Jason stood at the window of the cottage, staring out at the rolling hills. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the grass, painting the sky in shades of amber and rose. Lirael was asleep in a crib Jason manifested out of thin air, her tiny chest rising and falling with each peaceful breath, her mismatched eyes closed, her small fingers curled around the edge of her blanket. Ylva and Mae were in the kitchen, their voices drifting through the walls like a gentle melody, punctuated by the occasional clatter of pots and the hiss of cooking.
Jason didn't know what choice to make in the moment.
