Page 16 of Bedrest Blues & Otherworldly Clues
"Nobody," I admitted. "I overheard Stella and Aidon discussing them. Also, you're covered in blood and look like you've been through a war zone. I'm pregnant, not blind."
She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "We've been trying not to worry you."
"Well, that's worked brilliantly," I saiddryly. "Now I'm worriedandannoyed. Tell me what's going on, Selene. No more secrets."
She studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Fair enough. Yes, there have been attacks. Three in the past three days."
"And Tseki was injured?" I clarified.
She inclined her head. "He was burned by one of the entities he encountered. Clio treated him. He'll be fine." She leaned forward. "That's actually why I'm here. Something about all of this is not adding up."
She pulled a folded map from her pocket and spread it on the bed. It showed our property and the surrounding area. There were dots from different colored markers in various locations.
"At first glance, these look random," she explained. "But when you overlay them with the ley line disruptions Mythia detected, a clear pattern emerges. Each attack targeted a different type of defense using a different form of ancient magic."
My strategic mind engaged as I studied the map. "We already knew she was testing our responses and learning which defenses are most effective against which threats. What are we missing?"
"The first attack used elemental forces against our technological surveillance,” she replied. “The second employed some form of distortion against our magical wards. And today's creatures specifically targeted our shifter patrols."
Pausing, she pointed to a section of the map where the markers formed an unmistakable spiral pattern. "The attacks are getting closer, following the destabilized ley lines inward. At this rate, they'll reach the house itself within two days."
A chill ran through me. Two days wasn't much time to prepare. "Have you shown this to Aidon?"
"That's my next stop. But I wanted your input first." Selene's expression was serious. "You know Lyra better thanany of us. You've faced her directly more times. What's her endgame here? Is she really just gathering tactical intelligence? I agree there is something we're missing."
I considered the question carefully, drawing on everything I knew about our enemy. "Lyra never does anything for just one reason. Yes, she's probing our defenses, but I think she's also trying to exhaust us. And more importantly, distract us. She wants to keep us reacting to external threats while she works on something else."
"Like what?"
"Those shadows I just saw," I murmured, more to myself than to Selene. It was the only thing I could think of.
"What shadows?" she asked, immediately alert.
I explained my newly discovered ability to view other parts of the house through reflective surfaces and the strange shadows I'd noticed at the edges of these magical windows. "They moved like they were searching for something," I finished. "And when I tried to examine one, it reacted to me."
Selene's expression grew increasingly grave as I spoke. "Show me," she said when I finished.
Hesitantly, I focused on the vanity mirror again, directing it to show the kitchen once more. Jean-Marc and Mom were still there, deep in conversation. And as before, the shadow tendrils crept along the edges of the magical window. They were more numerous now.
"There," I whispered, pointing. "Do you see them?"
Selene leaned closer, her eyes narrowing. "Yes. And I don't like them one bit."
As we watched, one of the shadows detached from the edge and slithered across the kitchen ceiling. It stopped directly over Mom and Jean-Marc, who remained oblivious to its presence.
"It's spying on them, but why?" I asked. It made no sense.
"Not just spying," Selenemurmured. "Look."
The shadow was leaving something behind. It was a tiny speck of darkness that settled into the ceiling like a seed being planted. Then it moved on, leaving another, and another. It was invisible unless you knew to look for it.
"She's planting magical traps throughout the house," I guessed. "And no one can see them."
"Except through your mirrors," Selene replied. "It's got to be the triplets."
As if responding to their mention, the babies stirred within me. A wave of golden light suffused my skin briefly thanks to Melaina. The magical window in the mirror sharpened, and the shadows became more distinct against the kitchen backdrop.
"She's helping us see them more clearly," Selene observed with quiet awe.
