The Cursed Prince's Strange Bride

491  A Blend

"I don't... I don't have any marks on me." She stuttered.

Hunter's unwavering gaze held a steadfast calmness. It was as if he saw beyond the surface, penetrating into the hidden layers of her existence.

"You can't see it now. But we can see it." His gaze shifted to her hand on her neck, and she followed his line of sight, her brows knitting together.

"It's a part of your identity that's been hidden, waiting for the right time to reveal itself."

Her confusion intensified, like a fog thickening in her mind. She felt like she was groping in the dark, trying to make sense of a reality that seemed to slip further from her grasp.

"I don't understand."

"It's complex, and it will take time for you to comprehend fully. Around four years from now, when you turn thirty, your mark will reveal itself to you, and the pieces will fall into place."

Alicia's heart raced, anxiety gnawing at her. The idea of waiting, of not understanding until years later, was a heavy weight on her chest.

"You're saying I won't understand this until I'm thirty?" She asked quietly, not sure why she was taking his words seriously.

Hunter's eyes held a glimmer of assurance, a light amidst the uncertainty. His presence seemed to steady her as she wavered on the precipice of a new reality.

"You won't be alone in this journey. Those of our kind who have lived for up to three decades can see the mark too. They'll help guide you as well."

Her emotions surged, a torrent of thoughts and feelings flooding her mind. She felt a mixture of wariness and awe, like a delicate balance on the edge of a precipice.

"Who are you, Hunter? What are you? Who are the others?"

Hunter's composure remained unshaken, a pillar of stability in the midst of her chaos. His calmness contrasted with her inner turmoil.

"I am a blend."

Alicia's bewilderment deepened, her need for understanding driving her to probe further.

"A blend of what?"

Hunter's smile held weight, as if he understood the complexity of his own existence. It was a smile that carried history, and it tugged at her curiosity.

"A blend of two ancient forces—the Blood Moon and the Grey Moon."

Alicia's brows furrowed, her confusion only deepening as she tried to grasp the significance of his words.

"Blood Moon? Grey Moon? What are you talking about?"

Hunter's voice held a quiet wisdom, as if he were revealing a secret that had been kept hidden for centuries.

"In the past, they might have called me a werewolf or a witch. I'm more of a hybrid, a merging of those elements."

Alicia's eyes widened in disbelief, caught between skepticism and fascination.

"You're telling me you're a... a werewolf-witch hybrid?"

Hunter's demeanour carried a mixture of gravity and lightness as if he understood the incredulity his words might evoke.

"The truth is more nuanced, but that's the essence of it, yes."

The tension that had built within Alicia found release in unexpected laughter, the sound echoing through the room.

"So, you're saying you're a werewolf-witch hybrid?"

Hunter's earnestness, however, quelled her laughter, replacing it with a solemn understanding.

"It's a bit more complex than that, but at its core, yes."

As Alicia's laughter ebbed, her gaze turned sombre. She looked around the room—the artefacts, the portraits—each suddenly carrying new weight. A shiver of realization ran down her spine, and her laughter transformed into a serious contemplation that left her with goosebumps.

"This is real, isn't it? This history, these connections—they're all real." Fear laced her words, her voice betraying the unease she felt.

Hunter's understanding gaze met hers, bridging the gap between her uncertainty and his unwavering knowledge.

"The history you're uncovering is real, and your place within it is equally real."

Her eyes held a mixture of emotions—fear, curiosity, determination. It was as if she stood on the threshold of an unknown world, both eager and reluctant to take that next step.

"How long have you known about all this? And why reveal it to me now?" Her voice quivered, her fatigue evident in every word.

Hunter's smile was a mixture of gentleness and authenticity, a balm to her weary soul.

"Sometimes, knowledge unfolds when the time is right. Every event, every revelation, has its purpose."

His thoughtful gaze seemed to penetrate the very essence of her being. He offered an explanation that resonated deep within her, even if she couldn't fully grasp it yet.

"This piece—the portrait—was discovered recently. I intended to meet you before the Blood Moon graced the sky, but it seems fate had other plans. There's a reason for the timing, for this moment."

Alicia's emotions churned like a tempest, caught between the whirlwind of uncertainty and the flicker of anticipation. Her heart battled against the grip of fear, while her determination fought to stand its ground. It was as if she stood on the edge of a precipice, torn between the pull of an unknown abyss and the promise of a transformative journey that could reshape her entire reality.

Turning to Hunter, Alicia's voice wavered, a blend of awe and uncertainty betraying her inner turmoil. "What does it truly mean, Hunter? Carrying this essence, this mark—what am I being drawn into?"

Hunter's gaze locked onto hers, his eyes holding a depth that hinted at concealed truths. His words were measured, carefully selected, as if he were treading on fragile ground. "There's someone who seeks you, Alicia. A presence whose path is fated to intertwine with yours. This connection you share defies the constraints of time and space."

Alicia's brow knitted in perplexity. "But how? And why would someone be seeking me out in this way?"

Hunter's gaze remained unwavering, an intensity burning within. "The 'how' is less significant in the grand scheme of our existence. It's the 'why' that's rooted in a legacy spanning generations."

Confusion and frustration mingled in Alicia's expression. She found herself growing frustrated with his manner of speech, how he veiled everything in layers of complexity. She hated it.

"I think... I need to go," Alicia uttered, her breath escaping slowly, laden with apprehension.

Hunter's demeanour softened, his voice a gentle reassurance. "Of course. Take all the time you require. Within this room, there are hidden revelations waiting for you, ready to be unravelled at your own pace."

Alicia's gaze held onto the portrait that seemed to mirror her own countenance, before sweeping across the room—a space filled with echoes of untold stories. Her breath caught, a mélange of trepidation and curiosity swirling within her, a reflection of the maelstrom of emotions that had become her constant companion.