"I’m going," I said, voice steady despite the knot of fear tightening in my stomach.

Bellamy whipped around, his eyes blazing with frustration. "No, you're not. It’s too dangerous."

I narrowed my eyes, crossing my arms. "We don't have a choice. If one of us doesn't draw them out, they’ll pick us off one by one."

He stepped closer, his jaw clenched, his frustration giving way to something darker. "I don’t care. I’m not letting you do this."

I could feel the heat of his gaze as he glared down at me, but I wasn’t backing down. I wasn’t about to let him put himself in harm’s way just to protect me.

"I’m going," I repeated, my tone firmer this time. "You’re not the only one who’s good at drawing attention."

Bellamy reached out, his hand landing on my arm, his grip tight enough to stop me from moving. "I’m not doing this to prove something, okay?" he said, his voice quieter now, almost like he was trying to reason with me. "It’s just… it’s not worth it."

I looked at him, my heart pounding. "You think I don’t know that? I’m not stupid, Bellamy. But this is how we survive. We look out for each other, even if it means putting ourselves in danger."

He exhaled sharply, frustration and fear fighting for dominance in his eyes. "I hate this," he muttered. "I hate that we keep putting ourselves in these situations. But if you think I’m letting you walk into danger without me, you’re wrong."