Page 26 of Nanny for the Demon's Twins

"You won't." I lean against his arm, offering what strength I can. "We won't."

We stand there together, watching Luna fight her fever. His presence anchors me as much as mine seems to steady him. When she finally stills, her breathing evening out, neither of us moves. Neither of us lets go.

Nova snuffles in her sleep, and a smile tugs at Karn's lips as he feels Luna. Her fever seems to have settled. "She's okay," he murmurs. "They're going to be okay."

I wrap my hands around his waist, squeezing him, and his hand settles on my back. We don't speak again, but we don't need to. Sometimes comfort is found in silence, in shared worry, in the simple act of holding on.

We're still standing there when morning light creeps through the curtains, painting the nursery in soft amber. I've lost track of how many cool cloths we've pressed to fevered foreheads, how many doses of medicine we've coaxed down tiny throats. I'm basically asleep on my feet, but I don't dare move.

Luna stirs first, her violet eyes fluttering open. Instead of the glassy fever-shine, they're clear and bright. She yawns, stretching out like it's been another normal night.

"I'm hungry." She pushes herself up, copper curls a wild nest around her face.

Nova follows moments later, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "Can we have fluffy cakes?"

The normalcy of their requests makes my knees weak with relief. No more floating toys, no more magical chaos - just two perfectly ordinary toddlers asking for breakfast.

Karn's hand pulls me tighter against his solid warmth. His work-roughened fingers spread across my hip as he draws me closer.

"We made it," he whispers, his breath stirring my hair.

I tilt my head back to look at him, unable to stop the smile spreading across my face. The worry lines around his eyes have softened, replaced by exhausted joy. His copper beard is mussed from running his hands through it all night, and dark circles shadow his eyes, but he's never looked more handsome.

"Uncle Karn!" Luna shifts forward, breaking us out of our thoughts as she holds up her arms. "Up!"

He scoops her up with his free arm, still keeping me tucked against his side. Nova scrambles out of bed to wrap herself around my legs.

"Fluffy cakes?" she asks again, giving me her best pleading look.

I laugh, the sound light and free after hours of tension. "Yes, fluffy cakes. But first, both of you need baths."

"Can we have bubbles?" Luna asks from her perch in Karn's arms.

"And toys?" Nova adds.

Karn's chest rumbles with quiet laughter. "I think we can manage that."

And warmth settles through me as I look at the three of them, realizing how much they have come to mean to me. All of them.

11

KARN

Idrag myself down the hallway, muscles aching from a night of pacing with feverish toddlers and no sleep. After baths, fluffy cakes, and cleaning the kitchen, I feel like I've already done a full day's worth of work in a few hours.

The sun's now fully risen, casting long shadows through the windows. Nova's back asleep in her bed, Luna curled against her sister like always. It only took a few hours before they needed a nap, still mildly tired.

My footsteps halt in the living room. Mira's curled up on the couch, her dark hair spilling over one shoulder. One of Luna's stuffed creatures is clutched to her chest, her breathing deep and steady. She stayed up with us all night, singing softly, wiping noses, brewing remedies.

She was incredible.

I run a hand over my face. The sight of her hits different this morning. Maybe it's the exhaustion breaking down my walls, or how natural she looks here, like she's always belonged. Or the way she stayed next to me all night.

Something just feels different. And I don't know how to squash it this time.

A strand of hair falls across her face. My fingers twitch with the urge to brush it back. Instead, I grab a blanket from the back of the couch and drape it over her. She stirs, green eyes fluttering open.

"The girls?" Her voice is thick with sleep.

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