Page 34 of Bedrest Blues & Otherworldly Clues (Mystical Midlife in Maine #17)

Lyra merely smiled. "I see your memory has gone in your old age. Your permission isn't required."

Her magic surged through the connection she'd established, intensifying the pain to unbearable levels.

Something fundamental shifted within me as she began separating my Pleiades power from my core essence.

Then something unexpected happened. Inside me, the triplets' individual magics began working in concert.

They were responding to the invasion in ways Lyra hadn't anticipated.

Inside me, the triplets' magic surged in perfect coordination, like they'd been planning this rebellion for weeks.

The ritual circle beneath us began to flicker and warp as if viewed through a funhouse mirror.

The carefully inscribed symbols blurred like chalk drawings in the rain.

Sections of the pattern dissolved into shadow while others slowed to a crawl.

Waves of golden energy pulsed from my belly in rhythmic bursts, colliding with Lyra's corrupted magic and creating a sound like crystal breaking.

It was beautiful and dangerous all at once.

The dissonance was uncomfortable, but seeing the cracks form in Lyra's perfect control was worth every second.

Lyra's face scrunched up like she'd bitten into a lemon soaked in vinegar. Her concentration shattered, and she stumbled back a step. "What is happening?" she demanded, her voice pitching higher with panic. "They shouldn't be working together like this."

Another contraction hit, and with it came a fresh surge of combined power from the triplets. This time, Lyra's containment spell couldn't channel it all. Excess energy lashed out and struck the nearest Forgotten One. The creature dissolved with a high-pitched screech.

"Enough of this," Lyra snapped as she traced a more complex symbol that pulsed with darker energy. "If they insist on fighting, I'll simply have to be more... invasive."

The pain intensified as her magic drove deeper. She bypassed the triplets' resistance to reach directly for my Pleiades core. I screamed again and slammed a protective shield around my power. It felt like I was being torn apart from the inside.

Through the haze of agony, I became aware of a commotion outside the chamber. The distant sounds of battle penetrated the strange acoustics of the place. Explosions, shouts, and the distinctive roar of Tseki's dragon form were music to my ears.

Lyra noticed too. "Right on schedule. Your family has found my outer defenses."

"They're going to make you pay," I managed through gritted teeth.

"They're dying for you," she corrected coldly. "My guardians will ensure they never reach this chamber."

A massive tremor shook the foundation. It was followed by an agonized roar that could only have come from Tseki. The sound cut off abruptly, leaving a silence more terrifying than any noise.

"You see?" Lyra said, returning her attention to the ritual. "Futile."

Another contraction seized me. With it came the knowledge that the triplets were fighting Lyra's magic and communicating with each other. They were coordinating their defense through a connection that transcended normal consciousness.

"Stop this!" Lyra demanded, her frustration mounting as the ritual continued to degrade .

"They're smarter than you," I taunted through the pain. "And they've got something you'll never understand."

"And what's that?" she sneered.

"Each other," I replied simply. "They’re connected through love. The very things you've always dismissed as weaknesses."

For the first time, uncertainty flickered across Lyra's face.

Her being the evil witch she is, she merely redoubled her efforts.

She poured more corrupted power into the ritual.

The chamber began to react to the magical conflict.

Columns shifted in ways that defied gravity.

The walls seemed to breathe. At least, they were expanding and contracting as the room struggled to contain the clashing forces.

Outside, the sounds of battle grew closer.

A tremendous explosion rocked the entire structure.

It was powerful enough to crack one of the massive pillars supporting the ceiling.

Lyra glanced up, irritation replacing her momentary doubt.

"Persistent vermin. No matter. The alignment approaches its peak.

Once I secure your Pleiades power, dealing with them will be trivial. "

She placed one hand directly on my belly. Her fingers were cold as death against my skin. The contact sent waves of her malevolent magic surging through me like electric ice. Instead of cowering, I called up the raw Pleiades magic that Hattie had given to me.

"Get. Your. Hands. Off. My. Babies." I spat each word like a bullet, channeling my rage into a focused blast of pure energy. It shot from my core outward and collided with her power in a spectacular display that lit the chamber brighter than midday.

Lyra recoiled with a hiss of pain. Lifting her hand, she examined it with disbelief. The appendage now sported a spiderweb of fractures. Tiny flecks of her flesh had crumbled away like ash in the wind.

"Impossible," she whispered. "You shouldn't have access to your power through my bindings, and they’re unborn! They cannot possess this level of control."

I met her gaze with a smile that held no warmth. "Underestimating me and my family has always been your greatest mistake. And it'll be your last."

She returned to the central altar. "If I cannot extract your magic directly, I'll simply accelerate the process. The alignment is close enough."

She began a new incantation, causing the entire ritual circle to pulse with a different energy. The symbols shifted into a new configuration. The pain changed and became sharper. I could feel my Pleiades magic being forcibly pulled toward the surface. It was like blood drawn by a leech.

Another massive explosion rocked the chamber. This one was closer than before. Dust and fragments of stone rained down from the ceiling. Lyra glanced toward the disturbance with mild irritation. "They've breached the secondary defenses. They’re ahead of schedule, but still too late."

The triplets' magic surged again, but this time something new happened. Instead of fighting Lyra's extraction process directly, they channeled their energy beyond the chamber. "What are they doing?" Lyra demanded.

I smiled through the pain. "Calling for help."

Outside, the sounds of battle intensified dramatically. The roar of fury could only belong to Aidon. It echoed through the structure, warming me all over. It was accompanied by a wave of divine power so strong it made the Forgotten Ones tremble.

"Impossible," Lyra whispered. "This place is undetectable. The barriers?—"

"Mean nothing when it comes to family," I finished. "Our children and I have been leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for him to follow."

Lyra abandoned her position at the altar and moved quickly to reinforce the chamber's integrity. "This changes nothing. The ritual is self-sustaining now."

Another contraction hit. This time, I felt pressure. It was the precursor to the babies shifting lower in preparation for birth. "Not yet," I pleaded with them. "Hold on a little longer."

The wall nearest to us exploded inward. Through the dust and chaos stepped Aidon.

His face was a mask of cold fury. His divine presence radiated power and rage.

Behind him came others—Stella, Nina, Jean-Marc, Selene, and Mom.

They were all battle-worn but determined.

Beyond them, I glimpsed the massive form of Tseki's dragon. He was engaged with multiple Forgotten Ones in the corridor. As were Murtagh and Layla’s wolves.

"Phoebe," Aidon called, his eyes finding mine across the chaos.

"How touching," Lyra remarked, positioning herself between us. "Unfortunately, you're too late."

She gestured toward the ritual circle, where my magic continued to flow into her conduit despite the interruption. "The process is irreversible now. In moments, the Pleiades power will be mine."

"That's where you're wrong," Aidon replied in a dangerously calm voice. "Nothing involving my family is impossible."

He stepped forward, and the ground cracked beneath his feet. The air around him shimmered with power. "He doesn't have to defeat you," I called out, understanding suddenly what needed to happen. "He just needs to keep you busy."

Lyra's eyes widened in realization as she sensed the change in the triplets' magic. They were in perfect harmony to target the ritual's true vulnerability. "No!" Lyra screamed as she abandoned her confrontation with Aidon to lunge toward the altar.

She was too late. The situation reached critical mass, and the conduit detonated. The explosion ripped through the chamber, shattering the ritual circle and severing the magical connections. My power rushed back into me like a tidal wave.

The spectral bindings holding me dissolved, and I collapsed forward. Aidon crossed the space between us in an instant and caught me. "I've got you," he murmured, cradling me against his chest.

Across the chamber, Lyra struggled to her feet. Her perfect composure was shattered along with her ritual. "This isn't over," she snarled before she vanished in a puff of smoke.