Alpha Xavier's eyes snapped open as he received the message from Martha through the mind link that Della had gone into labour and they knew where she was. His heart racing, he tossed off the covers and swung his legs over the side of the bed, his feet hitting the floor with a thud. One of the nurses, whose name tag read "Nurse Tollway", hastened over to intervene, her hands outstretched as if to restrain him. But Xavier was beyond reason. He needed to see Della, needed to know what was going on.

"Get me a car now!" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the hospital walls. Nurse’s eyes went...