Goddess Of The Underworld (Sheridan Hartin) novel Chapter 168

Chapter 168

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Xavier stretched a hand through his hair, the exhaustion on his face mirrored in every line of his brothers. “It’s still early morning,” he said quietly, but with the weight of command behind it. “We

all need to rest.”

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Elliot’s head shot up immediately. “But…”

“I want to go too,” Macey blurted, her small hand gripping Elliot’s tightly.

Reina stepped forward at the same time I did, our voices overlapping. “No.”

The kids blinked at us, wide–eyed. Reina softened first, crouching in front of them. “Not tonight. You stay here, both of you. Your mum and dads need to rest after… after everything.” Her voice shook, but her hand was firm when she brushed Elliot’s hair back. “We’ll see them tomorrow.”

I knelt, cupping Macey’s cheek. “She’s right. Let us sleep tonight, little wolf. We’ll come for you in the morning, I promise.”

Elliot’s lip trembled, but he nodded reluctantly. “Okay… tomorrow then.”

“Tomorrow,” Noah assured, crouching so he was level with them. His hand ruffled Elliot’s hair before he tapped Macey’s nose with a faint smile. “That’s a promise.”

Behind us, Malachi cleared his throat, glancing at his brothers. “Speaking of tomorrow, think we could get a portal back?” He gave me a meaningful look. “And Envy… you should come see Mum as soon as you can. She needs to know you’re okay. And you know she’ll want to see those pictures of the pups.”

Arztec snorted softly. “If we don’t bring those back soon, she’ll skin us alive for holding out.”

Julius just smirked, tilting his head toward the stack of photos still clutched in my hand. “Better start planning, sister. You thought one baby was chaos… wait until Mum finds out about four.”

Exhaustion pressed at my bones, but warmth curled through me, too. Tomorrow would come soon enough. Tonight, we’d rest.

Xavier

I opened the portal with a flick of my wrist, the silver light spilling into the room like water. Malachi, Julius, and Arztec clasped my hand one last time before stepping through, promising to see

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Chapter 168

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us soon. The kids got their hugs next, Elliot clinging to Envy a little longer, Macey whispering “goodnight, Mumma,” into her chest. I kissed the tops of their heads, tucking their stray hair back like I’d done since the day we met them, before watching George gently steer them all back into the

house.

The portal snapped shut behind them, leaving only silence, moonlight, and us. I turned to my mate. Our mate. Envy looked exhausted, her shoulders rounded under the weight of the night, but her eyes still glimmered when they found mine. I brushed a kiss against her temple. “Let’s get you home.”

The packhouse greeted us with a quiet that felt alive but gentle. Moonlight spilled through the tall windows, catching every one of the suncatchers she’d hung over the months. Hundreds of tiny rainbows were scattered across the walls and floor, little shards of colour dancing as if to remind us of that life still sparkled after the blood and chaos.

I helped her out of her cloak first, easing it off her shoulders with slow fingers. Piece by piece, I undressed her, reverent, careful. She didn’t fight it, she only leaned into me, letting me carry the weight. Behind us, I could hear Levi running the bath, the steady stream of water filling the copper tub until steam curled into the air. Haiden was already in, sprawled like he owned the whole damned thing, his chest bare, his arms open. “Come here, little mate,” he murmured, voice deep, “I’ll be your water pillow.”

Noah, of course, was fussing. “Which soaps? The lavender or the honey? Maybe the mint might help her muscles. And does she need a snack? Bread, cheese? Something light before she sleeps. Or…”

“Breathe, brother,” Levi cut in with a rare grin. “She’s not going to vanish on us.”

I glanced at Envy, at the swell of her belly where our children–four children–grew and bent low to kiss the skin there. “You’re home,” I whispered against her, more for me than for her. “You’re safe. All of you.”

Haiden’s

Xavier’s hands were steady when he lowered her into mine, but my chest still clenched like he was passing me something breakable, glass–thin and priceless. The water lapped softly around us, warm steam rising in little curls. I leaned back, settling her against my chest, and she fit just right. Round belly pressed against my hand, her hair damp against my shoulder. She sighed, the sound vibrating through both of us.

“See?” I murmured, brushing my chin along her hairline. “Told you I make a damn good pillow.”

10:33 Mon, Sep 15

“Don’t encourage him,” Levi said, though the corner of his mouth twitched. He reached for the soap, lathering it in his palms before smoothing it along her collarbone, down her chest.

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