Page 6 of Bedrest Blues & Otherworldly Clues
The next morning brought no reprieve. I'd managed toshower—a supervised event that left me feeling more like a child than a grown woman about to give birth to triplets—and was back in bed, staring at the ceiling once more. The book in my lap remained unopened. I had no interest in reading about proper breastfeeding positions or the debate between cloth and disposable diapers. Not when I needed to help protect my family.
A soft knock preceded Mom's entrance. She carried a tray with breakfast and fresh tea. Her smile was warm, but her eyes were watchful. "How are you feeling?" she asked, setting the tray across my lap. “Aside from bored to tears.”
"Like a useless whale," I replied, poking at the scrambled eggs on the plate without enthusiasm. "Is there any news?"
She sat beside me, smoothing my hair back in that maternal gesture that had always brought me comfort. "Nina and Jean-Marc removed three more surveillance devices this morning. Aidon and Hades cleansed two more anchor points overnight. The poison isn’t seeping through as much anymore. Stella's protective circles are holding steady."
I nodded, absorbing the information while fighting the urge to demand more details. "And Lyra?"
"No sign of her yet," Mom said carefully. "But Murtagh's contacts reported unusual activity in the old ruins to the north. We're monitoring it."
I pushed the tray aside. I wasn’t hungry. "I should be helping, Mom. I feel like I'm abandoning everyone."
"Oh, sweetheart." She took my hand, squeezing gently. "You're doing the most important job of all."
"So, everyone keeps telling me," I grumbled. "But it doesn't feel that way when I'm up here while everyone else is risking their lives."
Mom's expression grew serious. "Phoebe, look at me." She waited until I met her eyes. "Do you remember what you told me when I was recovering after Lyra's experiments?When I was furious about being out of control, yet unable to leave my room?"
I winced at the memory. "That healing was its own kind of battle. That sometimes the bravest thing we can do is allow ourselves to be vulnerable and accept help."
"Exactly." Her smile was knowing. "Not so easy when you're on the receiving end, is it?"
Before I could respond, the glass of water on my nightstand began to rise into the air. Mom and I watched as it hovered and spun slowly before settling back down with a soft clink. "They're active today," I murmured, placing a hand on my belly where I could feel the triplets shifting restlessly.
"They sense your frustration," Mom noted. "You've always been a doer. You don’t do rest and relaxation very well. They're picking up on that energy."
As if to prove her point, the curtains suddenly swept closed, then flew open again. The lamp beside the bed flickered on and off three times in rapid succession. "It's okay," I sighed. "Time to calm down."
Mom laughed, the sound brightening the room more effectively than any magical surge. "Consider this practice for when they come. You’re going to be challenged like never before. If one magical baby can turn a household upside down, imagine what three will do."
The thought was both terrifying and oddly comforting. My children were already showing their personalities and power. And my job—my most important job—was to bring them safely into this world. No matter how difficult the path.
A commotion from downstairs interrupted our conversation. Raised voices, the sound of running feet, and Aidon's commanding tone cut through it all. Mom rose immediately. She was alert and aware. "Stay here," she ordered, heading for the door.
"As if I have a choice," I muttered while my heart raced as she disappeared into the hallway.
The minutes stretched like hours as I strained to hear what was happening. Fragments of conversation drifted up. There was something about boundaries and detection spells. Aidon's voice was tense with controlled anger. Hades issued even more commands, and Stella was asking rapid-fire questions.
My imagination conjured worst-case scenarios. Lyra had returned. The wards had failed completely. And one of our protectors had been injured or captured. Without conscious thought, I swung my legs over the side of the bed. My oversized belly made the movement awkward, but determination drove me forward. I had just managed to stand when the door swung open and Aidon appeared. His expression became thunderous.
"What are you doing?" he demanded as he rushed to my side and guided me back to bed despite my protests.
"What's happening?" I countered, refusing to lie down again. "I heard voices."
His jaw clenched, but he recognized the stubborn set of my chin. "Murtagh's scouts detected movement at the property boundary. Something tried to breach the outer layer of wards."
"Something? Not someone?" I clarified.
"It wasn’t mundie, witch, or shifter," he clarified. "The magical signature was similar to those wolf creatures Lyra brought before. Although he said they have evolved somehow, if that’s the case."
A chill ran through me. "She's testing our defenses."
"Yes. But we were ready." His expression softened slightly. "The new patrol system Stella and Tseki designed worked perfectly. Whatever it was retreated before we couldcapture it."
Relief washed over me, followed immediately by frustration. "I should have been there."
"Phoebe." Aidon took my hands in his and looked into my eyes. "I know this is difficult for you. Being sidelined goes against everything you are. But right now, in this moment, you have no choice. Do you know how frustrated I feel that I cannot protect our children? All I can do is ensure nothing reaches you while leaving the rest to you."
