“We’re doing everything we can for them,” Aidon promised me.
I was about to argue when a strange sensation rippled through me. It wasn't a contraction. It was a warm, protective pulse that emanated from my core. The triplets responded in unison. Their unique energies merged for the first time in a coordinated defense.
The magical shield they created pulsed beneath my skin and momentarily revealed what had been hidden. Angry red threads appeared. They stretched from within my belly and out into nothingness. They were Lyra's parasitic connections made visible by my children's power. The threads writhed like disturbed snakes when they encountered the barrier my family had cast. They were unable to penetrate through to the core of the triplets.
"What the hell?" Nana breathed as she leaned forward.
Clio's hands paused their movement and hovered over my belly. Her healing magic probed gently. "The triplets are adding to the defensive barrier. They’ve been working on a way to get in on the action since you fell asleep."
"It's happening because Lyra's trying to access their power," Aidon realized. His face lit with the first genuine hope I'd seen since our escape. "They're blocking her. They might be able to beat her."
"Is that even possible?" I asked, staring down at my belly in wonder. "She cast magic no one has seen or heard about for thousands of years."
Jean-Marc's expression shifted to one of intense focus as he watched the magical display. The analytical mind he'd inherited from his biological father combined with the magical instincts he'd developed under Aidon's guidance made him uniquely qualified to assess what was happening. "It might be. The tethers are designed to siphon power, but if the triplets can movearound the foreign magic, they might be able to weave a barrier that can actively defend against it."
"They’ve done it. They found a way inside her magic. We have our loophole," Mom concluded. Her eyes were shining with victory. "These bonds were created with the assumption that the unborn children are passive magical vessels. But our triplets are anything but. They are powerful magical beings who are developing unique personalities with the ability to adapt and protect themselves."
I placed my hands over the shield my babies had created. Their combined power thrummed beneath my palms. For the first time since Lyra had forced those connections on us, I felt a flicker of true hope. "They're fighting back," I whispered. "And they're coordinating with each other to do it."
"That's our kids," Aidon said with fierce pride as he placed his hand next to mine. Nina moved closer to us and rested her hand beside Aidon’s. Their relationship had begun with wariness when he first entered our lives. It had transformed into a deep bond of trust and love. She might have another man's blood in her veins, but Aidon had become her true father in all the ways that mattered. "Lyra was right about one thing. They are going to change the face of the magical world.”
Jean-Marc joined us and placed his hand next to mine. “They sure are. They’re defying magical norms before they've even drawn their first breath."
The protective shield faded gradually. Calling up my magical senses, I tried to figure out what happened. All that boasting might have been for nothing. A sigh rushed out of me when I realized Lyra's attempt to access their power had ceased. The parasitic connections remained. However, now we knew they weren't as effective as she believed. It was a small victory, but we'd take anything we could get at this point.
"I need to get downstairs," I declared, swinging my legs over the side of the bed with determination. "We need a family council to figure out our next steps, and I am not about to do that with everyone crowding around our bed."
"Phoebe—" Clio began in her sternest healer voice.
"I'm not planning to run a marathon," I assured her. "All I want to do is talk. And check on Stella. I can't just lie here while my best friend is fighting magical corruption and my family is working to protect us all. I need to be part of the solution."
Aidon looked like he wanted to argue but instead offered his arm for support. "Just promise you'll tell me if you feel even the slightest contraction."
"Deal," I agreed as he helped me to my feet. The world swayed momentarily before steadying. I took a tentative step forward, relieved that my legs held my weight.
Mom hovered nearby, ready to catch me if I faltered. "Take it slow, sweetheart." She'd always been my safety net, even before magic entered our lives. When I was seven and fell from the oak tree in our backyard, she'd somehow caught me before I hit the ground. When my high school boyfriend broke my heart, she appeared at my bedroom door with ice cream and unwavering support. And when Miles kicked me to the curb, leaving me jobless and in debt, Mom and Nana had taken me in without hesitation. They’d created a home where my brokenness could heal. Now, with the stakes higher than ever before, her vigilance remained unchanged. She was a constant in my chaotic world.
"I will," I promised her with a smile, reaching for her hand and squeezing it briefly. The connection between us had only grown stronger through our shared magical trials.
The journey downstairs was like navigating an obstacle course while carrying a bowling ball strapped to my abdomen. Each step required conscious effort, and by the time we reached the living room, I was regretting my insistence on going downfor the family council. But stubbornness was a family trait I'd inherited in spades.
I finally settled onto a stool at the island with as much dignity as I could muster. The kitchen had been transformed into a war room. Maps covered the table, books were stacked in precarious towers, and various magical implements were organized across every available surface.
Nina and Selene were conferring in the corner over what looked like complex warding diagrams. Hades and Persephone stood by the window. Their divine power radiated from them as they maintained a protective bubble around our property. Murtagh appeared briefly to report on the perimeter defenses before returning to Tseki.
"Look who decided to join the party," Stella called weakly from a chair at the table.
I gasped at the sight of her. My usually vibrant best friend was pale as death. She had dark veins spreading from her left hand all the way to her shoulder. The arm was wrapped in glowing bandages that pulsed with purification magic. My stomach twisted when I noted how the corruption was fighting against the containment.
"Jesus, Stella," I whispered. "You look like hell warmed over."
She managed a shadow of her usual cocky grin. "You should see the other guy. Oh wait, you can't because I obliterated him."
"After it took a chunk out of you," I reminded her.
"Details, details," she waved her good hand dismissively. "How are the mini magical time bombs?"
"Currently stable and developing shield magic," I replied. "They blocked Lyra when she tried to access their power."
