<b>Chapter </b><b>102 </b>


    94%


    He ignored me, zeroing in on the small boy hiding behind my legs. “Step away from your mother, Elliot,” he said, dead serious.


    Elliot hesitated, peeking up at me with a wide grin.


    “Elliot…” Haiden warned, slowly conjuring something in his hand with a flick of his


    fingers.


    My son inched away from me with dramatic hesitation, hands raised in surrender. “You


    wouldn’t hit a prince,” he said with a smirk.


    A


    Haiden’s smirk grew wider. “I would absolutely glitter bombone.


    A


    And then heunched the conjured balloon across the room. It soared through the air like a colorfulet and sttered against Elliot’s chest in a glittery explosion of gold and


    blue.


    “Hey!” Elliot shrieked, halfughing, half scandalized, covered in sparkling dust.


    Consider us even,” Haiden said, brushing his hands together with satisfaction.


    Elliot narrowed his eyes, slowly brushing glitter from his arms. This means war.”


    “Oh no,” I muttered, but I was already smiling. I turned to watch as Elliot dashed from the room again, no doubt nning his next strike. Haiden looked far too pleased with


    himself.


    Haiden chuckled and started after Elliot. “Let the glitter warsmence.”


    I stood there a moment longer, shaking my head fondly as the sound of giggles and stomping feet echoed down the halls of the Underworld.


    Xavier portaled in not long after his presence always brought calm, steady, warm, grounding. He walked across the marble floor of the throne room like it was just our kitchen back home, leaning in to press a kiss to my lips, then dropping down to one knee to kiss the curve of my swollen belly.


    Hey, little one,” he whispered, voice thick with adoration. “You stayingfy in there?”


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    promised him he could reap his first soul today.”


    Xavier’s eyes lit up like I’d just reminded him Christmas hade early. “Oh! Right. His first reap. Such a milestone.” He clutched his chest dramatically. “Our baby boy’s growing up so fast.”


    “Oh, what a special moment,” I said in mock–seriousness, tilting my head. “Make sure you


    take a picture for me?”


    He paused, blinking. “A picture? Of the soul?”


    “No, silly. Of him. In the robe. With the scythe,” I said, pointing a stern finger at him. “I


    want one for the mantel. Next to his first spellbook and that macaroni crown he made for


    Macey.<b>” </b>


    Xavier rolled his eyes fondly. “I don’t think you can take pictures in the Underworld. Magic scrambles the lens.”


    I crossed my arms, lifting a brow. “Then sketch it. Or summon a memory crystal. I’m


    serious, Xavier. It’s his first soul. It’s a big deal.


    “Okay, okay. Whatever you want,” he said with augh, pulling me into a hug. “You’re


    lucky I’mpletely wrapped around your fingers.”


    I kissed his cheek. “Don’t I know it.”


    “He went that way,” I added, gesturing toward the far corridor, where faint sparkles still hovered in the air like floating fireflies. “Just follow the glitter trail.”


    Xavier squinted at it, thenughed.


    “Don’t forget the picture!” I called after him.


    “Got it!” he yelled back. “Robe, scythe, no glitter, unless it’s intentional!”


    I leaned against the arm of the throne, smiling to myself as I looked down at my belly and whispered, “You’re going to have so much fun with your big brother.”


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