Chapter 68: Almost Everyone Heard

Erica’s POV

I barely made it three hallways before my hands started shaking.

My legs just moved on their own, away from the common room, from Lena’s pale face, from all those phones aimed at me like guns. I didn’t even know where I was going until I ended up in an empty stairwell, pressed against the cold wall, trying to breathe.

What the hell did I just do?

I’d called Lena out. In front of everyone. I didn’t say her name with Lucien’s, but close enough. Everyone knew what I meant.

My phone buzzed.

Unknown Number: Brave and stupid. But brave. —E

Edward. Of course he's got vampire hearing. He probably caught every word.

I stared at the message, not sure what to reply. Part of me wanted to tell him to stay out of it. Another part, the scared one, wanted him to tell me I hadn’t just screwed everything up.

I typed: Where are you?

He replied instantly: North tower. Third floor.

I hesitated. Going meant admitting I needed him.

Then another text: You don’t have to come.

That decided it.

I went to the north tower, an old building. My ankle still hurt from jumping out that window two days ago, so I climbed slowly. The stairs echoed. He probably heard me the whole way up.

The door on the third floor was cracked open, light spilling through.

Edward stood by the window, facing the night. He didn’t turn, but his shoulders eased like he’d been waiting to see if I’d really come.

“How much did you hear?” I asked.

“Enough.” He turned. There was pride and worry in his face. “You backed her into a corner. It was either brave or reckless, maybe both.”

“Can’t it be both?”

He smiled faintly. “With you, it usually is.”

The room was cluttered, books, maps, an old couch.

“You think I messed up,” I said.

He didn’t argue. “You showed your hand too early. Now Lena knows you’re onto her. That makes her dangerous.”

“She was already dangerous.”

“Yeah. But now she’s dangerous and cornered. And cornered things bite.”

I wrapped my arms around myself. “I couldn’t just let her keep doing it. Acting all innocent when she is doing something horrible.”

“I know.” His voice softened. “And for what it’s worth, seeing you fight back mattered. I’ve seen you die sixteen times, Erica. Not one of you ever fought back.”

My throat tightened. “The Alpha King said I could be killed. Like it’s already settled.”

“He’s not wrong,” Edward said quietly. “Omegas with witch powers don’t usually survive. You scare them.”

“So what? I just accept that I’m one mistake away from death?”

“No. You just have to be smarter about your fights.”

“I was smart. I didn’t even say her name.”

“You told her you’d rip her and Lucien to shreds.”

I froze. “You heard that part.”

“Everyone did. We are supernatural creatures here,” he said dryly. “It worked. But now there’s a target on your back. When something bad happens, and it will, guess who they’ll blame first?”

My stomach dropped.

“I’m an idiot.”

“You’re learning.” He almost touched my shoulder but stopped halfway. That small pause hurt more than if he’d just done it.

“You can,” I said quietly. “Touch me. I’m not going to break.”

His jaw tensed. “After what happened in your room, after Elijah saw us—”

“That wasn’t your fault.”

“Wasn’t it?” His voice cracked. “I knew he’d come. I knew it’d hurt him. But I did what I did anyway because I wanted—” He stopped.

“You wanted what?”

He looked away. “I wanted you to choose me. Not because of fate or curses. Just me.”

The honesty hit hard.

I stepped closer. “Edward.”

He looked at me, and the loneliness in his eyes hurt to see. Three hundred years of losing me. Always too late. Always alone.

“I haven’t chosen,” I said softly. “But that doesn’t mean you don’t matter.”

Something flickered in his face, hope, maybe. “That’s more than I’ve had in a long time.”

Then my phone buzzed again.

Elijah: We need to talk. Now.

Of course.

Edward saw my face. “The wolf?”

“Yeah.”

“Go. He probably heard about Lena too.”

“You could come.”

“And start another fight?” He shook his head. “You two need to talk alone. I’ve got other things to handle.”

I wanted to tell him to be careful but said, “Don’t die,” instead.

He smiled faintly. “I’ve survived three centuries. I’ll manage another night.”

I turned to leave.

“Erica?”

I looked back.

“What you did tonight, it wasn’t wrong. Just be careful. You matter too much to lose.”

Not to me. Just to lose.

I nodded and left.

The training yard was empty except for Elijah.

He stood in the center, arms crossed, eyes faintly glowing. His wolf was close.

“You confronted Lena,” he said.

“You heard.”

“Half the summit heard.” His voice was tight. “Do you even realize what you just did?”