Goddess Of The Underworld (Sheridan Hartin) novel Chapter 180 read online

I was still spinning in circles, blanket–dress swooshing around me, when the strangest thing happened. Xavier, Haiden, Noah, and Levi all moved to the middle of the room. For a second, I thought maybe they were going to start dancing, because wouldn’t that be funny? but then, right in front of everyone, they all dropped down on one knee.

Like real princes.

My giggle burst out so loud it echoed against the walls. “What are you doing?”

Xavier grinned, his dark eyes twinkling. “Paying our respects to our princess.”

Haiden smirked, though his voice came out softer than usual. “Every princess deserves her knights to kneel before

her.”

Noah tilted his head, that calm, quiet smile of his making my tummy flutter with warmth. “And every princess

deserves to hear just how loved she is.”

Levi crossed his arm over his chest, bowing his head in such a serious way I had to bite back another laugh. “So,

allow us.”

The room went still. Everyone was watching, but somehow it felt like it was just me and them. My hands clutched my tiara to keep it from slipping off as Xavier cleared his throat, speaking first.

“I love you, Macey,” Xavier said, his voice steady and proud. “Because you remind me that joy can exist, even in the darkest places. You make me laugh when I forget how. You make life lighter.”

My cheeks burned hot, but my smile wouldn’t stop.

Haiden leaned forward next, eyes locked on mine. “I love you because you’re brave. Braver than anyone I’ve ever met. You faced a world that wasn’t always kind, and instead of breaking, you became stronger. You teach me every day that strength doesn’t always look like fighting, it can look like laughter, too.”

My throat felt tight, but in the best way.

Noah’s turn came, his voice deep and gentle. “I love you because you make us a family. You stitched yourself into all our lives with that big, bright heart of yours. You remind us what we’re fighting for, what we’re living for. You are

our home, Macey.”

I sniffled and quickly wiped at my eyes, trying not to let anyone see.

Finally, Levi lifted his head, his expression fierce but full of something soft I’d never seen before. “And I love you, little one, because you deserve it. Every bit of it. Love, safety, joy, all of it. You deserve to feel like the princess you are, every single day. And I swear to you, I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you do.”

By the end, my eyes were all watery, and my giggles had turned into hiccupy little half–laughs, half–sobs. I didn’t know what to do with all the feelings crowding inside my chest, so I just held my tiara tight against my heart. Then

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Chapter 180

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Envy came to stand in front of me, her smile shining brighter than the fairy lights overhead. She bent down so we were eye to eye, her hands resting gently on my shoulders.

“Macey,” she whispered, her voice carrying even in the quiet hush of the crowd, “will you be ours forever and let us officially adopt you?”

My heart leapt, and I shouted without a second thought, “YES!”