Draco looked down at the bag in front of him, holding only the most important things he needed for his departure. With a heavy sigh, he tugged on the zipper until it was closed, strapping the heavy bag to his back. The emperor looked down at his skin that was still ruined with scars, slowly but surely healing.

He sighed, securing Onyx's sword in a sword sheath strapped to his hip. The blade slid in smoothly, the hilt of the sword hidden under his large cloak. 

Taking a deep breath, he looked around at what was left of his chamber. Last night was the last time he would be seeing his palace for a while. The large room echoed with silence, the early morning wind banging on the windows. There was still so much left that he couldn't bring with him like his memories. But he knew he couldn't bring them with him. They were meant to be left behind.

He walked around the room, his fingers roaming on the walls and windows, savoring their touch one last time. He walked inside his bathroom, sitting on the porcelain tub and feeling its cold surface underneath his skin. He breathed in the crisp air around his room, taking in the smell of lavender. By the time he had circled back around, there was a knock on his door.

"Come in" he simply uttered. The door opened to reveal Cayah, her tall figure standing across from him. She was dressed in royal blue, her white dreadlocks gathered in a bun. On her back was a heavy bag, a sword sheath strapped to her side. Draco barely opened his mouth when she walked towards him, enveloping him in a hug.

The emperor struggled to breathe, holding on to his friend as she crushed him tight in her grasp, breathing deeply. When they pulled apart, she wiped the single tears that ran down his face, a sad smile on her lips. "We are with you, Draco. Remember that. I and the rest of the leaders trust you. We'll get through this."

"At what cost? Onyx is dead" he croaked out, shuddering. Cayah shook her head, hugging him again briefly. "Onyx is a kaslibieth-Talgran. They never falter and neither will she. I know it seems impossible to imagine that now but believe me, she will come back. Trust me on that." Draco nodded despite the doubt that lingered in his mind, wiping his face.

"I've let everyone down. My friends, my court, my mate, my citizens, my family, and my kingdom. Everyone was counting on me and I let them down. How could I?" he asked, looking around his room. "Look at what has become of me. Stripped of my duties and banished out of my home. Was I that incompetent to protect it all?"

Cayah shook her head, squeezing his shoulders. "In all the years, I have known you Draco, you have always made it out through dark times. The Inner Circle has been attacked countless times but each time, it was you that led us back to our thrones. This time, it is just a long road, but we will make it back and finally be at peace. Please, believe me on that. Even if you don't, just try."

Before Draco could respond, another knock sounded on the door. It creaked open, revealing Alesandria standing on the other side. Her black hair fell over her pale skin, her white dress draping over her feet. Her eyes skimmed between the leaders, her gaze faltering with shame. "I'll leave you two to talk," Cayah said, turning back to Draco. She smiled, bowing her head at him. "We'll meet you outside, emperor Vaolcris" she uttered, regaining her posture and winking at him.

Without another word, she walked out of the room, not blinking an eye at Alesandria. The door closed, leaving the two beings trapped in the room. Draco's eyes raked over her body, trying desperately to see Alesandria standing in front of him but all he could see was Onyx in her place, a vision in white. 

"How are you?" he asked after a few minutes.

"I am good. Since Heather's death and my confession, the Helio magic has been flooding out of my body and I don't feel the bond with Heather anymore. I have come to my senses" she said, looking down at her feet. Draco nodded, taking a step towards her.

"Are you ready to leave?" he asked. She opened her mouth to talk before closing it, a deep frown on her face. Her fingers fumbled with the bracelets on her wrist, her skin growing hot and red. "That is what I wanted to talk to you about" she whispered, taking a step towards him. She took a deep breath, gnawing on her lips.

"I am not leaving with you," she said, shaking her head. "I can't."

"Why not, Alesandria? I need you" he whispered through clenched teeth. She flinched and blinked at his sharp tone, taking a deep breath. "I am not fit to be queen, nor do I want to be. I am not made for it" she said. She shook her head, running her fingers through her hair. "All I ever wanted was to find out what was wrong with me. I never anticipated being thrusted into this world of demi-hybrids, wars, and deaths. I never imagined that my real parents would be the rulers of an abandoned kingdom that needs my help reviving. I'm not strong enough for it."

"Yes, you are," Draco said adamantly. "You're a demi-hybrid. More specifically you are a Talgran. You have more power running through your veins than you know. I have seen what you can do when you are pushed to your full capability and I can tell you right now that you are strong. Not only are you strong, but you are also capable of taking over the throne."

"No, I am not, Draco. You only believe that because Onyx said so. I don't want this. I never did" she retorted. The emperor's jaw locked as he looked at her, her fingers balling into fists. "Onyx was always the right choice. She has the fire and the drive to be a great empress. She will always be the right choice for Crojesian, not me. Her death won't change anything."

"I promised Onyx that I would look after you. I promised her that I would protect you and put you on the throne" Draco hissed, his voice rising. "Onyx is dead and there is nothing I can do about that but wait and keep that promise! You can't stay here!"

"And yet I am" Alesandria responded, shaking her head. "Look at the damage I have caused. It is because of me that the Inner Circle is destroyed. It is because of me that my sister is dead, and my family is enslaved. Every bad thing that has happened has been because of me and I will not follow you and burden you any longer. Coupled with the fact that I do not want to sit on the Crojesian throne, I don't see the point in me following you so I will not do so."

Draco groaned, dragging his hands down his face. His eyes glowed slightly red, the ruby ring pulsating around his iris. "I can forgive you for what has happened if you were truly under Heather's compulsion. I won't be able to forgive you for walking out on Onyx's promise."

"You even doubt my excuse for why I have been acting this way," she said, snorting sarcastically. She reached for the thin bracelet around her wrist, leaving in on the ground. "I charmed it. It keeps you tied to me. It won't do you any good, but it will at least let you know I am still alive."

"So, you staying with Raebar and taking his side" Draco concluded, shaking his head.

"I am staying with Raebar because that is my punishment. If I walked with you, it would be a light fee for what I have done. Being with Raebar and becoming his servant is a life-long punishment that I will never get over. I think that's is what is suited for me. A life of misery."

She made her way over to the emperor, her arms wrapping around him. She sighed into the nape of his neck, holding him tight. She restrained herself from trembling despite the tears that ran down her face, sniffling as she pulled away. "Tell Parcia and Eros that I love them and that I will miss them dearly," she said.

Draco looked at her with burning anger, shaking his head. "Stop" he insisted, pushing her hands away. "Just stop with this nonsense."

"And when Onyx wakes up, tell her that I love her and that I am sorry I let our family down" she concluded.

"I said stop!" Draco screamed, his face red. His eyes were blurry, his body shaking with emotions. The door to his room opened again, a voice accompanying the intruder. "Draco, I found a way to restore Onyx to her partial state!"

Iredine walked into the room, her smile dropping as soon as she saw Alesandria. Her eyes shifted between the two, her shoulders sagging. She bowed her head to them both, clearing her throat. "Sorry to intrude on you but I was able to figure out a way to channel Onyx's mind into her body. It's a weak bond but it is still there. It won't last long, and the spell will break after sunset each day but she will be alive for a few hours."

Alesandria nodded, a smile pulling on her lips. "Congratulations. I wish you all the luck." She turned back to Draco, bowing her head one last time. "Thank you for everything you have done for me, Draco. It saddens me to part ways with you but this is for the best." Her eyes looked up to meet his, a genuine smile on her face. "If it counts for anything, you will always be an emperor to me."

With one final bow of her head, she turned around and headed for the door.

"I won't leave you here. I will come back to find you" Draco stated in a concrete voice. "Even if it kills me."

Alesandria smiled, turning back to nod. "Goodbye, Draco. I wish you and everyone else the best of luck."

Her silhouette disappeared out the door and down the hallway, her footsteps retreating into the hallway. Draco sighed, approaching the bracelet on the floor. He picked it up and examined the orange beads before securing it around his wrist. He looked back up to meet Iredine's green eyes, his jaw locked with determination.

"This isn't goodbye, Alesandria. Merely an 'until we meet again.'"

The crisp air of the morning chilled Draco's skin as he made his way towards the mountains. The ocean roared beside him, drowning out any thoughts that were swimming in his head. Next to the base of the mountain were the leaders and his sister, waiting for him.

The walk seemed so long even though they were in his grasp. Their silhouettes became clear the closer he walked, their voices flooding into his mind the faster he approached. Sahara and Seron greeted him at the base of the mountain, each of them enveloping him in their arms.

Their warmth radiated off their bodies, suffocating him until he could no longer breathe. The couple didn't utter a word, simply squeezing his shoulders. Sahara smiled at him sadly, intertwining their fingers together as she pulled him towards the base of the mountain. The others welcomed him in a silent embrace, patting him reassuringly on the back.

"Are you ready to leave?" Raiyah asked, pulling her long coat over her chest. Draco nodded, feeling his heart constrict in his chest. "As ready as I'll ever be" he whispered, looking behind him at the kingdom he was leaving behind. "I can't believe it has come to this. Turning my back on my kingdom."

"We'll be back, Draco" Seron commented, nodding his head. He intertwined his fingers with Sahara, looking at her for reassurance. "I promise we'll be back." Draco snorted, shaking his head. "Everyone keeps telling me that, but I don't believe it" he replied, shaking his head. "All of this just seems too surreal. A bad dream that I desperately want to awaken from."

Raiyah walked towards her brother, holding his journal in her hand. She reached out for his hand, placing the leather-bound book in his grip. The emperor looked down at the book and back at his sister, a confused look crossing his face. "If we doubted you, we would have all talked you out of this plan," she said, squeezing his hand tightly.

"Do you know how many times we talked about your damn plan?" Empress Imperia chimed in, shaking her head. "After the meeting, we all talked in circles, wondering if we were crazy to let you follow through with this plan or if the plan was crazy enough to work. We've all had our fair share of experience ruling over the Inner Circle. We wanted to make sure that you weren't walking us into our death."

"And what was the verdict?" Draco pressed on.

"The verdict was that you, Draco Vaolcris, are the best emperor Elsavior has had in a while. The best the Inner Circle has seen" Emperor Mavian expressed. "You have been for the past six hundred and thirty years and you continue to be. Your plans have never failed, as crazy as they always seemed, and we are all in your debt for helping us countless times through harsh moments. We would be crazy not to trust you."

Raiyah walked up to her brother, placing her hands on his shoulders. "We all trust you, Draco. Don't forget that."

Draco looked amongst his friends, the hint of a smile pulling on his lips. For the first time in a week, he felt the smallest pinch of hope spark through his body. It was minuscule, barely shifting any of his doubt and dark thoughts but it was still there.

And right now, that was enough.

"Okay. Just know that we may be walking to our deaths" he said cynically. Empress Cayah laughed, tossing a white dreadlock over her shoulder. "Then we will walk into it together." Draco huffed but took a deep breath, nodding his head. "Where are the others he asked?" looking around his surroundings.

"At the second plateau of the mountain. We can't use the shortcut by the dark mass anymore since Raebar has created a barrier to keep us out. Instead, there is a trail that leads through the forest that can take us to the edge of the Inner Circle. We can escape through there and figure out where to go" Raiyah informed him.

"Lead the way" Draco responded.

In a flash, their wings flourished into the air, flying across the mountain to the second plateau. Draco concentrated his gaze on the mountain in front of him until he saw dark silhouettes waiting for them. He aimed downward at lightning speed, his feet scraping the ground as he landed with brute force, his wings vanishing behind him. The others landed behind him, their wings disappearing as well.

On the second plateau was the rest of his court, Iredine and Alesandria's family. Draco nodded his head at his court, acknowledging their presence. Immediately, they swarmed him in a hug, silently embracing their leader. "We'll get through this" Draco reassured them despite his lingering doubts, pulling apart from them. "We'll get through this."

"We know. We always do" Falcon said, smiling. Draco nodded, his gaze straying over to Iredine and Yongui. Beside Yongui stood Rheynoak, his arms resting on Azner and Estel who were mounted on a black horse, strapped securely to the magical creature. "What is he doing here?" he asked in a gritty tone. Rheynoak frowned, rolling his eyes. "Don't start this, Draco. I am not in the mood to tolerate your bullshit."

Before Draco could retort back, Yongui jumped in, holding out her hand. "He's here as my guest Draco and he can help us. Just give it a chance" she said, furrowing her brows. The emperor's gaze strayed over to his friend, his jaw locked. "He's a curse, a nuisance."

"And the only one that knows Raebar better than we do. Just give him a chance and let him stay. He won't come near you. I'll make sure of it" she reassured him, pleading silently with her eyes. Draco took a breath, feeling all the heat rush to his face. He nodded, licking his lips. "Fine. Just stay away from me" he instructed Rheynoak who promptly nodded.

"I was already planning to" he hissed back.

Taking another deep breath, he walked over to Iredine. She stood by two horses, one of them being Aithne. On top of the horse was Onyx's body, barely awake and groaning under the cloak Iredine threw over her. "Where did you get the horses?" he asked.

"I snuck them from the stables the night before and hid them here. Only a few of them were left and most were injured from the war, so I took the best ones. Aithne is hurt badly but she has the advantage of healing quickly. She'll be fine" she informed him.

"Did you do it?" he asked, looking over to his friend. "Is her mind channeled into her body?"

Iredine nodded, securing the limp body with leather straps that went under the horse. She pulled tightly, pulling the leather straps together and intertwining them. "She's not conscious but she's there. I told you the attachment is weak so it might take a few days for her body to readjust since she is still physically dead, but she should be talking soon."

Draco walked over to Onyx's body, his hands stroking the curve of her jaw. Her skin felt cold against his warm touch, the slightest hint of a flinch reflecting on her face. Her wide eyes met his, unwavering but still lingering with bits of life. "You'll be okay, Onyx. I will bring you back. I promise" he whispered, tucking his hand away. He turned back to Iredine, nodding his head towards Parcia and Eros. "Get them situated on the horse as well. We need to leave."

Iredine nodded, walking over to held Parcia and Eros mount the horse. As she did so, Draco turned back to his home. The only place he had felt safe his entire life now laid in front of him in ruins. Shattered glass, spilled blood, embers, and smoke dancing in the grey sunlight. The damaged spread for miles, weaving their way through each kingdom.

What had once been a thriving and vibrant land now stood dead and burnt in front of him.

"Alright, Draco. That is everyone and everything. We need to go" Iredine said. The emperor nodded, taking in his precious home one last time. He took a deep breath and blinked, turning back to his friend. He looked in front of him at the endless abyss of trees that waited to hide them, forever banishing them from their homes.

"Until we meet again" Draco muttered, turning his back to the kingdom.

Without another word, he nodded towards the others and led the way, looking towards a dark abyss and an uncertain future. 

A/N: And that is the end of Chapter Forty-nine!

So as you all know, the coronavirus has been spreading like wildfire so my university has been forced to hold online classes until easter break when we can return on campus (hopefully). Even though I have online classes they don't begin until the 30th so I have a lot of time on my hands to hopefully finish publishing the chapters of this book so I can move on to The Shadow Heirs and the novellas.

As for now, all you be careful out there. Be safe, healthy, stay indoors, and wash your hands thoroughly. If you are sick, stay home and take care of yourself. Don't take this lightly. It can be very detrimental. Even though most healthy people with a good immune system usually bounce back, those with health ailments are struggling to recover! It's important to keep them in your prayers and practice safe hygiene and self-quarantine. For more information, make sure to go to the CDC website to receive daily updates on the coronavirus. Another way to keep yourself informed is to visit the website corona.help for daily updates worldwide!

It has also been brought to my attention that some of you may be disappointed by Onyx's death. I was reached out to by one reader who expressed her disappointment with Onyx's death and how she seemed weak in this book!

First, I would like to express extreme sympathy and my sorrow to those who felt that way! That was never my intention! I always strive to create a book that is enjoyable to the readers! Unfortunately, that means that some unpleasant things have to happen! I would like to just briefly explain my side and what was going through my mind writing this book!

First, Onyx is not fully dead! I can't kill her off so of course, she will return. However, when she returns, she will no longer be the Onyx you all know. She will be Onouxia, heir to the crojesian throne who has obtained more power than she could ever imagine! She will be refined and changed in a whole different way and will be bolder and more confident!

I understand all your frustrations if you have any. Really. I don't mean to make you upset or anything but this is really how I planned her character. In this book, I wanted her character to have some depth since reading through some criticism with the first book, I realized that she could appear to be a bit one dimensional. I wasn't trying to be unfair but rather see the trials I can take her character through for character development.

In this book, Onyx does seem visibly weaker even with all her powers. That's because mentally, she is. Just think about it. She broke up with a man she thought she could trust even after everything he has done, she found out that she is a demi-hybrid with immense power and the lost queen of a kingdom, she has no idea what is going to happen to her, and the sake of everything rests on her shoulders. Coupled with the fact that she is falling in love with Draco shortly after breaking up with Rheynoak and she doesn't know what to do with her emotions towards him, she is visibly weaker mentally. She is going through a lot and her mind isn't focused on one thing.

I wanted her to be more relatable in this book. I wanted her to be vulnerable despite having so much power because that is the consequences that came along with it. I wanted people to see that even someone like her with immense power can be broken and mentally drained. Onyx is mentally drained after dealing with so much.

Throughout the series, especially in the fourth book, you will see a gradual shift. Onyx will come back. I can't kill her off but she will be different. She will be more confident and concentrated on her powers and will have a clearer outlook on her future. She can put behind her past with Rheynoak and fall in love again. She will be better mentally. Most importantly, she will be Onouxia, not Onyx. She will be bold, defining, and unforgiving. She won't hold back and she will continue to grow and become a competent ruler.

Thank you for voicing your opinions on this book and supporting me through it all. It means a lot! Just deal with me, please. I know this all seems unfair but it's all part of this process I had in mind. I am sorry to disappoint you but your support means a lot and I will make sure to keep your opinion in mind and flourish her out as the series continues. Thank you!

So tell me what you guys thought of this chapter. We are four chapters away from finishing the book!

Are you guys enjoying the books and series so far? I want to hear your honest opinion!

Thank you guys for all your constant support. It means so much to me that you enjoy this book. I enjoy writing it and to hear your feedback always makes my day!

So tell me what your thoughts are on this chapter and don't forget to comment down below and vote if you liked it.

Remember to stay happy and healthy!

Until next time Lovelies!

With love, May