C13 **CHAPTER 13 — Secrets of Blood**

The cathedral had fallen silent, yet the remnants of the hunters' departure still lingered in the air. A faint scent of smoke and charred stone hung in every corner. Aria settled onto one of the worn pews, her hands tightly clasped over her mark. It pulsed gently against her skin, like a heartbeat that only she could sense, reminding her of all that remained unclear.

Lucian stood by the shattered stained-glass window, gazing outward as if he could see beyond the ruins into the depths of the forest. Shadows enveloped him like a living cloak, swirling softly with each movement. The way he moved was quiet yet purposeful, making her heart race not from fear, but from something deeper and more mysterious.

"Lucian," she whispered, her voice quivering. "I… I need to know. Who was my mother?"

He didn't turn right away; his gaze remained fixed on the dark forest, thoughtful and calculating. At last, he spoke in a low, steady tone: "Your mother… was not entirely human."

Aria froze, her breath catching in her throat. "Not human? What… what do you mean?"

Lucian finally turned to face her, locking his eyes onto hers. They were dark and nearly unreadable, but the intensity within them sent a shiver down her spine. "She was born of two worlds, one of flesh and one of power. She possessed magic in her blood that was forbidden, dangerous… sought after. That blood runs through you now."

Aria felt her stomach drop as her pulse quickened; the mark on her wrist throbbed as if responding to this revelation. "So… that's why… why I can do these things?" Her hands trembled. "Why my powers… why they're so strong?"

Lucian stepped closer, shadows around him thickening slightly. His presence loomed protectively over her, intense and almost suffocating. She could feel his focus penetrating even through the distance between them. "Yes," he replied. "And that is why the hunters are pursuing you. They fear your potential; they fear what your mother was… and what you may become."

Aria's mind raced with confusion. Memories of her mother were fragmented: a soft whisper, a hand brushing against her cheek, a distant voice telling her she was special. Nothing tangible or explanatory enough to clarify why her life had always felt… broken and unstable. "But why didn’t she tell me?"

Lucian’s jaw tightened as he moved even closer until his shadow enveloped her like a protective barrier. "Because she couldn’t, not entirely.” "Some truths are too perilous, even for a mother to disclose. And she… left you to shield you.” His voice lowered, becoming softer, almost a whisper meant solely for her. “But you were never truly alone. I’ve been watching over you… for years.”

Aria’s chest constricted. “You… watched over me? All this time?” Her eyes searched for his, disbelief mixing with something else in her gaze, something indescribable.

He didn't reply verbally. Instead, he stepped closer, the shadows surrounding him flaring protectively. The intensity of his gaze felt overwhelming, and for a fleeting moment, she thought he might reach out, but he didn’t. He only touched her when necessary. Yet the strength of his presence pushed her forward, as if conveying: I am here. I won’t let anything harm you.

Tears filled her eyes as she swallowed hard. “I, I don’t understand… any of this. Why me? Why am I cursed?”

Lucian’s eyes softened slightly, though the fire within them remained unyielding. “The curse wasn’t hers to give; it was hers to carry. She inherited it… and now, so have you. It is linked to your blood, Aria. Your mother’s legacy is part of you, one reason your power is awakening so swiftly.”

Aria glanced down at her hands, feeling her mark pulse in response to his words. “So… all the nightmares and everything I’ve been experiencing… It’s because of her?”

“Yes,” Lucian replied, his voice low and unwavering. “And because of the hunters. They will stop at nothing to control what flows through your veins. That’s why I protect you—why I can’t let anything harm you—not them, not anyone.” His shadowed form drew closer, invading her space as she sensed an almost tangible wave of obsession in his presence: protective, consuming, dangerous yet alluring.

Aria’s chest tightened again as she swallowed hard. “But… if she was so powerful… why didn’t she fight for me?”

Lucian’s jaw clenched tightly. “She fought in the best way she could. She hid you and prepared you for what was to come. She trusted me to guide you until you could grasp your strength.” His gaze burned into hers with intensity. “I will not fail where she could not.”

Aria's heartbeat quickened; the cathedral felt alive—watching and listening. Shadows stretched along the walls, coiling slightly as if acknowledging Lucian's words and the bond they shared—a bond that felt protective but almost suffocating—the same way he always made her feel.

"Lucian… I’m not sure I can handle this,” she confessed, her voice trembling. “All of it, the curse, the hunters, the magic… it feels overwhelming.”

He stepped closer, his steady gaze holding hers as his shadowy presence surrounded her. “You can do this. Because I will be by your side. Every step of the way. Every moment. Every danger. I won’t allow anyone to take you from me.”

Aria’s hands trembled as she clutched her mark. The intensity of his obsession and protective instinct sent her heart racing, making her feel… connected, bound, yet safer than ever before. Her mark pulsed again, quicker this time, responding to him as if it recognized the power within him. The power that could save her… or consume her.

A sudden chill swept through the cathedral, rattling the broken doors. The hunters had gone but would return, stronger and more cunning. The walls of the cathedral seemed to vibrate with anticipation as shadows flickered, aware of the impending storm.

Lucian's hand hovered near hers—not touching, but close enough for her to sense the warmth of his magic and the weight of his obsession enveloping her. “Rest now,” he said gently. “We will prepare for what lies ahead. But remember your blood, your power… I am here to protect it. Always.”

Aria met his gaze and for the first time understood the truth in his words: he wouldn’t just protect her; he would obsess over her, guard her fiercely, and stay connected to her in ways no one else could. And despite her fear and the heaviness of it all, a small flicker of trust in something deeper began to ignite within her.

The cathedral fell silent again, but Aria sensed it wouldn’t last long. Shadows were gathering, the curse inside her was stirring, and Lucian… would ensure she didn’t face any of it alone.

Her mother’s blood flowed through her veins; her power was awakening, and the dark obsession of the man who shielded her would become the anchor she had yet to realize she needed.”