lexa’s chambers were quiet, save for the low crackle of the fire in the corner. lexa stood at the center, her back turned to titus as she stared out over polis, her mind sharp and focused on the alliance she had spent years building. but Titus, her trusted advisor, had always been more vocal when it came to matters of emotion—and today was no different.

“You are making decisions clouded by sentiment,”

titus said, his voice low but insistent, as he stood a few paces behind her.

“Your bond with clarke, with the sky people, is weakening the alliance. they will see it, lexa. They will use your emotions against you,”

lexa spun around, her eyes ablaze with fury, cutting him off mid-sentence.

“My emotions? You think my emotions dictate my decisions?”

titus looked away, as if he knew what was coming but was too afraid to face it head on.

“My mistakes!?”

lexa’s voice rose, echoing off the stone walls of the room. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, her rage barely contained.

“Azgeda cut off Costia’s head and delivered it to my bed! And still, I let them into my alliance!”

Her voice broke, her memories of Costia flooding her mind like a tidal wave she had tried to hold back for so long.

“I stood before her lifeless body, titus, and I chose duty over vengeance!”

titus flinched but remained silent.

“I am more than capable of separating feelings from duty,”

lexa continued, her voice lower but no less intense.

“I let the very people responsible for her death into my alliance because I had to. Because it was for the greater good of our people. That is the burden I carry every day.”

titus finally met her gaze, his face hard but remorseful.

“I did not mean to bring up—”

“Do not speak to me of emotion clouding judgment, not when you use my past to question my resolve. clarke is a part of this alliance, just like every other leader. My duty to her is no different. I will do what is necessary. Always.”

while lexa snapped the double doors suddenly opened and you stepped inside