The following morning, the palace was bathed in the golden glow of the winter sun, perfectly setting the stage for the royal family's Christmas portrait. After the photoshoot happened, Amelie and Gabriel were asked by the Alpha King and Queen to follow him, leaving Noah in his uncles' care.
Casaio lifted young Noah high into the air, his arms extended fully as the toddler let out a chorus of delighted giggles, reaching toward the ornate ceiling as if he could touch the chandeliers. Laughing, Casaio brought him back down to earth, tucking the boy against his chest and pressing a tender kiss to the top of his head.
"You're going to be a big brother soon, Noah," he whispered with joy. "You'll have a little brother or sister to play with before you know it."
Noah, however, seemed entirely unimpressed by the news, his tiny fingers focused solely on trying to pry the shimmering emerald brooch from Casaio's blazer.
