ASTRO'S POV
Luna's blood-form smiled at me, waiting for my answer. Haven convulsed in my arms, drowning in silver blood. Ori whimpered against the wall.
"Choose," the goddess whispered. "Before she dies."
I looked down at Haven. At her silver eyes flickering with fading light. At the wolf inside her still fighting despite the drowning.
And I made my choice.
"I name myself." The words came out steady. "I'm the sacrifice. Let them both live."
Luna's smile widened. "You never learn, do you?"
"Maybe not." I held Haven closer. "But I'd rather fail with mercy than succeed with murder."
"Then you'll fail again." Luna's form began to dissolve back into blood. "And again. And again. Until the end of time itself."
The blood altar pulsed once. Twice.
Then it erupted.
Blood exploded from the altar in a wave that crashed over all of us. I felt it burning through me, tearing at something fundamental. My curse deepening. My punishment compounding.
