May We Meet Again

TRIGGER WARNING!!: Pregnant loss, infertility, Medical trauma, grief, self-blame/harm, huge anger, Death!!

We moved out with a squad of ten guards, Indra chained between them, and rolled up on the Grounder encampment.

Stopped just outside.

Bellamy gave me this half-grin, like, tell me when to start shooting and I'll start shooting.

"Let's do it," he said.

I nodded. Then glanced at Kane. He nodded back.

I breathed in. Closed my eyes for one second. Let it out.

"Remember," I said quietly, "we're here for information. We're here for the cure."

We walked into their camp like we owned it.

All their archers raised crossbows instantly — but then they saw Indra in chains, and every single one of them hesitated.

"Take me to your leader!" I shouted.

A girl around my age stepped out in war paint and leather, every archer instantly dropping their aim the moment her hand went up.

"I am Lexa," she said. "Heda of Trikru. Who are you?"

I nodded my head in respect, but I didn't bow.

"I'm Katerina," I said. "Second-in-command of the Sky People. This is my Second," I tilted my chin toward Bellamy, "and this is our Chancellor," I said, nodding to Kane.

They both dipped their heads to her.

Lexa's eyes flicked over all of us, fast and sharp. "Why have you come into my camp," she asked coolly, "with my Second in chains and her face destroyed?"

I stepped forward. Crossbows came up again. Lexa lifted her hand and they instantly went down again.

"You took one of ours," I said. "You held him for three years. You tortured him. You dosed him with a toxin. When he came back, that toxin spread through his body and into mine. I want to know what it is."

Her gaze sharpened. She paced down off her platform and came to stand a meter in front of me, like she was testing if I'd flinch.

"There is no antidote," she said.

My hands curled into fists. "I know that."

"What do you want, then?"

I swallowed. My pulse was everywhere. "I want to know if it stays in us forever."

She studied me for a long moment. Then her eyes softened, almost — just a flicker. "You are his chosen," she said quietly.

I nodded. My throat burned. "We lost our child because of your poison," I said, voice breaking even though I tried to hold it steady.

Lexa dipped her head, then lifted it again. When she spoke, it was like stating law.

"It was meant that way," she said. "Sky People are not meant to multiply."

My jaw trembled and Kane stepped in fast, putting a hand around my fist before I launched myself at an actual Grounder Commander.

"My Commander," Kane said evenly. "We only ask: is it permanent?"

Lexa held Kane's eyes, then looked past him, straight into mine again. "Yes," she said. "Otherwise the poison means nothing."

Something inside me cracked so hard I thought I was going to drop.

Kane swallowed. He tried again. "Why can we not simply make peace?" His voice was tired. Begging. Human.

Lexa's face hardened. "Sky People started this war when you captured our healer. You tortured him for days."

Bellamy dropped his eyes.

"Liar," I snapped.

Her head snapped toward me. "What did you say?" she hissed.

"You started this," I snarled back. "You took John first. You kept him in a pit for three years. You wanted us scared."

"He was trespassing," she shot back. "Your own people banished him."

My chest hurt. My vision blurred.

I glanced at Bellamy. He lifted his chin and stepped forward.

"This is on me, Heda," he said, voice grim. "What happened then? It was my fault."

Lexa turned to Kane. "All of this happened because you sent your criminals to the ground," she said coldly.

He nodded once. "You're right," he said. He actually said it. "You're right. But we're here now. Can we make it right now?"

Lexa's eyes flashed. "Blood must have blood," she said.

Then, so fast none of us could stop it, she drove a blade straight into Kane's stomach.

"No!" I screamed, catching him as he stumbled, his blood hot and slick all over my hands. "Marcus, no, no, no—"

He was shaking, and I was already crying. Bellamy dove in, trying to take his weight. I cupped Kane's face and held on like I could keep him here by force.

"You don't get to leave, you hear me?" I choked. "You don't leave us. You don't leave me."

He smiled. Weak. Gentle. "My time's up, Kate."

Bellamy was there, hands pressed to the wound, but Kane lifted one shaking hand — not to stop the bleeding.

To press something into mine.

The Chancellor's pin. The small metal sigil that meant leadership.

"You lead them now," he whispered.

I shook my head so hard it hurt. "No. Marcus, no. I can't. I can't do that."

He lifted his other hand to my cheek, thumb smearing his blood across my skin like war paint.

"You look so much like your father," he whispered. "They would both be proud of you. Tell Abby... tell her I always loved her. She'll help you."

I was sobbing and shaking my head and saying "no" over and over and over.

"Promise me," he rasped. "Katerina Grey, promise me you'll protect our people."

I grabbed his hand and held it like a vow. "I promise," I sobbed. "I'll do everything I can. I swear it, Marcus."

His eyes went soft. Then unfocused.

Then still.

"Marcus?" My voice cracked. "Marcus, come on. Come back. Please. Please."

He didn't move.

I folded over him and screamed.

Lexa flicked two fingers. "Get them out."

Grounders started forward. Bellamy's hand landed hard and steady on my shoulder.

"I'll carry him," he said quietly.

I stood up on shaking legs, Kane's blood all over my clothes, Kane's pin clenched in my fist.

I looked Lexa dead in the eye.

"I'll be back," I told her.

Her gaze flickered, unreadable. "Think carefully," she said. Then she turned her back.

"Let her go," I told our guards without looking at them. "Release Indra. This war's done."

Chains hit the dirt.

We walked out with Kane's body.