56.

Aeryn’s feet pounded the ground as she raced away from the hilltop, her heart hammering in her chest. The stars above were still exploding in bursts of light, illuminating the path ahead, but none of the celebration mattered now. All that filled her mind were Jack’s menacing words, echoing over and over: *“The child you will bear will give me more power…”*

She couldn’t think straight. Her entire body was shaking with fear, but her legs refused to stop. Alex’s voice still rang in her ears: *“Run!”* He was fighting Jack, risking his life for her, and now it was up to her to stay out of Jack’s grasp.

As she ran, her mind raced back to the moment when Jack appeared. The malice in his eyes was unlike anything she had ever seen before, and the way he had looked at her made her skin crawl. She couldn’t let him take her. She had to find help, to get back to the palace.

But suddenly, as if in response to her fear, a wave of dizziness hit her. She stumbled, her body swaying as her vision blurred. She clutched her side and gasped, feeling as though the ground was pulling her down. This wasn’t normal. Something was wrong.

*“No, not now,”* she whispered to herself, trying to steady her breath. But the dizziness grew stronger, and the world spun faster around her. She collapsed to her knees, her head swimming. The feeling of black foam, like what she had once felt in a nightmare, seemed to engulf her senses, choking her.

“Aeryn,” a dark voice whispered from behind her. “You can’t run from fate.”

She twisted around to see Jack standing there, his tall figure framed by the celestial lights in the sky. His eyes gleamed with triumph as he approached her, his hand reaching out.

*“Get away from me!”* Aeryn screamed, trying to crawl backward, but her body felt heavy, as if some invisible force was draining her energy.

Jack smiled, crouching down next to her. His voice was calm, almost soothing, but there was something sinister lurking beneath it. “I told you, Aeryn. You are destined for something greater. You can fight it all you want, but in the end, your body and your blood will give me everything I need.”

Aeryn’s heart thudded loudly in her chest, and she tried to push herself up, but her limbs refused to cooperate. “No… I won’t let you,” she rasped, her voice weak.

Jack chuckled softly. “Oh, but you don’t have a choice, my dear.” He leaned closer, his fingers brushing her arm, and the sensation sent a chill down her spine. “Soon, your blood will make me unstoppable. You’ll bear my child, and together, we’ll rule everything.”

Aeryn’s entire body trembled. She couldn’t let this happen. Not after everything she had gone through. Not after Alex had fought so hard for her. She couldn’t let Jack win.

But before Jack could do anything else, a loud roar filled the air. The ground beneath them seemed to tremble as Alex appeared from the darkness, his eyes blazing with fury. His sword was drawn, and his entire body radiated a dangerous energy that made the air hum.

“Get away from her!” Alex’s voice thundered, echoing through the night.

Jack smirked, rising slowly to his feet. “Ah, cousin, I was wondering when you’d show up again. I was just getting to know your lovely bride.”

Alex’s face darkened, and without another word, he charged forward, his sword flashing in the starlight. Jack barely had time to react before their blades clashed with a deafening crash. The sheer force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, making the nearby trees tremble.

“Stay down, Aeryn!” Alex shouted over his shoulder as he pushed Jack back, his strikes quick and lethal.

Aeryn watched in terror, unable to move, as the two men fought before her. Every time their swords collided, sparks flew, lighting up the night. Jack was fast, but Alex was relentless, his attacks precise and filled with fury.

But Jack wasn’t giving up so easily. With a sharp laugh, he summoned a dark energy that pulsed from his hands, sending a wave of force that knocked Alex back several feet. Alex stumbled, barely managing to stay on his feet, but he quickly recovered, his eyes narrowing as he focused on Jack.

“You can’t stop me, Alex,” Jack taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. “You might be the king, but I have something you don’t.”

Alex sneered, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths. “And what’s that? Cowardice?”

Jack grinned wickedly. “No. Desperation.”

With that, Jack lunged forward, his sword slashing toward Alex with deadly intent. Alex dodged, his reflexes sharp, but Jack was relentless. He was faster now, fueled by some dark power that seemed to be growing stronger with every passing second.

Aeryn’s mind raced as she watched the battle. She couldn’t just sit here, helpless. She had to do something. She looked around, searching for anything she could use, her eyes landing on a sharp piece of rock lying a few feet away.

With a grunt of effort, Aeryn forced herself to move, crawling toward the rock. Her limbs felt heavy, and the dizziness still clouded her vision, but she refused to give up. Her fingers closed around the jagged stone, and she clutched it tightly, her knuckles turning white.

Just as Jack was about to deliver a crushing blow to Alex, Aeryn acted. She summoned all the strength she had left and hurled the rock at Jack. It hit him square in the back, causing him to stumble.

“Alex, now!” she shouted, her voice hoarse.

Alex didn’t hesitate. He seized the opening Aeryn had given him and swung his sword in a powerful arc. The blade slashed across Jack’s chest, sending him crashing to the ground with a pained grunt.

Breathing heavily, Alex stood over Jack, his sword pointed at his throat. “It’s over,” Alex growled, his voice low and dangerous.

But Jack only laughed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. “Over? Oh, Alex, you truly don’t understand, do you? This is just the beginning.”

Before Alex could react, Jack’s body dissolved into a swirling cloud of dark mist, disappearing into the night. The mist hovered for a moment, then vanished completely, leaving no trace of Jack behind.

Alex cursed under his breath, his chest heaving as he lowered his sword. He turned to Aeryn, his eyes filled with concern as he rushed to her side.

“Aeryn, are you alright?” he asked, kneeling beside her.

Aeryn nodded weakly, still trembling from the ordeal. “I’m… I’m fine,” she whispered, though her voice wavered. “But Jack… he’s still out there.”

Alex’s jaw tightened, and he looked in the direction where Jack had disappeared. “He won’t stop,” he muttered, his voice grim. “But neither will I. I’ll protect you, Aeryn. No matter what.”

Aeryn met his gaze, her heart swelling with gratitude and something deeper she couldn’t quite name. “I know you will,” she said softly.

Alex reached out, gently cupping her face in his hands. “I promise,” he whispered, his voice filled with determination.

As they sat there under the light of the exploding stars, Aeryn felt a flicker of hope. Jack may have escaped, but with Alex by her side, she knew they would face whatever came next together.