Trusting the Devil

Chapter 21: Sage

Five Years Later

Sage

"Hey! Watch it guys!" The kids only responded with laughter and more running after my father's warning.

I giggled, "Leave them be, dad. They're kids and have lots of energy."

"I know." He put a hand on my shoulder and smiled. "You used to be energetic in your childhood."

I smiled, "I know. Nina too."

Father's smile faltered and he looked over from his place on my balcony and observed the children playing. Icyln laid in beautiful white in front of our eyes, "I still can't believe how beautiful this place is."

"And cold." Logan came up behind me and put a hand on my waist and his chin on my shoulder. Dad smiled and inclined his head.

He and Logan became instant best friends bonding over–

"Hey, did you see that amazing goal the phoenix's scored at the last second?" Cheered dad.

"Yeah! It was sick! They did it for their Queen," he kissed my shoulder, "I know I would have."

I giggled and added, "Can you both stop fangirling over football?"

Logan left me joined my father on the opposite side of me, both pouting, and Logan put a hand to his heart while dad's eyes were about to pop out of his head.

"How dare you, daughter. It's the best thing that has happened to me ever since the war."

I plastered a wounded expression on my face, "I thought reuniting with me and the birth of the twins were the highlights of these five years."

He smiled warmly, "These are the highlights of my life, sweetheart."

My face relaxed into the same expression as his.

"Let's not forget that you were the one who saved–"

"Mommy!"

Little footsteps filled the space and soon, kids were swarming us and jumping up and down.

"Logan, I told you giving them human candy was a bad idea."

Logan smiled awkwardly, "Uh, I see you might've been right."

I crouched down and picked up my two kids. Ethan and Alana. I gave birth to them not long after the war. Alana– who had light brown hair and big eyes mixed between green and blue– started twirling my hair while Ethan– who was basically a spitting image of Logan with his dark brown hair and blue eyes– started going on about how Jonah wasn't playing with him.

I kissed both their cheeks, "Happy birthday, my little hatchlings!"

They both giggled and jumped in my arms.

"Kids, watch it. Your mother needs her arms." Logan smirked and added, "Happy birthday, my princess and prince."

I looked down from the balcony to see Jonah sitting in a corner, dried tears on his cheeks.

Scarlet's brother.

The only survivor of their family.

He resembled her in some ways. He had curly red hair, freckles, but his eyes were green. He was the oldest of the kids living in the palace but he was closed off because of the trauma.

We found him coming back to his burnt house and I immediately took him under my wing. I owed that much to Scarlet, even if it was mother who ruined her family.

A gentle tug on my cream and red dress. I looked down to find Eileen, staring at me with the same big eyes as her mother.

Nina's daughter.