up a bit. I kept hoping that they'd rub off on my brother, too."

"I heard that too," Dezoth rumbles from his position by the window.

"Oh hush. You just don't want to believe it's true." Vashti waves dismissively. "Remember when she caught you wearing that tiara during the twins' tea party?"

A faint flush colors Dezoth's sharp cheekbones. "They were... persuasive."

"Rose, careful!" I call out as she wobbles trying to copy Luna's floating spell. Before I can move, Dezoth steadies her with gentle hands.

"Like this, little one." He adjusts her stance. "Power flows better when you're balanced."

Vashti's knowing smile makes me uncomfortable. "Mira was terrified of demons at first too. Now she bickers with Karn like an old married couple."

"I'm not-" I start to protest.

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