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chapter ten, The Truth

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"I KNOW I DIDN'T SAY IT WHEN I LEFT YOU-- IN THE WOODS, BUT I DID LOVE YOU. I STILL DO" Nova confesses looking to Clarke lovingly.

"I love you" Nova chuckles as she steps towards Clarke.

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CLARKE LED NOVE TO HER ROOM IN THE POLIS TOWER, gently shutting the door behind them. Without hesitation, Clarke pulled Nova into a passionate kiss, their lips meeting in a slow, tender embrace that left Nova breathless. It was the moment she had been waiting for since they first landed on the ground together.

Nova's hands trembled slightly as she removed her weapons belt, the crossbow falling to the floor with a soft thud. Clarke's fingers deftly unfastened Nova's jacket, slipping it off to reveal the short-sleeve black shirt underneath. The intensity of their kiss never wavered, deepening with every passing second.

Clarke guided Nova toward the bed, and they stood at its edge, their breaths mingling in the charged air between them. Nova's fingers fumbled with the buttons of Clarke's jeans, tracing the contours of her body with a gentle yet urgent touch. They moved in perfect harmony, lost in each other, until a sudden knock at the door shattered their moment of intimacy.

Reluctantly, they pulled apart, their eyes still locked. Clarke quickly zipped up her jeans, her cheeks flushed.

"Enter," Clarke called out, clearing her throat. Titus stepped into the room, his expression neutral.

"Sorry, there's a gift waiting for you in the throne room," Titus announced, nodding to Clarke before exiting and closing the door behind him.

Nova bent down to pick up her discarded jacket, slipping it back on with a sigh. Clarke's eyes lingered on her, filled with a mix of longing and apology.

"Want to go see my gift?" Clarke asked, a small, hopeful smile playing at her lips.

Nova chuckled softly, the tension easing slightly. "Yeah, why not," she replied.

Clarke opened the door, gesturing for Nova to go first. As they stepped out into the corridor, the weight of their unspoken feelings hung in the air, but so did the promise of what could be.

They both make it to the throne room and walk out a box in the middle of the room and go to stand by Lexa.

"Now, are you going to tell me what's in the box or not?" Lexa states and Titus nods his head.

"This is a gift from King Roan of Azgeda for Wanheda. The messenger said this is both proof of Azgeda's loyalty to the coalition and an answer to a yet unanswered question. May I? Open it" Titus speaks up and he steps around to the other side of the room.

Two guards move to open it. Inside is Emerson.

"Emerson" Clarke and Nova say in unison. Emerson, screeching, jumps out of the box and knocks Clarke to the ground. Nova widens her eyes and walks towards Emerson and knees him in the face then immediately rushes to Clarke and kneels beside her.

"Stop him! Get him out of here!" Nova shouts looking to Lexa to stop this. "Put him in a cage, now" Lexa orders and the guards grab hold of him and drag him backward out of the room.

Nova helps Clarke up and Clarke smiles slightly to Nova and pats her shoulder.

"I'm fine" Clarke mumbles, wiping her pants.

Nova and Clarke left the throne room and went back to Clarke's room. Nova was constantly making sure Clarke was okay. "Are you sure you're, okay?" Nova asks again and Clarke chuckles and places her hand on Nova's cheek.

"Nova, I'm fine" Clarke says pushing Nova's hair out of her face. Clarke goes to kiss Nova, but another knock is heard at her door and Clarke lets out a sigh of annoyance and goes to her door and opens it.

"Lexa, would like to see you" Titus says and Clarke nods her head as Titus walks away, and Clarke shuts the door.

"Lexa wants to see me. I'll be back" Clarke says and Nova nods her head.

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NOVA MADE HER WAY TO IRIS'S ROOM and knocked on the door. Iris opened the door and looked to Nova. "Oh, hey" Iris says then leaves silence between them. "I went to see Fio" Nova says grabbing Iris's attention. Iris lets Nova in the room and shuts the door behind her.

"He's at Skaikru camp. He's being locked up in a cell because there's a new leader" Nova states and Iris listens to every word.

"How did he look?" Iris asks frantically, crossing her arms over chest.

"Uh- Not good. They beat him and they cut him multiple times. He looks sick, very sick" Nova answers honestly and Iris covers her mouth. Nova slowly walks towards Iris and brings her into a comforting hug.

The hug lasted awhile until Nova pulled away. "I'll leave you alone. See you around" Nova says rubbing Iris shoulder and proceeds to walk past Iris but Iris grabs Nova's arm and backs up to stand in front of her.

"Is everything okay?" Nova asks and Iris nods her head and looks up at Nova. Iris leans in and places her lips on Nova's and begins backing her up towards the bed.

Nova immediately stops in her tracks and gently pushes Iris away. Iris is left speechless.

"What-" Iris stutters looking to Nova confused.

"I'm sorry, I should leave you alone" Nova says breaking the silence and slowly sliding past Iris.

"Do you love her?" Iris questions as Nova makes it to the door. Nova sighs and turns around to face Iris.

"Iris- I'm- Yes" Nova states honestly and Iris looks genuinely taken back.

"So, those 3 months of you living in my cabin were nothing" Iris argues and Nova shakes her head. "I never said it was nothing- I'm not doing this right now" Nova says with a tight lip smile.

"You don't care about anything do you? You don't care that you have played me! You don't care to know what happen to Naira or who killed her!" Iris argues, throwing her hands in the air.

"I know who killed Naira! It was Nia and now she's dead" Nova argues back and Iris scoffs. "No, Nova it wasn't Nia, it was me!" Iris shouts and Nova's face drops into a confused, sad one.

"What did you just say?" Nova mumbles looking to Iris.

"I killed her. That little girl put me in more danger than I was already in" Iris confesses truthfully stepping towards Nova. Nova tightens her fist and pushes Iris hard in the chest making Iris fall back.

"How could you do that!" Nova screams as she swings her arm back and punches Iris in the face making her fall over. "You knew her for 3 months! What you think in 4 months she would call you mom?" Iris chuckles before spitting blood out onto the floor.

"She didn't deserve that. Especially not by the hands of you! She looked up to you!" Nova shouted as Iris stood back up slowly. "And she looked up to me when I drove my sword through her" Iris states making Nova's eyes widen and her eyes get teary.

"Oh my god-" Nova breaths out bending down putting her hand on her knees.

"You- You bitch!" Nova shouts as she stands up straight looking to Iris. Nova steps towards Iris but she doesn't throw a punch or kick she just looks disappointed.

"How could you do that?" Nova questions sadly.

"I was hoping to become Heda, but you went and ruined... everything" Iris states making a tear fall from Nova's eye and roll down her cheek. Nova turns around and doesn't say a word to Iris.