Page 6

" I still say we should've brought a book home to study," Nina argued as we left Nightshadow Grove. She and Selene piled into the car with Aidon and me for the trip to Clio's office. Before everyone dispersed, Clio had asked us to stop by her place because she wanted to do an ultrasound.

"Last time you brought home a suspicious magical book, it tried to eat Binx," Selene reminded her.

My head snapped around so fast I nearly gave myself whiplash. "When did this happen? Why did I never hear about this?"

Nina waved her hand dismissively. "It's not a big deal.

The book was evil, and no one had any idea.

I think it was a trap set by Lyra." My daughter held up her hands when I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my head.

"Don't get upset about it now. We burned the book without incident.

No harm no foul. We didn't tell you because you don't need the stress.

The more important issue is that we are no closer to answers now than before the coven meeting. "

"No big deal?" I sputtered. "A book tried to eat your grandmother’s familiar!

He was one of the first familiars to be born in more than a century, and you almost got him killed.

And you didn't think this was worth mentioning?

" The symbol on my belly pulsed. It was probably picking up on my agitation.

Great. Just what I needed. Magical pregnancy tattoo meets mama bear instincts.

"The babies are where we need to focus right now," Aidon cut in, his hand finding mine.

"We can discuss Nina's questionable choices later.

" He shot my daughter a look that promised a lengthy conversation about informing us about important things.

"Right now, we need to make sure our children haven't developed any new. .. talents."

I slumped back in my seat, knowing he was right. But this conversation wasn't over. Not by a long shot. Sometimes I wondered if my family's talent for getting into magical trouble was genetic or if we just had really bad luck. Probably both.

The rest of the drive to Clio's was mercifully uneventful. Unless you considered my phone suddenly playing "Baby Got Back" every time we hit a bump. By the time we pulled into her driveway, I'd developed a twitch in my left eye.

"I'm just saying," I told my belly as I heaved myself out of the car and waddled up Clio's front walk, "one normal appointment.

That's all I'm asking for. No magical hijinks.

No ancient prophecies. Just a regular check-up with maybe a tiny bit of supernatural ultrasound action.

" The symbol pulsed like it was laughing at me. Rude.

"And you can stop with the light show," I added, poking at my stomach. "I swear, between you and the babies, it's like carrying a rave club."

Aidon and Nina laughed as one of the triplets kicked in what felt like agreement. That set off another round of disco lights that shone through my shirt. Perfect. Because who doesn't want their midsection doing its best Times Square impression? I sighed as we continued up the walkway.

Clio's house was a cozy craftsman style that seemed to radiate peaceful energy no matter the season.

The pale blue exterior was usually adorned with carefully tended climbing roses.

This time of year, they should have been in full bloom.

Usually, just walking up the path made me feel better.

Today, something felt off. The roses were tightly closed despite the warm of the late afternoon.

The garden gnomes had been moved from their usual spots in the flower beds.

And the wind chimes hung silent despite the breeze.

"Huh," I muttered, one hand resting on my belly as the symbol started to warm. Behind me, I heard a car followed by the hurried footsteps of Mom, Nana, and Stella rushing up the walk. I wasn’t surprised they followed us from the coven house. They wanted to see the babies too.

The front door opened before I could finish puzzling over the strange feeling in my gut.

Clio stood there, smiling warmly. Kind of.

Something was off. She'd changed from the practical outfit she’d been wearing at the coven meeting.

Damn. That was a quick change. We were right behind her.

And since when did she wear red lipstick?

"Come in, come in," Not-Clio said. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes like it normally did. "Let's check on those babies. I'm sure they're just perfect."

Yeah, no. The real Clio would never have said she was sure about something. She always got a feel for things before offering any reassurances. I reached for my phone, but Not-Clio was faster. Her hand shot out and morphed into something with way too many fingers. What the hell happened to her skin?

"Fuck a duck," I yelped as I stumbled backward. My magic surged in response to my panic and whatever signal the symbol was broadcasting.

My phone rang as I yanked it out of reach of No-Clio.

The real Clio's face popped up on the screen as I tossed it behind me to Nina.

She must have answered because I could hear Clio talking.

"Phoebe? Sorry, I'm running a bit late. I got a flat tire and had to change it.

I should be there in about twenty minutes.

Is everything okay?" Oh, that was not good.

Aidon pushed me behind him as the shapeshifter lunged.

Its form rippled between shapes faster than a mood ring in therapy.

I did the only sensible thing I could. I let my hormone-enhanced magic loose and hoped for the best. It threw her off balance at the same time Aidon’s power lashed out.

The energy he let loose scorched the side of Clio’s house.

"Nobody messes with my grandbaby!" Nana's voice cut through the chaos. She came charging up the path like a geriatric Valkyrie. Her walking stick crackled with power.

Mom and Nina flanked her, already weaving shields.

Selene and Layla brought up the rear, looking ready to rain magical hell on whatever this thing was.

Layla shifted without bothering to remove her clothing.

That seemed to set off Not-Clio because she snarled and changed shape.

She became something resembling a praying mantis crossed with a crocodile.

It had razor-sharp angles and too many teeth, with scaled skin that gleamed like oil-slicked metal.

Chaos erupted then. Layla bounded toward us in wolf form and skidded to a stop with a yelp when several tiny versions of Not-Clio pounced on her.

At the same time, a small army of creatures emerged from behind Not-Clio.

Each one was a twisted mirror of the first. Though, they were smaller and moved in jerky, insect-like motions.

"The ancient ones have claimed these children," Not-Clio hissed.

"Ancient ones?" Mom's shields flickered with her surprise. "What ancient ones?"

Instead of answering, the thing launched itself forward. Aidon met it mid-leap. He had conjured his sword and was already swinging it. The rest of the shapeshifter’s twisted mini-me army surged toward us.

I blasted two, making them explode. Mom and Nina's shields deflected claws and snapping jaws while Selene hurled spell after spell at the creatures. Layla, still in wolf form, took down several of the smaller ones with savage efficiency. The ceramic garden gnomes suddenly sprang to life. Either Clio had a secret army, or she’d enchanted her statuary to defend her house.

"Formation Delta!" the tallest gnome bellowed. It brandished his little shovel like a war hammer. "Protect the pregnant one!" Apparently, Clio hadn’t enchanted them.

"For the garden!" another squeaked, launching himself at one of the creatures with surprising ferocity.

I moved down the steps and into the yard as I continued lobbing small magical bombs at the creatures.

Nana was in her element, her walking stick crackling with power as she faced off against three of the smaller creatures.

"Stay away from my family, you overgrown gecko!

" she shouted as she sent one flying with a well-aimed blast.

Aidon and the leader clashed in what looked like a deadly dance.

His blade met those scales with a shower of sparks.

The creature was fast, but Aidon was faster.

Centuries of training with the God of the Underworld were evident in every move.

When it tried to flank him, he spun and caught it with a strike that should have cut it in half.

Instead, the thing split into two identical versions of itself.

"Oh, that's just cheating," I muttered, instinctively throwing up a shield as one of the smaller creatures got past Mom's defenses.

A garden gnome intercepted it with a battle cry. The gnome smacked it with a tiny rake. "Nobody threatens the lady!" he declared proudly before being punted across the yard.

The leader - now leaders - taunted Aidon. "The time approaches," they eerily said in unison. "The children must be examined. The old powers stir."

"Yeah?" I shot back, channeling power into a magical bomb. "They can take a number and wait in line like everyone else trying to get their hands on my kids."

“No one is touching our children,” Aidon roared as I was speaking.

The symbol on my belly flared like a spotlight at that exact moment Aidon's sword erupted with flames from the Underworld.

The distinctive blue-black fire burned hotter than any earthly flame.

His blade caught both versions of the leader in one sweeping arc.

The otherworldly fire seared through those scales like they were tissue paper.

The creatures shrieked and writhed as the divine flames consumed them from the inside out.

The smaller minions fell a second later.

Their bodies crumbled into ash that quickly scattered in the breeze, leaving behind nothing but the acrid smell of burnt bugs and defeated magic.