In this situation, Lucy Gray realizes it’s best to lie to protect herself—lying, the novel suggests, is a natural reaction under this kind of pressure. Mayfair as much as confirms that she’s responsible for sending Lucy Gray to the Hunger Games. But notably, Coriolanus doesn’t care that Mayfair put Lucy Gray, his supposed love, in danger. Rather, he’s afraid that she’s going to ruin his life by telling someone that he’s also been conspiring with rebels. And Coriolanus reasons that it’s better to look out for himself than face the consequences of his actions, so he kills her without a second thought.