Noah carried Josephine in his arms as they walked into the main chamber. Her head rested against his chest, her eyes half-closed but safe in his embrace.
"How is she?" Sophina asked quickly, standing with her arms crossed.
"Fine… for now," Hendrick answered, rubbing Josephine's back tenderly, his gaze fixed on his daughter.
Sophina didn't waste time. "Noah—the princess of the Ironpaw clan is coming for your coronation. She is half-wolf, half-witch. A good girl."
Noah froze. His eyes hardened. "Ollie," he said firmly, handing Josephine over. "Take Jojo inside."
Oliver nodded and carefully lifted her from his arms. Josephine, still weak but alert, made a little bye-bye sign with her hands. Noah softened, smiled faintly, and waved back before turning sharply to Sophina.
"Mother… did you and Father have an arranged marriage?"
Sophina blinked. "No. We fell in love."
"Exactly," Noah said, his voice rising. "So that's what I want. I have never disobeyed you, but I beg you—don't arrange a false marriage for me. Don't make promises I never asked for. Thank you."
With anger burning in his tone, he turned and stormed out, leaving Sophina speechless.
Hendrick chuckled under his breath. "Hmm."
Noah & Tess
Later that day, Tess had finished her training. Sweat still glistened on her brow as she walked through the corridor. Suddenly, Noah grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his room, shutting the door.
"Hey!" Tess gasped as her back hit the wall.
Noah pinned her gently but firmly to his bed, his eyes boring into hers. "Look at me," he said hoarsely. "Tell me you don't feel the same way I do."
Tess's chest rose and fell rapidly. Her heart betrayed her as her face heated, but she tried to turn away. "I… I… I don't," she whispered weakly.
Noah smirked, seeing the truth in her trembling lips. He leaned down, pressing a teasing kiss to her neck and press her boobs held them tightly. Her body tensed.
"I'll make you mine," he whispered against her ear. "I'll make you say my name over and over again. I'll make you tremble you'll not be able to walk Beautiful."
He pulled back, kissed her cheek softly, then smirked. "Bye, beautiful."
Flustered and furious, Tess shouted, "Tf!" as he walked out casually, leaving her shaken.
The Masked King & His Family
Far away, the Masked King sat feeding Adris, his infant son. The boy clapped his tiny hands happily at his father's playful teasing.
His mother stood nearby, her tone sharp. "I hear you've been teaching King Hendrick's last child… that disgraceful girl. Is it true?"
The Masked King stilled. His voice was calm but firm. "First—she is not disgraceful. Second—yes, I am teaching her."
His mother's eyes narrowed. "I don't like her. Stay away from that ordinary girl."
"You haven't even seen her," he snapped. "Yet you speak. She is something extraordinary. She destroyed the second-tallest titan. Nobody knows what she truly is."
"What!?" his mother and sister gasped.
He explained, slowly, everything—the giants reborn, her family's curse, her strange powers.
His sister's lips parted in awe. "No wonder… no wonder she shook the ground that day."
The Masked King smiled softly at his son. "She named my baby boy, right, Adris?" He tickled his little feet. Adris giggled, reaching for his grandmother's hand. She touched his cheek, expression complicated.
"Hmmm," was all she managed.
"Goodbye, Mother," the Masked King said, and in a flash of speed, he was gone.
The Classroom Incident
Josephine sat quietly in class, but her eyelids grew heavy. She fell asleep at her desk.
That was when Deus, Madison, Eryss, and several students crept forward, stones in their hands.
"Hey, ordinary one!" Madison jeered.
"Hit her!" Deus barked.
Stones rained down on Josephine. She woke in shock, flinching as sharp pain struck her arms, shoulders, and legs.
"What the bloody heck!" Therodora roared, transforming in rage. She lunged at Deus.
But more students kept throwing stones at Josephine. She cried silently, trying to shield herself.
"Jojo!" Callum shouted, casting a shield spell around her.
The classroom doors slammed open. A powerful wind rushed in. The Masked King entered with Ruby. His eyes glowed, and the gust nearly knocked the students off their feet.
"All of you on your fucking knees!" Ruby thundered.
The students dropped instantly.
Ruby turned to Josephine, whose small body shook with fear. Blood ran from cuts on her face. Ruby's voice softened. "Ms. Josephine…? My deepest apologies, dear." She knelt and hugged her gently.
Josephine sobbed, clutching herself. Then she stood and moved toward the door, crying still.
Outside, Ruby's fury exploded as she scolded the students. "She's just a child!"
Josephine suddenly froze, staring ahead with wide eyes. Tears streamed down her face as she opened her arms—and hugged the air.
"Jojo?" Tess whispered, horrified.
The students laughed cruelly. "She's mad!" Madison sneered.
Then everything changed.
Josephine was lifted from the ground. Thunder cracked through the daylight. She signed with her hands desperately: They kept throwing stones at me.
Dark smoke wrapped her arms. From the shadows, terrifying figures emerged.
"How dare you throw stones at Jojo!" a deep male voice bellowed.
Three more figures appeared behind him, monstrous and regal.
"How dare you!" the others echoed.
The students trembled in terror.
"W…w…we…" Eryss stammered.
"ARE YOU MAD?!" a female voice screeched.
"Shut up!" another voice barked.
Ruby's voice shook. "Who are you?"
"Guardians," one of the males answered coldly.
"Josephine… Josephine…" Hetragon's haunting voice echoed, making Josephine clutch her ears in pain.
"Apologize. Now!" the male Guardian roared.
"NOW!" the female added.
"We're sorry!" the students cried, collapsing in fear.
"Good," the male Guardian said.
"Jojo, look—they apologized. Stop crying," the dark female soothed.
Josephine made a sign with trembling hands: I want to go home.
"I will take you home," the Masked King said, stepping forward.
"Please, take her before Hetragon comes. It won't end well," the female Guardian warned.
In a flash, he carried Josephine away.
"Assholes," the demon Guardian snarled before the smoke swallowed them all.
Ruby stood frozen. "What the fuck was that!?" she asked Callum.
"Guardians," Callum muttered. "Don't get her mad. Ever."
The Kings' Meeting
At Hendrick's castle, Josephine was set down before the kings.
"Jojo, love… what happened?" King Auzl asked gently.
Her glowing marks betrayed her fear and anger. She signed rapidly to Hendrick: Milk! Milk!
The Grand Duke of Sorcery cast a spell instantly, conjuring a bottle of milk. She grabbed it and drank until it was empty.
"Better?" the Duke asked softly.
She nodded, then signed again to Hendrick, trembling: They threw stones at me. They called me ordinary.
Hendrick frowned. "I can't understand you, love…"
"She's saying the students bullied her. Called her disgraceful, ordinary," the Masked King said, hands in his pockets.
King Zane's face darkened. "My son did this? The king of the blue Scorpion With King Freddie's daughter Madison the king of Giants, and Eryss too? King Divyae said
"Yes," the Masked King confirmed.
King Divyae stepped forward, bowing. "Our deepest apologies, Josephine."
At that moment, a hawk swooped into the hall, dropping small boxes in front of Josephine. She sniffed, picked one up, and showed Hendrick.
"Your Nana sent this, baby?"
She nodded happily and ran off, delivering the boxes to her siblings' rooms.
"I'll take my leave," the Masked King said, vanishing in a blur.
"This aura… familiar," the Duke murmured.
"Me too," King Nereon added. "It's someone we know. But who?"
The children gathered with their boxes. Tess, Callum, and Piere opened theirs, finding Nana's letters.
"Hey my lovely babies, I got beautiful dresses for you all to wear during the ceremony. Love, Nana (Ceillie)."
"We love you, Nana!" they each said—Josephine signing her words.
Meanwhile, Oliver explained to Noah and Anesthesia what had happened.
The twins opened the ancient book. Piere read aloud:
"First, the Minotalir—humanoid demons, tall, hairy, muscular, with the head of a bull.
Second, Seliora the Moon-Warden—pale-skinned, blue-haired, robes like liquid moonlight, a royal ring above her head.
Third, Eryndor—Earth Guardian, strength and stability.
Last, Aradia—Wind and Blood, ruthless and unpredictable. Dark-skinned, red war paint across her eyes, black feathers in her braids."
"Damn," Theron muttered.
"Yeah. Damn," Therodora agreed.
The Masked King, rocking Adris in his chair, listened with closed eyes.
"Your coronation is 4 days," Callum said to Noah. "We don't have enough time to calm her."
"Then we keep Mother away from Jojo at all costs," Oliver said firmly.
"Done," they agreed.
"Bye, beautiful," Noah teased Tess, winking as she looked away, her face betraying her.
Far away, the Masked King opened his eyes, his thoughts whispering only one name.
Josephine…