Josephine was on her knees, clutching Adris' limp body in her arms. Her eyes turned pitch-black, glowing with a darkness older than the throne itself.
"Uh oh…" Kael muttered as Josephine's hair began to rise, her body lifting off the ground—and Adris' body floating with her.
Dark clouds swept violently over the sky. Rain began to fall… but it wasn't water.
It was blood.
Xavi handed his newborn daughter to his mother and turned sharply toward the Velara family.
"This is what your late daughter caused," he said coldly. "She hurt her own son. And let's make this clear—"
His eyes glowed dark red.
"My wife Josephine is Adris' real mother by blood. For years now. Not your daughter. And if anything happens to my son…" his voice dropped to a deadly whisper, "…I will wipe you all out."
The Velara family stared at Josephine—at the rage of a queen unleashed.
She screamed silently as her power exploded outward. The gardens shattered, trees uprooted, stone fountains broke apart. Every Velara family carriage burst into blue fire, burning with a flame no water could extinguish.
Josephine hugged Adris' body tighter as tears streamed down her face.
She looked up—and saw Zain.
The entire Velara household fell to their knees, gasping for air, unable to breathe under her pressure.
Adris' fingers twitched.
Slowly, painfully, his eyes opened. He saw his mother holding him, losing control, sobbing in silence. He heard Novara crying somewhere behind him. He lifted a weak hand and touched Josephine's cheek.
"Mama…" he whispered.
Josephine froze.
"Nova is crying. She's hungry… Come on, let's feed her," Adris said softly, hugging her.
Her eyes softened back to normal as she clutched him. Adris rubbed her back gently.
They floated down to the ground. Adris smiled weakly at his father and at his little sister, who was crying loudly.
"Alright, alright. Let's feed you, Nova," he said as he picked his baby sister up and rocked her gently.
A maid quickly brought warm milk and placed it into Nova's tiny mouth. She drank happily.
Xavi sat heavily on his throne and covered his face. Queen Kendra wrapped an arm around Josephine.
Three hours later
"Adris! Adris! Adris!!!!!"
Opehlia's voice thundered through the palace.
Xavi didn't move from his throne.
"Hi, Papa!" she chirped.
Xavi looked at his little girl in surprise.
"ADRIS!!!!!!!" Opehlia screamed again, so loud everyone covered their ears.
"YESSSSSS!!!!" Adris yelled back from Josephine's hall.
Opehlia bolted into the hall.
"Are you okay, big brother?" she asked, hugging his leg tightly.
Adris smiled and patted her head.
"Nova…" Opehlia whispered, gently kissing the baby's forehead.
"Lila, will you be Queen?" Adris teased, patting her head.
"Nope! Nope! Nope! Big brother, you're the one who's gonna sit on Papa's seat," she said with a big yawn.
She was already half-asleep, so Adris carried her with one hand while holding baby Novara in the other. He gently patted both sisters to sleep.
Orion was asleep in Xavi's arms.
Josephine was still crying quietly. Xavi sat beside her after Kael took Orion to bed.
Kael covered Adris and the little girls as they slept in Josephine's hall, all of them bundled on the bed.
"Baby, he will be fine. I promise," Xavi whispered, pulling Josephine closer.
She lay her head on his lap, trembling.
But I want him to be king… He is the true king… Look what they did to my baby… Josephine signed and spoke in her mind.
"Shhhh… It's okay, my love. I will talk to him," Xavi murmured.
They fell asleep together.
By sunrise
Adris was still fast asleep in Josephine's lap. Queen Kendra held his hand, her eyes glowing dark orange. The entire family, even the Velaras, stood there.
"Xavi… Adris is fine," Kendra said. "But he made an oath. If he sits on the throne, he will die. He was struck by heavenly thunder."
Josephine immediately grabbed Xavi's hand. Her eyes flashed.
"Calm down," he whispered.
Adris woke gently, holding his sleeping sisters.
"He has to be king! Can you break the oath!?" Zain demanded.
Adris didn't even open his eyes.
"If Nova or Lila wake up, I swear I will paralyze you for life," he said calmly. A soundproof spell wrapped around the girls instantly.
"Adris, you can't do this! This is your mother's dream!" Queen Eris snapped.
"I know. That's why I'll never be king. You all want my bloodline and Dad's name for your selfish reasons," Adris replied as he laid Novara down and changed her diaper. "You want to use me to get what you want. So don't pretend."
"It's not like that, Adris—" Cherise tried.
"It IS like that. I never liked your daughter—the woman who gave birth to me. You're all just like her. Greedy. Evil. Dumb. Manipulative. Selfish. Heartless."
"If you push me, I will leave this kingdom. Far away. Forever."
He washed his hands. A maid handed him Novara's milk bottle. He fed her calmly as she drank.
"Adris, please… think carefully. We can break the oath. You have my blood. You're my baby," Josephine signed with trembling hands.
Zain smirked.
"Aren't you happy, bitch? YOUR children will take the throne now. Not my nephew!"
Everyone froze.
Xavi's eyes turned pure dark red.
"Who dare you!" Anesthesia roared, spell orbs forming instantly in her palms as the witches appeared behind her.
"Watch your mouth," Queen Kendra warned. The air turned thick.
Queen Eris stepped forward. "My daughter never got this respect from you, Xavi."
Xavi stood.
"Your daughter drugged me and forced herself on me," he growled.
"She abandoned Adris the day he was born to follow another man. She never named him. She hurt him. She made him bleed. She left him to die."
He pointed at Josephine.
"She named him. She raised him. She taught him respect, discipline, and love. She changed his blood when he was dying. SHE saved him. SHE is his real mother."
Silence drowned the hall.
"Josephine is my mother. Nobody else," Adris said firmly.
He walked out holding his sleeping Opehlia with one arm and Novara with the other.
Queen Kendra faced the Velaras.
"If you want to stay, watch your mouth."
Josephine sank into her chair and covered her face. Xavi held her hand tightly.
Six days later
Adris slept peacefully in Josephine's lap in the royal garden. She stroked his hair softly.
The Velara mother and brother were still convinced Josephine used a spell. After hundreds of spell checks… they finally accepted she used nothing.
"How do we break this oath, Mother?" Zain asked.
"I don't know…" Queen Eris muttered.
"I think we should stop this nonsense," Azai said.
"I agree," Elara added.
"Same," Oxi said. "I heard Queen Josephine's powers are more dangerous than Xavi's. She cut Velara into two pieces… just because he hurt Adris."
"We NEED Adris! He is the only way to make our family stronger—" Zain began.
A laugh cut him off.
Adris stood at the doorway beside Xavi, smirking.
"You know, Zain… you're pretty funny. You, your late sister, your mother—full of selfish desires. That's how your daughter died."
The Velara family stiffened.
"Dad brought me here to talk," Adris continued. "But there's nothing to talk about."
Xavi sighed. "I guess there isn't, kid."
"Adris, can't you just—" Zain began.
"I can't. And I won't."
Adris cut him off sharply.
"Now you want me to make you the Royal Duke of Nocyta. You want your mother to outrank Grandma Olyida as Grand Queen Mother. You want more titles, more money, more power."
They remained silent.
"Your plan was set the moment you walked in—not for me, but for yourselves. Shame on all of you."
"I would rather be a duke than king. I want a peaceful life. I thought maybe you weren't like your daughter… but she got everything from you."
He pointed at Queen Eris.
"All you want is power, money, and control."
Adris bowed sarcastically.
"Have a nice day."
He walked out.
Xavi rubbed his forehead tiredly.
"I am very, very, VERY tired of your kind. And don't even THINK of touching him. Josephine will send you to meet your daughter before I ever lift a hand. Fear her—not me."
The Velaras went dead silent.