"I offered three choices," I interrupt.
"Join us. Leave. Or challenge. You've chosen a challenge, and I've chosen to refuse. Which means you get to choose again."
"That's not." Kira looks confused.
"You can't just change the rules."
"I'm the Luna," I say.
"I can do whatever I want. And what I want is not to spend the rest of my life knowing I killed someone who was only fighting because they were in too much pain to see another option."
I step closer to her, lowering my voice so only she can hear.
"Your children wouldn't want this," I say gently.
"They wouldn't want their mother to die for their memory. They'd want her to live. To heal. To maybe, someday, find peace."
"I can't," she whispers. "I can't just accept this. Can't just move on,"
"Then don't." I place my hand on her s
