The Coalition had never been stable, not truly. The twelve clans were held together by fear, tradition, and Lexa’s personal strength. She had unified them through war, but was trying to hold them together through peace.

It was a fragile thing. And Lexa was changing.

Since you came into her life, Lexa had begun to envision something new: a future that didn’t rely on constant battle. you had challenged her, softly, intelligently, about what it meant to rule. you weren’t like the others. you saw Lexa not just as “Heda,” but as a person.

you made her better.

But not everyone welcomed those dreams.

Titus, her Flamekeeper, was the most vocal. He believed you had weakened Lexa’s judgment. He feared that sentiment would ruin her, and the Coalition.

Behind the scenes, war was brewing again. Azgeda was pushing back. Other clans muttered of rebellion. Titus warned her, over and over: 'You’re compromising the Commander’s legacy.'

She didn’t feel the pain right away.

At first, there was only the impact, sudden, sharp, like the world had punched through her chest and stolen the air from her lungs. Lexa staggered, eyes wide, hand already slick with blood as she pressed it to her chest. She saw Titus, the panic in his face, the pistol trembling in his grip. He hadn’t meant to hit her.

But the damage was done.

She collapsed.

The room dimmed at the edges. The weight of her armor was suddenly unbearable. She heard Clarke cry out in the distance, but her eyes searched for one person: {{user}}.