Page 7

"Well, shit," Nana said, lowering her walking stick. "That's new."

"We need to get Phoebe home," Aidon said, already moving to my side. "Selene, can you collect some of that ash for analysis?" Selene nodded, pulling a small vial from her pocket.

I called Clio on the drive back, trying to sound calmer than I felt. "So... funny story. Your house might have some scorch marks on the lawn. And your garden gnomes deserve a raise."

“What?!” Her shriek echoed through the car.

Clio took hearing about the shapeshifter and its minions in stride.

She’d become accustomed to magical attacks over the last eighteen months since I became the Pleiades.

"I'll grab my portable equipment and meet you at your place.

I definitely want to get a closer look at those babies after hearing about that. " We thanked her and hung up.

The rest of the drive was short but tense. Tarja met us at the door. Her tail twitched as she assessed me for injuries. " You're unharmed ?" Her voice echoed in my mind.

"I'm fine," I assured both her and Aidon, who was stuck to my side like glue. "The gnomes had my back. Who knew garden decorations could be so tactical?"

“ Gnomes can be quite ferocious ,” Tarja acknowledged.

Binx wound around Mom's legs before jumping onto the back of the couch, his eyes fixed on me. " Those weren't ordinary shapeshifters ," he projected to all of us. " They were sent for you ."

" They were ancient ," Tarja added before I could respond to her son with my snark. She settled next to me as I eased onto the couch. " It reminds me of stories from the Before Times. "

"Are you sure that wasn't Lyra? She has sent more monsters after me than I can count," I replied as I watched Selene get ready to analyze the ash she'd collected. She had her serious face on, telling me she was about to go full magical scientist.

"No, this wasn't her style at all," Mom interjected. "Lyra's creatures always have this signature to them. She wants us to know it's her."

"Plus," Selene added as she laid out her detection crystals, "Lyra's creatures tend to be more vicious."

"Exactly," Mom said. "These things were different. Lyra may be powerful, but she's new money in the magical world."

The doorbell rang as Selene began her work. "That's probably Clio," I interjected.

Mom nodded. "I'll get it."

All eyes followed Mom as she made her way to the front door. Excitement bubbled beneath my skin as I watched Clio wheel her portable ultrasound machine into the living room. I studied her carefully, relief washing over me when I confirmed this was definitely our Clio, not the impostor from earlier.

"Let's check on these little troublemakers," Clio said as she set up her equipment. "Though, given the energy they're putting out, I'd say they're doing just fine."

"I agree, but I will feel better when we can see them," I told her as I laid down and lifted my shirt. Both cats moved closer as Clio spread the gel on my belly. The symbol pulsed once before settling into a steady glow.

The gel was cold as she squirted it on my belly.

It took me back to my pregnancies with Jean-Marc and Nina.

Jean-Marc was away at college, so my gaze traveled to my daughter.

Nina watched with wide-eyed wonder. Emotion choked me and for a second I was overwhelmed with love for my older kids and my unborn babies.

"There they are," Clio said as she ran the wand over my womb. She turned the screen so everyone could see. "Baby A is right here, looks like she's practicing her roundhouse kicks."

"That explains this morning's acrobatics," I muttered.

"And here are B and C, snuggled up together.

" She moved the wand slightly, and the image shifted to show two perfect profiles, side by side.

"Look at that. They're holding hands. These two are definitely going to be trouble.

" The symbol pulsed softly as she pointed out their features.

"Strong heartbeats, good movement... and see that shimmer around them?

That's their magical aura already forming.

Pretty impressive for beings their size. "

Everyone crowded around to coo at the screen.

Aidon was overcome with emotion as he watched our children shift and move.

Centuries of godhood fell away in the face of this miracle.

His hand found mine. It was trembling slightly as Baby A executed another perfect kick.

For all his divine power and immortal wisdom, he'd never experienced this before. He’d never watched his own children grow.

Never seen their first movements captured in black and white and magical shimmer.

"They're perfect," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. The air around him rippled with his divine energy. "I've witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations, but this..." He pressed his other hand gently against my belly as the symbol pulsed in recognition. "This is everything."

Clio adjusted the wand again, capturing all three babies in one view. "You’re right, Aidon. They’re perfect. They're exactly where they should be developmentally. Baby A is definitely taking after Dad in the strength department. Look at those kicks.”

“That’s Nyssa,” Aidon interjected.

Clio smiled at him and inclined her head. “Baby B might overcome her by the next exam. He’s oozing determination.”

“That’s Thaniel,” I added with a smile.

“Thaniel's also developing a magical resonance with...” Clio railed off and looked to me and Aidon.

“Baby C is Melaina,” Nina answered before we could.

“Right. Well, Melaina and Thaniel’s auras are syncing up. That's incredibly rare, even in magical pregnancies. I’ve read about it but never actually seen it," Clio explained.

The babies shifted as if knowing we were talking about them, their movements creating ripples of golden light on the screen.

Thaniel stretched, tiny fingers splaying out, while Melaina turned to face him.

Nyssa chose that moment to execute another perfect roundhouse.

It caused a cascade of sparkles that made the ultrasound image temporarily look like a snow globe filled with stardust.

"Their energy signatures are fascinating," Clio noted, her professional demeanor slipping slightly to reveal genuine awe. "Each one has their own distinct magical pattern, but they're also creating a harmonious triad. I've never even heard of anything like this happening."

" Hmmm. Perhaps these ancient ones are interested because they carry old magic. " Tarja projected, her mental voice thoughtful. " It wouldn't be surprising since their power is older than the covens or familiar bloodlines. "

"That's as good of a theory as any," I agreed as I watched the babies cling to one another on the ultrasound screen.

"I don't know what to make of this. So far it's not hurting me or the babies.

" I rubbed my belly thoughtfully as the symbol pulsed gently.

"Maybe it's less about them claiming the babies and more about protecting them until they're ready for whatever power they're meant to inherit. "

“You know, that makes a lot of sense. We don’t have enough information to know for sure,” Mom said while Clio packed up her equipment and promised to return the next day.

Mythia flew in as Mom was showing Clio to the door. “I thought you might be hungry.” She extended a steaming pocket that smelled of cumin, cilantro, and other spices.

“Oh, is that an empanada?” I asked as I accepted it from her.

“It is. I added jalapenos since you’ve been craving them,” Mythia replied.

I hummed happily as I bit into it. Selene chuckled as she went back to her work. Her array of magical equipment was spread out like a mad scientist's lab. She held a crystal over the vial of ash, muttering incantations that made the air crackle.

"We’d already decided on this, but it’s definitely not Lyra," she announced as I munched on the yummy treat.

"This energy signature is older. And there's something else.

" She frowned at a readout that looked like abstract art to me.

"Whatever these things were, they weren't just shapeshifters.

They had the usual energy mixed in with something I can't identify. "

"Great," I muttered. "So, we've got mystery creatures working for mystery ancient beings, who are interested in my babies."

"We'll figure this out, honey," Mom assured me. "We always do."

I wasn't so sure. Being marked physically made me feel vulnerable in a way I didn’t like. The fact that this had nothing to do with Lyra made me even twitchier. She was at least somewhat predictable.

" We should go to the market, " Tarja suggested suddenly, her mental voice reaching all of us. "T he vendors might have heard something. Information flows swiftly through the supernatural grapevine, and someone might be close to a reliable source. "

"I’m good with that. I could use a bacon cheeseburger with pickled mango and chocolate sauce," I said as I got to my feet. "And maybe some of those weird blue chips they sell at the supernatural market."

"The market is warded, so you’ll be safe," Mom agreed.

" Nobody wants to start trouble there without bringing down the wrath of every supernatural vendor in the tri-state area ," Tarja added. “ We still need to be careful. Ancient powers play by different rules. ”

“That’s not very reassuring, but I refuse to be a captive in my own home,” I said as we climbed into the car.

The Crossroads Collective (or just the Cross to those that shopped there all the time) was a testament to magical irony.

It was a mystical shopping paradise disguised as the world's most depressing strip mall.

To normal humans, it was the kind of place that screamed haunted and condemned.

They weren't entirely wrong about the haunted part.

The health department violations were just clever glamour.