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“ There was even one case involving twins who could control weather patterns from the womb ," Binx added. “ Their mother had to modify a basic concealment charm seventeen times before it stuck. "

“We’d better get to work, then,” I muttered around a bite.

For the next hour, we shaped the spell. Mom and Nina anchored the core phrases while Stella, Selene, and I wove in the defensive elements.

Our voices rose and fell together as we practiced.

Stella suggested adding a verse about salt water and iron barriers.

It was an old protection passed down in Hattie's grimoire.

Selene added suggestions for words of endurance.

We all focused on adapting the verses and making them flexible enough to shield multiple magical signatures instead of just one.

"There's still something missing," I said as we reviewed the modified spell. The babies kicked in agreement. "It needs something to account for the way their power keeps growing and changing."

"What about this?" Jean-Marc suggested, his voice matching our chanting rhythm. "Let's add 'through mist and shadow, through time and space'. That will make the concealment adapt as their energies shift while tuning the concealment to them."

"That could work," Selene agreed, not breaking her chant. "Instead of pure concealment, we'll add 'paths twist and turn, lead astray' to make it redirect trackers."

"Like a magical shell game," I mused between verses. "Though knowing our luck, we'll probably end up making them think I'm carrying octuplets."

A crash from behind me interrupted our chanting.

It was followed by Mythia's startled yelp.

"What happened?" I asked as I looked up.

I could not believe what I was seeing. Every dish in our cabinets were floating around the tiny pixie.

Then they began performing an elaborate musical number, with a spatula conducting from atop the counter.

Mythia ducked under a twirling plate. "Your mark's chaos magic is back at it. Though you have to admit, they've got the choreography down this time."

"Must be that nap," Mom said with her eyes trained on a line of forks perform a kickline. "Your energy's finally returning. Which means—" She gestured for everyone to return to the circle. "We need to finish this spell before your mark decides to branch out into other Broadway numbers."

It didn’t take long to finish the spell after that.

When we were done, we moved into the living room and gathered in a circle.

Jean-Marc and Nina cast the actual circle that was going to anchor our spell.

They then joined Mom, Nana, Selene, Stella, and me.

The potion thrummed through my veins as we began chanting:

"Through earth and air,

through fire and sea,

Shield these children as they grow to be,

Through mist and shadow,

through time and space,

Hide their power, leave no trace.

Paths twist and turn, lead astray,

Keep these children safe, we pray."

Our voices wove together, and our magic rose like a tide. The symbol on my belly pulsed with our words. It gradually dimmed as the layers of concealment settled on me. The babies stirred as we spoke, and their power joined our efforts. Of course, they were helping to hide themselves.

The final words rang out like a submerged bell. Power rushed through me, leaving my skin tingling. The symbol's light faded to barely visible, and its power muted behind magical misdirection.

"Did it work?" Nina asked, studying my belly.

Selene held up a crystal. "Let's see. Before, your mark was lighting this up like Times Square." It remained dark.

"I'd call that a success," Stella said with a grin that could have powered a small city. "Though we should probably test it against different types of detection magic, just to be sure."

"Definitely. Then we need to figure out what to do about their business network," I said as I settled onto the couch. The spell had taken more out of me than I'd expected. Even the babies had settled into a post-magic nap. "We can't let them keep using it to hunt magical pregnancies."

"We might not have to," Jean-Marc said thoughtfully, his expression suggesting he was about to propose something either brilliant or terrifying. "What if we could use it against them? Turn their own network into an early warning system for other magical mothers?"

"That's... actually brilliant," Selene replied, already turning to her research with renewed energy.

"If we can identify all their locations, we could set up counter-surveillance.

Maybe even find a way to warn potential targets.

We could create a magical underground railroad for supernatural pregnancies. "

"First things first," Mom said, holding up vial of the potion she had created. "You need to drink this every twelve hours to maintain the concealment. I even included extra pickle juice so you don’t complain about the taste. Though, it might make you glow in the dark now."

"Every twelve hours?" I stared at her, still tasting the first dose. "Why didn't anyone mention that earlier?"

"Because none of us wanted to hear you whine about it," Nana said with a smirk.

“That’s fair,” I sighed. "I hope you documented all of this, Nina. The babies should know about this magical mama drama someday."

"Oh, I'm keeping detailed records," Nina grinned. "Complete with illustrations. 'Once upon a time, mama lit up like a Christmas tree and made the dishes dance...'"

I rubbed my belly as Stella and Selene proceeded to test the spell using various forms of detection magic.

Selene's crystal spun uselessly in her palm while Stella's rune-etched pendant swung in random directions.

A satisfied smile spread across Selene's face as her tracking spell fizzled out completely.

The babies shifted restlessly under all the magical prodding, but the symbol stayed dim.

Our concealment held strong against each test. Mom's potion and our chanting had done exactly what we'd hoped. It had hidden the distinct magical signature behind a web of misdirection. For the first time in days, I felt the tension ease from my shoulders. I could finally leave the house without worrying that my magical signature would draw danger to everyone around me. I didn’t need to fear that each trip to the grocery store might end in another magical showdown in the parking lot.

"Mom!" Nina interrupted. "I found something interesting in these business records." I sighed and headed toward her voice. Magical triplets apparently meant no rest, even after spell work. At least the pickle juice helped.