Chapter 145- Unity in Bloom

Lexy

I stood on the platform erected in the center of the gathering grounds, inhaling deeply as the crisp midday air carried the faint aroma of roasted spices, blooming flowers, and wood smoke from lunch fires still flickering in nearby kitchens. Today, the alliance was no longer a negotiation, no longer a whisper among council members. It was real. Today, we celebrated unity.

I smoothed my ceremonial cloak—a deep indigo layered with silver embroidery representing both our tribe’s crest and the sigil of the Great Phoenix. My hand instinctively rested over my belly for a brief moment. Our pup. I knew that one day they’d hear stories of this day and know they were already part of something greater.

CJ stood beside me, regal and calm, though I knew him well enough to feel the small current of pride and protectiveness just beneath his surface. To our left was Helio, my father, fully recovered and standing tall in his own ceremonial armor, trimmed in gold. To my right were our great warriors—including Kamira, Fracya, and Nikolaos—all standing as a wall of silent strength. Tarria was observing everything from the shadows.

Today was about peace, progress, and the strength of our shared futures. But I couldn’t let my guard down completely—not while Adrian was still within our borders and not while the truth about his ambitions remained hidden to most. Still, we had prepared. My people were ready. And today, we would not let fear dim the light of what we had built.

“Queen Lexy,” called a voice from the foot of the platform. I turned slightly to see the head coordinator of the exchange program, Karia, a lithe woman with ink-dark skin and copper eyes, nodding with quiet efficiency. “The first group is ready.”

“Now I present to you the first volunteers,” I said.

Karia lifted a hand, and the gathered crowd—members from our tribe, Celestial Kingdom, and even neutral factions from nearby territories—fell into an expectant hush. A gentle drumbeat began in the background, played by the youth circle, rising slowly with the arrival of the volunteers.

Twenty young warriors entered in pairs, dressed in combinations of their home packs’ colors and symbols. They walked tall, eyes wide as they took in the sea of faces and the ceremony surrounding them. Some had grown up in disciplined militaristic tribes, others among diplomatic circles, and a few—like those from my own border scouts—were raised in the rhythm of survival and cooperation.

Each volunteer carried a small satchel of their choosing. Some held herbs native to their region, others carried tools or tokens that spoke of their people. It was more than symbolic. This exchange wasn’t just about skill; it was about sharing culture, history, and forging lasting trust.

CJ stepped forward, his voice projecting across the field. “Today marks not only a signed agreement between leaders, but a bond between generations. These volunteers are not simply trainees. They are bridges.”

The crowd clapped, the sound echoing like a living heartbeat through the valley. The volunteers bowed in unison, and I stepped forward.

“As Queen of this tribe, I welcome each of you,” I said. “You are now part of something greater than where you were born or trained. In this tribe, you are seen, heard, and challenged—not just in combat, but in character.”

My gaze met one of the volunteers, a shy boy no older than eighteen with ash-blond curls and stormy gray eyes. He straightened beneath my gaze, and I gave him a nod. Small as it may seem, encouragement matters when you’re about to live among strangers.

I motioned to Kamira, who stepped forward to receive the scroll containing the names and assignments of each volunteer. She glanced down at the parchment, then raised her voice to read out where each would be placed—some would train alongside our warriors in defense, others in agriculture, healing, and negotiation teams. We weren’t just trading fighters—we were building sustainable relationships.

As each name was called, their future stationing announced, I watched pride and nervousness blend across their expressions. Their packs had trusted them to represent their values. That responsibility weighed heavily, but I had no doubt that many of them would rise to the occasion.

Once all twenty names were called and applause rippled again, Karia guided them toward the communal tents where they'd be stationed temporarily until their units came to welcome them. It felt like watching seedlings being carefully placed into fertile ground.

As the last of the volunteers exited the main circle, I turned back toward the crowd. Now came the part where we’d truly cement this moment in memory. “Let the celebration begin.”

Music erupted—tribal drums, flutes, and the deep thrum of stringed instruments filled the air. Tables, once covered with cloth, were pulled open to reveal feasts from all the packs: roasted game, wild vegetables, thick stews, smoked fish, and desserts of honeyed grains and spiced fruits. I could smell roasted pine nuts from our northern allies and lavender rice from our own kitchens.

CJ and I descended from the platform hand-in-hand, mingling with the crowd. Everywhere I turned, there were faces I hadn’t seen in months, some years. Laughter rang freely, and for a while, people were simply people. Not soldiers. Not emissaries. Just members of a tribe—of many tribes—learning to breathe easier again.

Tarria always stayed in communication with me. I couldn’t help worry about her after what already happened. I knew she knew I had someone keeping an eye on her.

My father, Helio, stood near a circle of elders who were already deep into a debate about who made the best spiced wine. He looked happier than I had seen him in years, though there was still a flicker of something in his eyes—a readiness for whatever may come next.

“Do you think it will last?” CJ asked quietly beside me as we shared a plate of grilled venison, pernil, and root vegetables.

“This moment?” I said, turning to him. “It has to.”

He nodded, brushing his thumb over the back of my hand. “Then we’ll make sure it does.”

As the moon began to rise, a fire dance began in the center of the field. Our tribe’s fire bearers lit the ceremonial pit, and dancers from both our tribe and Celestial kingdom spun in rhythm around it. Sparks flew, laughter followed, and joy flickered across the faces of those who had known too much war, too much loss.

There were still shadows on the horizon. Adrian was out there with a fake facade, no doubt watching and plotting. But for tonight, we had lit a fire too bright to ignore. One built not of fear, but of trust.

Let him see it.

Let the world see it.

This alliance was no longer just a pact.

It was a promise.

And we would keep it.

I was still weary of what Adrian might have planned for today.
Adrian

Lexy really believes in this nonsense. But now I have my soldiers in the exchange program and in her tribe.

As it gets later in the party I’ve noticed that I haven’t heard from the team waiting for my signal to implement the next part of my plan.