Chapter 98
Xavier
A
སྔོན་ན་བང། འབར་མ་
“Do you yield?” Elliot shouted dramatically, stick raised high in his hand like it were a royal scepter.
Levi was on his knees, laughing, covered in bits of leaf and burlap. “Fine! We yield. The mighty tree stump fortress is too strong!”
Noah groaned, brushing off dirt from his shoulder. “It wasn’t the stump. It was the crystal booby traps.”
“I told you he was sneaky,” Haiden added, panting beside him. “Never underestimate a kid with trauma and magic.”
I laughed from where I sat on the ground, arms crossed, watching the scene with a pride I couldn’t quite name.
“You should’ve seen yourselves,” Envy said as she entered the fort unscathed. “Four grown hellhounds brought to their knees by a seven–year–old and a pup.
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Elliot turned toward me, eyes gleaming, and I couldn’t help the warmth that bloomed in my chest. “Did we win?” he asked.
“You didn’t just win,” I said, hopping up and walking over. “You crushed us. That fort was genius. You and Macey made an unbeatable team.”
He beamed, practically vibrating with joy. Macey squeezed his hand in celebration, and the two of them did a little jumping dance of triumph that made Levi snort.
“Now,” Elliot said, clearing his throat and straightening like a miniature king, “as per our agreement…”
My brothers and I groaned in unison.
“I declare,” Elliot continued, “that I get all of your desserts. For a week.”
“A week?” Noah whined.
“You said it,” Haiden sighed,
“I was hoping he’d forget,” Levi muttered, though his smirk betrayed him.
Xavier raised a brow. “We did shake on it.”
Elliot folded his arms with mock authority. “Swear it.”
One by one, we knelt again, more dramatic than necessary, because gods, we were going to live to spoil this kid.
“We swear,” we all said.
Levi was the first to scoop him up after that, slinging Elliot onto his shoulders with a triumphant whoop. “You’ve bested us in battle, Prince of Hay Bales. Time to feast.”
“I’ll bring Macey with us!” Noah said, ruffling her curls before lifting her onto his hip. “Let’s head back before Mum eats all the pies.”
As they wandered off, laughter trailing behind them, I lingered with Elliot still perched high on Levi’s shoulders. From the corner of the courtyard, I spotted Tommy approaching, wiping his hands on a towel from helping with the food. The moment Elliot saw him, he asked, “Are you
the Beta?”
Tommy nodded. “That’s me. You need help with anything, kid, I’m your guy.”
Elliot studied him for a moment. “Do you know how to build underground secret tunnels?”
Tommy blinked, then grinned. “I do.”
Beside him, Aleisha sauntered over, her long braid swinging. “I like your style, kid. I haven’t seen my brothers bested for a very long time.”
Elliot gave a shy smile.
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Chapter 98
“Well,” she said, kneeling to his height, “since you’ve already claimed their dessert, it’s only fair I show you where Mum hides the good
chocolate.”
His eyes lit up. I watched as they led him away, hand–in–hand, already explaining how the kitchen was technically off–limits unless you were very fast or very charming and behind it all, our parents stood just beyond the porch, eyes misty and full of quiet joy. Mum had her arm tucked around Dad’s waist, and he whispered something in her ear that made her laugh. They were already gone for him. Mum had a wrapped gift tucked under one arm, probably a stuffed animal or something overly expensive and Dad was holding a carved nameplate for a door.
“Should we tell them to slow down?” Levi asked, now at my side.
Chapter Comments
Kerryn Day–Francis
7 days ago
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