24.

The old astrologer, his wrinkled face twisted into a sinister smile, stepped out of the grand palace and into the shadows of the night. His steps were slow and deliberate, each one echoing the weight of the secret he carried. The wedding had taken place, the union of Alex and Aeryn was now sealed, and the kingdom would soon be lulled into a false sense of security. But the astrologer had other plans, plans that stretched far beyond the walls of Alex's kingdom.

He made his way through the darkened corridors of the palace, slipping unnoticed past guards and servants who were too preoccupied with the festivities to pay him any mind. As he emerged into the open air, the astrologer tilted his head back, gazing up at the sky where the black star loomed ominously on the horizon. The star, barely visible from within the kingdom’s borders, marked the lair of the one who had been waiting for this moment, biding his time until the right opportunity arose.

The astrologer’s heart pounded in his chest, not with fear, but with excitement. The moment he had been waiting for had finally arrived. He had served Alex faithfully for many years, always playing the part of the loyal advisor. But his true allegiance lay elsewhere—with a darker, more malevolent force that had been waiting patiently for its chance to strike.

As he reached the edge of the kingdom, the astrologer slipped into the dense forest that bordered Alex’s realm. The trees towered above him, their twisted branches forming a canopy that blocked out the moonlight. The further he ventured into the forest, the darker and more oppressive the atmosphere became. But the astrologer moved with purpose, knowing exactly where he was headed.

At last, he reached a small clearing, bathed in the faint, eerie glow of the black star that hung low in the sky. The astrologer stopped, bowing his head in respect as he waited. He didn’t have to wait long. From the shadows, a figure emerged, his presence sending a shiver down the astrologer’s spine despite the fact that he had been expecting it.

Jack, Alex’s cousin, and the true enemy of the kingdom, stepped forward. He was a towering figure, his form shrouded in darkness. His eyes glowed with a malevolent light, and his aura radiated power and cruelty. Jack had always been an outsider, a threat lurking on the fringes of the kingdom, but now he was ready to make his move.

The astrologer smiled, pleased to have Jack’s attention. He had served Alex for years, not out of loyalty, but to bide his time, to gather information and to strike when the moment was right. And now, with Alex’s marriage to Aeryn, that moment had arrived.

“My lord,” the astrologer said, his voice dripping with false humility as he bowed low. “I bring you news from the palace. The wedding has taken place. Alex and the human girl are now bound in marriage.”

Jack’s eyes narrowed, and a low growl rumbled in his chest. “They have married?” he repeated, his voice a dangerous whisper.

“Yes, my lord,” the astrologer confirmed, his tone obsequious. “The ceremony was just completed. The people believe that this union will bring peace to the kingdom, but we both know that it is only the beginning.”

Jack’s eyes flashed with anger, and the ground beneath the astrologer’s feet seemed to tremble with his rage. The black star overhead pulsed with a dark light, as if responding to Jack’s emotions.

“You have done well, astrologer,” Jack said, his voice low and menacing. “But do not think that this news pleases me. The marriage of Alex and that human girl is an affront to everything I stand for. They believe that their union will protect them, but they are wrong. I will see to it that they suffer for their arrogance.”

The astrologer’s smile faltered slightly as he sensed the growing fury in Jack’s voice. “Of course, my lord,” he said quickly, trying to appease Jack’s anger. “This is only the first step in our plan. With your guidance, we will bring down Alex and his kingdom, and you will take your rightful place as the ruler of this land.”

But Jack was no longer listening. His eyes had darkened, and a terrifying energy crackled around him. The astrologer took an involuntary step back, realizing too late that he had misjudged the extent of Jack’s wrath.

“What makes you think that I need your help to achieve my goals?” Jack snarled, his voice rising in fury. “You have served your purpose, astrologer, but you are no longer needed.”

Before the astrologer could react, a bolt of lightning shot down from the black star, striking him with lethal precision. The astrologer’s eyes widened in shock as the searing pain tore through him. His body convulsed, and within moments, he crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

The air crackled with the residual energy of the lightning strike, and the black star above pulsed with a malevolent light. Jack stood over the astrologer’s body, his expression cold and unfeeling. To him, the astrologer had been nothing more than a pawn, a tool to be used and discarded when no longer useful.

Jack’s gaze shifted to the horizon, where Alex’s kingdom lay in peaceful slumber, unaware of the storm that was brewing just beyond its borders. He had waited patiently for this moment, and now, with the astrologer’s betrayal confirmed, he was ready to unleash his full fury upon the kingdom.

“The time has come,” Jack muttered to himself, his voice a dangerous whisper. “Alex and that human girl will pay for their arrogance. They think they can escape their fate, but they are wrong. The darkness is coming for them, and nothing will save them now.”

With one final glance at the astrologer’s lifeless body, Jack turned and disappeared back into the shadows, leaving behind only the ominous glow of the black star as a reminder of the danger that now loomed over the kingdom.