Goddess Of The Underworld (Sheridan Hartin) novel Chapter 167

Chapter 167

Reina’s eyes flicked to the bruise across Arztec’s ribs, her lips parting like she wanted to argue but couldn’t quite find the words. Elliot ducked his head, cheeks flushed, though pride glimmered under his embarrassment. Noah stood in front of her, his voice gentler, though no less fierce. “Reina, when Envy’s heart stopped… it wasn’t me who saved her. It wasn’t any of us. It was your son. Elliot held that crystal to her chest and willed her back to life. He brought her back to us.” His lips curved faintly. “That’s not a boy you need to protect from the world. That’s a boy who’s already saving it.”

Tears welled in Reina’s eyes, her hands trembling as she pressed them to her mouth.

Levi stepped in, pragmatic as always, his voice cool but sharp. Levi’s eyes softened as they flicked to Elliot. “That’s loyalty. That’s courage. That’s not prey.”

Xavier then spoke, “Elliot is powerful, not just with magic, not just with what’s in his blood. His mind and his heart are powerful. We also struggled with letting someone so young, someone who had already been through so much, be able to make his own choices. But he makes good choices, always. He was born to be more than just our son, more than just your son.”

“And we all have to give him the chance to show us just how crazy good he is.” Haiden smiled.

Silence felt heavy, the kind that hummed with truth too big to deny. Reina finally looked back at Elliot, and for the first time, her expression cracked wide open, not with fear, but with awe.

And Elliot, shifting nervously under all their eyes, muttered, “I just did what Mum would’ve done.”

Reina’s shoulders slumped as if the weight of years finally slid free. Her eyes shone, wet and bright, but her mouth curved in a trembling smile. She reached for Elliot, cupping his cheek like she used to

when he was small.

“You’re right,” she whispered, her voice breaking on the words. “You’re not the same boy I lost. You’re more. Stronger. Braver. And I… I have to see that now.” Her thumb brushed across his cheekbone as if memorising him all over again. “You’re not just surviving anymore, Elliot. You’re living. And gods help me, you’re leading.”

Elliot ducked his head again, though his lips twitched with a shy kind of pride. The room softened with it, every face carrying relief, reverence, and a little awe.

And then, of course, it was Macey who broke the silence. She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing at my hand, which I’d forgotten was holding something. “Um… what’s that?” she asked, pointing.

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Chapter 167

I glanced down, blinking at the black–and–white sheets clutched in my fingers. Ultrasound photos. The proof of the little lives still fluttering inside me.

“Oh,” I said, smiling despite myself. “These?”

The room instantly went still, every eye locked on me. I lifted the first photo slowly, holding it where

they could all see.

“This,” I said softly, “is our baby boy.”

Malachi shot up, pumping a fist into the air. “HA! I knew it!” he whooped, loud enough to rattle the windows. Julius shoved him, grinning just as wide, while Arztec just shook his head with a smirk.

Elliot, though, he scrunched up his face, nose wrinkling in disbelief. “Wait… a boy?” he muttered, clearly confused. “But I said…” His voice trailed off as I carefully lifted the next photo.

“And this,” I continued, voice a little shaky with awe, “is another baby boy.”

Gasps filled the room. Arztec swore softly under his breath. Levi let out a dry laugh, pinching the

bridge of his nose. Julius looked like someone had just hit him with a spell, blinking hard like he

might be imagining it.

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Reina shot him a look that was equal parts exasperation and amusement. “You survived one warlock rebellion and three coups, but this is what’s going to break you?”

“Reina,” George said flatly, jabbing a finger toward the stack of ultrasound photos still sitting on the coffee table, “that’s four infants. Four. And we already have three in the house. That’s not a family anymore, that’s a…” he floundered for a word, “that’s a magical circus troupe!”

Malachi barked a laugh. “Relax, old man. You’ve got reinforcements.” He slapped Julius on the back hard enough to make him grunt. “We’ll babysit.”

“Define babysit,” Julius drawled. “Because last time you ‘babysat,‘ Elliot nearly burned the front porch down with that glitter bomb spell.”

“That was an experiment,” Elliot piped up indignantly, his face red but proud. “And it worked.”

Haiden grinned like he’d just won a bet. “See? This is going to be great. Chaos, yes, but great.”

Levi pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. “More like catastrophic. Do you people have any concept of what four infants at once means?”

The room went quiet again, this time not heavy, but thoughtful. I glanced around at all of them and I laughed, the sound soft but certain, breaking through the tension. “We’ll figure it out. We always

do.”

Elliot leaned back into the couch cushions with a smug little grin. “Our family is crazy.”

That earned a chuckle from almost everyone, even George, though he muttered something about

circus tents under his breath.

I reached across the table, gathering the photos back into my hands, holding them close. My future. Our future. However chaotic, however impossible, it was ours.