46.

Alex knocked softly again, his thoughts racing. The door creaked open, but instead of Aeryn, Arin stood there, her face calm but eyes filled with something unreadable.

"Arin?" Alex blinked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Arin leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed. “I could ask you the same thing, brother. Out for a midnight stroll?”

Alex frowned, ignoring the jab. “You didn’t answer my question earlier. Where were you? Why did you return so suddenly?”

Arin’s gaze hardened, and she sighed, pushing off the doorframe. “Not everything is for you to know, Alex.”

His frustration boiled over. “You’re hiding something! This isn’t like you—where were you, Arin?” His voice rose slightly, but he quickly checked himself. “We don’t keep secrets.”

Arin’s expression softened for a brief second before she turned away. “Some things, brother, are best left unsaid.”

"That’s not good enough," Alex retorted, stepping closer to her. "What are you up to?"

Arin paused, her back still turned to him. After a long moment, she said quietly, “I went to see Jack.”

Alex’s heart skipped a beat. “Jack? Are you out of your mind? Why would you—”

“Because,” she cut him off, turning to face him again, her eyes flashing with determination, “there are forces at play that even you, in all your wisdom, cannot understand right now.”

Alex opened his mouth to argue, but before he could, Arin stepped forward, her voice low and urgent. “Alex, I need you to trust me. You have other things to focus on.”

"Other things?" Alex repeated, exasperated. "You mean like the explosion of stars that just lit up the entire sky? Don’t tell me that has nothing to do with what you’re hiding.”

Arin hesitated, her lips pressing together into a thin line. “The stars are a sign. You know what it means.”

Alex ran a hand through his hair, his voice lowering. “I do. It’s time.”

Arin nodded slowly, stepping back toward the shadows. “Then focus on that, Alex. Aeryn… she’s part of something bigger. The universe has chosen her, just as it has chosen you.”

Alex’s eyes narrowed. “You’re not telling me everything. What did Jack have to do with this?”

Arin’s gaze dropped for a moment, but when she looked up again, her expression was unreadable. “That’s something you’ll understand soon enough. For now, you need to act.”

And with that, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the dark corridors of the palace, leaving Alex standing there, his mind whirling.

He glanced back at the door to Aeryn’s quarters, his heart racing once more. He still didn’t fully understand Arin’s cryptic words or her meeting with Jack, but the urgency in her tone left little doubt. There were bigger things at stake.

After a moment of hesitation, Alex knocked on the door again, this time more firmly.

Aeryn’s soft, sleepy voice called from inside, “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Alex,” he replied, trying to steady his voice.

There was a pause, followed by the sound of shuffling, and then the door opened to reveal Aeryn, rubbing her eyes. Her hair was tousled from sleep, and she was wrapped in a thin blanket.

“Alex?” she asked, her voice groggy. “What’s going on? Is everything okay?”

Alex’s heart clenched at the sight of her. She looked so innocent, so unaware of the world that had just shifted around them. He stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

“Aeryn, there’s something I need to tell you,” he began, his voice serious.

Aeryn blinked, her brow furrowing in confusion as she adjusted to his sudden intensity. “What is it? Did something happen?”

He took a deep breath, searching for the right words. “There was… an explosion. The stars—did you see them?”

She shook her head. “I was asleep. What do you mean, an explosion?”

“It wasn’t a normal explosion,” Alex explained. “It was… a sign.”

“A sign?” Aeryn echoed, her confusion deepening. “What kind of sign?”

Alex stepped closer, his gaze locking onto hers. “In our world, when the stars explode in such a way, it’s a signal from the universe. It means that… it’s time for the chosen ones to bring new life into the world.”

Aeryn’s eyes widened, and she took a step back, her voice laced with disbelief. “Wait… are you saying that… we have to…”

He nodded, his expression softening as he saw the emotions flicker across her face. “Aeryn, we’re meant to have a child. It’s written in the stars.”

She stared at him, stunned, unable to fully process what he was saying. “But… I’m human, Alex. I don’t know anything about your customs or your stars. How can you be sure?”

Alex reached out, gently taking her hand in his. “Because the stars never lie. This is the way of our people, Aeryn. We don’t have a choice. The universe has chosen us for this.”

Aeryn pulled her hand away, pacing across the room as she tried to make sense of it all. “This is crazy. I mean… we have…”

“I know,” Alex said softly, watching her with concern. “But this isn’t just about us. This is about the future—our future, our kingdom’s future.”

She stopped, turning to face him again, her eyes searching his. “And you’re okay with this? With… with having a child? With me?”

Alex stepped closer, his voice steady but filled with sincerity. “Aeryn, I chose you long before the stars did. Yes, this is overwhelming, but I’ve always known you were meant to be my queen. This… this is just the next step.”

Aeryn swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. Everything was happening so fast, and she didn’t know how to feel. Part of her wanted to run, to escape the weight of the universe’s expectations. But another part of her couldn’t deny the connection she felt to Alex, to this strange and beautiful world that had become her new home.

“I don’t know if I’m ready,” she admitted, her voice small.

Alex closed the distance between them, gently cupping her face in his hands. “We’ll do this together. You’re not alone in this, Aeryn.”

She looked into his eyes, seeing the warmth and sincerity in them. Slowly, she nodded, though fear still lingered in her chest. “Okay… we’ll figure it out.”

Alex smiled softly, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Thank you. We’ll figure it out, I promise.”

And as they stood there, bathed in the soft glow of the palace lights, Alex knew that the stars had set their course in motion, and there was no turning back now.