Chapter 272 Bringing Down the House

The first thing I hear when I wake up is Levi snoring

The second thing is Haiden muttering, “She’s already awake, isn’t she?”

He’s right I sit up straight in bed, startling all four of them at once “Up! Everyone up! We’ve got a full day ahead of us!”

Xavier groans into his pillow. “Why does it feel like you’re summoning an army?”

“I am.” I reph brightly, yanking the blankets off them. “We’re moving all operations to the Underworld today, which means I’m bringing

reinforcements.”

Levi blinks at me blearily. “Please tell me you mean Aleisha and Tommy again.”

“Better.” I grin. “The parents.”

Noah sits up so fast he smacks his head on the headboard. “You’re what now?”

“Reina, George, Milly, Charles-” I tick them off on my fingers. “The big guns of love and baked goods. Selene wants a coronation that

shines through realms, and that means snacks. And structure. And people who can manage all of you.”

Haiden mumbles something about divine punishment as he drags himself toward the shower.

By the time we make it downstairs, I’ve already called the others and got the coffee going. Reina and Milly are waiting at the table.

chatting like old friends…suspiciously giggly old friends… and George and Charles are comparing gardening tools like it’s a sport.

“Morning, family,” I sing as I step in, clapping my hands together.

Reina looks up with that warm, knowing smile of hers. “You have that look again.”

“What look?”

“The one you get right before you rearrange reality.”

I beam “Close We’re decorating it this time”

Milly laughs softly “bu, when do we leave?”

“Right now.” I tuss my hair over my shoulder and open a portal with a dramatic flourish it ripples through the air, showing the shadowed

halls of the Underworld on the other side “Come on, everyone We’ve got work to du

Reina and Milly exchange a glance one part amusement, one part resignation then pick up their baking (ins and step through after me.

George and Charles follow, both muttering about tools and rope

X3M

The moment we arrive, the Underworld feels brighter again It’s strange, seeing warmth here now the faint shimmer of gold in the stone.

the soft hum in the air

“Welcome home.” I say, spreading my arms dramatically

Reina whistles. “This place has changed a bit

“You can thank Envy’s chaos for that.” Levi mutters, carrying in another crate.

“Don’t scare the guests,” I warn. “We’re manifesting positive energy.”

Within minutes, the place is buzzing. Reina and Milly claim the palace kitchen like they were born for it. Within ten minutes, there’s flour on every surface and a smell of vanilla and sugar that doesn’t belong anywhere near the Underworld–but somehow fits perfectly.

“Do we have enough trays?” Milly calls.

“I think the castle has four hundred,” I reply.

“Not enough!”

George and Charles don’t even get a chance to sit down before I assign them to “man duty.” I point toward the grand hall. “You two, go help my mates hang the lighting runes and banners. Think ladders, heavy lifting, glowing crystals, oh, and don’t touch the vines. They

bite

Charles raises an eyebrow. “You’re joking.”

“Am I grin

George chuckles and claps him on the back. “Come on, mate. Let’s make ourselves useful before she assigns us ghitter duty.”

Levi snickers as they head off “Oh, I was so going to assign them glitter duty”

It’s well after school time when I head back to the packhouse to grab the kids Lyca is at the door first, arma crossed and brow raises

“You’re kidnapping us again, aren’t you?”

“Yes, but it’s for a good cause I say, grinning

“Does it involve fire? Dorian asks, appearing behind her

“Possibly.”

“Explosions?” Kalen adds.

“Maybe.”

Felix smirks. “We’re in.”

They’re waiting by the time I finish opening the portal, four teenagers, one suspiciously lumpy cart full of decorations, and the kind of

energy that could flatten a small town.

“Please tell me that’s not flammable,” I say as we step through.

“It depends on your definition of flammable,” Lyra says sweetly.

I sigh. “You’re your mother’s children, alright.”

Back in the Underworld, chaos reigns again. The quads immediately start racing each other through the halls, hauling that ridiculous cart

behind them while shouting about who’s the “Chief of Glitter” and who’s the “Commander of Chaos.”

Xavier and Noah are on ladder duty, hanging runes that shimmer between gold and silver. Haiden is muttering incantations under his

breath, trying to stabilise the light spells while Felix tests how high he can toss enchanted ribbons before they explode. I watch it all with

my heart so full it might burst. Reigna and Milly peek in from the kitchen, covered in flour and laughing. “Cookies are cooling!” Milly

calls. “And someone tell that boy not to put runes on the cake stand!”

“That’s Felix!” I yell back.

“Of course it is!”

Charles and George wander through next, carrying crates of crystal light orbs, both of them talking about “proper hanging technique” like

they’ve been professional decorators all their lives. For once, it’s chordinated chaos.

By the time evening comes, the great hall is nearly finished. It’s… breathtaking. Banners of silk shimmer from the rafters, light dancing

over them in waves of black and gold. Moonflowers bloom in the corners, glowing faintly with soft white luminescence. The massive glass

bridge over the river gleams like liquid starlight through the windows in the background. Everywhere I look, there’s life, love, and family. I

take a slow breath, standing beside my mates at the top of the steps. “Alright, everyone!” I call. “That’s enough for today! Back away from

the decorations before something explodes!”

Levi’s the first to step forward, arm draping around my shoulders. “You’ve outdone yourself, love.”

Haiden smiles quietly “It’s perfect”

Xavier nods “It feels right

Noah adds softly, “She’s going to love it

I glance toward the closed doors that lead deeper into the palace where Macey and Elliot have been strictly forbidden to set tuot

“They better.” I say, grinning. “Because I’ve officially banned them from seeing any of this until the ceremony They’re holed up in their room, which, frankly, I don’t think they mind

Levi snorts. “Pretty sure they’ve been ‘celebrating for three days straight

“Good for them.” I laugh, pressing the clipboard to my chest as I look over the glowing hall. This place used to echo with screams and

shadows. Now it’s full of laughter, the smell of cookies, and the sound of my family arguing about flower placement. Selene wanted

balance. I think we’ve finally found it.

As the last lights dim for the night, I smile to myself and whisper, “Tomorrow… we crown them.”