Nix's purple eyes narrowed abruptly, his knuckles fiercely gripping her wrist. "Something you absolutely must do?"
His voice was terrifyingly low and hoarse, as if the words were being forced from between his teeth, raw and visceral.
Perhaps his voice was too deep, because Bunny suddenly let out a loud wail from the bamboo bed.
Evangeline glanced over and tapped a finger lightly on Nix's tense wrist. "Go on, hold her. Get some practice in. When you're a father someday, you can't act like this. The cubs will be afraid of you."
Nix's deep purple pupils trembled, and his knuckles tightened unconsciously.
'A father? Will I really be a father one day?'
The title felt like a dull knife, scraping slowly but forcefully across his heart.
"Hurry up!" Evangeline gave him a push.
At her urging, Nix walked stiffly to the bamboo bed.
Bunny's face was red from crying as she sobbed and hiccuped, her tears falling like pearls from a broken string. PATTER, PATTER.
