Kaiden carefully handed a cup of warm wine to Alina. With a lingering blush on her cheeks, she held the cup in both hands and took a small sip.
Aurora sat back down on the bench beside Murphy. She gently placed a cup of wine on the low table next to him and handed another to Eleanor.
The firewood in the hearth crackled softly, casting a warm glow over the living room.
Aurora began asking Eleanor about her research on plant cultivation. Meanwhile, Kaiden excitedly discussed with his father the crop rotation plan for the newly tilled land to the east of their territory. He would occasionally chime in to ask his mother for a detail or two about diet during pregnancy.
Alina leaned against the soft cushions of her chair, listening to her family's conversation. A gentle, contented smile never left her face as her hand drifted unconsciously to her stomach from time to time.
