Gustus came back on the fourth day. Of the twenty warriors who set out, only three returned. Gustus and the other two were badly wounded. "I'm sorry, Lexa," Gustus choked, "We couldn't get to her. They ambushed us. They have her. I failed my sister. Failed you." Lexa's heart sank and her knees buckled. No! This cannot be happening. "I am glad you have returned to me, Gustus. I will go myself and bring her home," Lexa said. "No Heda, it's too dangerous," he replied before passing out from the pain. Lexa resolved to set out the next morning. She only needed to meet with her council first and give them the final instructions for the impending battle. The army was nearly ready. She would ride ahead, sneak into Azgeda, free Costia, and then rejoin her army. It's what she should have done in the first place, she thought. After the meeting, Lexa returned to her room to don her warpaint and gather her weapons. As she walked past her bed, something caught her eye. There was a strange bump in her bed. She pulled back the covers and screamed. It was Costia's head. Her dead eyes, frozen open, stared back at Lexa, her once beautiful face distorted and grotesque in death. They killed her. Killed her beloved Costia. Lexa screamed again and fell to the floor. The pain she felt was unlike any physical pain she had ever experienced. She felt like her heart had been ripped from her chest. Her guards came running at the sound of her screams. "Leave me alone!" She screamed as she threw a knife in their general direction. They quickly vanished. Lexa lost all awareness of time and space. She couldn't breathe. She gasped for breath and clutched at her chest, curling up into a ball on the floor. She screamed and cried and threw things. But always, there was Costia staring back at her. She wailed over and over again. The pain was so excruciating she thought she would die. She wished she would die. Then she wouldn't have to live with this pain, live without Costia. She felt hollow, empty, like she was half the person she was before. She felt like the best parts of her had been ripped out and destroyed with Costia. Then the guilt came. This is all my fault. Titus warned me. Anya warned me. I refused to listen. I am the reason Costia is dead. She is dead for loving me. I was selfish. Titus tried to tell me that she would be a target but I only wanted what I wanted. This is all my fault. I killed her. I killed the only person I have ever truly loved. Everyone I care about dies. The guilt and grief were overwhelming. Lexa picked up a knife from the floor and held it over her wrist. She just wanted the pain to end. Would do anything to make it stop. She could feel Becca trying to break through to her, but she shut her out. Whatever it was she had to say, Lexa didn't want to hear it. Her thoughts were chaos. But then, Lexa thought of Nia. No, she couldn't die while Nia still drew breath. She would see this through. She would avenge Costia, avenge her family, avenge them all. Lexa's grief was replaced with hatred. She wiped the tears from her eyes. Love is weakness, she thought. I will never love again. I will never feel this way ever again. Never be weak again. To be commander is to be alone. When she walked out of her room, Lexa was a changed woman. Titus came running up to her. "I heard what happened," he said. She cut him off. "Have the guard remove Costia's head from my bed. And tell my generals that we march immediately on Azgeda. They will all burn at my feet." "Yes, Heda," Titus replied.