In the labor room, Josephine held Tess's hand tightly, breathing heavily as the maidens applied hot towels around her bump.
"Push!" Lyra said.
Josephine used every last strength to push, but her legs were filled with blood. She was crying silently. Sienna shook her head at Kendra as Queen Oliyda stepped out.
"Get more hot water and herbs!!!" she commanded.
"Mom… mom… mom, is she okay? Please tell me something!?" Xavi asked, his voice trembling as he grabbed his mother's hand.
Queen Oliyda shook her head in disappointment. "She's covered with blood, Xavi… she lost a lot of blood."
"B-b-but she will be fine, right?" he asked, tears filling his eyes.
"We… we don't know yet. We will try our best," she said before leaving.
"Mama…" Orion whispered, tapping the door, but Darius carried him away.
Meanwhile, far from the labor room, Adris was torturing Ravellia. Vespera and Elandra stood beside him. Elandra blew purple fire from her mouth at Ravellia's feet, burning her as she screamed.
"Xavi would have done worse. Give me a rope," Adris said.
They handed him the rope. He tied Ravellia's body to Elandra's legs and petted the dragon.
"Good girl," Adris praised as Elandra licked his face.
"Mom, stop him! He's going to kill Ravellia!" Prince Nyvros shouted.
Queen Dracynelle shook her head. "No. She made Queen Josephine fall, and due to her foolishness she is being punished for it. I would have done worse. Queen Josephine is in there fighting for her life and her child's life because of your sister—and this has affected negotiations with two kingdoms. King Xavi will kill us all if anything happens to his wife."
The Queen, her children, and Nyvros bowed their heads. Vespera hissed as Adris climbed on Elandra.
"No, please stop!" Ravellia screamed as Elandra roared into the sky and flew up. Adris's eyes glowed dark red and he howled at the moon. All the wolves howled too.
Back in the castle, Xavi made a tight fist, wiped his tears, and went into the library to search for solutions.
FOUR DAYS LATER
Josephine had been in pain—heavy, brutal labor—for four days.
Adris kept the twins distracted and shifted the children to the other side of the castle. Queen Sophina and King Hendrick were now there. Queen Sophina held Josephine's hand, helping her replace the blood she'd lost.
Xavi hadn't slept. He hadn't eaten. He had been searching nonstop for a solution for his wife but found nothing.
Suddenly Kara rushed in with Asne, Oliver taking him from her.
"Xavi!? Xavi!?" Kara called out as the gang found him in the library, still searching through scrolls.
"What are you doing?" Oliver asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Looking for a solution for Josephine," Xavi muttered, not looking up.
Kara sighed. "There's a way to save them."
Xavi finally looked at her.
"The Goddess Elarwyn Verdalis—Queen Dara. By now she must be the queen," Kara said.
"Where can I find her?" Xavi asked, wiping his face.
"She's behind Jojo's castle, in the green forest. You need to fetch the river water for Josephine to drink. The river name is Lumaera River," Kara explained.
Xavi didn't waste a second. He ran upstairs, bathed, changed quickly, and rushed to Josephine's bedside. She was still in labor, barely breathing.
"Listen… look, I promise you and the baby will be fine. I will bring the water and you will be fine," Xavi whispered and kissed her forehead.
"Adris, look after your mother!" he said before speeding out of the castle.
Severin, Darius, Kael, Oliver, Kara, and Xoni followed him with the same speed.
Xavi didn't stop running—ultra speed flashing through the air—until they reached a forest filled with flowers, fairies, and tiny elves. They arrived at Queen Dara's forest.
"Excuse me, ma'am, please—where can we find Queen Dara?" Kara asked a tiny elf.
"Yes, dear, she's just down the hill. She is a great queen," the elf answered.
Kara smiled proudly. Xavi didn't wait—he pushed ahead.
"Slow down, brother," Severin called, but Xavi didn't listen.
They reached the river. Xavi quickly ran down, opened the large water bottle, and began filling it. The others filled theirs too.
"Did you all ask for permission?" a woman's voice said.
"Dara?" Kara gasped.
"Hetragon?" Dara said, stepping into view. Her body was covered in plants and flowers—radiant, divine. Severin's eyes widened.
"Gorgeous…" he whispered.
Dara's gaze also fell on him. Kara hugged her tightly.
"Xavi, go quickly!" Kara said.
"Wait! What do you all need the water for?" Dara asked.
"The Queen of Zephyria has been in labor for four days now—Queen Josephine!" Kara explained.
"Let's go," Xavi said coldly.
Dara hugged Kara gently. "Come with us," Kara said.
Dara nodded.
THE FINAL PUSH
They arrived at the castle. Xavi rushed into Josephine's room and opened the bottle.
"Here, love," he whispered to Josephine, who was nearly out of breath. He helped her drink every drop of the water.
Dara entered. The women made Xavi leave the room.
Dara's hands glowed over Josephine's bump. Sienna looked closely at Josephine's face.
"Push!" Dara commanded.
Josephine grabbed Haillie's and Xantha's hands and silently screamed in pain.
"I see a head!" Sienna announced.
Tess wiped Josephine's forehead. "Come on, love—you can do this!"
Josephine inhaled sharply and pushed with all her strength.
A baby girl finally came out.
Xavi heard the cry from outside. The men exhaled in relief. Melantha and Maelkor entered with their three boys, also hearing the newborn cry.
Josephine passed out from exhaustion.
Dara healed her body. Queen Kendra cleaned the crying baby.
"Shhhh, it's okay, little one. Welcome to the family," Kendra whispered.
AFTER TWENTY MINUTES
Xavi hugged Adris and the twins. They all sat in Josephine's resting hall with the huge glass window. He was shirtless, exhausted.
Queen Oliyda walked in with the baby girl, the rest of his siblings behind her. Kael handed Xavi a white shirt. He wore it quickly, washed his hands, and sat again.
Queen Oliyda handed him the baby. "Here is your daughter, son."
"Thank you, Mother," Xavi whispered.
The joy on his face was undeniable as he held his daughter gently. She was born on 8th May.
Xavi rocked her softly in his arms.