Epilogue
Envy
The Underworld garden had never known such chaos. Not even during battle. Four tiny pups tumbled across the grass like they owned the place, three boys crawling after each other with surprising speed, and Lyra, my little queen, sitting perfectly upright in the middle of it all, tiara already askew on her curls. Macey had insisted she wear it, declaring her “the baby princess,” while Elliot and Elias had taken it upon themselves to act as bodyguards. But it wasn’t the older kids making a fuss. No, that honour belonged entirely to my mates.
“Careful!” Levi barked, darting forward as Kieran wobbled onto unsteady legs and promptly toppled into the grass. He scooped the boy up with all the seriousness of a general retrieving a fallen comrade, muttering, “Too small to be charging into battle.”
“He’s just learning to stand,” Noah said calmly as he scooped up Lyra and came to sit on the bench beside me, her tiny body curling easily into the crook of his arm. He stroked her back as if nothing in the world could faze him. “Falling is part of it.”
Levi shot him a glare. “Not on my watch.”
Noah only arched a brow, unruffled as always. “You can’t stop him from growing, Levi.”
“I can slow him down,” Levi muttered, kissing the top of Kieran’s head like the boy had just come back from war.
A shriek of laughter cut through the garden. Dorian had managed to snatch Fergus the bear from Macey, who gave chase with her arms flailing. “That’s mine!” she shouted, her voice carrying all the indignation of a queen robbed of
her crown.
Elias was right behind her, his face red as he yelled, “I was training him! You ruined the drill, Mace!”
“You were boring him!” Macey shot back, launching herself onto Dorian’s back. The pup squealed, giggling even as he clutched Fergus tighter.
Meanwhile, Felix crawled straight toward the flower bed with a determined growl, his dark curls bouncing with every bounce of his tiny body.
“Not the plants!” Xavier lunged, catching him mid–crawl. He held the squirming boy at arm’s length, narrowing his eyes like he was assessing a miniature soldier. “You’ve got good instincts, pup. Always strike where no one expects. But until you’re at least four, the roses are off–limits.”
Felix blew a spit bubble in his face.
I laughed so hard tears pricked my eyes. The strongest warriors in the realms, terrifying to anyone else, were utterly undone by four chubby babies with more drool than teeth. And gods, I loved them for it. Haiden, ever the shadow,
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was lurking nearby, his arms crossed but his eyes following every wobbly movement like a hawk. “One of them’s going to climb the tree,” he muttered darkly.
“They can’t even walk yet,” I teased.
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“Doesn’t matter. I can see it in their eyes,” he grumbled, but the way his mouth curved at the corner gave him away.
Lyra squawked in Noah’s arms, waving her little fists like she was commanding the chaos around her. Macey ran over immediately, smoothing Lyra’s hair and straightening her tiara with a big–sister pride that made my chest ache. “Don’t worry, Princess,” she whispered. “Your guards are here.”
Elliot stood a step behind her, silent but steady, his hand resting protectively on Lyra’s blanket. Elias hovered too, pretending he was only there to make sure Fergus wasn’t stolen again, but his eyes kept flicking back to his baby sister.
This, this was what I’d never dared to dream of.
By nightfall, the chaos had softened into something quieter, sweeter. The babies, worn out from their adventures, had finally surrendered to sleep. Kieran and Dorian were curled together on Levi’s chest, their tiny fists tangled in his shirt as though they refused to let go. Levi’s big hands covered their small backs, his expression softer than I’d ever seen it, as if he could shield them even in dreams. Felix had claimed Haiden’s arms, snoring softly against the scar that once marked the darkest part of him. Haiden’s hand stroked his son’s hair absentmindedly, his gaze fixed on the boy’s sleeping face like he still couldn’t believe he was real. Lyra rested in Noah’s lap, her little fist curled around his thumb, her breath slow and steady. He watched her as if she were the only star in the sky, his expression one of quiet reverence. And Xavier, my sharp, unyielding Xavier, was bent low beside Lyra, whispering stories into her ear. Not battle plans, not threats, but tales of kingdoms and crowns and the kind of future where she could rule however she pleased. His words were soft, almost reverent, his fingers brushing gently along her tiny arm.
I sat among them, my head resting against Haiden’s shoulder, my body aching but my heart impossibly full. Around us, Elliot, Elias, and Macey had fallen asleep too, piled together on the rug like a litter of pups, one tiara still crooked on Macey’s head, Elias curled protectively around Fergus, Elliot sprawled out with his arm reaching unconsciously toward Lyra. The room was warm with the sound of breathing, the rise and fall of so many bodies I loved more than life itself. This was what we had fought for. Not thrones. Not power. Not even survival. But this. Family. Forever. And as I looked at them all, the mates who had given me their hearts, the children who had given me their laughter, the babes who had given me their first breaths -I finally understood. I was not just the Goddess of the Underworld. I was the goddess of everything that bloomed within it: love, life, and legacy.
Thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart, for walking this journey with me through Goddess of the Underworld. This story has been such a labour of love, filled with shadows, battles, family, and the kind of love that reshapes entire worlds, and I’m so grateful you were here to see it through.
If you enjoyed this book, I have many other stories waiting for you:
Violent Little Thing a fierce, emotional, and darkly romantic ride.
Her Obsession
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a dangerous, intoxicating romance filled with tension and secrets.
The Last Elementi – a sweeping tale of magic, elements, and the fight for balance.
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Chapter 187
Thornhill Academy – a fantasy academy series with mystery, power, and bonds that defy all odds.
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Your support means everything every read, every comment, every moment you’ve spent with my characters helps bring these worlds to life.
With love and gratitude,
Sheridan Hartin
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