LIFE AND DEATH (edythe's pov)

Chapter 3 Risk

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Solar Midnight: Midnight Sun Reimagined (Life and Death, Book I) by beyondthedawn

 Books » Twilight Rated: T, English, Supernatural & Romance, Beau S., Edythe C., Words: 224k+, Favs: 59, Follows: 36, Published: Dec 26, 2020 15Chapter 3: RISK

Truly, I was not thirsty, but I decided to hunt again that night. A small ounce of prevention, inadequate though I knew it to be.

Carine came with me. We hadn't been alone together since I'd returned from Denali. As we ran through the black forest, I heard her thinking about that hasty goodbye last week.

In her memory, I saw the way my features had been twisted in fierce despair. I felt again her surprise and sudden worry.

"Edythe?"

"I have to go, Carine. I have to go now."

"What's happened?"

"Nothing. Yet. But it will if I stay."

She'd reached for my arm. I'd seen how it had hurt her when I'd cringed away from her hand.

"I don't understand."

"Have you ever... has there ever been a time...?"

I watched myself take a deep breath, saw the wild light in my eyes through the filter of her deep concern.

"Has any one person ever smelled better to you than the rest of them? Much better?"

"Oh."

When I'd known that she understood, my face had fallen with shame. She'd reached out to touch me, ignoring it when I'd recoiled again, and left her hand on my shoulder.

"Do what you must to resist, dear. I will miss you. Here, take my car. The tank is full."

She was wondering now if she'd done the right thing then, sending me away. Wondering if she had hurt me with her lack of trust.

"No," I whispered as I ran. "That was what I needed. I might so easily have betrayed that trust if you'd told me to stay."

"I'm sorry you're suffering, Edythe. But you should do what you can to keep the Swan child alive. Even if it means that you must leave us again."

"I know, I know."

"Why did you come back? You know how happy I am to have you here, but if this is too difficult..."

"I didn't like feeling a coward," I admitted.

We'd slowed—we were barely jogging through the darkness now.

"Better that than to put him in danger. He'll be gone in a year or two."

"You're right, I know that." Contrarily, her words only made me more anxious to stay. The boy would be gone in a year or two...

Carine stopped running and I stopped with her. She turned to examine my expression.

But you're not going to run, are you?

I hung my head.

Is it pride, Edythe? There's no shame in—

"No, it isn't pride that keeps me here. Not now."

Nowhere to go?

I laughed shortly. "No. That wouldn't stop me if I could make myself leave."

"We'll come with you, of course, if that's what you need. You only have to ask. You've moved on without complaint for the rest of them. They won't begrudge you this."