The babies didn't cry. They didn't need to. They communicated in waves of sensation, tiny tremors of thought that each woman received as intimately as her own heartbeat. When Stella took her child into her arms, her lips parted in shock. "She just told me… she wants to see the sea."
Natalie laughed, awed. "Mine wants fruit."
Scarlet raised an eyebrow. "Mine wants to run. "
"They're speaking to us," Emma said. "Just not with words."
Rose nodded. "They're bonded."
Sophie hesitated, her hand hovering near her baby, not yet touching. "What if I'm not ready for this?"
The baby reached toward her anyway.
And when her fingers met his, her breath caught.
Tears filled her eyes. "Oh…"
Jude touched her back, grounding her. "You don't have to do this alone."
Sophie nodded, biting her lip. "He's not afraid of me."