7. Karn

7

KARN

T he morning sun casts long shadows across the market square as I guide my small group between the crowded stalls. Today is market day, the only day I close the shop. I always bring the twins out here, but I was nearly as happy as the girls when Mira agreed to join us.

Even if I was up all night after she ran away from my study.

It was stupid of me. I know I've been alone for far too long, especially now that I have the twins. And she used to be a slave. I shouldn't have encroached in her space, made her feel so uncomfortable.

I just thought there was a moment where she wanted me to kiss her…

I shove the thoughts away, hating my own damn foolishness, so I can focus on the crowds - and the twins. Nova clings to Mira's right hand while Luna skips ahead, tugging at her left. I keep close behind them, my height giving me a clear view over the bustling crowd.

"Look, look!" Luna points at a display of shimmering fabrics. "Pretty!"

"Those are beautiful." Mira's voice carries a softness I rarely hear in our demon town. Her shoulders tense as a group of warriors pass by, their eyes lingering too long as they rake over her body. Anger pours in me, and I have to force it back to keep from bashing their eyes in.

I step closer, my shadow falling over her protectively. The warriors catch my glare and move along.

"What's that smell?" Nova wrinkles her nose, pressing closer to Mira's leg.

"Fresh bread." I point to old Kazik's stall. "Want to try some?"

Both twins nod eagerly. As we approach, I notice more stares from the locals. Some curious, others hostile. A demon woman pulls her child away as we pass. My jaw clenches.

"Three sweet rolls." I slap coins on Kazik's counter harder than necessary. The old demon's eyes dart between me and Mira before he hands over our order.

"Uncle Karn, up!" Nova raises her arms. I scoop her onto my shoulders, keeping one hand steady on her leg while balancing the bread in the other.

"These are amazing." Mira's eyes light up at her first bite. A smudge of sugar dusts her lower lip. My fingers twitch with the urge to brush it away.

I think I'm starting to have a bit of a control issue where she is concerned.

Luna tugs at Mira's skirt. "Can we see the pretty rocks next?"

"Of course, little one." Mira's smile falters as another group passes too close, their whispers carrying clearly.

"Human whore."

"With the twins too..."

"Disgraceful."

My free hand curls into a fist. Heat rises in my chest, magic crackling beneath my skin. But before I can move, Mira's cool fingers brush my arm.

"The gems?" Her voice stays steady, though her eyes betray her hurt.

I force my anger down, focusing on her touch. "This way."

A group of demon women huddle near the crystal merchant's stall, their voices carrying over the market noise. I, unfortunately, know them all, having grown up in the small town my whole life. Ash was better at dealing with the gossiping women than I ever was, and today, I know I'm already out of patience.

"Can't believe he lets that human near those precious girls-"

"After what happened to their parents-"

"Probably warming his bed too-"

Nova's small hands tighten in my hair. "Uncle Karn, why are they looking at us mean?"

I lift her off my shoulders, passing her to Mira. "Take the girls to see the crystals. I'll be right there."

I expect her to stop me again. But when Mira's green eyes meet mine, understanding and worry mixing in their depths, she says nothing. She guides the twins away, their excited chatter fading into the crowd.

My boots crunch against the packed dirt as I approach the gossips. Their chatter dies. Good. The tallest one - Selia - straightens her spine but can't quite meet my gaze.

"Something to say about my family?" My voice comes out as a low growl. The smaller demon woman steps back, but Selia holds her ground.

"Just concerned for the twins' wellbeing. After losing their parents-"

"You don't speak of them." The temperature around us drops several degrees. "And you sure as hell don't speak of Mira."

"She's human." Selia spits the word like poison.

"She's more honorable than any of you." I step closer, using every inch of my height. "She protects those girls. Loves them. While you stand here spewing poison about someone you don't know."

"But-"

"Next time you want to question my choices for my family?" I bare my fangs, letting my magic crackle visibly across my skin. "Do it to my face. See how that works out."

Selia pales, finally dropping her gaze. The other women scatter like leaves in a storm.

A small tug at my pants leg. Luna stands there, crystal clutched in her tiny fist. "Uncle Karn, Mira found pretty purple ones! Like your eyes!"

My anger melts. I scoop her up, pressing my forehead to hers. "Show me, little star."

I'm still admiring Luna's crystal when a gasp ripples through the crowd. Apples, pears, and berries rise from their baskets, floating in lazy circles above the market stalls. Nova's eyes glow with violet magic, fear spiking across her face as she seems to lose control, while Luna giggles, quickly joining into her sister's antics.

"Girls-" My warning comes too late.

The fruit shoots upward, creating a swirling vortex overhead. Merchants dive for cover. A cluster of plums pelts a warrior who'd been sneering at Mira earlier.

"Luna! Nova!" Mira's voice carries over the chaos. She reaches for them, but they dance away, enchanted by their impromptu performance.

"Make them sparkle!" Luna commands her sister. Nova scrunches her face in concentration. The fruit begins to shift colors - red to blue, green to purple, yellow to silver.

"By the Seven..." I lunge forward as a crate of melons joins the aerial display. "That's enough-"

"Pretty!" Nova claps her hands. The fruit spins faster.

A demon woman shrieks as berries rain down, staining her expensive silk dress. Market-goers scramble for shelter under awnings. Those damn gossips from earlier get bombarded by a particularly aggressive bunch of apples.

It looks like I'm not the only one with a temper if Nova is targeting the people who glared at Mira.

"Girls." Mira kneels between them, her voice firm but gentle. "Remember what we practiced? Deep breaths, like the ocean waves."

Luna's bottom lip trembles. "But-"

"In through your nose." Mira demonstrates. "Out through your mouth."

Nova follows first, her tiny chest rising and falling. The fruit slows its wild dance. Luna joins in, gripping Mira's hands.

I watch in amazement as the twins sync their breathing with hers. The magical energy dissipates. Fruit drops everywhere - into baskets, onto tables, rolling across the ground. A single apple lands perfectly in my palm.

"Well done." Mira pulls them both close. "Such good control."

"Sorry," they mumble in unison.

I survey the damage. Bruised fruit litters the square. Several stalls need straightening. That warrior still picks plum pieces from his hair. But the twins' magic had been stronger, more focused than ever before. And Mira...

"You handled that perfectly." I help her stand, steadying her when she sways slightly. "Where'd you learn that breathing technique?"

"I used to calm myself in..." She touches her brand, then forces a smile. "It seemed logical it might work for them too."

There's not much fruit to be salvaged, so I make my way over to the produce stands. I hand over coins to the fruit merchants while the twins help gather the salvage products. Their earlier display of magic still has the crowd muttering, but at least they're keeping their distance now.

Mira moves between the stalls with practiced efficiency, her movements fluid as she rights toppled baskets and sorts salvageable fruit from bruised. The merchant women watch her like hawks, their violet eyes sharp with judgment.

"No, please." Mira's voice stays steady as she hands a basket to a sneering demon matron. "Allow me to replace what was damaged."

Her fingers tremble as she counts out coins from the purse at her hip. The same purse I know she's been saving from the wages I insist on paying her, despite her protests.

"Keep your human coin." The matron shoves the basket back at her. "I don't want it tainted."

Mira catches the basket before it falls, never breaking her polite smile. But I see the way her knuckles whiten around the handle, the slight hitch in her breathing.

"Of course. My apologies." She sets the basket down with care, each movement measured and precise. Like a dancer avoiding invisible blades.

Luna tugs at my sleeve. "Uncle Karn, why's that lady being mean to Mira?"

"Because she's jealous of how much better Mira is than her." I pitch my voice to carry. The matron's face darkens as she storms off.

Mira shoots me a look that's half gratitude, half exasperation. "That wasn't necessary."

"It was true." I step closer, noting how she squares her shoulders against the weight of hostile stares. "You don't have to handle this alone."

"I'm fine." Her smile doesn't reach her eyes. She reaches for another fallen apple, but her hand shakes so badly she drops it.

I catch her wrist, my thumb brushing over her pulse point. Her skin feels cool against my demon heat. "Let me help."

For a moment, she stays frozen. Then her shoulders drop slightly, some of the rigid control easing. "The twins need-"

"Are helping old Kazik sort his bread." I nod toward where the girls carefully separate crushed rolls from whole ones, supervised by the baker. "Let someone else be strong for a minute."

By the time we finish cleaning up, the market is pretty much empty. Most of their sneers are directed toward me, but I give them a glare and a snap of magic, enough to keep them pushed back. Enough to keep the fear on their face that I prefer to see.

The walk home stretches longer than usual. Nova dozes against my shoulder while Luna skips ahead, stopping to examine every interesting rock or leaf in our path. Mira walks beside me, close enough that her arm occasionally brushes mine.

Luna spins around, copper curls bouncing. "Uncle Karn?"

"Yes, little star?"

"Why people afraid of you?" She tilts her head, violet eyes serious. Damn these two watch more I expect. "You make best fluffy cakes. With extra syrup."

My chest tightens. I shift Nova's weight, buying time to find the right words.

"Some people..." Mira starts, but Luna shakes her head.

"I asked Uncle Karn."

I crouch down, careful not to jostle Nova. "Come here, Luna."

She bounces over, cocking her head as she waits for my explanation. The gesture reminds me so much of her father it hurts. Too often I forget to mourn my brother when I'm trying to keep his girls going.

"People get scared of things they don't understand." I catch her hand as she traces my scar. "Like when you thought there were monsters under your bed."

"But no monsters." She frowns. "Just toys and Nova's sock."

"Exactly. Sometimes people look at me and see what they expect to see. A big, scary demon."

"But you not scary." Luna's brow furrows. "You're just Uncle Karn."

"Who makes fluffy cakes," Nova mumbles against my neck, apparently not as asleep as I thought.

"The best fluffy cakes," Luna agrees. "With faces made of berries."

Mira's hand brushes my shoulder, steadying me as I stand. Her touch lingers longer than necessary.

"And float dishes even though they break," Nova adds.

"That was one time." I adjust her higher on my shoulder. "And we fixed them."

"Most of them." Luna skips ahead again. "Not blue plate."

"The wobble adds character," Mira says, her smile finally reaching her eyes.

And looking at the three of them, tired but smiling and safe, something in my chest loosens. Maybe I'm not just a big scary demon after all.