Evangeline stretched languidly, her eyes half-closed. She reached out beside her, but her hand met only empty space.

Her fingers stilled. Slowly opening her eyes, she glanced from side to side. ’Danton isn’t here?’

Evangeline blinked and gently stroked the small fox carved on the Sea Conch. She casually pulled on her Merweave Silk Clothes, then rose and left the Sea Conch House.

Ever since Danton became the Clan Leader of the Mer Clan, the tribe seemed to have regained its former liveliness. The female Merfolk in the Coral Grove were busy gathering pearls. When they saw Evangeline, they all paused to greet her warmly.

Everyone knew she was Evangeline. They also knew she was the one who had once caused Young Clan Leader Danton’s Star Pattern to shatter. But now, she was also the one who had protected the Mer Clan and even resolved the Sandwurm crisis. She was the Mer Clan’s rightful Witch!

What’s more, she was carrying a child—and the child in her belly was the next Clan Leader of the Mer Clan.

In the face of her tangible accomplishments and the future of their bloodline, those old grudges had become insignificant, vanishing without a trace.

Evangeline passed through the Coral Grove and arrived at the Reef House.

This was the Mer Clan’s meeting place. Ever since Danton became Clan Leader, he spent the better part of each day here.

Sure enough, she heard Danton’s voice before she even entered.

His voice was clear and crisp, like ice striking ice. "The secret escape tunnel will be located within the reef cluster, concealed by the Coral Grove, so it will be difficult to spot. If the Megalodon Tribe attacks again, the entire clan can evacuate safely through there."

Evangeline blinked. ’A secret escape tunnel? Danton never mentioned this to me.’

She watched Danton inside the Reef House.

He gazed down at the sand table before him, tapping a spot with a slender finger. His azure tail fin swayed gently with the cadence of his voice, stirring up a trail of tiny bubbles.

Evangeline raised her hand and knocked on the door of the Reef House. The door swung open slowly, revealing Rhea’s somewhat haggard face.

The rims of her eyes were red, as if she had just been crying. A complicated look flashed in her eyes when she saw Evangeline, but she quickly composed herself. Her gaze fell to Evangeline’s stomach as she said in a soft, restrained voice, "Hurry and come in."

Evangeline narrowed her eyes slightly as she entered the Reef House. Danton was already swimming over to greet her.

His blue tail traced an elegant arc through the current as he reached out to steady her. He placed a hand with its well-defined knuckles gently on her stomach, his expression tender. "I’ll be done here in a moment."

"You must be hungry. How about I take you to Zylos later and grill some fish for you?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Danton was an incredibly gentle person. When he coaxed her in a low whisper, his clear voice was wonderfully reassuring.

Evangeline paused and shook her head. "There’s no need. I just came to see you again before I leave."

She glanced sideways at Danton.

His pale blue eyes were as serene as The Deep Sea, and her reflection swam in their depths, intense enough to drown a person.

Danton gazed at her deeply, stroking her cheek. "I won’t let you leave alone. I’ve given the Sound Transmission Conch to Rhea and had the clansfolk excavate the secret tunnel. That way, if they encounter any danger, they can evacuate at a moment’s notice."

Evangeline blinked, her voice tinged with disbelief. "You’re going to leave with me? To the shore?"

Danton tilted his head, his long, azure hair spilling over his shoulder.

"On the Beastman Continent, even a tribe’s leader must follow his female after they form a Contract."

His voice carried a quiet resolve as he reached out to gently stroke Evangeline’s belly, his eyes softening. "Eva, I will not be an exception. Besides, a male’s greatest mission is to protect his female and their young."

He had never wanted to take the position of Clan Leader from Rhea.

After all he had been through, just being able to return to the clan and see his home again was a tremendous comfort.

He never would have agreed to become Clan Leader if he hadn’t seen Rhea’s trembling shoulders and her struggle to hold back tears back on Zylos.

He wanted his Sister to live like an ordinary female—protected by a male, free to drift through the Coral Grove—not standing at the forefront of the clan, always shielding everyone else. She had already shouldered too much. He couldn’t shirk the responsibility that was rightfully his.

But before being a Clan Leader, he was Danton, Evangeline’s mate. He couldn’t just stand by and watch the female carrying his child leave all by herself. All he could do was leave his people an escape route.

Any other female would have been deeply moved to hear such words.

But Evangeline was clearly an exception.

A vein throbbed in her temple. ’Why does this baby in my belly suddenly feel so heavy?’

’My plan when I first entered The Deep Sea was perfect. I’d seduce Danton, complete my mission without any responsibility, get all the benefits for free, and not even have to raise the kid. Once I got back to shore, nothing in The Deep Sea would have a single thing to do with me!’

’So much for that!’

’Looking at Danton’s determined expression, she got it. She had been completely naive.’

’Looks like I’m doomed to experience the battle royale of having all seven Beast Husbands together in one place!’

At that thought, a smile touched Evangeline’s lips. She decided to just throw caution to the wind.

She took Danton’s hand and said softly, "Alright. This way, our child will be able to see their father the moment they’re born."

Watching from the side, Rhea couldn’t help but roll her eyes. "Honestly... Just don’t forget to visit often!"

Evangeline turned to look at Rhea, whose words were dismissive but whose eyes were rimmed with red. Stepping out of Danton’s embrace, she moved to stand before the younger girl and ruffled her hair. With a flick of her finger, she caught the single pearl tear about to fall from the corner of Rhea’s eye. "Going to miss us?"

Rhea huffed, her voice full of false bravado. "Who’s going to miss you? If you’re leaving, then just leave!"

Evangeline chuckled, winking playfully at Rhea. "Since I’m stealing away your Brother, the Clan Leader of the Mer Clan, I should at least make sure he has no lingering worries, don’t you think?"

Her hands formed a seal, and a tide of Spiritual Power rippled out from her in all directions.

A transparent Barrier, shimmering with faint light, enveloped the entire vast territory of the Mer Clan.

The Mer Clan had always been a peaceful people who rarely mingled with outsiders. Their greatest threat had always come from cruel and greedy foreign tribes.

’I have a Teleportation Scroll, so I’m not worried about being too late to help if needed. Still, a proper Barrier is necessary to prevent needless sacrifice and suffering. This is Danton’s clan, after all, and now that he’s the leader, he’s responsible for them.’

Danton stared at the transparent Barrier that now enveloped the Mer Clan, and the hand at his side tightened into a fist.

’His Eva... She was always thinking of him, always paving the way for him.’

Rhea looked up in astonishment at the Barrier shimmering in the water. "What is this?"

Evangeline smiled. "Something to protect the clan. Now you won’t have to worry about the Megalodon Tribe returning."

Rhea looked at Evangeline in shock. ’I’ve underestimated my Brother’s female, time and time again.’

Once the shock subsided, Rhea bit her lip and said to Evangeline in earnest, "Thank you for everything you’ve done for the Mer Clan."

Evangeline shook her head. "I didn’t do it for the Mer Clan. I did it all for Danton."

Rhea’s mouth twitched. "You’d better treat my Brother well," she said, exasperated. "And don’t..."

She left the unpleasant part unsaid. But after a moment’s thought, she lowered her voice, a note of pity creeping in. "I know your other males are good, but my Brother is the gentlest of them all. He won’t fight or compete for things. And he’s the only Tideborn Beastman..."

Rhea bit her lip. "He might get bullied. If he’s wronged, he’ll just bottle it up and not say a word. You have to protect him. My poor Brother... he hasn’t had a single day of peace since he met you."

Evangeline thought about it. ’It’s true. Ever since Danton met this body’s original owner, he really has been through a lot.’

She nodded, her tone serious. "Don’t worry. I’ll protect him."

As the words left her mouth, a sly smile touched her lips again. "But if he really is wronged, I won’t let him go hide and cry by himself. I have my ways of comforting him."

Rhea gave Evangeline a suspicious look, feeling there was some hidden meaning in her words that she couldn’t quite grasp.