Page 4 of Demon Daddy's Nanny

Her platinum hair catches the lamplight, so like her mother's it steals my breath. But where Sera's smile was always tinged with sadness, Annalise's blazes with pure joy.

The human woman brushes a strand of chestnut hair from her face, leaving a streak of flour across her cheek. Her movements flow with practiced grace as she demonstrates some baking technique to my daughter. No trembling, no stammering, no desperate attempts to curry favor. Just... genuine interaction.

My wings twitch with an unfamiliar tension. I should storm in there, remind this human of her place. But the way Annalise's shoulders relax, how her usual sharp edges soften?—

"Here, like this." The woman’s hands guide Annalise's fingers through the motions of shaping dough. Her amber eyes catch the lamplight, warm and focused. A small scar marks her lefthand, testament to years of hard work. "You want to be firm but gentle."

Heat crawls up my neck. The words echo in my mind, stirring something I've kept buried since Sera. Her sleeves are rolled to her elbows, revealing strong forearms dusted with flour. She moves with quiet confidence, sure of her craft if nothing else.

"I'm doing it wrong." Annalise's voice lacks its usual bite. No sarcasm, no walls. “Eva, I’m hopeless.”

Eva.What a perfect name for this woman.

"You're doing fine." Eva's smile transforms her entire face. My chest tightens. She's... striking, in an understated way. Not the ethereal beauty of xaphan nobility, but something earthier, more real. "It takes practice."

I shift my weight, and a floorboard creaks. Eva's head snaps up, those amber eyes widening as they meet mine. Recognition flashes across her face - fear, resignation, determination. But she doesn't cower. Doesn't throw herself at my feet.

Instead, she steps slightly in front of Annalise. Protective. As if she could shield my daughter from me.

The gesture sends an odd mix of anger and admiration through my blood. How dare this human presume? But... when was the last time anyone showed such instinct to protect Annalise? Even from me?

My wings spread without conscious thought, filling the doorway. Eva's chin lifts, though her hands tremble slightly. Beautiful and brave. The thought ambushes me before I can squash it.

"Time to go." The words fall like ice between us, but my eyes keep drifting to Eva. Her fingers twist in her apron, flour dusting her skin like stardust, yet she holds her ground. Not backing down an inch.

Annalise's silver eyes dim, that rare spark of joy extinguishing. Her shoulders draw back, spine straightening asshe transforms from carefree child to cold princess in the space of a heartbeat. The change cuts deeper than any blade.

"I was just?—"

"Disobeying direct orders. Again." My wings flex, casting dancing shadows across the worn wooden floors. "We'll discuss your punishment at home."

Eva's jaw tightens. A muscle jumps in her throat as she watches Annalise retreat into herself. Those amber eyes flash with something dangerous - not fear, but fierce protectiveness. It stirs memories I've fought to bury, of another woman who dared to challenge me.

"My lord." Eva's voice carries steady and clear, though her pulse flutters visible at her neck. "Your daughter has done nothing wrong. She was simply learning to?—"

"To consort with humans?" The words emerge harsher than intended. Eva flinches, but doesn't back down. The streak of flour across her cheek somehow makes her more striking, more real than the painted faces that fill my court. "Someone of her…calibr shouldn’t even be in this part of town.”

"Father." Annalise's tone could freeze flame. She moves to Eva's side, chin lifted in defiance. So like her mother in that moment, my chest aches. "Eva's been teaching me. She's kind and patient and?—"

"And beneath your station." But even as I say it, I can't tear my gaze from Eva's face. From the quiet strength in her stance, the way she stands shoulder-to-shoulder with my daughter. When was the last time anyone dared show such loyalty to Annalise?

The scent of fresh bread wraps around us, warm and inviting. So different from the cold halls of home. No wonder Annalise seeks refuge here.

"Come." My wings snap tight against my back. "Now."

Annalise's footsteps drag against the floor as we leave the bakery. Her wings droop, the golden feathers dulled in the shadows between buildings. She keeps turning her head, silver eyes darting back to catch glimpses of Eva through the windows. Each look pierces my chest like a blade.

The warmth of fresh bread fades, replaced by the market's decay. My daughter's shoulders hunch forward, her usual sharp edges returning like armor. The transformation hits harder now that I've seen her other side—the laughing girl with flour on her hands and joy in her eyes.

"Something could have happened to you. " The words scratch my throat. "This part of town isn’t safe for?—"

"For a child?" Her voice cuts like ice. "Or for anyone who dares leave your precious golden cage?"

I grab her arm, forcing her to face me. "For my daughter."

Moonlight catches the tears she's fighting to hold back. When did she learn to hide her pain so well? When did I stop seeing past her defenses?

My wings curl forward, instinctively trying to shield her. She jerks away, but not before I catch the longing in her expression. The same look she wore watching Eva demonstrate those simple baking techniques - like someone starving for connection.

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