Josephine waited.
She waited as if time itself had frozen around her, her heart breaking with every second that passed. Tears streamed endlessly down her face as she cried her eyes out for her husband. Her chest ached, her soul screamed, and yet—nothing. No Xavi.
Novara was in the arms of Queen Oliyda, crying softly, sensing the fear in the air. Xoni clutched her stomach in pain, sobbing as sharp cramps tore through her body, her cries echoing through the palace halls.
Then—
BOOM!
The massive doors of Zephyria burst open with a violent force.
It was Aroven.
He stood tall, terrifying, his presence dark and overpowering. Too strong. Far too strong.
"JOSEPHINE!" he roared.
Josephine froze.
Her breath hitched as he walked toward her, each step heavy, deliberate. She was hurt. She was scared. But then—her fear snapped into rage.
Her eyes glowed black.
The Death Bloom wrapped itself tightly around her left arm, dark petals forming like living armor. With a scream torn from her soul, Josephine ran toward him.
Aroven smirked.
She slashed him, the blade cutting across his face.
Blood spilled.
He chuckled.
With brutal speed, he struck her right shoulder. The impact was devastating. Josephine's body went limp as darkness swallowed her whole.
She collapsed.
"MAMA!" Adris screamed.
Aroven lifted Josephine effortlessly into his arms, her body hanging lifeless against his chest.
"You will never see her again," he said coldly.
And then—
He vanished.
"No… no no no NO!" Adris cried, chasing after him at the same impossible speed.
Xoni and the rest of the family were held down by Aroven's men—powerful wizards with dark magic binding their limbs. Novara screamed, her cries piercing the air. The twins lay unconscious, unmoving.
Adris stopped.
He couldn't feel her anymore.
Queen Josephine was gone.
Five hours later…
Josephine slowly opened her eyes.
Pain.
Chains wrapped tightly around her body—thick, ancient, engraved with dark spells that burned her skin. She tried to move.
She couldn't.
Footsteps echoed.
King Aroven stepped into view, his face lit with sick delight.
"Ahh… Josephine. Josephine. Josephine," he said softly, dangerously.
"How much I missed you, my love."
He laughed—evil, unhinged.
Memories flooded her mind. Everything he did to her in the past. Every scream. Every tear.
She recoiled as much as the chains allowed, shaking. She raised her trembling hands and made a sign.
"Don't… touch me…" she whispered in her mind and made a sign with her hands too.
He laughed louder.
The doors opened again.
"Queen Josephine," a soft voice said.
Josephine turned.
"Ella…"
Queen Ella rushed forward, tears filling her eyes. "Oh my goodness…" she cried, pulling Josephine into a tight embrace.
"Get out, Mom," Aroven snapped. "I want to spend time with my Queen."
"Don't touch her!" Queen Ella shouted. "She is a mother of four, for fuck sake! King Xavi's wife—the Queen of Zephyria!"
Aroven laughed.
"She was mine," he said darkly. "And she has always been MINE."
Josephine closed her eyes, whispering silently.
Xavi… please come save me… please wake up…
Far away—
Xavi gasped.
His eyes burst open, glowing red as he sucked in a sharp breath. He heard Novara crying.
He stood.
Everyone bowed instantly.
"Xavi, are you okay?" Xoni asked, holding her tummy.
"I'm sorry, sis," he said softly as his mother pulled him into a hug.
"Papa," Orion cried from Ophelia's arms. "That bad man took Mama away."
Adris rushed in.
"Did you find her?" Piere asked.
Adris shook his head. Tears fell.
"Shhh… it's okay, princess," Xavi said, his voice trembling with fury.
"Mama will come back. Or I will bring her back."
His anger became a storm.
He was weak, and Sienna begged him to rest, promising they would search for Josephine.
But the stubborn king didn't listen.
All he wanted was his Queen.
Forty days later…
Xavi searched endlessly.
He heard her screams in his mind. Her cries. His name.
With every sound, he grew angrier. Stronger.
Novara cried morning and night.
Meanwhile, Aroven tried to force himself on Josephine.
Every time, she fought back—scratching, biting, stabbing.
So he beat her.
Burned her skin.
This time, he grabbed her face and placed a kiss on her lips.
"XAVI!" she screamed in her mind.
Kara heard it.
So did Xavi.
He kissed me… please, where are you… come… please…
Xavi snapped.
He sat on his throne as his body and the throne itself began to glow violently. He fully connected to her.
"Adris!" Xavi roared.
"Yes, Dad!"
"Let's go."
Xavi grabbed his son's hand.
They vanished.
Josephine lay in a pool of blood.
Aroven's hands were soaked red. She hadn't eaten. He hadn't fed her—just like before.
"Jojo, baby… I hate seeing you like this," he whispered psychotically.
"Just let me touch you. Be mine. I'll take care of you."
Her body didn't move.
But she heard him.
"The castle is on FIRE!" a guard screamed.
"What?!" Aroven shouted.
Adris stormed in, sword in hand, eyes burning with rage.
"Mama…" he whispered, seeing her state.
"Get him!" Aroven ordered.
Adris stabbed them without mercy.
Then—
Xavi entered.
His eyes landed on his wife.
His heart shattered.
"Josephine…" he whispered.
She heard him.
"Xavi…?" she said weakly in her mind.
Their eyes met.
He rushed to her, holding her broken body.
"My love…"
"Kill him, child," Xavi growled.
"No," Adris said calmly. "I have ideas. Then we kill him."
Queen Ella entered, her arm broken.
"He broke my arm because I tried to feed her," she cried.
"You should be ashamed," Adris said coldly.
"You don't deserve to be king."
"I'm sorry, King Xavi," Queen Ella sobbed, dropping to her knees.
"He's my only son. I made a potion—to make him forget Josephine. I could marry him off and save her. Please… don't kill him."
Josephine whispered weakly, "Let him go… I'm dying…"
Xavi's rage faded.
He lifted her gently.
Adris wiped his tears.
They vanished.
Back in the castle, Novara slept after Yora fed her her last bottle. Rain poured heavily as father and son arrived—soaked, broken, Josephine in Xavi's arms.
"Mama…" Ophelia cried, holding Orion.
Everyone froze.
Tess, Callum, Kara, Piere stepped forward.
Josephine was covered in marks. Skinny. Pale.
Tess stumbled, memories flashing. Noah caught her.
"Got you, baby."
Raden covered Piere's face. Callum buried his face in Nyx's neck, crying.
Xavi placed Josephine on the healing bed.
The bathe witches began their work.
Xavi went to the kitchen—to cook for her.
Adris, now taller, went to the garden, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Prince Adris?" Carliet whispered.
"Go away," he said.
She touched his shoulder.
"I said—" He stopped. "Oh… it's you."
"You're sad because of your mama?" she asked.
He nodded.
"Mama Jojo is everything to me. She didn't give birth to me… but she's my first love. My everything. I have her blood in me. I thought I lost her…"
"You didn't," Carliet said softly.
"She's the Queen of Zephyria—the strongest queen ever. She will heal."
He looked into her eyes, touching her face. Their foreheads touched.
"Fuck it," he whispered.
He kissed her.
Deeply.
"No…" she whispered. "You're still young. A prince…"
Adris licked his lips—his first kiss.
"Look at me, Carliet. I fucking want you. And I will get you. You are mine. Even if I have to mark you."
He kissed her hand. "Good night, my lady."
She blushed.
He's so cute, she thought.
Kael, Darius, and Severin watched from afar.
"Like father, like son," Darius chuckled.
In the healing room—
Xavi never left.
He held Josephine the entire night.