Back in the ironwood manor.
Roxy looked down into her daughter's wide violet eyes. Roxy reached out, gently brushing a stray lock of dark hair from Iris's forehead. A soft, genuine smile finally broke through the lingering exhaustion on her face.
"Yes, my sweet girl," Roxy answered, her voice carrying a gentle, unbreakable promise. "Very soon, your daddy fish is going to be here with your little brother."
Iris's eyes instantly gleamed with bright, unfiltered curiosity. Her little toddler brain was likely trying to imagine a giant, literal fish flopping around the grassy courtyard of the Manor, but the prospect of a new baby brother made her fluffy tail wag excitedly against the wooden chair.
But while Iris was thrilled, the five territorial men sitting around the table were decidedly not.
Torian's jaw ticked violently, his large hand tightening on the edge of the table until the wood groaned in protest. The White Tiger was obviously not comfortable with this. None of them were.
