"Remove their power," I explained. "The victims do not survive the process. A goddess came to our house this morning to warn us. In five days, during the next peak lunar phase, they're going to be upping their efforts. We're building a network to share information and coordinate defenses. You're not alone in this."
Ember shifted Ash to her shoulder. "Keep me in the loop. And if you need backup, my mate and I can both fight. We'd love to dish out some payback."
We promised to stay in touch and told her someone would contact her about protection. Stella informed me we were headed to the industrial district next as we got back into her car. I thought it was an odd place for a family. To each his own, I guess.
The drive took us through downtown Portland. Stella pulled up to a converted warehouse with reinforced windows and what looked like a bank vault for a front door. The woman who answered our knock had a Scottish accent and steel in her eyes. Kaia was tall and willowy, with long dark hair. She had the same exhausted look of new motherhood.
"Come in," she said, stepping back. "Apologies for the fortress. After the attack, I may have gone slightly overboard."
“I don’t blame you. If we hadn’t already warded our house with everything possible, I would still be casting them,” I admitted. “It makes you go a little crazy.”
“Tell me about it,” Kaia muttered as she led us inside. The interior was stunning. It had exposed brick and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river. But what caught my attention was the pool. An indoor pool took up nearly a quarter of the space.
"They're amphibious," Kaia explained. "Born needing water as much as air. The attack happened while I was nursing them here."
She gestured to a spot beside the pool where scorch marks still marred the concrete. "They came through the skylight. Dropped right in. Sounds like the same creature Stella said went after yours."
"What happened?" Stella asked.
"Praying they couldn’t follow, I pulled my babies underwater and hid in the cave we have." Kaia's jaw set. "Selkies can breathe in both forms from birth. It tried to drain the pool with magic,but I'd already triggered the wards. By the time it realized it couldn't reach us, my mate came in with reinforcements."
She moved to the pool's edge, where two bassinets floated on specially designed platforms. Inside, twin babies slept peacefully. Their skin carried a faint silver sheen. "They're only three months old. They should be learning to smile and track objects, not swimming for their lives."
We went through the same questions. Kaia had no physical evidence to offer. "But I can tell you one thing," she added. "Whatever these things are, they have a goal. It didn't attack me. Just kept reaching for my babies as if nothing else mattered."
"We found out what they are today," I said quietly. "They’re called Thessmark,” I told her what we know about them and about the network we were putting together to protect the children.
Kaia's face hardened. "We have already begun to fortify our house. We will make sure that when they come, they regret it. I’m so glad we're in this together."
By the time Stella and I returned home, the sun was setting, and my head was pounding. Mom wrapped me in a hug the moment we walked in. "That bad?" she asked softly.
"These babies are resilient. So are the moms." I sank onto a barstool, watching her return to chopping vegetables. "They're all so young, Mom. And they've all—" My voice cracked.
"Changed." Mom set down the knife, her eyes finding mine. "Like our babies."
She was silent for a moment. When she spoke again, her voice was barely above a whisper. "I'm terrified of losing them. After almost losing you to Lyra, to that parasite—" She pressed her palm against her mouth, fighting for control. "I don't think I could survive it. Watching those babies die would destroy me."
"You won't have to," Binx projected from his spot on the windowsill. "We will protect them."
"But what if we can't?" Mom's question hung in the air like smoke, heavy and suffocating.
"Do not underestimate the force you guys present together. Remember what Hecate said. We have the power to beat them. Hold onto that belief," Binx advised, his tail swishing with more confidence than I felt.
From the living room, Melaina's wail pierced through the kitchen, and my milk let down in response. Of course. Because my body was now a finely tuned infant-detection system.
"I'm coming, love," I said as I got up and hurried to the next room.
I scooped Melaina up from her crib. Her little face was scrunched and red with fury at the world. I carried her back to the kitchen. Settling into the chair, I lifted my shirt and guided her to latch on. I winced at the initial pull. It still hurts at times.
"I swear I'm becoming a human dairy farm," I muttered, adjusting her position against my chest. "A very productive, very exhausted cow."
Mom glanced over from the stove, a knowing smile playing at her lips. "That’s the beauty of motherhood, sweetheart."
"Yeah," I agreed, watching Melaina's tiny hand flex against my skin as she nursed, "I wouldn't change it for anything in this world or the next."
The front door opened, and that familiar electric awareness skittered down my spine. Aidon. I felt him before I saw him.
He materialized in the kitchen doorway, blue eyes immediately finding mine before dropping to Melaina, nursing contentedly. Something fierce and possessive flashed across his face.
