Lexa awoke before the sun. She quietly rolled out of bed, careful not to wake Costia. She moved to the end of the bed and sat on the floor, legs criss crossed, eyes closed. Under Titus' guidance, she was learning to communicate with the spirit of the commanders. Today was an important day and she wanted their blessing. Of all the commanders, Lexa listened to Becca's voice most. She was the one least insistent upon clan loyalties and instead focused on the best outcome for all people. Her beliefs most closely aligned with Lexa's own. Today was the day Lexa's coalition would rise or fall. If Lexa couldn't solidify this coalition, she knew it would destabilize her own power and likely lead to her death. This had to work. Lexa knew she must be careful to respect their traditions. Jus drein jus daun had always been the way of their people and it must continue to be their basis of their justice. However, Lexa also knew that there was something coming that would pay no regard to clan or beliefs. Becca showed her praimfaya. She knew that in six years time, a death wave would rip across the surface of the Earth, killing everything in its path. If Lexa didn't unite the people now, it would be chaos then. In Lexa's mind, Becca had shown her a bunker beneath the crypt. It would protect its occupants from praimfaya. It was Lexa's intention to save an equal number from every clan. This coalition was the first step towards that plan. They had to learn to live together. As Becca warned, Lexa was careful to never mention any of this to another living soul. It was the commander's burden to bear, and her's alone. Lexa finished her meditations and went to the throne room early. She stood on the balcony. From up here, she could see all the way across Polis. Everyone in every direction was her responsibility, a responsibility that weighed heavily on her small shoulders. She heard Titus approach from behind. "Yes, Titus?" "Lexa, we need to speak," he said solemnly. Lexa was surprised that he referred to her by her name, not Heda. Something was amiss. "Go on," she prompted, a sense of dread building. "Do you not remember my teachings?" "Titus, I don't have time for this. Say what you came here to say and get on with it," Lexa said, already irritated. She didn't need distractions today and she did not want to play games with him. "I saw you!" He spat. "With her!" Lexa was taken aback by his anger.

"Whatever it is you think you saw is of no concern to you," she replied defensively.

"But it is! Everything you do concerns me, concerns all of your people. Love is weakness, Lexa. To be commander is to be alone. You must end this." "I will do no such thing." "If you don't, you are killing her. Your enemies are circling, looking for a weakness. If you care about her, you will send her home!" Lexa was incensed. Her careful, measured way of speaking was gone. She yelled at Titus with a level of passion he didn't know she possessed. Her eyes burned with anger. "You forget your place, Titus! You are my subject! They are all my subjects! I will not hear this from you again! Get out! Now." Titus was shook. He had not expected her to so throughly dismiss him, dismiss his wisdom. He loved her and respected her. He felt more for her than any other commander he had served. But, she was wrong, and he had to save her from herself. But he also knew he would not get through to her today, so he bowed respectfully and left her alone to her thoughts. Lexa turned back to look out at the city again. Her heart was somersaulting in her chest, her blood felt like it was boiling. How dare he? He was wrong. Anya was wrong. They were all wrong. Why couldn't she have it all? She didn't ask to be the commander and she did not accept a life of solitude, without love. Surely she didn't owe her entire life to her people. Lexa steadied her breathing. She had to push this out of her mind. She knew he cared about her, but this transgression was not something she would easily forgive. If he had been anyone else, she would have already thrown him off her balcony to his death.