Page 49 of Bedrest Blues & Otherworldly Clues
Remembering the mysterious messages, I pulled out my phone and showed them to Persephone and Stella. "I received these while you were gone. Someone claims to have escaped from Lyra and wants to help us counter her ritual."
"This mention of 'anchor points' matches what we found,” Persephone pointed out. “Each focus point is anchored to its location through blood magic, tying it to its corresponding ancient site. Breaking that anchor would disrupt the entire network."
"Do you think the message is legitimate?" I pressed, hope flickering like a match in a hurricane.
"Possibly," she conceded with all the enthusiasm of someone agreeing to a root canal. "But it would be extremely dangerous to pursue."
"Nana thinks it's a trap," I admitted.
"Smart woman," she replied, earning an approving nod from my grandmother, who looked momentarily smug.
"But the triplets aren't reacting defensively," I pointed out. "And they've been on high alert for anything even remotely threatening. Their magical panic button hasn't gone off once about these messages."
As if to prove my point, the babies chose that moment to send a gentle wave of warmth through me. It felt like being wrapped in a heated blanket on a cold day. It was distinctly different from their usual protective surges that felt more like being struck by magical lightning.
"They might be sensing something we can't," Stella suggested. "I bet their connection to Pleiades magicis strong."
"We should prepare the binding potion regardless," Mom suggested. "It's a powerful mixture that could be useful even if this turns out to be some elaborate mind-fuck."
"Mom!" I gasped in mock horror. "Language!" She rolled her eyes at me, but I caught the hint of a smile.
"I'll provide the tears," Aidon volunteered. His expression softened as he looked at me. "It won't be difficult, considering how terrified I am of losing you and our children."
I squeezed his hand. "You won't lose us. We're going to turn this situation around and kick Lyra's ass back to whatever rock she crawled out from under." The triplets kicked in unison, as if applauding my bravado.
Jean-Marc cleared his throat. "Getting back to our counter-ritual. I think we can incorporate what Persephone and Stella discovered. If Lyra's using the seven points to amplify the alignment's power, we can create our own network to redirect it."
"Like a magical lightning rod system," Nina said, her eyes lighting up with understanding. "We catch the energy before it reaches Lyra and channel it into our protection instead."
"Exactly," Jean-Marc agreed, his eyes brightening with excitement. "We'd need seven anchor points of our own, positioned to mirror Lyra's network but inverted."
"And what powers our anchor points?" I asked, rubbing my belly absently as the triplets shifted.
"We have the perfect source," Mom said with a thoughtful expression. "The unique magical connection between all of us."
"A ritual circle with seven positions," Stella mused. "Each held by someone with a specific connection to either Phoebe or the triplets."
"Aidon for Nyssa," I began, mentally mapping it out. "Jean-Marc for Thaniel. Nina for Melaina."
"We each act as an anchor,” Nana nodded.
"You would create a complete circuit," Clio confirmed. "A perfect balance of bloodline, chosen family, and divine energy. The seven points will mirror Lyra's network. Rather than stealing power, they'll amplify and protect it. That’s always more powerful."
"And I'll be at the center," I concluded. "As the conduit for all of it."
The triplets kicked simultaneously, as if signaling their agreement with the plan. A gentle ripple of magic spread outward from my belly. A second later, the diagram on the table glowed briefly.
"I think they approve," Aidon said with a small smile.
"The only question remaining is location," Mom pointed out. "Where do we perform this counter-ritual?"
"It needs to be somewhere naturally powerful," Clio said. "A place where multiple ley lines converge."
"What about the clearing in the forest behind our property?" Aidon asked. "It sits at the junction of three major ley lines."
"That could work," Jean-Marc agreed. "We'd need to prepare the ground with protective circles and place the crystals Nina mentioned."
"And we'll need additional defenders," Stella added. "People to hold back any threats while we complete the ritual."
