Listen to the song. It's so good and fits the chapter!

Somewhere in the inky darkness of her mind, a gold light shined its way through.

The Siphon squinted as it came closer, taking the shape of a familiar tall silhouette with long hair and gold eyes just like hers. Her appearance seemed a bit different, her face wearing a concerned look instead of the usual cocky one.

"You again" she whispered at the queen, taking in the radiance of her beauty. The same crown embedded itself on her hair, shining just as bright as the gold light that illuminated around her.

"It's been a while," the queen said, outstretching her hand. Onyx accepted the kind gesture and pulled herself up. "And a lot of things have changed" Onyx warned her, raking her fingers through her hair. The queen nodded, a tight-lipped smile on her face.

"I am aware. I've been lurking in your mind for quite some time now. It's as empty as the first time I visited" she said, gesturing towards the black space they were in. "Yet somehow, it's different."

"Well, a lot of things are different now," she said, shrugging. The queen hummed underneath her breath, shaking her head slightly. "How have you been feeling? Do you still get sick or have nightmares?"

Onyx shook her head, resting a hand on her empty stomach. "No. Ever since I became a demi-hybrid, I haven't been suffering from any of my previous symptoms." The queen let out a sigh of relief. "That's good to know. The ruby was restored back to its owner."

"How do you know about that?" the Siphon questioned. The queen looked at her with a sarcastic smile. "Honey, I have been in your mind from quite some time now. I could feel it." Onyx shook her head, resting her other hand on her hip."Well, where have you been? If you been in my mind this entire time, How come you didn't expose yourself to me more often?"

"The gate between our worlds is very slim and I had very little time to reach out to you and talk. Instead, I decided to just stay in your mind and appear when you seemed like you were in a stressful situation." The queen looked her up and down, her brow raised. "And from what I am seeing, you are far beyond what anyone would consider a stressful situation."

"What do you want?" Onyx simply asked, her voice cold and prickly like icicles.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg, my dear," the queen said in a hushed tone. "You are about to enter a new phase in your life. There is still so much more you have yet to discover."

"Like what?" the Siphon questioned.

"Your parents. Your kingdom. The legacy they left behind. Allies and enemies they made" she said, listing a few off her finger. "Your mate."

"That's the least of my concerns," Onyx said, shaking her head at the last one.

"It's not a priority right now," the queen said, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly. "But your mate will be your greatest ally. He is well respected and has the trust of hundreds of leaders and warriors. He'll truly be an asset."

"And you know who it is?" the Siphon questioned. The Queen nodded. "I knew him very well. His parents were legendary and our families had great ties."

"Well, who is it? I need to make as many allies as possible" Onyx asked, prying for more answers but the queen shook her head once more. "You are getting ahead of yourself, my dear. I can't tell you everything. You have to discover them yourself.

Huffing, the Siphon ran her fingers through her tangled locks. "I really don't have time for this. I need to make sure everyone is okay" she said, looking around to see nothing but the darkness of her mind. "How long am I going to be here?"

"You can get out anytime if you focus enough. I just wanted to stop by and warn you." The queen hesitated to speak, her words cutting off at the beginning of her next sentence. she seemed to back up a bit but Onyx reached out to grasp her by the wrist.

A jolt of pain shot through her wrist and she pulled back, holding her hand close to her chest. "What do you have to warn me about?" she asked in a shaky voice. The queen no longer wore her calm demeanor that she seemed to greet her with.

Instead, her facial expression changed to fear and agony and she floated closer to whisper words only the Siphon would understand. "The others are out to get you. They are on the move and they will stop at nothing to destroy you and your legacy. You need to restore Crojesian to where it was or find another place to continue your family line."

"But I need to know more about my family before I can do anything" Onyx protested. "I've been thrown into this strange world with no acknowledgment of what I am chasing after. I need to know who I really am before I result to any irrational behavior."

"But you're already there, my dear. Abandoning the desert tribes, leaving Rheynoak, breaking the Inner Circle barrier, training to become the strongest demi-hybrid Asxairo has ever seen. You have already subdued yourself to irrational behavior because that is the only thing that makes sense in this very moment. You already know who you are and what you are meant to be. Don't stop to ask yourself any more questions."

"I don't know anything" Onyx breathed, catching her breath. "I don't even know where to go from here. I'm rotting away in this castle counting down the days until the desert tribe attacks."

The queen sighed, resting her hand on her hip. A frown settled on her face as her silhouette floated around Onyx in deep thought. The trail of her long dress whispered past the Siphon's skin subconsciously and for a second, she looked up as if she was contemplating her escape.

"Okay. Listen to me carefully, my dear. What I am about to tell you will hold great knowledge but I cannot say it in plain language so listen to my words very carefully." She looked behind the Siphon as if a silhouette was standing in the shadows before chanting the answers in a series of tongues.

"Puppets on strings move without a will. Those that deceive must bow and shrill

A kingdom of ash with an empty throne. Many will fight but only one will be set in stone

A blanket of darkness is coming your way. The road is long so don't be one to sway

The one who wears a silver blade will be as poisonous as nightshade

The Gods will be your friend and enemy

make it rain fire and hell

But the devils underneath will bleed red

And will never tell

Be careful, my love for death surrounds you

But the darkness around will never be undone."

Onyx stood in confusion as the queen drew back and shook her head. Above her, a strange light began to break through the darkness and shine a spotlight down her silhouette, assuming an angelic appearance. "What the hell does that mean?"

"I can't tell you everything. You'll need to figure the rest out on your own" the queen said in a rushed tone, looking up at the light once more. "I can't stay. The gate to the other side will be closing soon. Just heed my words and trust your instincts."

Before Onyx could question any further, the queen grasped her face and pressed her icy fingers against her temple. An electrifying pain shot through her body and the siphon crumbled and shook as she grasped her head in agony.

She collapsed to the floor, convolution in pure confusion in the comfort of her own shadows. Through her glossy eyes, she could outline the silhouette of the queen giving her a kind smile before disappearing into the stunning light and leaving her in a sea of eternal twilight.

Onyx woke up to a startling commotion.

She jolted awake at the sound outside her room and quickly scrambled up to her feet. The silk blankets around her feet hissed at her harsh skin as she pushed herself off the bed and pressed her ear against the door.

Raspy voices whispered in low tones as they argued back and forth. She couldn't make out their words correctly but she could identify only a few sentences that were exchanged between them.

"He's still not awake. We have to warn the others."

"We cannot proceed without his initiative!"

A pause came before another bark of orders were shouted. "If we don't do anything, he will surely die!"

Onyx reeled back and feel on to the floor at the sudden outburst. A reel of pain exploded through her body and for the first time, she noticed the bandages on her hands and feet and her burnt skin.

The door to her room rumbled and burst open to reveal the concerned looks of Orion, Falcon, and Azura. Onyx backed herself into the corner as they came closer, her heart hammering in her chest at a violent rate.

"It's okay, Onyx. You're okay" Orion reassured her, offering his hand as an offer. Gently, she placed her hand in his and he helped her up on her feet. Her unstable legs caused her to stumble forward as she took one step and if it weren't for Azura and Falcon's quick reflexes, she would have collapsed on the floor once again.

"What happened? What's going on?" the Siphon asked in confusion as they sat her on the bed. The three exchanged peculiar looks before Azura took a seat on her left. "Now is not the best time to tell you," she said, settling a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Onyx pushed her hand away and shook her head. "No, tell me. How many casualties? Is everyone else okay? I need to know." Her crazy antics raised several eyebrows around the room as Azura exchanged looks with the two men in the room.

"Okay, let's start with the digestible news" Falcon suggested, rocking back and forth on his heels. "During the battle, your powers overload those of Rashnov's and the intensity of your hybrid powers connecting with the outer layer of the barrier was strong enough to shatter it."

He paused momentarily in between his words before continuing. "The barrier is broken and the Western Kingdom tribes have declared war on us and are planning to conquer the Inner Circle and kill us off."

"That's the digestible news?!" the Siphon shrieked but Orion interjected and managed to calm her down before picking up where Falcon left off.

"Fifty civilians died. Most of them were in the center of Salion and could not escape the immense damage the battle was causing. They have been identified and will receive a proper burial led by the leaders when they wake up."

"Wake up? What do you mean?" Onyx asked, taking several steps closer to the two men in front of her. "What happened to the leaders?" The siphon was shaking uncontrollably even as Orion grasped her wrists and forced her to sit down.

"Most of them are injured but okay. They are all being taken cared of in their respected establishment. Some suffered a bit more than others but they are all still alive" Orion whispered, squeezing her wrists.

"And what about Draco?" she asked, swallowing hard. Immediately, she saw the worry glaze over in his eyes and her heart sank to her stomach. Azura's comforting hand came around her shoulder and Falcon took a seat on her right, a heavy sigh lifting off his chest.

"Onyx, listen to us carefully-"

"But no one is answering my fucking question!" She violently shook her hand away from Orion's grasp and pushed him away. She exchanged a look between Azura and Falcon but neither of them met her gaze as they delivered the heart-shattering news.

"Draco was really close to the barrier and when you broke it, the force it released was too strong. Draco, in the mess of everything, was hit in the chest several times by some stray arrows and crashed into the glass paneling of one of the capital buildings."

Onyx held her breath as Azura continued the story."He then tumbled several feet to the ground and joined the mass of dead bodies."

"He's dead?" The words had to force their way out of her lips for her to believe what she was saying. Azura shook her head, taking a deep sigh and running her fingers through her kinky curls.

"He's in a severe coma. He's been asleep for several hours in the royal infirmary and has shown no sign of awareness or improvement. We don't when he'll wake up or if he'll even wake up."

Everything around Onyx melted away as she was met with the news. Every voice around her blended into one and disappeared without a second thought. She looked around for reassurance that this was nothing but a dream but she saw nothing but her own cloudy tears.

Draco Vaolcris. Emperor of Elsavior. Severe Coma

It was too much for the Siphon to handle. A strangled gasp escaped her lips as a burning pain shot through her body and scorched her heart. The Siphon screamed in agony as she clutched her chest and double over in pain and sorrow.

Tears fell down her face in never-ending streams as she struggled to catch her breath, only succeeding in grasping little bits of air. Her ears rang inside her head and her entire body ached and cried in pain as she collapsed to the floor.

"Onyx! Get up, please. Crying will not solve anything!" A voice too muffled to hear called out to her and several hands grabbed at her clothes and arms to pull her to her feet but she ended up crashing to the floor once more, her face bright red and broken.

This can't be real. Draco can't be gone.

It was too much for her head to handle as she continued crying, clutching her aching heart in an effort to soothe the open wounds. She screamed loudly as she grabbed her hair and kicked the floor, failing miserably in convincing herself that this was all a dream.

"Royal infirmary" the Siphon managed to croak as her cries turned into sniffles. "I have to see him."

Without any confirmation, Onyx jumped to her feet and fled the room as she headed for the spiraling stairs. Footsteps followed after her as she pounded up two flights of stairs and found herself running down a long, windy path to a set of doubled doors guarded by several henchmen.

"Onyx! Wait!" Another voice called out to her but she was too far ahead to even hear their pleas. She had to see him. Just once to convince herself that he would make it through.

One look and that's all it will take.

She kept uttering those words in her head even as the henchmen seized by hand when she attempted to break through the door. They drew their swords and ordered her to stand back but the siphon fought back, hoping her powers would be summoned by her sudden bursts of energy.

Azura, Falcon, and Orion caught up to her in no time and seized her hands and body from fighting back. The Siphon struggled against their strong grips but there was too many of them and they were able to overpower her until she was nothing but a sobbing mess.

Hours felt like years as she laid in the comfort of Orion and falcon's arms while Azura sweet-talked the henchmen into allowing them access to the royal infirmary. Minutes passed before the sudden creak of the door opening caught her attention.

In one blink, Onyx found herself being dragged into a dimly lit room with drawn curtains and leaves burning in a wooden bowl, their essence leaving a pleasant smell around the room. Several maids, all dressed in black, attended to the bruised s emperor who laid on a golden bed with scarlet sheets.

Onyx held her breath as they walked closer to his unconscious body. She could make out the open wounds that the arrows left on his once smooth chest and the congealed and dried blood that marked his porcelain skin. His hair was disheveled and his body was covered in silk blankets from the waist down.

Onyx felt herself slip from Orion and Falcon's gasp as she fell to her knees in front of the emperor. The maids around him flinched and withdrew their towels from his forehead as the Siphon grasped his limp hand.

His pale hands barely flinched as she cupped his face, brushing a thumb against his blood-smeared cheeks. "Draco" she whispered, hoping he would open his eyes and smile brightly at her. "Please. I can't do this without you" she continued but received nothing but silence on his end.

From the corner of her eye, she could make out the hovering figures of Azura and Falcon in a deep conversation while Orion talked to a maid a few feet away from them. All of them wore a worried expression but the minute their eyes met hers, they replaced it with a haunting smile.

In a huff, Onyx threw her hands over Draco's torso and rested her head where his right arm laid. Her hair tumbled over her face and her bandaged hand rested in his. She could feel the pulsing beat of his heart and the gradual rise and fall of his chest but no words spoke from his lips.

Her eyes stung red and burned underneath her blurry gaze but there was nothing she could do to wake him up. One of the maids pried Onyx off his body and gently sat her in a nearby chair. She continued asking questions and making gestures to get her attention but the Siphon could hear nothing but her heart beating in her ears.

Eventually, the maids covered the emperor's body in the ointment and draped the scarlet sheets over his head before leaving in peace. Orion pulled up a chair and took a seat next to her while Azura and Falcon respectively sat on the bed, leaving space for Draco's body.

"Raiyah is on her way to the palace and will temporarily be taking over the throne until her brother wakes up" Azura informed her. "Now that the barrier is broken, we need to strengthen the Inner Circle's border wall. It's the only thing we have left."

"What difference will that make?" Onyx replied back. "Even with all the security around the barrier, it was still extremely easy for the tribes to invade the inner circle. How will we survive with just a slab on concrete separating their world from ours?"

"You have to understand that when the barrier was forged, the intentions behind it were to keep mortals out" Azura explained, laying a hand on top of hers. "There was no way we could indefinitely keep out the desert tribes. They were immortal at the end of the day, and, with enough energy, could break the barrier. However, the barrier made it harder for them to penetrate the Inner Circle. The border wall was created as extra protection in case the barrier ever failed."

"Like today" Orion sighed, running his locks through his hair. "I know it seems like there is nothing left but we need to make sure that the desert tribes cannot reach their goal and the only way to do that is to have a leader on the throne and the walls expanded."

"What about Raebar's body?" Onyx asked. "The barrier is gone and he is simply drifting in limbo." The three magic beings traded a look around the room. "We know" Falcon simply said after a minute. "However, we can't move his body. The magic surrounding his body is only permeable my Draco's magic. Only he has access to it."

"And even if we had access to his body, it would be too risky to bring him inside the castle" Falcon added on. "The desert tribes may be impulsive but they are not idiotic. They would surely set every kingdom in the Inner Circle on fire until they got their hands on his body. It would be a bloody war zone."

"So we are just going to sit here like fucking idiots and wait for Raiyah to arrive and direct us before we even do anything?" Onyx questioned, her eyes traveling from Azura's flittering gaze to the sorrow reflecting in Orion and Falcon's eyes. "Why don't slit our own throats while we wait?"

"It's a lot more complicated than you think" Azura warned her. "This is bigger than you, Alesandria, and Draco. For years, the desert tribes have been planning their revenge against us. We can't let them win. Not after everything we've gone through to make that certain."

"And yet we are sitting here, merely discussing what to do and not taking any affirmative action" Onyx pointed us."The emperor is in a coma, the other leaders are severely injured, citizens are dead, and our only protection has been destroyed no thanks to me. Now is not the time to just strengthen the wall and wait for Raiyah to arrive. We have to strike back."

"And how do you propose we do that?" Orion questioned. "We have so much to take care of. An attack against the desert tribes will make things worse."

"The worst has already happened to us. Time to wreak havoc on them" Onyx replied back with a stern look on her face. "We need to retaliate and fast before they can conjure up an idea to take Raebar's body. That should be our number one concern right now along with making sure Draco and the other leaders recover. The citizens can be stored in a local burial building to keep their bodies intact before we give them a proper sending."

Although the three magical beings traded questionable looks, they did not say a thing as they rose up from their seats. "Don't jump into irrational conclusions. Think this out" Falcon said, giving the Siphon a quick hug. "We'll make sure Yongui delivers Alesandria and her family safely to the castle."

Onyx tried to defend herself but the door was already shut as soon as she opened her mouth. Left alone with her thoughts and the coma induced emperor next to her, the Siphon broke down and cried into her hands. She had no idea what she was crying for. Maybe it was the fact that her last hope had death hanging over his head or the fact that she had traveled so far only to accomplish so little. Or maybe it was the mere fact that her life was a mess right now.

Whatever the reason was, she wailed until her throat was dry and there were no more tears to cry. Sniffling into her arms, she cautiously got up and grasped the scarlet blankets that covered Draco. She pulled them down to see the emperor still trapped in a limbo state of mind. His skin was pale and cracked and the tattoos that danced around his neck looked dull underneath the dim lights of the infirmary.

Seating herself next to his body, she took hold of his hand and intertwined their fingers together. A slight pulse could be felt underneath his dead skin but he didn't flinch. Onyx diverted her gaze from his face to the arm she was holding. It was covered in Ruges and self-inflicted tattoos he had branded himself with over the years. They seemed to blend together to create one beautiful masterpiece and, for a minute, she could not tell the difference.

However, they became more apparent when a strange stream of gold magic shined underneath his skin. It was vibrant and outlined all the small patches of clean skin on his arm while lighting the Ruges in a vibrant fire. A small gasp fell from Onyx's lips as she witnessed the phenomenon.

"Thank the Gods and stars above. You're magic is still alive" she whispered to him, holding his hand close to her chest. "At least I know that there is a small chance of you coming back to us." Of course, the emperor didn't respond but Onyx barely noticed. A new spark of hope lit in her chest and consumed her whole body. It brought a smile to her lips and continued to make its way down to her intertwined fingers where she felt them relaxed against his.

The magic in her body began to glow underneath her skin and a small streak of gold magic outlined the arm that held the emperor's hand. It was a small but brilliant sign of hope as she watched her magic merge with his. They glowed at the tips of their fingers and seemed to acknowledge one another as the magic continued to outline both of their arms. It was like watching their souls dance together.

All of a sudden, she could hear the faint beat of his heart and his thoughts through his magic as he fought to wake up from his limbo.

And she was certain that he could feel her emotions through her own magic.

"Please wake up Draco" she whispered to him, using her other hand to stroke his oily cheek. "We can't do this without you." She paused at her words, hesitating at what to say next. "I-I can't do this without you."

He didn't respond but she could hear his acknowledging thoughts through his magic. Sadly, she nodded and plopped herself on the floor next to his bed. Their fingers were still intertwined together as she closed her eyes and pleaded and prayed to the Gods to restore his soul back into his body.

Raiyah Vaolcris arrived at the Palace of Revian several hours later with one bag and little patience.

She was greeted by the maids and guards that kept the palace safe and was led to the common room where Azura, Falcon, and Orion met her with long faces. Silently, they led her to a guest room she could stay in as she took temporary control of the throne.

Along the way, they explained her brother's condition and Onyx's plan although they warned her that the poor girl was delusional and traumatized from earlier events. Raiyah merely nodded but her head was floating around with a thousand emotions screaming inside of her.

"She's not exactly in the right state of mind" Orion finished as Riayah got herself settled into the guest room. She sighed, tossing the rest of her belongings in the corner of the room. "Where is everyone else? Castrin, Yongui, and Sahara? she asked, running her fingers through her hair.

"Castrin accompanied Sahara to Seron's palace. He was severely injured and needs immediate care. He's staying with her for a couple of days before he goes to Yongui's house to retrieve Alesandria and her family and deliver them back to the palace."

"So I am guessing Yongui won't be coming back anytime soon?" Raiyah questioned. The solemn look on their faces confirmed her beliefs. "You know how Yongui is when it comes to Aznar and Estel. She's the only family they have and she has to evacuate to a safe place before she even steps a foot into the palace."

"It's understandable. Where is my brother's body?" she asked, her voice dying in the last few words. Azura wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in for a hug while Orion and Falcon comforted her with soothing pats on the shoulder and back. "The royal infirmary. We left Onyx there" Falcon finally replied after a moment of silence.

"We really need to improve our defenses around the wall if we even have a slim chance of surviving this war" Orion further explained but Raiyah stopped him before he could go any further.

"I think you guys are missing the bigger picture here," she said, breaking away from their hold on her. She paced around the room, her mind racing with thoughts. "This isn't the time to strengthen the wall. This is the time for us to retaliate. We have to attack them back."

"What? Raiyah, are you out of your damn mind?!" Azura hissed, shaking her head. "What difference will that make?"

"What difference will strengthen the wall make?" Raiyah retaliated, earning a sneer from Azura. "These people are not mortal beings. They are full blooded immortal beings just like all of us and at the end of the day, they will attack the Inner Circle. That part is inevitable. While they are conjuring up the next phase in their plan, we're practically throwing our arms open and pleading for them to attack us! We're not taking any action at all!"

"We just got attacked, Raiyah!" Orion protested.

"And that's exactly why we need to fight back!" Raiyah shouted. She could feel her blood boil under her skin as she took a deep breath to calm her beating heart. She took a good look at the beings in front of her, their faces flushed and their chests heaving up and down. "Listen, you guys know how dedicated I am to the Inner Circle. This place has been my home for so long and it's home to millions of immortal beings who wish to live their lives in peace. When the Inner Circle was first created, it was an honorary moment written in Asxairo's history. It's the day we decided to break away from the manipulating masters that were the Desert Tribe leaders and start a life of our own. This place stands for strength and freedom and I would hate to see it crumble without a fight."

Raiyah took in their unconvinced faces and sighed, knowing she would have to convince them further to even trust her with a plan as crazy as organizing a retaliation. "I'm no emperor or empress" she continued on, licking her chapped lips. "I was never interested in ruling this kingdom. My brother was and still is a more suited leader than I'll ever be. I wouldn't even have come here on my own if it weren't for him. And while Draco tries to keep everything at peace, there are elements that are even out of his control and knowing him, he would plan a retaliation as well. He cares too much about his people and the Inner Circle to let his enemies attack freely and I think he would want us to do so as well. Right now, Raebar's body is floating freely between the border of the Inner Circle and the mortal kingdoms. If we focus on strengthening the wall, the Desert Tribes will most definitely take advantage it and restore their leader back with a soul and put him in charge once again."

"Draco left specific instructions for us if anything were to ever happen to him. He wouldn't like it if we stepped out of line" Falcon reminded her but Raiyah shook her head once more. "He would make an exception for this. Besides, he chose you guys to be in his court for a specific reason. He trusts you guys with all his heart and he knows that if anything were to ever happen to him, you would all be great at stepping up to his job. Now's the time to show him that you made the right choice."

Raiyah looked at their faces once again, this time smiling when she saw their stone cold expressions turn into considering stares. "When Draco awakens and is angry with the choices we made, I'll take full responsibility."

"You're taking full responsibility, either way, Raiyah" Azura reassured her, crossing her arms. "But even if we agreed to this, what army will we have to back us up? The other leaders and their armies are still recovering as well. Some of them are even dead."

"We'll figure out a way. This will take a few days to plan but we will attack before the sun sets on the last day of the week. I promise, but right now, I need to speak with Onyx. She knows the Desert Tribes and their tactics best. Maybe she can shine a light on this."

Raiyah turned to leave for the infirmary room with the others trailing her closely. "Sure. It's not like we have been studying their tactics for thousands of years or anything" Orion said in a sarcastic tone, earning a glare from Raiyah. "She might know more in-depth secrets that we can't reach. Give the girl some credit."

They made their way up the stairs once again and this time, the guards didn't dare to question them about their intentions with the emperor's body. They simply stepped aside and allowed them through. A cold draft met them as they entered the infirmary room. The room was still dark and haunting as Raiyah remembered the traumatic moment that took place within its walls.

She moved closer to the bed where the emperor laid and held her breath. He looked so pale and desolate. His chest didn't even move. He was simply not in this world. Raiyah let out a strangled gasp as she came closer to his body but it was immediately choked out a by a low sob.

She reached out to touch her brother's arm but it glowed a brilliant gold underneath his skin and seemed to create a path downward. She followed it to see that his fingers were interlocked with Onyx's who rested her head against the bed in a soundless sleep. Her magic shined bright and outlined her arms in vibrant gold streaks. It traced the veins in her arms and merged with her brother's magic when it reached her fingertips.

Raiyah watched in astonishment before turning over to the magical beings behind her. "Did you have any idea about this?" she asked in a stern voice, crossing her arms over her chest. They all shook their heads. "We're as shocked as you are," Falcon said although his voice was a bit unconvincing.

"It doesn't matter. I'll deal with that later." Shaking her head, Raiyah turned her attention back to the Mind Siphon and shook her awake. Onyx grumbled and moaned but eventually, her eyes flew open and her fingers fell from the emperor's grasp. The gold stream of magic disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

"Raiyah. Welcome" the Siphon said in a breathless whisper, bowing her head to the emperor's daughter. "I didn't know you were here."

"I just arrived. Tell me, how well versed are you in the Desert Tribes fighting tactics?" she asked. The Siphon seemed confused by the question as her face crumpled into a suspicious expression. "Pretty well versed. I trained with them every day and often completed missions for them. Why do you ask?"

Raiyah waved her hand and took hold of Onyx's wrist. She gave her a quick push towards the opened doors, whispering something underneath her breath. "Never mind that, Onyx. You're going to help me while Draco is gone. We have a retaliation to execute."

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

Holy crap you guys are amazing! I noticed an amazing spike in the readings of both TCO and TSC and I love you all for that! Thank you!

From this point on, it's going to be nothing but wars and attacks and heartbreaks and betrayal and love and blood and an epic showdown! This book is most likely going to be somewhere between fifty chapters long or up to fifty-nine chapters long. We have a lot to unbox and a long way to go!

Hope you guys are ready for the ride!

Love you guys! Thanks for the constant support!

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

I am sorry if this chapter is crappy. I will edit it later but I wanted to put something out for you guys so apologies if it's not my best work.

So tell me what you guys thought of this chapter.

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Until next time Lovelies!

With love, May