10. Mira

10

MIRA

I can tell instantly that the twins aren't awake when I come out of my room, which is the first sign that makes me start to worry. As soon as I push the door open, I see why.

Sweat beads on Luna's forehead as she thrashes in her small bed, copper curls plastered to her temples. My heart races when I touch her burning skin. Nova whimpers in the adjacent bed, her own fever making the toy blocks spiral through the air like autumn leaves.

"Shh, it's okay." I fetch a cool cloth to press to Luna's face, dodging a floating pillow. The girls' magic has never acted this erratic before, at least not in sleep. "I'm right here."

A wooden zarryn crashes against the wall. I duck, scanning the room for more projectiles. Books flutter their pages, dolls dance in circles, and the curtains ripple despite the closed window. The chaos of their combined fevered magic fills the room with a wild energy that raises the hair on my arms.

Heavy footsteps thunder up the stairs. Karn bursts through the door, violet eyes wide as he takes in the scene. His massive frame fills the doorway, work apron still tied around his waist.

"What's happening?" His deep voice cracks with worry.

"They're burning up." I move to Nova, pressing my palm to her forehead. "Both of them, at the same time. And their magic?—"

A glass of water on the nightstand explodes, sending shards skittering across the floor. Karn crosses the room in two strides, gathering Luna into his arms. His rough hands turn gentle as he cradles her.

"Uncle Karn," she mumbles, burrowing into his chest.

"I'm here, little spark." He presses his lips to her temple, then looks at me. "We need to get a healer."

"How do I?—"

"I'll call one." He casts a wary look around the room, and I cross it.

"Go. I've got them." I take Luna from him, settling next to Nova so they're both within reach. "I promise."

I hold both girls close as Karn's footsteps fade down the stairs. The magical chaos continues around us - books flying, toys spinning, curtains whipping. I hum an old lullaby, one my mother used to sing, trying to soothe them through their fever dreams.

The wait feels endless before I hear voices approaching. Karn returns with a short, plump demon whose gray hair is twisted into elaborate braids. Her wrinkled face breaks into a warm smile despite the wooden block that nearly hits her head.

"Well now, this is quite the display." She sets her leather bag on the dresser, dodging another floating toy. "I'm Healer Zanul. How long have they been like this?"

"I found them this way this morning." I stroke Nova's damp curls. "The fever came on suddenly."

She approaches the bed, pressing weathered hands to each twin's forehead. "Ah, just as I suspected. Demon children often get these magical fevers around this age. Their bodies are adjusting to their growing powers."

"So they'll be alright?" Karn's deep voice trembles slightly.

"Oh yes, perfectly fine." She rummages in her bag, pulling out packets of dried herbs. "Mix these with honey and warm water, give it to them every few hours. The fever should break by tomorrow morning."

Luna stirs, violet eyes fluttering open. "My head hurts."

"I know, little one." Zanul touches Luna's cheek. "But you're being very brave. Both of you are."

The toys gradually settle as the healer moves her hands over their bodies, the magical storm calming. Once she has helped settle them, she shows me how to prepare the herbal mixture, her movements efficient but gentle.

"The fever actually helps their magic settle into proper channels." She packs up her supplies. "Think of it like a river finding its course. Right now it's flooding, but soon it'll flow smoothly."

"Thank you," I say, relief washing over me as both girls drift into calmer sleep.

"Just doing my job, dear." She pats my hand. "Keep them cool and comfortable. They'll be running around causing regular mischief again before you know it."

Karn doesn't leave with the woman. He stays with me, watching as the twins drift in and out of a fitful sleep, but their magic still pulses through the room in waves.

I can't keep still so I do what I can to keep the girls comfortable. We work to keep their skin cool, wiping away sweat as they writhe in their beds.

I wring out another cloth in the basin, careful not to splash water on the floor. Karn's shoulder brushes mine as he reaches for it, his skin radiating warmth even through his shirt.

"Here." He hands me a fresh cup of the herbal mixture. Our fingers touch, rough calluses against my softer skin. "Nova's due for another dose."

"Thank you." I shift on the edge of the bed, cradling Nova's head. "Come on, sweet girl."

Karn kneels beside Luna's bed, his broad frame somehow fitting in the small space. He dabs at her forehead with such tenderness that my chest aches. A strand of copper hair has escaped his tie, falling across his violet eyes as he bends over his niece.

"You're good with them," he murmurs, voice low and gravelly from exhaustion.

"So are you." I adjust Nova's blanket, smoothing out the wrinkles. "Most men wouldn't know what to do with sick children."

"Most men wouldn't take in their brother's orphaned daughters either." His jaw tightens, then relaxes. "Sorry. That came out wrong."

"No, it didn't." I pass him a fresh cloth. Our hands linger for a moment longer than necessary. "You gave up everything to raise them. That's... rare."

It's rare for a demon to care. I know that firsthand.

Luna whimpers in her sleep, and a book shoots off the shelf. Karn catches it mid-air without even looking, setting it gently on the nightstand. The casual display of his reflexes reminds me just how different we are - him a demon craftsman, me a runaway human slave.

"They're all I have left of him." His voice drops even lower. "Of them both."

I reach across the space between the beds, squeezing his forearm. His muscles tense under my touch, then relax. We find solace in each other as we keep passing cloths back and forth, our movements falling into an easy rhythm as we tend to the twins through the night.

But hours later, Luna's whimpers grow louder, and my heart clenches at the sound. Her small body trembles despite the cool cloth on her forehead. Nova's fever broke an hour ago, but Luna's temperature keeps climbing.

Karn paces the length of the room, his shoulders tight with tension. "It should have worked by now. The healer said—" His voice breaks. He runs a hand through his disheveled hair, copper strands falling loose around his face.

"Here." I press a fresh cloth into his calloused palm. Our fingers brush, and I feel him shaking. "Let me check her temperature again."

Luna's skin burns against my palm, worse than before. A sob catches in my throat as she tosses fitfully, her magic making the blankets writhe like living things.

"Uncle Karn," she cries out, reaching blindly.

His face crumples. I've never seen him look so lost, so afraid. Without thinking, I grab his hand. His fingers curl around mine, rough and warm and desperate for comfort.

"She's strong," I whisper, squeezing his hand. "Like her uncle."

He doesn't pull away. Instead, his thumb traces circles on my wrist, right over my brand. But I don't flinch. "I can't lose her too. I can't?—"

"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.