I felt bad as soon as I saw Meli's face change. The happiness drained out of it, replaced by hurt and confusion. I shouldn't have snapped at her like that.

[b]"I'm sorry, Meli,"[/b] I said, my voice softer now. [b]"You didn't do anything wrong. I just... I had a bad dream. That's all."[/b]

I turned to Isolde as she handed me the letter. My eyes scanned the words quickly, then read them again more slowly. Triple the pay. Come to Ophidia. Last reminder.

That last line made my stomach twist. It wasn't just an offer anymore. It was a warning.

I set the letter down on the table and looked at the three faces around me. Elena, Garrick, Isolde. And Meli, still pouting slightly but watching me with those bright eyes.

[b]"We should take it,"[/b] I said.

The words came out before anyone could interrupt. I needed to say this all at once, needed them to understand.

[b]"Listen to me, please. This is twenty-five thousand gold. That's enough to buy land somewhere else, somewhere far from Ophidian interests. Somewhere safe."[/b] My voice got stronger as I talked, more urgent. [b]"I need to keep you safe. All of you. You've given everything for me. Your whole lives. And now they're threatening us. You saw those soldiers. You read this letter."[/b]

I looked at Elena, at the silver in her hair. At Garrick's hands that weren't as steady as they used to be. At Isolde's tired eyes.

[b]"Adam spent twenty-four years keeping me alive. I won't let his work be for nothing by getting you all hurt or worse. We can leave. Start over. They get their orchard, and we get to live in peace somewhere else."[/b]

My heart was beating fast. The words felt right and wrong at the same time. This was the smart choice. The safe choice. Adam had taught me to think strategically, to know when to fight and when to retreat.

But then my eyes landed on Meli.

The Moonpetal Gathering. Her home. Her family. The satyrs who had stood with us when the soldiers came, who had made this orchard more than just a hiding place. They lived so close to here, just into the grove.

If we sold and left, what would happen to them? The road already cut close to their sacred spaces. How long before Ophidia pushed further? How long before the Moonpetal had nowhere left to go?

[b]"Fuck,"[/b] I whispered.

The word slipped out before I could stop it. My hand, the draconic one, clenched into a fist on the table.