There was a time when I hated Payten, when I blamed her for coming between me and Quaid, a very long time ago. Okay, so not so long, maybe. But the instant I saw the blood I knew what it meant and realized her tiredness from earlier had nothing to do with stress and everything to do with the now struggling babies I felt crying out inside her.

My mom instincts drove me toward her, Ethie slipping from my arms as I blasted open the veil to the ...