34.

Alex stood over Jack’s limp form, his chest heaving with fury. The chamber around them was a mess—black foam dissipating into nothingness, walls cracked from the force of his rage. The room reeked of fear and betrayal, but Alex's focus was solely on Aeryn, who lay unconscious on the cold ground.

He wasted no time bending down beside her, gently scooping her into his arms. She felt fragile, her skin cold to the touch, and her breathing was shallow. His heart clenched as he looked at her pale face. This was his fault. He had hesitated, allowed Jack to get too close. And now, Aeryn had suffered because of his mistake.

“Damn you, Jack,” Alex muttered under his breath. His eyes flickered with a dangerous glow, the remnants of his fury not yet spent. Jack had dared to plant seeds of doubt in Aeryn’s mind, dared to try and manipulate her into believing lies about him. But worse than that, Jack had tried to take her—had tried to use her in his sick plan. Alex would never forgive him for that.

Without wasting a moment, Alex carefully cradled Aeryn in his arms and carried her out of the chamber, his mind racing. She needed help, quickly. He couldn't bear to see her like this—so vulnerable, so hurt. He vowed never to let this happen again.

As he made his way through the winding corridors of his palace, his thoughts were consumed with rage and worry. Jack had pushed him too far this time, but there was something else gnawing at him—a sense of urgency that went beyond mere anger. There was more to Jack's plan than Alex had realized, something darker, more dangerous.

He was almost at the royal infirmary when the astrologer, an old man with long silver hair and a serious expression, appeared in the hallway, his robe swirling around him as he approached with hurried steps.

"Majesty," the astrologer called out, his voice urgent but respectful. "We must speak. It's about Lady Aeryn."

Alex stopped, his grip on Aeryn tightening protectively. "She's unconscious," he said through gritted teeth. "We need to tend to her first."

The astrologer shook his head, his eyes glinting with a knowledge that sent a shiver down Alex's spine. "I understand your concern, Your Majesty, but what I have to tell you cannot wait. Please, bring her to the infirmary, but once she is stable, you must visit my chamber at once."

Alex's eyes narrowed. The astrologer was known for his cryptic warnings, but there was something about his tone that chilled Alex to the core. Without another word, Alex continued toward the infirmary, his heart pounding with worry.

The healers worked quickly and efficiently, examining Aeryn and ensuring her condition was stable. Alex hovered nearby, his gaze never leaving her face. When the head healer assured him she would be alright with some rest, Alex allowed himself a brief moment of relief—but it was short-lived.

The astrologer's words echoed in his mind, and the urgency in his tone made Alex's instincts scream that something was terribly wrong. With one last glance at Aeryn, who was now resting peacefully, Alex left the infirmary and made his way to the astrologer’s chamber.

The room was dimly lit, as always, with the faint glow of star charts and strange constellations flickering on the walls. The astrologer stood in the center, his eyes closed as he muttered incantations, his hands moving over a floating map of the stars.

"Majesty," the astrologer said without turning around, as if he had sensed Alex's arrival. "Thank you for coming."

Alex stepped forward, his expression tight with impatience. "What is it? What’s wrong with Aeryn?"

The astrologer opened his eyes, and they gleamed with an unsettling intensity. "Lady Aeryn is human, as you know. But she is more than that—she is key to Jack's twisted plan."

Alex felt his stomach drop. "What do you mean?"

The astrologer waved his hand, and the star map shifted, revealing a strange alignment of celestial bodies. "Jack’s power is waning, Majesty. His connection to the ancient forces that once gave him strength is fading. The only way for him to regain what he has lost is to… produce a human heir. A child of both human and otherworldly blood."

Alex’s breath caught in his throat. "He wanted to use Aeryn to—" His voice cut off, unable to finish the thought.

The astrologer nodded grimly. "Indeed. If Jack were to impregnate her, he would use the child’s life force to restore his power. He would become unstoppable, and the balance of our world would tip in his favor."

Alex’s blood boiled. The thought of Jack even touching Aeryn, let alone using her in such a vile way, made his hands clench into fists. "I won’t let him," Alex said, his voice low and dangerous.

The astrologer stepped closer, his gaze serious. "You must act quickly, Majesty. The only way to truly protect Lady Aeryn from Jack is for you to claim her—completely. As her husband, yes, but more than that. You must create life with her. Once she carries your child, Jack’s hold on her will be broken, and he will have no way to use her for his dark purposes."

Alex stiffened, his mind racing. He had always known that Aeryn was special, that their connection went beyond the physical or political. But now, the stakes were higher than ever. If he didn’t act, Jack would find another way to get to her, and Alex couldn’t bear the thought of losing her—or worse, of her falling into Jack’s hands again.

"You’re saying that I need to… make her mine in every way," Alex said, his voice strained as he tried to absorb the gravity of the situation.

The astrologer nodded. "Time is of the essence, Majesty. If Jack succeeds, the consequences will be dire—not just for you and Lady Aeryn, but for our entire world."

Alex's jaw clenched. He understood the urgency, but the decision weighed heavily on him. He didn’t want to force Aeryn into anything, especially not after everything she had been through. He cared for her deeply—more than he had ever admitted, even to himself—but this was not how he had imagined their future.

Still, he knew that the astrologer was right. Jack was a threat that couldn’t be ignored, and Aeryn’s life—and perhaps the fate of their entire world—depended on his actions.

"I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her," Alex said, his voice firm and resolute. "But I won’t rush her into this. When the time is right, I’ll make sure she knows what’s at stake. And when she’s ready… we’ll face this together."

The astrologer gave him a solemn nod. "A wise decision, Majesty. But remember, time is not on your side. Jack will not wait forever."

Alex turned to leave, but before he could go, the astrologer spoke one final time. "Majesty… there’s something else you should know. The stars… they are shifting. Something dark is approaching, something far worse than Jack. Be vigilant."

Alex’s hand tightened on the door handle, his mind swirling with the weight of his responsibilities. He nodded once and walked out of the chamber, his heart heavy with the knowledge of what lay ahead.

As he made his way back to the infirmary, he couldn’t shake the astrologer’s words from his mind. Protecting Aeryn was no longer just about keeping her safe from Jack—it was about safeguarding the future of their world.

When he entered the infirmary and saw Aeryn’s peaceful face, a fierce determination settled within him. He would not fail her again. He would protect her with everything he had, and when the time came, they would face the future together—whatever it held.

For now, though, Alex knew one thing for certain: Jack would never get his hands on Aeryn again. Not as long as he lived.