by Celeste Raye
It looked like Dominic was going to tell her no, but then he agreed, and Dana ran into her grandfather’s arms. Laura waved goodbye one last time and made her way towards the sounds of fighting that were coming from around the circle. The fire was gone, and there was no need for a forcefield. The spell that had taken so much sacrifice had fizzled out. It was over, and now the shifters were starting to move towards the Baxter witches that surrounded them.
Fighting was basically over by the time Laura got to them. She was feeling surge after surge of magic flowing through her, overwhelming her senses. She looked around at the carnage. The witches were not the only ones that had died. There were many shifters that were down as well. Baxter witches were strong, and it was showing through at the moment.
Her eyes scanned around, looking for John, and then she saw him. He was standing over her mother, again. This time, he was taking her captive.
John stopped when he saw her. “I thought you were gone. We thought all of you were gone. The fire engulfed everything, and we couldn’t see anything except a purple glow.”
“Everybody is safe. I put up a force field. There's going to be some loss from before it was put up, but I think everybody else made it.”
Caroline was kneeling on the ground, weeping, and Laura wanted to feel something for her, she really did. Laura's mother was filled with the sort of rage that never went away. Laura knew that she would never change. She would never live on without having to get her just revenge, no matter how unjust it really was.
“What are you going to do with them?”
“We're going to figure out a way to make sure that the other witches can never harm anyone again.”
As much as she wanted to believe that she could be saved, Laura doubted that any of her family could. Maybe Madeline; Laura was glad to see that she hadn’t made the trip to the battle. That gave her hope that someday, she would be able to see her sister again.
Laura didn’t ask any more questions. She would find out soon enough, so for now, she was going to hold onto the fact that no innocents from the village had died. That was going to have to be enough. Her new family was now safe: her new pack.
It was going to take some time for Laura to get used to that fact.
Laura and John were mated about a week after the witch attacks. Laura was still worried about how she would be treated, but everyone was happy to have her as one of the pack. No one was going to forget the fact that she had saved them all from certain death.
A few days after the two were mated, Dominic stepped down as Alpha and gave it to his son. The village was happy for the new leader, even though Dominic had been around for so long.
Laura was overwhelmed with all of the love and support that she got. It was something completely new, considering where she came from.
“What are you thinking of, wife?”
She smiled and turned to him. “It’s going to take some time to get used to that.”
“Well, get used to it. We’re mated for life now.”
That just made Laura smile. She couldn’t imagine a life so happy. It felt like a dream, and if that’s what it was, then she wanted to make sure that she never woke up.
“Life doesn’t sound long enough.”
He grinned and pulled her in for a kiss.
“I was just thinking the same thing.”
Dragon Nanny’s Replacement
Shifter Nanny Agency
Chapter One
“Fran, I really need your help.”
“Jack, you have to understand that we have already sent you five different babysitters. I am running out of people to send you. Your boys, they are a lot to take on, or so I’ve heard.”
Jack had heard it all before. He was hoping that Fran would be able to help him. Everything had been fine up until a year ago, when his wife had died of mysterious causes. Jack was trying to mourn his wife; at the same time, he was trying to take care of his boys. It had been a lot for him to take on. Maybe too much.
Abel and Samuel were good boys. That's what he told himself most days. They had a lot to go through because they had lost their mother at such a young age. They were both ten, and Jack knew that all of the things they were doing were just to act out. They wanted attention, any attention, and nothing Jack was doing worked.
“I don't know what to do, Fran. I know that you have done everything for me. I am just at a loss right now. I don't know how I can work when I have the boys home all the time. They just got kicked out of school for another two weeks. If it happens again, they will be out of school for good. I can't let that happen. There are only about six weeks until summer vacation anyway.”
“Jack, I am going to make some calls and see what I can do. I am going to do my best to help you.”
Jack knew that she was telling the truth. He had always been able to count on Fran, one of only a few since his wife Lisa died. Everything had been a blur and Fran had taken his hand and helped him. But maybe he was beyond help. If even Fran couldn't help him, Jack was worried about what that meant.
“I know you will, Fran. I don't know what I would do without you. You have been so helpful already.”
He wanted to ask her how long it would be until she found a replacement, but he knew that he was pushing it. He would be lucky if she could find a replacement at all.
“I will figure something out, Jack. Don't you worry. I know that the boys are good; they just need somebody that will work with them. That's all. I will find someone for you guys.”
She did not seem so sure, but Jack was grateful that she was trying to make him feel better. Fran had been the only beacon of light that had been present in his life. He couldn't lose her now, not when it was still just as dark.
Once Jack got off the phone with her, he wasn’t sure what to do with himself. He was supposed to be working, he was always supposed to be working, but less and less was getting done every time he tried. All he could think about was the fact that in a few hours, his sons were going to be up from their nap, and he would have to decide what they were going to do for the rest of the day. Jack had always wanted kids, but he never envisioned himself taking care of them by himself.
He tried not to worry about what was going to come later. Abel and Samuel had made it a point to get rid of the last nanny. They had said that she was evil, but Jack knew that they were just being ridiculous. They had very big imaginations, and they wanted to share them with the world.
Jack went to the bathroom and washed his face. He stared at his reflection for a time, and he couldn't help but wonder how he had gotten to this place in his life. He’d thought everything would be so different. Once he had met Lisa, everything was just supposed to play out. They were going to have a family and a normal life. He only got it for a time, and then it was all taken away from him.
Fran, on the other hand, was nothing but worried. She was concerned about Jack and his children. Not only had she sent several nannies out, but she had gone out to meet them herself. At some point, probably the third one down, Fran had wanted to meet the kids that had taken so many of her nannies, not just off of that job, but out of the service altogether.
The funny thing was, she didn't find the evil kids that she thought she would. Sure, they were full of devilish delight, but all children were. It was no different than her own children, and Fran couldn't understand what was going on.
Then she realized that it was the boys using their powers. They were not supposed to have them that early, but sometimes trauma would push puberty to happen sooner in young boys. They were two such children, and they delighted themselves with scaring their nannies, by turning into their true form. The dragon children had also taken off in flight several times, and they were unable to be coaxed out of the sky until their father came home.
She knew that he had a lot on his plate, and she was hoping that she would be able to alleviate some of that. The children were hurting, Fran could see it, so that meant that she had to help. Fran wanted to help everyone, but Jack was one of those cli
ents that was going to push her to her limits.
Fran was stubborn, though. She wouldn’t let anyone tell her that she couldn’t do something. She would prove them all wrong, and even if it was a challenge, she liked to believe that she was going to make it happen. She had to.
She made a couple of calls, and Fran kept coming up with one name: Mona Vales. She was supposed to be a great sitter, and she was good with problem children. Fran liked the fact that she was a witch as well. That meant she would be able to ground the children, figuratively and literally. She would hopefully be able to get them under control.
Fran knew that she had to meet her. She didn’t know what to expect, but after making a couple of phone calls, she got a number that was supposed to be for Mona. Fran was nervous to dial it. She had too much hinging on this witch, a woman that she’d never met before.
After calling a couple of times, she finally got an answer back, and Fran was rather surprised that Mona seemed to know about her. It wasn’t like she wasn’t a big deal in the paranormal world, because she was, but it was still strange for her to have people that knew who she was.
What threw her off more was how young the woman sounded. She was under the impression that she was older, but it didn’t seem like many knew a lot about Mona. She was more tale and whispers than anything else.
“Well, I am so happy to talk to you, Mona. I have been speaking with several people in the nanny business, and they all keep coming up with your name. You are a godsend from what I hear.”
“And you have a need for this?”
“I do, actually. I wouldn’t be calling if I thought that any other person could do it. I have already sent out five of my best, and the twin boys are just too much for them. They have come into their powers early, and they are acting out a little bit. They just lost their mother, so it isn't hard to imagine why. They are good boys, though.”
“Yes, yes, I see. That is no problem. You tell me the address, and I will go right away to see them.”
While Fran was relieved that the woman had agreed to help her, she was a little put off by the fact that she had not met her. Fran took her job rather seriously and the last thing she wanted to do was hire somebody that she had never met. She had to get a feel for them, and make sure that they were going to be well suited for the job.
“I would like to meet you first, Mona, if that's okay. I like to do an interview with everybody who works for me. You know, just to make sure that we're on the same page.”
The young woman mumbled something about how she couldn't see the point of it, but luckily for Fran, she didn't fuss about it too much. As much as Fran wanted it to work, she could not hire somebody without first meeting them. It just went against everything that she believed in. No matter what, the kids came first, and she had to make sure that they were safe.
After a little hesitation, the witch agreed to meet with Fran, and they set up an appointment. It was for later in the day, because even though she wanted to be thorough, there was still a time crunch involved. Jack needed to get back to work and the only way he was going to be able to do that was if he had someone to watch his kids.
“Well, I look forward to seeing you later today, Mona. Thank you for meeting with me and agreeing to do this.”
Mona said that it was no big deal and Fran, once again, had this weird feeling that came over her. She didn't know what it was, or what she was feeling, just that something didn't feel right. If she weren't in such desperate need for some new nannies, she might have listened to her gut and left it at that. She had always believed that it was better to be safe than sorry.
While Fran was tempted to call Jack and give him the good news, there was another part of her that wanted to hold off. She wanted to make sure that everything with going to happen as she hoped it would, then she would tell him the good news. Hopefully then, everything would be back to the way it was.
Fran felt like it was time for Jack and the twins to catch a break. It had been one thing after another with them lately.
Chapter Two
Jack got a phone call that he was dying to get. Fran had come through, again, and he knew that he was going to have to do something to thank her for all that she did for him. She had gone out of her way time and time again to make sure that he had someone to take care of his twins. He was thankful to her and none the less, surprised that she had found someone else. It was like magic, as far as he was concerned.
After he got off the phone with her, Jack relayed the message to his kids, and they were not happy about it. Abel was always quick to tell him just how he felt, and today was no different.
“Dad, we don’t need a babysitter. We don’t need anyone to cook for us. There are restaurants. We can fend for ourselves.”
Jack just shook his head. He heard it all the time, and he wasn’t listening to it now, just like he hadn’t listened to it before.
“If you two were doing well and showing me that it would work out, then I would think about it. But instead, you are two little knuckleheads and get yourself in trouble. Doesn’t seem like you’re all that worried about being responsible.”
“What Abel is trying to say is we just want the chance to stay home alone. We would prove to you…”
Jack stopped Samuel in his tracks. The last thing that he wanted to do was have his diplomatic son starting a debate. They were both smart, but it was Samuel that had learned how to get his way more often.
His brother Abel though was nothing but emotions and temper at present. Together, they did well, but apart, there could be problems.
“I know that you are going to try this route again and while it’s better than Abel’s choice, it isn’t going to work. Do good first, then you get a chance to be alone and prove yourself. That’s how it works. Start by not getting rid of this nanny, for one.”
Samuel made a face at his father. He was always one step ahead.
“I just think that we would do better if you would trust us. Our therapist says that it's very important for us to be able to grow. You have to trust that we can do it.”
“You have played your therapist like you have played many of the people at the school. I know that this is hard, but you guys are going to have to find a different way to express yourselves. I can't keep going through all of these nannies. There has to be a better way, and I'm hoping that we finally found the one for you.”
They both looked like they did not believe Jack. Something had to give, and he was hoping that finally he had found the solution. Either way, Fran had given him more hope than he’d had in a while.
“So, since you are going to be back to lockdown with the nanny tomorrow, why don't we go for a night fly? It's getting dark, and we will have the cover that we need to explore. Maybe if you get it out of your systems now, I won't have to come home from work to find you flitting around in the air when I get here.”
Jack made sure that his face displayed his intentions. He was done messing around with them, and he intended to be listened to. That was one of the things that Jack had decided he had to do differently. He had to put his foot down and stop giving in to them. Just like the boys, he was acting differently after Lisa's death as well. He wanted to give them everything, mainly because he felt so bad about what they were going through. What they were all going through.
The trio made it outside just as the sun was setting and Jack felt better than he had in a very long time. Once again, now there was a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel, and he was going to run towards it, even if it was a train coming at him.
Jack was the only one awake when Mona got there the next morning. He usually had to leave for work about seven, and the boys didn't get up until seven-thirty or so. It was nice to be able to get dressed for work without hearing them running around fighting, and Jack was still running on the hope that he had gotten the day before from Fran.
The doorbell rang, and he jumped a little bit, not sure why. When he got to the door, there was an older woman there, and she look
ed like she was in her fifties or sixties. Maybe even her seventies. Jack had met many witches that had aged quite well. There really was no telling how old she was, and he was not stupid enough to ask her. He’d learned to avoid a few things in his life and asking about a woman’s age was certainly one of them.
“Mona?”
She agreed, and her hand went out to shake his. Jack felt a moment of cold go over him, and he had a sinking feeling in his gut. His kind did not usually defer to witches for much of anything. They were considered deceitful and it was hard to trust one. He wanted to believe that it was just his upbringing coming out, making him think that way, but he wasn’t sure.
He let her in, because one way or another, Fran trusted her, and that made him want to trust her as well. Fran wouldn’t have met with her and agreed to send her over if she hadn’t vetted the witch. Though he had a bad feeling, Jack ignored it because of Fran. If she was good enough for Fran, then she was good enough for Jack.
“Are there any questions that you have for me? I have to go to work, but I am more than willing to stay and answer anything that you need to know.”
The older witch shook her head. She was looking all over the house, and her eyes were scanning the man in front of her. Jack didn’t like the scrutiny, even though he was doing the same. The woman’s clothes were layered, and they looked about as old as she did. He was unsure how to feel, but he knew that his kids were going to have a field day with her. She was just so different than anything that they would have been used to seeing.
“Everything is good. You go, and they will be safe and docile with me.”
“Docile?” Jack scoffed. “I don’t think my children know the meaning of the word, but I like that you’re an optimist.”
The gray-haired woman just smiled and cackled. The sound brought a shiver down his spine, but he tried to tell himself that he was just hearing things. This woman was fine; she had to be. She was only there because of Fran and he was going to trust in the process. It was desperate times, after all.