Everly had worked in the nursery at the college and had been studying early childhood development in school. She babysat all through high school to save money to go to college. If her mother hadn’t gotten sick, she would have had a degree in child care by now. She bit her lip, thinking it wasn't enough experience. But she had to try. What else could she do? She opened her resume file and updated it, trying to make her experience seem a little bit more impressive.
“I have to pay Stacy back for what she's done for me. I have to move on. I can't let my divorce and the loss of my child beat me. I have to be stronger than the pain,” she said to herself.
She finished sprucing up her resume and sent it to the email address in the want ad.
After that, she stood from her desk and found Stacy in the dining room. “How did the job search go?” Stacy asked, dishing spaghetti noodles onto a plate for Everly.
“I applied for a nanny job. It's a live-in position so hopefully I'll get it, and you can get rid of me.”
“I'm not trying to get rid of you,” Stacy said.
“I know, I know,” Everly chuckled, swirling spaghetti around on her fork.
Stacy was doing everything she could to help Everly. But from the sparsely stocked cabinets and refrigerator, Everly knew that Stacy was hurting. She couldn't continue to rely on her friend’s good will for much longer, or it would pull them both under.
“Everything's going to be fine. I'm going to get that job,” she said. “And then I’m going to do whatever it takes to pay you back.”
“I know you will, Everly. You've always been a dependable and good friend. You're going to get through this. If anyone can recover from what Tim put you through, it’s you.”
“Well I’ll tell you one thing, I'll never trust a man again.”
They both chuckled and ate their spaghetti.
“You never know,” Stacy said. “Maybe there's some great guy out there for you. It's possible that happy endings really do happen.”
Chapter 3
Kian looked over the list of applicants for the nanny position he had advertised in the local paper. Since he and his crew moved into the mansion, they had been learning more and more about the humans every day.
He had also learned that he needed as much help as he could get with baby Ember. Bethi seemed assured that a human could care for a dragonkin, and that the best course of action was to bring in help. At first, Kian was hesitant. But as the days rolled on, he became surer that it was the right thing to do.
As a veteran warrior in the fight against the vampires, he was ill-equipped to care for a child. The other males weren’t any more fluent in childcare. Cato tried to instruct them all from text books, but caring for an actual child was different than anything in a book.
They were also becoming more aware of the vampires with each passing day. Eventually, the presence of the dragons would become known to their enemy.
“Maybe they have forgotten about us,” Dax suggested over a breakfast of human food.
“I doubt the vampires have forgotten about us, even after a million years,” Aiden said, strumming his guitar.
“I have no indication that they are aware of our presence yet,” Cato said.
“But that doesn't mean it will remain that way,” Kian said.
Baby Ember sat in her high chair beside the breakfast table in the kitchen. Kian fed her applesauce with a tiny spoon. She was just old enough for solid foods, according to Bethi and Cato’s research, but she still took a bottle of dragonkin formula multiple times a day as her primary source of nourishment.
“When they do become aware of our presence, we will have to fight them,” Cato said. “We must fortify our defenses.”
“This house is a sorry fortress for our kind in a world overrun by vampires,” said Aiden, putting down the guitar.
“The vampires seem to have lost some of their power, but they have infiltrated most of the upper reaches of human society,” Cato explained.
“We still have our technology at our disposal and a hoard of treasure in every ship of each house,” Dax said.
“Until the other houses emerge, we are the only dragons on the planet. We can't call attention to ourselves, no matter how weak the vampires appear to have become,” Kian said. “Where have you gotten with the analysis of the Dragon Souls, Cato?”
“It is clear that the Dragon Souls exist on this planet, that is why we are all feeling the mating impulse so strongly.”
“Does that mean we can find mates?” Dax asked.
“That is correct, Dax,” Cato said. “In fact, we must find mates, it would seem.”
“We must?” Kian asked.
“Our mating impulse is growing stronger with each day. If it goes unanswered, the consequences could be dire.”
“How dire?” Kian asked.
“Madness. Death.”
They all stopped and stared at each other for long moments.
“I am working with Bethi to better identify individual Dragon Souls,” said Cato, taking a sip of coffee.
“When will it be finished?” Kian asked.
“It could take several weeks,” he said.
“Several weeks is too long,” Dax said, crossing his heavily muscled arms and sitting back in his chair.
“We've been in stasis for millions of years. We can wait a while longer for mates,” Kian said.
“I don't know if I can wait,” Dax said, shoving a piece of bacon in his mouth.
“We will wait as long as we have to,” Kian said, scooping up another spoonful of applesauce for baby Ember. “We have the princess to think about.”
“These human females are small and delicate,” Aiden said, stretching his tattooed arms.
“I find it rather attractive,” Dax said.
“I'm particularly intrigued by their curves,” Cato said.
Kian made a purring noise in the back of his throat, thinking of the curves he'd seen in the photographs of females. They had interacted with as few humans as possible, trying to maintain a low profile. Their realtor had been a male. They’d bought the mansion completely furnished, and had it stocked with everything they would need to start their lives.
The whole thing had only taken a few weeks. It had been less than an Earth month since their stasis pods had opened and they found themselves awake on the surface of the planet. It had been enough time for Aiden to take up playing rock guitar, Dax to become obsessed with human sport, Cato to find the information net, and for Kian to become a proficient chef of human cuisine.
“I have interviews with several nannies today,” Kian said. “I'd like the rest of you to make yourself scarce. We don't want to scare off any potential candidates.”
“You said she would be living here to take care of Ember,” Dax said.
“That was Bethi’s suggestion. If we have to fight against the vampires, then we will need someone to protect and care for Ember while we are gone.”
“How are we supposed to make ourselves scarce when she's living here all the time?” Dax asked.
“You will have to learn to behave yourselves appropriately in her presence,” Kian said.
“Can we mate with her?” asked Dax.
“We haven't even chosen a candidate yet, and you're already asking about mating the poor creature?” Kian said, growing exasperated with his lieutenant.
“I have research to do on the humans and Dragon Souls,” Cato said, rising from the table with a cup of coffee.
“I need to go listen to about five hours of rock music on my surround sound stereo,” Aiden said.
Aiden was Kian's cousin and the Duke of the House of Flames. He could slice an enemy faster than the time it took for a leaf to fall to the ground, but he’d become consumed by human music since their arrival.
“I am sure that your potential mate will be very impressed with your guitar licks,” Kian said.
“Music goes straight to the human heart,” Aiden said, brushing his wavy black hair over his shoulder.
He took the child into the living room and put her in her swing. He had ordered all the baby equipment that she would need and had it delivered as soon as they’d moved in.
He had asked Dax and Cato to move the ship into the basement. It had been a tricky operation, but since the mansion was on private property, in the middle of a deep forest, on a hill, they had been able to accomplish the feat.
The ship contained their technology and their dragon hoard. It made Kian feel more confident knowing he and his crew could escape into their ship at any moment. Until the rest of the dragons awakened, he feared they had very little chance against the vampires.
Cato had assured Kian that the vampires had lost most of their strength. Bethi was sure that the older vampires were either dead or in deep slumber from the readings she got from her scans, but Kian still felt a deep sense of protectiveness for his daughter and for his crew.
In their old world, before the cataclysm, the vampires had been a formidable foe. Their magic and technology was strong, and they had the ability to move through space without ships. More than a few of the best dragons on his home world had been kidnapped and murdered that way.
The dragons had learned to create fortresses with shield technologies that were able to keep the vampires at bay. They had instated a shield around the estate, and he hoped it was strong enough. He never imagined that the vampires would be here when the dragons woke from their stasis.
The doorbell rang, and he went to answer it. The first applicant for the nanny position was an older woman. She wore a gray suit skirt that came to her lower calf and heeled lace up boots. She walked into the house and stared at Ember with a frown.
“Is this the child?” she asked, in a grating high-pitched voice.
“Yes, this is my daughter, Ember,” he said, sitting down across from the nanny applicant.
She sat and folded her hands in her lap, staring at the Ember and then up at him. He read her resume. Although he had very little idea of what all of it meant, it seemed impressive from what he understood.
“You have a master’s degree in early childhood development, and you've been working as a nanny for over thirty years?”
“That's correct. There isn't a child in this world that I can't handle. I'll have your little darling shipshape in no time.”
He looked over at Ember, and she made a high-pitched questioning groan. He nodded at the baby and then looked back at the applicant.
“And would you be available to live in the house with us?” he asked.
He had a room for the nanny next to Ember's nursery. It was located on the opposite side of the house from the dragons. It was his attempt to keep their identities secret from the human.
“I'm available as soon as possible. My previous position came to an end when the children went off to military school. It didn't come a moment too soon, either. I'd been advising military school for those children for over two years, but some people never listen.”
“I see,” Kian said. He didn't know what military school was, but none of it sounded very nice. He certainly didn't want baby Ember in the military. “This all sounds very good,” Kian said, tapping the paper with his fingers. “I will let you know as soon as I've made a decision.”
They stood, and she reached out to take his hand. He put his hand in hers. She shook it in the most curious way, exactly how the realtor had. What a strange human custom of sharing germs. He looked down at her hand and then took his back.
“Thank you very much, sir. I look forward to hearing from you.”
After the older woman left, he interviewed several other applicants. All with excellent qualifications. By the end of the day, he was starting to get exhausted. He had no idea who to choose.
“Which one did you like, Ember?” he asked.
She squealed, and he shrugged.
“I don't really know either.”
Then the doorbell rang again, and he stood to open it.
“Hi,” said a tiny, curvaceous woman on the front steps of his house.
The moment her scent hit his nose, he took a step back. His inner dragon screeched and screamed. His blood began to boil, and he had to keep himself from breathing fire. Her wavy blonde hair hung to her shoulders and her petite frame held a set of curves that made his dragon pant and drool. His manhood stirred below his waist. Kian cleared his throat and invited her inside.
“I'm Everly Collins,” she said, reaching out to take his hand.
He grasped her hand and a spark shot between them when they touched. It wasn't like static electricity, but something deeper, something nonphysical. Her eyes brightened when she looked up at him, and she bit her lip in the most adorable way. Her brown eyes sparkled. His heart began to thump in his chest.
“I am Kian, Prince of… I mean Flame. I'm Kian Flame.”
“Pleased to meet you Mr. Flame,” she said, smiling.
“Call me Kian.”
He invited her inside and they sat in the living room with Ember who swayed back and forth in her swing.
“Isn't she just the sweetest,” Everly gushed, clapping her hands together as she bent over Ember. “Aren't you just the cutest baby?”
None of the other applicants had shown such enthusiasm or affection for his daughter. As she bent over, the plump rise of her behind stared him in the face. She sat down with a bright smile and looked up at him. He had to compose himself. It was very unprofessional to be growing desirous of her as he interviewed her for a position.
“I see here that you have a year of college in early childhood development.”
“I know my education is lacking,” she said, biting her lip. “But I had to quit school to take care of my mother when she came down with cancer. She was sick for a long time, and by the time she passed away, there were so many bills, and I was so behind in school that I couldn’t go back. I did a lot of babysitting in high school. And I just love kids. I've always wanted to have them.”
“Have them?” he asked.
He could see tears welling in her eyes and she blinked them away, pretending they weren’t there. He could smell her emotions rolling off her, and he wondered what was wrong.
“I mean, I've always wanted to take care of them. As a daycare worker, teacher, or nanny. It's been my dream.”
“Do you have any children of your own?” he asked, growing curious about the luscious woman in front of him.
He didn't see a ring on her finger. He knew that it was the human symbol of attachment and he wanted to know if someone else had already claimed her as his own. He wanted her on sight and had to remind himself he didn’t know if she was even a Dragon Soul, let alone his mate.
“No,” she said with a sigh. “I haven't had any children of my own yet. But I want them. I guess that's part of why I want this job so much. So that I can take care of a sweet baby like Ember until I find the right guy to start a family with.”
“So, you haven't found the right guy yet?” he asked.
With his dragon’s constant growling, he couldn't help asking. She cleared her throat and squared her shoulders, blinking several times. She opened her mouth and then shut it again. Then finally, she answered the question.
“No. Unfortunately. I was recently divorced, and we never had any children.”
He knew what divorce was from their human research. It was bizarre to dragons, who had one true mate with whom they shared their entire lives. Kian could tell the subject of divorce and children was deeply saddening for her. He couldn't imagine why anyone would ever divorce this beautiful, curvy little woman.
“He must've been insane,” Kian said.
She covered her mouth and giggled. The sound, tinkling and bright, filling his soul with happiness.
“I think he was,” she said with a shrug. “Thank you for saying that.”
“I want to make sure you would be available to live in the house. If I offer you the pos
ition,” he said, backpedaling from what he knew was becoming a sticky situation.
Human dating rituals were complex and multilayered. Humans looked down on bosses flirting with their employees. He didn't want to scare her off.
Something about her made him want to bring her closer. If he hadn't known any better, he would have thought that this little human was his fated mate.
“No, I'm not attached. If you offered me the position, I could definitely come to live here.”
“That settles it then,” he said, standing. “I would like to offer you the position as nanny.”
Chapter 4
Everly was shocked that Kian offered her the job so quickly. He was an extremely attractive and powerful man, if not a bit odd. All of which she decided she liked about him. It made her trust him as he had shown so much trust in her.
She was grateful that she could finally move on. She didn't want to keep using Stacy and causing any more trouble for her. It was time for her to take care of herself. She thanked him profusely before she headed to the door.
“You need a ride?” he asked as she tapped on her phone to call an Uber.
“I'm just going to get one now,” she said.
“Don't be ridiculous. I can take you.”
“I don't want to put you to any trouble.”
“It's not any trouble. You are going to take care of my daughter so the least I can do is take care of you.”
Everly wasn't sure what to think of that, but she wasn't going to turn down a free ride back to Stacy’s apartment. Kian had already been so good to her. She was confused and didn’t quite know what to think. They walked into the six-car garage off the mansion.
Holding Ember’s car seat in one hand, he opened the door to the passenger seat for Everly to step inside. He then strapped Ember’s seat in the back. When he got behind the wheel, he began to explain how she would have access to this vehicle when she came to work for him.
“I wasn't expecting anything like that.”
“It's important that you have access to everything you need to take care of Ember.”
She sat in silence as he followed her GPS directions back to her apartment. When they arrived, he carried the baby in her car seat upstairs and they went inside. Stacy wasn't home. He set Ember’s seat on the table and looked around the apartment.
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