/-Zara-/

The pain was excruciating.

I'd been warned that childbirth was difficult, but no one had mentioned that giving birth to magically-enhanced twins who'd been drawing life force from three parents would be absolute agony.

The contractions started just after dawn. By midday, I was screaming.

Draven and Maleek stayed with me throughout, holding my hands, channeling energy through our bonds, doing everything they could to help. But there was only so much they could do.

"Push," the healer ...