Page 37 of Demon Daddy's Little Girl

"Sometimes..." He meets my gaze over her head. "Sometimes when you lose something precious, life surprises you with new treasures to cherish."

Rose yawns, her tiny hand patting his chest. "Don't be sad, Cappy Dez. You can share my treasures."

The raw emotion that flashes across his face makes my heart ache. Joy and old grief tangle together in his expression as he presses a gentle kiss to her forehead.

I understand that look all too well - the bittersweet mix of finding happiness while carrying scars from the past. We're both learning that it's okay to let new love heal old wounds, one bedtime story at a time.

16

DEZOTH

The front door bursts open with a familiar chaos as the twins barrel into my home like twin whirlwinds of copper curls and magical sparkles. Luna leads the charge, her violet eyes already scanning for Rose while Nova follows close behind.

"Uncle Dez!" They squeal in unison, pausing just long enough to wrap themselves around my legs before darting toward Rose, who rushes forward with a bright smile.

"Your house is still standing, I see." Karn steps through the doorway, his broad frame filling it completely. The girls have decided to coordinate a weekly dinner for us, and I try not to let myself let this affect me too much. This is not my family like it is for Karn, I have to remind myself.

"Barely." I cross my arms, watching as Mira slips in behind him, her movements fluid and precise even while carrying a covered dish.

The little girls converge in the center of my sitting room, their excited chatter filling the space. Luna's already conjuring tiny sparkles that float around them like fireflies, while Nova attempts to change the color of Rose's dress from brown to purple.

"Girls, careful with the magic." Ada's voice carries a gentle authority that has all three looking up at her with wide eyes. She kneels down, her braid falling over one shoulder. "Why don't we save the sparkles for after dinner? Luna, those are beautiful colors you're making."

Luna beams at the praise, the sparkles fading as she nods. "Can we have a tea party later?"

"Only if Cappy Dez joins," Rose adds, shooting me a hopeful look that makes my chest tight.

"Yes! Uncle DezandUncle Karn!" Luna agrees.

Mira chuckles behind us, knowing that we are not getting out of this. I watch Ada guide them toward the dining room, her movements sure and confident as she manages their energy. She doesn't flinch when Nova's magic accidentally turns a vase blue or when Luna's excitement causes a few books to float. Instead, she redirects each magical mishap with grace, turning them into teaching moments.

This is what my home could have been with Raina. What it should have been. The thought hits harder than expected, watching Ada mother not just her own child, but the twins as well. She has a natural way with them that reminds me of everything I once dreamed of.

And looking at three children that all share demon and human heritage only rubs at the wound that has not healed. I don't know if I'll ever recover from losing Anthea. But I might have found a way to make it more manageable.

"You're staring," Karn mutters as he passes, low enough that only I hear. I shoot him a glare, but I was. I can't stop looking at Ada.

I follow the energetic trio into my dining room, where Rose has taken charge of seating arrangements with all the authority a four-year-old can muster.

"Luna sits here, and Nova here," Rose points to chairs on either side of her, her violet eyes bright with excitement. "Because they're my cousins now."

"Are we really cousins?" Nova asks, climbing onto her designated seat while her copper curls bounce.

"Of course! Cappy Dez is like my uncle too, so that makes us cousins." Rose's logic makes the twins beam with delight.

"Cappy Dez?" Luna giggles, testing out the name. "I like that better than Uncle Dez."

I catch Ada hiding a smile as she helps the girls get settled. Her fingers brush mine as we both reach to steady Nova's chair, and the contact sends an unexpected jolt through me.

"And this is where the fancy plates go," Rose continues her tour, pointing to the settings I'd pulled out specifically for tonight. "Cappy Dez says they're for special occasions, and family dinner is special."

Mira exchanges a knowing look with Ada across the table as she sets down her dish. "Very special indeed."

"Uncle Karn never uses fancy plates," Luna announces, drawing a mock-offended look from her uncle.

"That's because you two would float them to the ceiling," Karn rumbles, but his eyes are soft as he watches the girls interact. And then, like it hits him, he adds, "Don't do that with Uncle Dez's plates."

"Only sometimes!" Nova protests, then demonstrates by making her water goblet change from crystal to sapphire blue.

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