Thirty Three

                                    

                                          
"What do you want?" I asked Juliana as she stood on the grass just outside the tavern, but I stood on the porch with Diane, standing between my former sister and my family.
                          
"I didn't know you had children, sister-"
                          
"We aren't sisters any longer, Juliana." I said and she hesitated, but nodded and cleared her throat.
                          
"I was hoping we could make amends-"
                          
"Amends? Juliana, you tried to kill me and you locked me away in the dungeons because you thought I deserved what you had done to me! You and Jennifer, who I personally put in Purgatory!" I snarled then she stepped closer, but Diane growled and Juliana stopped.
                          
"Alright, I won't go back into the tavern." Juliana said and I scoffed, crossing my arms and cocking my hip some as I rested my weight on my right leg.
                          
"Good choice." I said then she sighed.
                          
"I'm trying to atone for my sins against you and your friends, Jay. Please, forgive me-"
                          
"I will never forgive you, so just go-" I growled as she used some sort of magic, throwing me through the tavern door, then I hit the ground and someone grabbed me.
                          
"Jaylin!" I looked at my sister as she came in, but saw Diane on the ground outside as Elizabeth held my arm.
                          
"Get them upstairs!" I snarled and Elaine grabbed Kavan, Elizabeth taking Silas and both of them going upstairs to protect my sons.
                          
"How dare you endanger the lives of my children!" I growled as I stood, glaring down my sister.
                          
"Your children?! Please, they're abominations and so are your so-called husbands!" Juliana snarled, but I caught King's arm as he went to fight Juliana.
                          
"She's mine!" I snarled and Juliana laughed.
                          
"Please-" She stopped as I ran at her, kneeing her stomach and making her double over. I threw her outside then she slid through the ground, leaving a trail as I stalked after her. She looked at me and tried to use her magic, which I discovered was a sort of wind magic, but I blocked it and grabbed her throat.
                          
"You tried to kill my children, Juliana!" I snarled and slammed her to the ground, making her choke as I heard people fill the tavern porch. I clenched my fist around her throat then summoned my magic power.
                          
"What-what is that?!" She cried as she saw the tiger made of fire stalking towards her.
                          
"My magical power, flame guardian!" I growled then stood and kicked her stomach, launching her at the tiger. When she was close enough, it swatted her and burned her, though she screamed as the burns spread across her body.
                          
"One touch, and it's flames will consume you." I said, moving towards her. I grabbed the sword she had strapped to her back and drew it, holding the point to her throat as she tried not to squirm from the pain.
                          
"I should kill you, Juliana. Take your life for ever thinking you could hurt my family." I calmly said, though I didn't feel calm.
                          
"Though, I swore off killing people for the sake of not having more blood on my hands." I said and moved the sword away, throwing it to the ground.
                          
"Go, Juliana. Go, and never return." I hissed then turned, going towards the tavern.
                          
"JAYLIN!" A voice screamed and I turned, time slowing as Juliana rushed me with her sword. I stared as Ban was suddenly between us, the sword going through him, then I watched as he grabbed her throat, snapping her neck and making her drop. He pulled the sword from his body then tossed it to the ground, scoffing as he healed.
                          
"You okay, mama?" He asked and I nodded, clearing my throat.
                          
"Thank you, Ban-"
                          
"Jay!" I turned and smiled as Drole and Gloxinia surrounded me, checking me for wounds.
                          
"I'm okay, really. Where's Silas and Kavan?"
                          
"In the nursery with Elaine and Elizabeth." Gloxinia said and I nodded, looking at Ban again.
                          
"Thank you." I whispered and he nodded.
                          
"Go, see your kids." He said then I went inside and went upstairs, seeing my sons were safe with the two women.
                          
"Silas, Kavan." I smiled and went to them, lifting them both and smiling.
                          
"Is she dead?" Elaine asked and I nodded.
                          
"Ban killed her after she tried to take my life." I said and looked at my sons, smiling as I hugged them tightly.
                          
"Drole, Gloxinia." I turned to my husbands as they came in then Elizabeth stood.
                          
"We'll leave you two then." She said and Elaine nodded as they left, leaving me with my loves.
                          
"I was so scared." Gloxinia whispered then took Kavan, Drole taking Silas as I looked at the four of them.
                          
"You don't need to be, I don't plan on going anywhere for a very long time." I said and they smiled.
                          
"That's good, we don't want you going anywhere." Drole said and I laughed as he grabbed my waist and pulled me closer.
                          
"I love you." I whispered and laid my head on his chest. I felt his arms go around me then looked at Gloxinia as he was pulled closer, Silas giggling as Kavan now sat in his dad's arms next to him.
                          
"I love you, Silas, Kavan, Drole, and Gloxinia. All four of you, I don't know where I'd be without you." I whispered and wrapped an arm around both my husbands' waists as best I could.
                          
"Jaylin." I looked at Drole then saw his soft smile.
                          
"I love you no matter what. I know that Gloxinia feels the same, that nothing could tear us apart. We used to smother you, and you set us straight, but you've also come so far from the woman we met. Then, you were angry, you wanted to fight the world, you were hurting and afraid to stay in one place. Now, you've fallen in love with the two of us, you married us, you showed us that you trust all of us, and we have two beautiful sons. From an injured princess who wanted to fight the world, to a beautiful woman who has a family of her own and lovers that she cares for and trusts unconditionally, we are happy to have been here every step of the way." He said and I smiled as Gloxinia nodded, softly kissing me.
                          
"Now and forever, Jaylin." He whispered then I laughed.
                          
"Now and forever."