Page 34 of My Demon Manny

The term still made me grin. It was such a human term, but I still loved it almost as much as I loved the term 'mate.'

I'd removed my application from the nanny agency as well, and for the next few years, I was simply going to take care of Gunner.

After talking with Archer, I'd given my notice at my apartment too, and while I was sad I wouldn't have Matilda as my neighbor anymore, I had her number, and she'd made me promise I'd visit.

Our current dynamic worked for Archer and me, and I was happy with my life at the moment. I had my mate and his adorably sweet kid, and I needed nothing else to feel fulfilled.

Archer had left for work an hour ago after giving Gunner his solid meal—we'd recently switched to two meals a day, and Archer took the morning feeding while I took the evening one —and the two of us had big plans today.

We were going to do the laundry, and then Gunner and I were heading to the park for a short walk. I'd been nervous about going after what happened last time, but Archer had convinced me it would be a good thing for both of us. Gunner needed some sunlight, and I needed to deal with and get past the accident. Now that Archer knew what I was, he was confident I wouldn't let anything happen to Gunner.

When I picked Gunner up to check if he needed a diaper change, I discovered a whole different problem. Gunner's skin was hot to the touch. Did he have a fever? Oh God, what if it was something bad?

He'd gotten a shot a couple days ago, and the doctor had told us Gunner was perfectly healthy. Could the fever be a side-effect of the shot? But what if it wasn't? What if something was wrong?

I'd used my magic to keep Gunner safe and healthy, but it was possible even my magic couldn't protect him from everything.

Settling him back in his crib, I raced into the bathroom and grabbed the thermometer, quickly taking his temperature.

101 degrees Fahrenheit. That wasn't good. I had half a mind to teleport him to the hospital and make a doctor look at him, but then I forced myself to do the logical thing. I called Archer.

"Hey, Lux." Just hearing his voice relieved some of the stress from my body, but I still tripped over my words as I spoke.

"Archer! Gunner has a fever and I don't know what to do. Should I take him to the hospital? Or should I just take care of him at home? Maybe I could try making the fever disappear with my magic?" I never used my magic directly on Gunner, because I didn't know if there could be any ill-effects in the long run, and I'd rather not risk it. But right then, I was willing to make an exception.

"Lux. Lux!" Archer's firm voice put a screeching stop to my spiraling thoughts, and I exhaled loudly.

"Yes?"

"Calm down, sweetheart. Gunner will be fine."

I blinked, then glanced down at Gunner, who was peering up at me with his baby blues, much calmer than I was.

"Yeah. Sorry. I should be dealing with this better, right? I'm supposed to be a professional, a manny."

"That's because you're not."

"What?"

Archer chuckled. "What I mean is—you're not a manny to Gunner anymore. Which is why you aren't reacting like one."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. You're reacting the way a parent would."

Oh! Did that mean...did Archer think of me...

"Anyway, you should try to get his fever down. It's probably a reaction to the shot he got, but if it doesn't go down in a few hours, call me and we'll take him to the hospital. Okay?"

I nodded mutely as the things I'd read in the parenting books suddenly flashed in my mind, then remembered he couldn't see me, and spoke. "Yeah, okay. I'll talk to you later."

"Bye, Lux."

Ending the call, I stared down at Gunner.

"Did your dad just call me your parent?"

Gunner made a soft, mewling sound, then rubbed his eyes, and I shook my head, focusing on the important thing right now. I had to get Gunner's fever down.

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