Our People (the Third Book of the Her Weakness series)

Chapter 64

Clarke's POV

I wake up feeling so refreshed and calm after the hectic mess that was yesterday. I'm wrapped around Lexa, my legs tangled with hers. We're spooning, and she's the small spoon. I kiss her shoulder and she lets out a breath, cuddling back against me.

I smile, then notice that I woke up before her. Which is a rarity. It hasn't happened for a while. Yesterday really must have taken a lot out of her.

Someone knocks (well it's a tent do they just tap on the ground). "Heda?" Octavia whispers. "Breakfast is going to be done soon. Come out with Clarke whenever you are ready."

"Octavia, she's still asleep. We'll come out soon." I say back, keeping my voice low so I won't wake Lexa up.

"Alright."

I hear Octavia's footsteps retreat and turn my attention back to Lexa. When Octavia started talking, she tensed up and twitched like she was going to wake up. But when Lexa heard my voice, she relaxed. It's like even when she's unconscious I can calm her down. Or something.

I start kissing the back of her neck where she has her broken infinity tattoo. Lexa shifts, still asleep. I make my way from the back of her neck to the side, working towards the spot on her neck that drives her crazy. She starts stirring, but when I gently bite down on that sensitive place on her neck, she jolts awake with an aroused gasp.

"Clarke." Lexa breathes out, her voice husky.

"Breakfast is almost ready." I murmur teasingly in her ear.

"Breakfast is not what I want to eat right now." Lexa says, turning around in my arms and meeting my eyes. Oh float me that was smooth.

We only get through one round before our rumbling stomachs kill the mood. It's much later than when we usually have breakfast, so of course we're both starving. Lexa and I put on our armor (though we keep distracting each other with fleeting touches that sadly don't lead to anything more because we're both hungry) and head out of our tent hand in hand.

Octavia and Raven give us knowing looks as we're handed our reheated breakfast. Raven even gives us thumbs up. Once we finish, we get on the horses and resume our travels.

"So why did they attack us?" Octavia asks. It takes me a second to notice that she's talking to Lexa and I. "You had a hostage and you let him go, so you probably got some good information from him."

"Yes, we did." Lexa confirms, glancing over at me. I nod, silently letting her know that she can tell them but I'll be here if it gets difficult or if she needs anything. "They all were part of a group called the Noukru. They believe that the world right now is failing. They believe that there is no sense of loyalty now towards clans. They do not like that the Skai Kru has become the thirteenth clan. They want the world to be the way it was before me, before the Coalition."

"But wasn't that world full of chaos and war?" Raven asks.

"Yes. They seek to destroy everything I have built and to kill me." There's a moment of stunned silence after Lexa says that.

"We won't let that happen." Octavia says, her voice so low it almost sounds like a growl.

"I'll blow them all to tiny bits." Raven promises.

"Mochof (thank you)." Lexa says, sounding amused as well as touched. "I hope it will not come to that but I know it will. This kind of group will not stop until either I am dead or they are."

"Why would they kill you?" Raven asks. "Don't they mainly want to destroy the Coalition?"

Lexa nods. "Yes, but you must remember that it is my Coalition. It was my idea and I made it happen. The peace I have brought has not come without sacrifices. Some may feel that their losses are not worth peace. Some may feel that chaos is the natural order of things that weeds out the weak. Whatever their motive, they want to destroy the Coalition. To fully do so, they have to kill me. Clan leaders and ambassadors are loyal to me. The people of the clans are loyal to me. The Coalition is stronger than ever, but still young and vulnerable. Killing me is the only way to completely shatter the peace. Clans would blame each other and start wars. Old rivalries would rise to the surface once again. The world would become truly chaotic. The only person who would be able to stop that is me... And Clarke." Lexa purses her lips at her own words.

"Why Clarke?" Raven asks. "I mean I know she's a natural leader and all that, but why her out of everyone?"

"One reason is because I love her and she loves me. We know each other sometimes better than we know ourselves. Clarke is smart. She would be able to figure out what to do, how to keep everyone from killing each other. Plus, our people respect her. Trust her. She is the only one they would trust to lead after me, even if she does not have black blood. The Natblidas already love her, they would be the first to accept her."

"Lexa, I'm going to cut you off there." I say, my voice quieter than usual. "This is turning into a hypothetical world where you die and I live. I don't even want to think about that happening. Ever."

"Hodnes (love), it will not happen. I am  not leaving you anytime soon." Lexa promises. If we weren't on horses right now, I'd kiss her. "But I just want to warn you that I fear that the man did not tell us everything. I think they want to kill you almost as much as they want to kill me."

I let out a shaky breath. I'm so going to need to cuddle with Lexa tonight. And it's not the fact that I'm on their hit list that's bothering me. It's the fact that I know why. True, I could lead if Lexa died. Hypothetically. However, without her by my side... Alive. I'd shatter. She would too if I were killed. Lexa's good with concealing emotions, but not with me. If they were to kill me, I'm not sure if she could survive that after everything.

Oh, dark chapter!! I know some of you might get worried, but I want to remind you that I don't kill of main characters :) there WILL be a super fluffy adorable ending eventually. Thank you all for reading and stay awesome!