Thirty days passed.
Josephine had remained in Zephyria, ruling calmly while Xavi stayed in Noctyra, preparing her birthing plans. She was due in just a few days. Adris and the twins stayed in Zephyria with her.
Josephine sat on her throne, attending to endless guests. Adris held Orion on his shoulders — the little boy fast asleep — while Opehlia slept peacefully in his arm. Josephine kept breathing gently. Lyra handed her herbs. She drank them, then fell asleep right on her throne.
Assia quickly placed pillows behind her back, beside her, and under her bump.
Adris wrapped his siblings in their comfortable blanket, kissed their foreheads, and left for his training at home.
He used Xavi's ultra-speed, arriving home as a heavy wind blew in.
"Hi, Dad," Adris said, still in his training suit.
"Hey, my child. How are you?" Xavi asked.
"All good. Mama's pain has been increasing since yesterday, but Auntie Lyra gave her herbs and she fell asleep now," Adris explained.
Xavi nodded.
"Dad… why is Mama feeling so much pain now? It's not getting better," Adris asked worriedly.
"I don't know, Adris… I just hope she'll be fine," Xavi said.
"Me too…" Adris whispered, hugging his father.
Then the guests arrived — the royal family of Netherwrath Kingdom:
King Odhran — half demon, half giant
Queen Elzaria — a sea witch
Their children:
Prince Joan — half giant, half sea wizard
Princess Karynth — half demon, half giant
Princess Zarinthia — half sea witch, half demon
Princess Azelvyn — half giant, half demon
They all bowed.
Xavi nodded back. After greetings, Odhran paid him 9 billion golden coins — Xavi shared it with his gang.
Princess Zarinthia noticed a picture on the wall — Xavi and Josephine's wedding photo.
"Is she your wife?" she asked.
"Yes, she is," Xavi replied.
"Hold on… she looks very familiar… don't you think, Joan?" Princess Azelvyn said.
Joan took a closer look.
"Hey — it's Onyx!" Princess Karynth cried.
They all leaned in.
"Yes! It's her — Alexander!" Azelvyn said.
"JOSEPHINE!?" the entire family shouted.
Xavi laughed.
"Yes — my wife. Mrs. Josephine Xavi Roman."
"Seriously!?" they said again.
"Yes. She's the mother of my kids. She's pregnant again. And she's now the Queen of Zephyria."
Their shock deepened.
"What about Ceillie?" Queen Elzaria asked softly.
"She's dead. She fell sick and died," Xavi said.
"No…" Elzaria whispered as Odhran held her.
"How do you all know her?" Xavi asked.
Odhran sighed.
"She used to sneak into the school to learn. Ceillie's baking was the best in the kingdoms. Josephine's beauty attracted men — royalty, dukes, kings, princes. She was a shining rare gem."
"Yeah… and some tried taking her forcefully too," Joan added.
Xavi chuckled softly.
"Hey Dad, I'm done," Adris said, sweaty.
"Alright, let's go. Your mother must be awake by now," Xavi said.
He turned to the Netherwrath royals. "Let's all go — you'll see her."
They entered their carriages.
Twenty Minutes Later — Zephyria
They arrived at Josephine's castle.
"Woahhhhhh!" the family gasped.
Outside, Orion and Opehlia were awake, swimming in the giant pool with Darius, Xoni, Anesthesia, Kael, and the kids.
"Hi Papa!!!" Orion yelled, waving.
Xavi waved back. Adris jumped into the pool, making his siblings giggle loudly.
Inside the castle, Xavi and the Netherwrath family found Josephine — asleep, heavily pregnant, resting on her throne. Xavi kissed her forehead.
Her eyes opened slowly. She yawned silently, rubbing both her bump and her eyes. Xavi patted her belly gently.
The baby kicked.
Josephine smiled and kissed him softly.
At that moment, Tess, Callum, Pierre, and Kara entered.
"HI JOJO!!!" they shouted.
Josephine gasped with joy. She held her bump and ran to them, hugging them all tightly as tears fell. She kissed each of their cheeks. Xavi smiled at the reunion.
"Tess?" Joan said.
Tess froze. Noah held her hand, Auriel on her hip, and little Khaed in her arms.
"Tess!" Princess Azelvyn cried. Tess, Callum, and Pierre gasped — then all hugged the Netherwrath siblings.
"Your Highness," they greeted King Odhran. He nodded.
"It's good to see you all again. And… sorry about Ceillie's death," Odhran said.
They smiled sadly.
"Jojo, how's the baby?" Callum asked, holding Nyx as the kids ran to the pool.
"She's been kicking a lot lately. And Josephine sleeps all day too," Xavi said.
Callum chuckled while Josephine played with Alaric, Kairoth, and Kneed. The babies blabbered at her and she laughed silently.
They all sat for lunch.
Josephine fed Orion and Opehlia.
Joan kept staring at Tess — he loved her once and wanted to marry her. But now she was Noah's wife… and a queen. He saw the way Noah adored her and sighed.
His sister rubbed his back comfortingly.
His eyes drifted to Alisa — she was staring at him and blushed.
Xavi saw it and laughed quietly.
ONE WEEK LATER — IN ZEPHYRIA
Josephine was much better. She ran around playing with the kids, chased them, and still did her queen duties. Joan and his sisters stayed in the castle — they practically moved in. Josephine gave them royal positions.
Xavi held her hand. She was due in four days.
They had guests:
Queen Dracynelle of Ashvoryn Wastes — a moon witch. A widow.
Her children:
Princess Keshira
Princess Ravellia — disrespectful, obsessed with Xavi
Prince Nyvros
Princess Aethrax
Princess Ombrynn
They bowed before the pregnant queen. Josephine smiled.
Princess Ravellia wore a revealing outfit — intentionally — trying to attract Xavi.
But Xavi was focused on feeding Orion and watching his lovely pregnant wife.
Queen Dracynelle held Josephine's hand.
"How's the baby?" she asked.
Josephine signed: She's doing well.
They laughed together.
Xavi was patting the twins to sleep when Ravellia approached.
"Hi," she said seductively.
He sighed heavily.
He stepped into the twins' room, laid them down, and kissed their foreheads.
"Good night, my sweet children," he whispered, kissing Adris too.
Then he faced her.
"It would be better for you to stay away from me — or it will not end well for you," Xavi warned.
"A kiss will do," she said, biting her lip.
His eyes glowed.
He snapped his fingers.
Her whole body jolted with pain.
"Watch that dirty mouth of yours, bitch," he said coldly, walking away.
Ravellia trembled with rage.
"I will make sure she gets out of my way…" she hissed.
TWO DAYS LATER — THE TRAGEDY
Josephine was due tomorrow.
Preparations filled the castle.
Josephine held Xavi's hand. Adris rubbed her bump lovingly. Ravellia watched them with burning jealousy. She hated Josephine. She wanted her gone.
By lunchtime, Josephine went upstairs to her room. Xavi prepared her plate with healthy food.
As Josephine came downstairs, holding her bump—
Ravellia cast a spell on the stairs.
Making them slippery.
And then—
It happened.
Callum saw it first.
"JOJO!!!" he screamed, throwing his plate aside and sprinting.
Josephine slipped.
She fell.
HARD.
On her back.
Xavi froze.
He and Kara heard her scream.
Xavi sprinted — the fastest he had ever moved — and saw blood running down her legs.
Josephine sobbed, her face pale with terror.
Xavi grabbed her instantly.
"My love, you'll be fine — the baby will be fine, okay? Please, my darling… stay with me…" he pleaded, voice shaking.
Queen Kendra appeared.
"Xavi, you must go out now."
"No! She… she needs me! My wife needs me!" he cried.
Akirn, Kael, and Rhykar dragged him out.
"No — no — NO! Let me fucking go!" Xavi roared as Adris covered the twins' ears.
The doors slammed shut.
Inside, Josephine screamed in pain.
Anesthesia held her hair, whispering:
"Keep breathing, sweetheart…"
Josephine cried harder.
Sienna stepped outside.
"The baby is fine… but she fell badly. She's in serious labor. There is heavy bleeding… we just hope she survives the delivery or else—"
"OR WHAT!?" Xavi shouted.
Lyra answered softly:
"She will lose the baby… or her own life. We must save one."
Xavi felt his heart stop.
Inside Josephine's mind, her voice whispered:
Save the baby, Xavi…
His knees buckled. Kael caught him.
Lyra shook her head.
"We will save them both."
"Please… please save them both…" Xavi cried.
The women locked the doors again.
Adris turned — and saw Ravellia smirking.
His eyes turned deadly.
"Guards," Adris said coldly.
"Yes, Your Majesty?" they answered.
"Get her."
The guards grabbed Ravellia.
"LET ME GO!" she screamed.
"Tie her," Adris ordered.
They obeyed.
Xavi was in tears — shaking — as his wife and unborn child fought for their lives.
Who would survive?