Nina laughed, and it came out sounding a bit wet. "Oh, just that I got myself in this situation in the first place. I'm a Heartrender. Of all the people in the world, I should have the easiest time avoiding an unexpected pregnancy. She'd think I was silly for getting pregnant in the first place, and silly for keeping it."

She cleared her throat and affected a much heavier, Russian-sounding accent. "You are a foolish girl, Nina Zenik. You are too loud, too memorable, too much." She shook her head at the memory. "I wanted so badly to have her approval. And of all the people I've ever known, one look from her was enough to burn every ounce of my confidence to ash."