Page 42 of Bedrest Blues & Otherworldly Clues
"My magic once again took over," I replied with a weak smile.
More of our defenders filed into the room, drawn by the unexpected display of ancient magic. They were battle-worn and exhausted, but alive. Jean-Marc had a nasty cut above his eye. Nina's hands were burned. Murtagh's shirt was in tatters, revealing partially healed claw marks across his chest. Tseki was fretting over him, sporting his own injuries. Mom looked relatively unscathed, though her tribred features were still partially manifested, her fangs visible when she spoke.
"We need to talk about what just happened," Mom said. "How did they know exactly where to hit us? We changed everything after the last attack."
"Someone has been feeding Lyra information," Aidon told everyone. "They knew exactly which sections of our wards were newest and which anchors had been reinforced most recently. They couldn’t have garnered that information in the time they were here."
The room fell silent as the implications sank in. We'd been looking outward for threats when there was a traitor in our midst all along. But who? No one in the room would have said anything.
"Everyone who helped us strengthen the wards knew those details," Jean-Marc pointed out. His gaze swept the room, lingering briefly on each person present.
"That's a lot of people," Nina added uncomfortably. "We had our allies helping this time."
Murtagh shook his head. "The shifters who've been helping patrol, the witches who contributedto the protection circles, and there were even some of the local magical community."
"Okay, let’s narrow it down," I said, forcing myself to think logically despite my exhaustion. "Whoever it is must have had access to the house frequently and recently."
Hades materialized in the corner of the room. His power was subdued but still palpable. "During the cleanup, I found this," he announced, holding up what looked like a twisted piece of metal and glass. "It was hidden in the eastern border hedge."
Nana took the object, examining it with narrowed eyes. "It's a modified scrying device," she concluded after a moment. "Designed to record and transmit magical signatures."
"That's why they knew about our new defenses," Stella realized. "They didn't need someone to tell them. They were watching us the whole time."
"Not necessarily," Aidon countered. "Someone still had to plant that device. And place it in exactly the right location to capture the information Lyra needed. And they had to keep moving it so we didn’t discover it sooner."
The atmosphere in the room grew heavier as suspicion cast its shadow over our allies. Allegiances that had seemed unshakeable suddenly felt uncertain. "We start with those who had the most access," I decided. "And we do it quickly. Lyra may have lost this battle, but she'll regroup. She still has the ritual site ready, and the celestial alignment is approaching."
Aidon nodded grimly. "We need to find this traitor before they can do any more damage."
"And then what?" Nina asked quietly.
Aidon's eyes flickered with barely contained rage. "Then they learn exactly why betraying a god's family was the worst mistake of their life."
I placed my hand on his arm, feeling the tension in his muscles. "First, we need to recover from this attack. Everyone is exhausted, and the house's magical foundation has been strained by activating Hattie's dormant spells."
"You don't look so hot yourself," Nana observed bluntly, eyeing me with concern.
"I'll be fine," I insisted, though the persistent cramping in my abdomen suggested otherwise. "The triplets just needed a nap after their magical tantrum."
Clio snorted. "What they need is for their mother to stop channeling enough power to level a city block. You're staying in this bed, under constant supervision, for the next twenty-four hours at minimum."
"Fine," I conceded, too tired to argue. "But while I'm recuperating, I want every inch of this property searched for more monitoring devices. And I want a list of everyone who's been here in the last week."
"Consider it done," Tseki said with a nod as he and Murtaugh headed for the door.
One by one, everyone filed out to begin the cleanup and investigation. That left me alone with Aidon and Clio. The healer bustled around, checking my vitals and healing me.
"How bad is it?" Aidon asked her quietly when she finished her examination.
"Better than I expected, considering the magical output I witnessed," Clio admitted reluctantly. "Phoebe was holding back, which saved them all. But she's still at risk for premature labor if she pulls another stunt like that."
I reached for Aidon's hand, intertwining my fingers with his. "I'm sorry for scaring you. But I didn’t have control. It was impossible to stand by and watch Stella get hurt."
His expression softened as he gazed down at me. "I understand. I’m just glad you managed to remember that you're carrying our future in there." He placedhis free hand on my belly where the triplets had settled into exhausted stillness.
"Trust me, that's hard to forget when they're using my liver as their bed," I replied with a tired smile.
The corner of his mouth twitched upward, but the worry didn't leave his eyes. "We'll find whoever betrayed us," he promised softly. "And we'll be ready when Lyra makes her next move."
