Page 88 of Demon Boss' Baby Load

Nat seemedto be feeling better the next day. He was humming to Wanda in the kitchen when Teddy and Mallie stepped in.

“Morning!” Nat chirped.

The children looked surprised. Mallie blurted, “Are you okay?”

Nat blinked. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You had a bad dream last night,” Teddy said. “We heard you.”

“Oh.” Nat cringed, glancing at Duke. “Sorry. Did I wake you?”

“Yeah, but it’s okay.” Mallie went over and wrapped her arms around Nat’s belly. “Sometimes Teddy and I get bad dreams too.”

“Oh, no.” Nat’s face fell. He hugged Mallie back, raising his eyebrows when Teddy came over to hug him too. “Bad dreams suck, but on the bright side, I remember how things are so much better now when I wake up. So I’m okay with that.”

“I hate that terrible things have happened to you,” Duke muttered.

Teddy and Mallie both looked at Duke surreptitiously. In a loud whisper, Teddy asked, “Are you going to kill someone?”

“The bad guy?” Mallie clarified.

Duke hesitated. “Killing is... not encouraged.”

“Unless it’s bad people,” Hubrie said. “People who have hurt other people.”

Duke sighed. “I’m not going to search out Nat’s ex tokillhim.But.If he tries to hurt Nat again, I will stop him with whatever it takes.”

The children nodded solemnly.

“It’ll be a mercy killing,” Mallie said. “Mercy for everyone but the bad guy.”

Nat’s eyes grew wide. Duke prepared to correct her.

“That’s right,” Hubrie said. “And we want to be merciful to the good people.”

Duke buried his face in his hand. “Stop teaching them the wrong things, Hubrie.”

“But we want the good guys to win,” Hubrie said innocently.

Duke groaned. He would correct the children later. Right now, he had more important things to take care of.

Things like making sure Giblin Turkeyson never got to hurt Nat again.

24

AN UNHELPFUL CONVERSATION

NotAWalrus

Help

IvoFivo

What did you do this time, Walren? What did you do!!!!

NotAWalrus

Why are you assuming it’s my fault? (sad emoji)

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