The first day of Solyerian. The day of Holiness.

To say the least.

The sun was peeking just past the sand dunes, the cries of birds piercing through the thick air. The tribal grounds were decorated with twinkles of light and sprinkles of diamonds, gold lanterns hanging from huts and the sand under their feet sparkling with gold dust.

A sweet smell lingered in the air, strong and pungent and the nudge of danger and magic whispered at the darkest corners. The dining hall was set, prepared for a feast to be dined with by kings and nobles.

Everyone dressed in their finest apparels including Onyx who stood in the middle of Rheynoak and Lucien, dressed in a black silk gown with golden details that hugged her chest and waist. Her hair, which had been a rude mess only thirty minutes ago, was now pampered and curled, swaying with the wind that blew in her face.

Venix and Alesandria stood across from her on the opposite side of the circle, the Bloodbone wearing a simple navy blue dress with long sleeves while Alesandria wore a black gown with floral details. Yet while both of them looked stunning, a rather fatigue and unimpressed look crossed their faces, practically begging to escape out of the baking sun.

The Mind Siphon's hands twitched, wanting to be with her friends but the slightest movement of her body had Rheynoak panicking and reaching for her hand gently, grasping it in a never breaking bond. "Relax, Onyx. Nothing to worry about" he whispered to her, flashing one of his heart-stopping smiles.

Except her heart did not stop. It did not quicken or flutter or combust. It simply kept on beating in its natural pattern, dismissing his ways to toy with her. "Trust me, I'm not bothering myself with this holiday" she replied back, not meeting his gaze. "I don't understand why I have to be standing here with you Rheynoak. I'm not the leader of this tribe."

"But you are my mate, Onyx" the tribe leader replied back, a slight annoyance in his words. "You have every right to be standing up here with me as Lucien does." Hazel eyes darted over to his Hell Siphon in companion who did not pay him any mind, his blue eyes concentrated on the brass gate.

"I just don't like being the center of attention okay" she hissed back, shaking her head. "If anything, Alesandria should be standing up here, greeting the nobles with you. She is the lost queen of Crojesian and I am a mere demi-hybrid."

A sigh escaped her lover's lips, his eyes straying from her. "I'm not having this conversation with you right now, Onyx. It is what it is." And with that, he squeezed her hand one more time, angering her even more. With a huff, she tore her hand away from his grasp, crossing her arms over her chest.

"And I am done with you" she muttered under her breath, shaking her head.

A strong wind picked up, blowing her hair across her face and a shadow materialized from thin air as if someone had summoned the being. In the blink of an eye, Draco appeared in the middle of the tribe, dressed in his usual black attire, a midnight black cape embroidered with gold draping off his shoulders.

"Isn't this a lovely sight to behold?" he greeted, running his tattooed fingers through his silky locks. "Everyone dressed in their best attire. Makes me wonder why no one passed the reminder to Rheynoak." The emperor turned around to look at the tribe leader who did anything but smile at him. "Speak for yourself, ass hole" he hissed back, shoving his hands in his pocket.

Draco smirked, shaking his head. "Don't use such profanity among the high tribe leaders" he advised, flickering his eyes towards the sky. Another strong wind picked up, kicking the sand and dirt stones on the ground. "You might lose your tongue."

The emperor winked, smiling once again before winnowing to stand next to Lucien. "They are only seconds away, Rheynoak. Better put on your best smile."

A growl emanated from the tribe leader's lips but it only lasted for a minute before disappearing when the brass gates swung wide open, the strong pull of magic igniting the air. There were whispers of voices around the tribe, all eyes watching as the first tribe leader of many stepped through the brass gates.

The wind seemed to sing a wild tune, the air smelling of ancient magic and sweet spices. White lace draped in pearls and diamonds dragged across the sand, wrapped around a delicate woman with fierce eyes and a braided, gold crown circling her head.

She was tall and slender, draped in white silk and pearls, her honey blonde hair pulled up into a curly updo. Her fair complexion seemed to have tanned in the desert sun, freckles sprinkled on her cheeks. Beside her stood two of her most trusted companions dressed in colorful silk and beads, holding gifts in their hands.

Onyx watched in astonishment as everyone bowed down to her, the girls holding their skirts and the men tucking their hands behind them. "Well, isn't this a lovely sight," the woman said, an accent intertwined in the fragile words she whispered. Although she wasn't as intimidating as her male competitors, her stance screamed power and loyalty.

The Mind Siphon watched as the woman breezed through the path made for her, holding the skirt of her dress as she mounted up the platform to greet the tribe leader. She made eyes contact with the Siphon for a second, her honey glazed eyes screaming fire, before she walked on. "It's been too long boys" she flirted with enthusiasm. "I was beginning to wonder if any of you had perished yet."

Draco chuckled, shaking his head. "It takes a lot to kill us, Irene" he insisted. "You don't say" she replied back to him, shaking all of their hands. Her trusted companions, who had stayed silent the entire time, handed over the beautifully wrapped presents to the Hell Siphon.

"I was expecting some wine too" Rheynoak joked, taking the presents in his hands and passing them on to Lucien who placed them in the golden cauldron at the end of the platform. "This was very last minute, Rheynoak. My usual gifts were put on hold."

Her eyes flickered in the sun, a startling phenomenon. With grace, she whispered, "Aren't you going to introduce me?"

"Then turn around" the Hell Siphon persisted. Slowly she did to face the crowd, her gown swaying as she did so.

"Welcome all to the first day of Solyerian!" Rheynoak announced in a loud voice that echoed through the air. "As we gather here today to celebrate all the tribe leaders that have risked their lives in order to protect their own people, let us rejoice and welcome our first noble one."

He turned over to the woman who smiled. "Leader Irene Amashnov of the Catanga tribe located in the Black Pyramid desert of the Kingdom of Bengsu." She bowed as the tribe applauded in joy. A wicked smile lit her lips, accompanied by the shadowy gleam in her eyes.

"Pleasure to be here," she said but it only sounded like lies to the Mind Siphon.

With that, she returned gracefully to the front of the platform with a gleam, waiting for the others to be called. Onyx sighed deeply, wanting to melt right where she was standing. Hours passed by, the hot sun slowly baking her tan complexion.

It was torture, standing in the hot sun as dozens of tribe leaders waltzed in, decorated in their best clothing and holding out extravagant gifts for the tribe leader.

They were all of exotic names, stemming from kingdoms and deserts Onyx herself didn't know existed until that very moment.

Leader Arsen Regbay of the Oshwin tribe of the Red Sand Deserts in the Kingdom of Welock.

Leader Enesme Brakin of the Sonswey tribe of the Ashborn Deserts of the Kingdom of Relaegon.

Leaders Caldwin Tundris and Marista Highlen of the Nansi tribe of the Goldblood Deserts of the Kingdom of Ureiswan.

There was a total of about twenty-five different tribe leaders, all lined up in the front, dancing in the glory of the sun's rays like the gods they were and expected nothing less. Lucien and Draco had moved the golden cauldron to the center of the platform, throwing all the gifts that were given to them inside.

Rheynoak held on to Onyx with a restricting hand, intertwining their fingers together as they gathered around the cauldron. The sun's rays were lined up perfectly with the cauldron, twinkling off the radiant wraps of the gifts. The remaining tribe leaders all faced towards the cauldron, watching with expecting eyes.

"As tradition goes and the first day of Solyerian begins," Rheynoak said, staring at the cauldron filled with gifts. "May the Gods that created Asxairo rain their blessings and good will on all the fortunate and unfortunate tribe leaders that sacrificed their lives in order to protect their tribe. May these gifts, which we sacrifice for the goodwill of our people and to the Gods please and bless all those around us."

Without a word, the tribe leader gently released Onyx's hand, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small dagger. The sharpened tip glinted in the morning sun, smiling so deviously. "And may our blood forever represent whatever sacrifices we have gone through and the sacrifices we are willing to go through to protect our people."

He didn't hesitate as he slid the tip of the blade across his palm and broke through the skin, crimson blood pooling out and spilling across his wrist. Drops of blood tainted the golden wrappers of the presents, the dagger being passed on to Lucien then Draco who both generously donated their blood and poured it over the presents.

Then one by one, each of the guest tribe leaders went up the platform, slit their palm and dripped their blood into the cauldron. It felt as if hours had passed by, the sun only growing hotter and less merciful as it seemed to bake them alive.

Sweat beaded the Mind Siphon's forehead, her body dying to jump out of the gown she terribly regretted now. The heavy material didn't settle well with the desert heat.

In the middle of the blood sacrifice, Onyx looked out into the crowd to see Alesandria and Venix staring intensely at the ceremony, the BloodBone toying with the necklace around her neck as her friend squeezed her arm tightly. Violet eyes flickered over to her direction and gave her a smile, telling to hold on just a bit longer.

Smiling back, she faced her attention over to the cauldron to see the last two tribe leaders sacrifice their blood, nodding their way over to Rheynoak before stepping away.

The blood-soaked dagger, which was now in Lucien's possession was passed over to Rheynoak who generously offered it to her. Onyx's eyes grew wide, casting a nervous glance over to the dagger before looking at Rheynoak. "A tribe leader's mate's sacrifice is just as important. You risked your life, Onyx. You deserve it as much as I do."

"Slitting my palm isn't exactly the kindest way to show gratitude" she whispered to him, hoping he would see the hesitation in her not to do so. Still though, he insisted, placing the dagger in her palm. "Just think of it as Asxairo thanking you, Onyx. You don't know how many blessings will come your way."

Rheynoak smiled kindly at her, reaching down to squeeze her fingers. "And just remember, I love you Onyx and I will always be thankful and grateful for you in more ways than you can imagine."

His kind words, while seemingly spawned from the heavens, didn't skip her heart like she expected. Maybe a leap, a flicker, but no warm feelings flooded her body. Mustering a smile, the Mind Siphon held the dagger with shaky hands, pointing the blade towards her skin.

Her eyes flickered up just for a moment to see all the tribe leaders stare at her with curiosity, waiting for her to complete the ceremony. Fear flooded through her body and she felt her breath hitch in her throat, her gaze going over to Lucien and Draco.

They offered her smiles and nodded their heads, waiting for me to impale my skin. I rushed my gaze over to the crowd, catching eyes with Venix and Alesandria. The Bloodbone looked terrified, shaking her head slightly so only she could see.

Heart beating fast and her breath coming out in quick puffs, Onyx turned her attention back to the dagger in her hand and pressed the tip to her plan, slitting her skin without a second thought.

Pain raced through her body, a wince escaping her lips as blood dripped on to the golden presents, the wrist pooling on to her wrist. Rheynoak smiled happily while Draco sneered, watching with careful eyes as the Siphon withdrew her hand and dropped the dagger.

"And with our blood, sweat, and tears, may this holy day signify the sacrifices we've made and shine nothing but holiness in our direction." As soon as the tribe leader finished uttering those words, the sun's beams brightened and rained down on them so bright, it seemed to melt their skin and sizzle off any blood left.

The presents in the cauldron, crimson on gold, illuminated before catching on fire in quick bursts of flames. The explosion made Onyx jump even as everyone else cheered. The presents melted away into a gold pool that simmered at the bottom of the cauldron, a sacred wine that tribe leaders would later drink.

The sun burned bright and seemed to dance under the bright, blue sky, the birds that soared underneath singing a tune that matched the strong wind that passed over the deserts and kissed the ocean.

The whole tribe exploded into claps and cheers, hugging their friends and dancing to a song they shared. The tribe leaders smiled, exchanging words and looks of gratitude to one another. Even Lucien and Draco shook hands, trading friendly words to one another.

Onyx gasped, holding her wounded palm to her chest even as the wound slowly began to heal itself. Her whole body was shaking, her mind racing as pain shackled her bones and seized her whole body. Strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her into a strong, warm chest.

"I'm proud of you, Onyx" Rheynoak whispered into her ear, brushing her hair over to the side of her shoulder.

Despite the uncomfortable feeling building in her chest, the Mind Siphon faked on a smile as she leaned into his chest, letting him press a kiss to her lips. "Thank you" she uttered against his lips.

Yet something about his words settled uneasily in her stomach, making her doubt him even more. The day of holiness was upon them but the Siphon has never felt more cursed in her life.

After the ceremony in welcoming the guest tribe leaders, they all gathered in the dining hall, the doors already opened and the smell of spices greeting them when they entered.

The tables were filled with food and drinks, a candelabra being the centerpiece. A large table plated with gold sat on top of the platform, twenty-six chairs surrounding it. Each chair was plated with stones and different symbols that represented their tribe. Silver plates were covered with decorative tops, at least three candelabras centering the table.

Not to mention the eye-catching chandelier that dropped from the ceiling.

"When did you have time to do all this remodeling?" Onyx asked, passing her lover a curious look. He smiled, leaning over to press a kiss to her jaw. "Before dawn, Onyx. You know I always wake up before the sun does."

This was true. The tribe leader always seemed to be up before the rest of the world was. As if he was the only one who could separate dusk from dawn.

The rest of the tribe filled in, intermingling with their peers and settling into groups. Onyx looked around for her friends, her eyes searching for Venix but never finding her snow-haired friend. Frowning, she climbed the top of the platform with Rheynoak, her fingers squeezing his.

He led her over to the table, pulling out a chair for her. The Mind Siphon hesitated again, looking down at the cushioned chair and back up to meet his gaze. "I'm not comfortable with this Rheynoak," she told him, stepping aside from the chair. She shook her head, running her fingers through her hair. "I would prefer sitting with my friends."

For a second, his gaze hardened on her, his jaw tightening and his knuckles turning white. "Onyx, please" he hissed at her as the others settled in her seat. "At least sit for a while before you venture off with that cursed Bloodbone" he insisted, directing his gaze over to the chair.

"Watch your tongue. I'm still not afraid to rip it out of your mouth" Onyx defended, crossing her arms over her chest. The Hell Siphon frowned but nodded, insisting she sit down. Cautiously, she did, tucking her dress under her legs. The tribe leader sat three chairs down from her, surrounded by fellow tribe leaders that admired him.

Feeling out of place, she toyed with the utensils in front of her, letting her fingers trace the edges of the fork. The chair next to her pulled back, Lucien taking his seat next to her. His white hair hung over his shoulders in slight curls, his blue eyes fixed on her.

"How is your hand?" he asked in a hushed tone. "It's fine" she replied back, opening her palm to reveal her smooth skin, no sign that a bloody dagger had cut her skin only moments ago. "Rheynoak shouldn't have done that" he advised, shaking his head. "A rather stupid thing to do. Especially to someone that's not his mate."

She froze on that word, a pain intensifying in her chest. A few months ago, she would have argued with him. She would have yelled and screamed and insisted that the stars had collided them together.

She would have said without any doubt that he was the one for her.

But now, even she couldn't help but admit how horribly wrong they were for each other despite the strong feelings between them. No mating bond had clicked, no mark had decorated their arms, forever bounding them to one another.

It was all just terribly wrong.

"I don't have a good feeling about this Lucien" the Mind Siphon whispered in a desperate attempt to change the subject, tucking her hand in her lap.

She leaned over to him, whispering so only he could hear. "Something bad is bound to happen. I can feel it in my bones." The Hell Siphon next to her sighed, running his long fingers through his hair. "Solyerian is notoriously known for revealing secrets others aren't supposed to know" he informed, shrugging his shoulders. "This year will not be any different."

"Secrets?"Onyx questioned, shaking her head. "What kind of secrets?"

This time, he smiled at her. A curious gleam twinkled in his eyes, his fingers touching her wrist. "Secrets that would make you run like hell, Onyx."

The Mind Siphon gulped, clearing her throat before sulking in her seat.

Those heavy words weighed in on her mind even as they celebrated the first day of Solyerian with food and gold wine. Rheynoak cheered and laughed with his peers, the rest of the tribe dining along in their glory.

Food was passed around, wine being poured into glasses and glasses clicking against each other as everyone shared a toast. All seemed well and happy, the happiest most of them have been in a while.

Onyx, on the other hand, felt sick to her stomach, pushing everything down with all her might. She willed herself to take a few bites of her food, masking the tangy taste in the back of her throat with wine before excusing herself from the table.

No one seemed to notice as she took her leave, glass in hand as she descended down the platform steps and let herself blend into the crowd. She searched for Venix, her eyes straying to find her friend standing in the far corner of the dining hall with a few witches, seemingly enjoying themselves.

Venix seemed happy, drinking too much wine and laughing louder and happier than she ever did with Onyx. Guiltless overtook her heart followed by jealousy coloring her vision.

Her friend seemed so happy, tossing her hair and wiping tears of joy from her eyes. She would hate to be the one to break apart such a beautiful sight.

On the other hand, she knew deep in her soul that no one could break the blood bond between them. Even though they were far from related, the secrets and adventures they shared were far more bonding than any other sibling relationships she had seen.

Managing a synthetic smile on her lips, she wove her way through the crowd to be with her friend, not noticing those that were crossing her way. She simply pushed through, the fingers around the glass she was holding shaking.

A suffocating feeling overcame her, her muscles contracting and her heart beginning to skip two beats too fast. Maybe it was the amount of wine she had or the feeling of nausea overtaking her body but her vision blurred, a simple task such as breathing becoming too hard to do.

She struggled to walk or even talk and didn't notice when one of the tribe leaders crossed her way until it was too late. The Mind Siphon caught a glimpse of red silk before their bodies collided, wine spilling on each other. A gasp escaped her lips, followed by a sign as she watched the liquid stain the dark silk.

"Awfully sorry, Onyx" A sweet voice addressed. She looked up to see the amber eyes Heather Falyik, leader of the Bachete tribe. Her petite frame was covered in a hugging red silk dress completed with gold detailing that was now stained with wine, her long dark tresses flowing behind her.

"My fault really. I wasn't looking where I was going" she said, brushing a hand on her silk dress. A hum escaped the tribe leader, her curious eyes trailing from the spilled wine to the Mind Siphon. Her eyes flickered to the necklace around her neck, the same one Draco had gifted her with.

She took one step closer to the Mind Siphon, resting a hand on her shoulder as she searched through her golden eyes. A frown pulled at her lips, her amber eyes as curious and mysterious as ever.

Finally - after what seemed like hours- she pulled away, simply smiling.

"You might want to keep your eyes open and be aware of your steps, dear Siphon," she said, curling her tattooed fingers around her glass. "Your life is about to take a downward spiral to hell."

"I think my life has already taken a downward spiral to hell" Onyx replied back, trying to craft a joke out of the strong warning the leader left for her. Heather frowned once more, shaking her head.

"Trust me my dear" she warned cautiously, taking step towards her. "This is heaven compared to what's to come."

A/N: And that is the end of Chapter Twelve!

Sorry for taking so long to update. Life hasn't been kind to me this past month and I was dealing with a lot of emotional stress that did not leave me in the best place to update. I try my best to be as active as possible but sometimes, my health and happiness just comes above everything else.

But I am terribly sorry for waiting so long to update and keeping you guys in the dark. It was never my intention. Thank you for understanding and sticking with my guys. I'll try to stay on top of things but definitely notify you if anything else comes in the way. 

But I am doing a bit better now so I will try to be active a bit more!

A lot happened in this chapter. Too much to cover but tell me your thoughts on Rheynoak and Onyx relationship? Do you still ship them or do you Think she's better off with someone else and who? What secrets might be revealed? Will all hell break loose in the next chapter?! TELL, TELL!

So tell me what you guys thought of this chapter. 

Any specific scenes you liked! Any conspiracies? I would love to hear them!

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.

Until next time Lovelies!

With love, May