Lily stepped out of the secret room, Edward trailing behind. She turned to him. "You should leave."

Edward looked puzzled. "Whatever your goal," Lily added, "you can't help here, and you'll put yourself in danger. Just go!"

"I can't!" Edward exclaimed. "This place is dangerous!"

"All the more reason to leave," Lily insisted, placing a hand on his shoulder. "They forced Mike and me to stay, but not you. Go. People outside need you. Someone's waiting for you back home."

Edward's eyes welled. He knew who she meant but couldn't leave, knowing the danger.

"Mrs. Russell, I want to stay and protect you," he said. "I disrupted your plan, and if anyone finds out, you'll both be in grave danger!"

Lily smiled, noticing his sincerity. "Edward, when it comes to fighting, do you honestly think I need your protection?"

Edward paused. 'She's a better fighter than me, but…' "But you're pregnant, Mrs. Russell!" He lowered his gaze.

Lily's smile faltered. She followed his gaze to her bulging belly. The twins inside stirred, silencing her. She could have handled herself in the past, but pregnancy made her vulnerable to a larger group or firearms.

"Ma'am, let me stay and protect you. That's my job!" Edward insisted, his resolve firm despite the virus within him.

Lily took a deep breath, placing her hand on his shoulder. "I know you're responsible and loyal to Alex, but now's not the time to be rash. They'll suspect something soon and discover you eventually if you stay. Mike and I are different; they consider us one of them."

"So am I!" Edward interrupted.

Lily was astonished. "What do you mean?"

"Don't forget I'm R16," Edward said, his voice strained. The code name haunted him, a reminder of his status as a guinea pig in a horrifying experiment, carrying an unknown, potentially lethal virus.

Though he felt fine, he knew no one knew how long that would last.