A Werewolf, A Vampire, and A Fae Walk Into A Bar (Book 1 of The Last Witch Series) novel Chapter 27

Nanny's screams wake the sleeping child in my arms, whose own wails join the cacophony of crazy. Within seconds, Zev and Rune burst into the room, Zev already partially shifting into a wolf, both of their gazes trained on my grandmother like they're going to attack.

"Stop!" I shout, startling everyone except Rain, whose lungs seem to have grown exponentially since we got here, if her volume is any indication. "Do not hurt her," I tell the guys. "And get back into full human before someone sees you," I hiss at Zev, whose arms are already paws. Looks like I stopped him in time before he ripped through yet another outfit.

He's barely shifted back when a nurse hurries into the room. "What happened?" she asks, breathless from running down the hall. She immediately checks on Nanny, who stopped screaming but is moaning and clearly agitated as she shifts around in the bed like she's fighting her blankets.

I hand Rain to Rune, whose gifts of calm wash over the child until she's back asleep in his exceptionally chiseled arms. Prying my gaze from his guns, I move quickly to Nanny's side and try to calm her. "You're okay, Nanny. It's me, Bernie. Shh..."

The nurse checks her blood pressure and temperature and tsks at me like she's scolding a child. "Tilly doesn't need this kind of stimulation. It isn't good for her health."

"I'm aware of that," I say, trying to hold back my irritation. "We didn't do anything. She just started screaming the moment I walked in. What's wrong with her? Has she had more episodes? I normally get notified if it seems like she’s taking a turn for the worse."

"She’s been just fine until today, just now," the nurse says with more than a little accusation in her tone. "I think it’s best if you go. Her blood pressure is much higher than I’d like it to be."

“I just need a few minutes with her,” I say. “And my cousin, he always knows how to calm her down, don’t you, Rune?”

Zev smirks. “That’s right, cousin.”

Rune frowns at the werewolf but hands him the baby as he joins my side. “Of course. He smiles at Tilly. “Hello, great-aunt.” He places a hand on hers, and her thrashing slows as she responds to Rune’s calming powers.

The nurse narrows her eyes at us, then shrugs. “Fine. Five minutes. Then you must let her rest.”

Once the nurse is gone, I focus my attention back on Nanny. Rune stays by her side, holding her hand. “If I leave, she will become agitated again,” he says sadly.

I nod, blinking away unwanted tears.

Zev joins us, and kneels next to me while holding Rain so Tilly can see her.

“This is your great-granddaughter,” I say, fighting the emotion making my words crack. “And Rain, this is your great-grandmother. She raised me through my terrible tweens and teens. She made sure I always had a tutor for my piano, even when they could barely afford to keep the bar open. She made me a dress for prom so I wouldn’t feel left out when we couldn’t afford to buy one.” I can no longer fight the tears that stream down my face. “She’s the best. You’re a lucky little girl,” I tell my child, then I turn to the woman who’s been everything to me for so long. “Oh Nanny, I wish you were here. Really here. I don’t know how to do this without you. You always had the answers, and now I feel so lost.”

It’s more than I wanted to say in front of the Sexies, but the words pour out of me before I can sensor them.

“Come back to me, okay? To us.”