Tara's POV
We pulled away as soon as we heard clapping. I blushed a deep red as the whole ballroom was filled with applause.

Well some people were clapping. Most of the females were shooting me glares. I gave them the stink eye in return.

I could feel the sparks everywhere. Jake held my hand and slowly led me out of the ballroom.

I didn't know where he was taking me but I trusted him. We walked down corridors and halls until we ended up in the garden.

I remembered being here. Jake sat on the swing under the Oak tree and pulled me onto his lap.

The crescent moon was out and as shining on us brightly. I stared at his face. He showed no emotion and it worried me. What was he thinking?

"Do you remember the first time we came here?" He asked softly. I nodded. "You dared me to get an apple from the highest branch on the tree." I answered.

He nodded. "You, being you, slipped and fell on me. I swear you crushed me with your heavy weight." He said.

I glares at him and playfully hit his chest. He chuckled at me. "I wasn't that heavy." I defended.

"Do you want to dance?" He asked as he stared at me. I nodded. I got off him and he got up and pulled me close.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and placed my head on his chest. He tensed a bit before wrapping his arms around me.

We just swayed to the sound of the wind. I closed my eyes and breathed in his scent as I listened to his slow heartbeat. I had missed his warmth.

"When I was growing up,,I wanted a mate. It was because of what my parents had. They loved each other so much. I wanted to have that kind of love with someone.

Then my father went to war and he later returned as the king. He was crowned and we moved to the palace.

At first I was happy. I had a large house and I got anything I could ever want. But then it tore my parent apart. I watched as the love died from their eyes.

They barely even talked. So my brother and I grew up without having the love of our parents. Because my mom was heartbroken and filled with pain and anger.

Anger at my dad for causing the death of her first born. My elder sister Freya. He claimed it as a sacrifice that he had to make but in reality it wasn't.

That was when I decided that I would never do that to anyone. Those days that I saw my mother look like she as dead.

Like she wasn't living. She looked so empty and hollow. There were days were it hurt to even look at her.

But now they're here and together, because I made some choices. I did some really bad things just for them to be happy." He paused after that.

What had he done? What choices? I kept quiet. My mind was still absorbing everything he had just said.

I never knew he had an older sister who's dead. "Those choices put you in danger as my mate. That was why I rejected you. I had to make you safe before I could tell you the truth." He said softly.

He pulled me back and stared into my eyes. "Now that you're safe, I can tell you the truth. I love you Tara.  I've loved you since the day you came to the castle.

Ever since I set my eyes on you, I knew you were the one. But me, being me, I couldn't tell you. I didn't know how.

You were so perfect and I s so tainted, I never thought you'd accept me. But I realized after you left that it was better to tell you and have you leave me.

Than for you to find someone else and for me to know that I never tried. So I love you, Tara Deidre Morgenstern. You're my morning star and my whole universe." He whispered.

He wiped away the few drips of blood on my cheeks before lightly pecking my lips.

I was shocked. I didn't expect this to happen. He loves me? Is this some kind of sick joke?

He's loved me sine were were thirteen? "When you said you did something bad, what did you men's?" I asked him.

I saw him visibly stiffen. "I can't tell you yet. I just need to know. I need to what you're feeling. I know my heart beats for you. But does yours?" He asked.

It does. It beats for you but I can't accept it. Cause I don't wanna love. I do but I don't want to through heartbreak. I won't wear my heart on my sleeve ever again.

I can't trust you or anyone. Cause someday you'll leave. One day you won't be there for me. Just like when I was with the Masked Monster.

So I'll tell you a lie. It'll be a white lie and a pretty one. Just so that I don't suffer. Cause I know you'll break my heart someday.

I placed my hand on his cheek and he leaned into my touch. "I'm so sorry. Jake your a wonderful person but I can't love you.

I've loved Jeremy my whole life and my heart still beats for him." I told him softly.

He was crying and so was I. I could see the pain in his eyes. I could feel it and it hurt that I was doing this to him.

I wiped his cheeks. "Hey, don't cry. One day, you'll find someone who will love you as much ad you love her. You'll have your parent's love with her.

She'll bear your children and stay with you for all eternity." I said softly.

He pulled out of my grasp. "You're it for me. I can't love anyone other than you. I respect your decision. I hope you find happiness Tara." He said coldly.

He didn't even look at me as he walked away. I fell to my knees as I watched Hus retreating figure.

I finally let out a whimper and collapsed on to ground as I cried. This is all his fault. This fear of loving someone.

If he hadn't broken me. I lied to save myself form heartbreak yet here I lay. On the grass crying for causing him such pain.

For letting the love of my life of. All the moments I'd spent with him flashed before my eyes. I turned on my back and stared at the moon as the blood stained my skin.

I missed my parents so much. I have no one. "He's not worth it you know." Jeremy said as he lay beside me.

"You heard?" I asked as I stared at him. He nodded. "So why the lies? I know you stopped having feelings for me a long time ago. You love him so why are you hurting him like this." He asked.

"I went through a lot when I was kidnapped. I don't want to love anyone. Not anymore. I can't let him have hope if there is none." I said.

"You're going after him aren't you? Why don't you just let it go and forget everything. Start over with Jake. It's not too late." He said.

"I don't want to. Eventually he's going to leave me. Everyone leaves me someday. I can't go through that again." I said.

"Its your choice. So you kill the Masked Monster and you kill your sire then what? You gave nothing left. By then everyone would truly be gone.

Instead of telling him you don't love him, ask him to wait for you. Finish your revenge and then go back to him.

Then you can live your life. He loves you. He'd never leave you and I think deep down inside you know what I'm saying is true." He said.

It took a while for me to realize how stupid I'd been. He was right. "Come on princess. Go get your man." He said as he helped me up.

After casting a spell to clean myself up. Jeremy and I ran back to the ballroom. And what I saw there broke my heart.

There he was, standing on the balcony and staring at the moon. I thanked Jeremy and walked up to him.

It was time to stop denying what I was feeling. "Can't you leave me alone? I need time to think and I don't care what you have to say." He yelled at me.

His eyes were so angry as he threw the glass in his hand against the wall. I flinched as a few shards embedded themselves in my skin.

I hissed in pain but he just turned around and left me standing there. I looked around for him but I couldn't find him.

So I went back to the ballroom. There he stood dancing with a girl. he as staring directly at her. My world as crashing right in front of my eyes.

Suddenly Jeremy grabbed my hand and pulled me to the dance floor and we were dancing.

Everything was happening so fast and I didn't know what to do. So I just danced with Jeremy. Funny thing is, the girl dancing with Jake as Braeden.

She smirked st me before she did something which shattered my heart completely. She kissed him.

She was kissing Jake. The love of my life was kissing someone else. Jeremy grabbed my chin and smashed his lips onto mine.

I was shocked and stood for a while before I kissed back. I don't know why I did that. It felt so wrong.

I didn't feel Jake's sparks and warmth. Little shivers didn't travel down my spine. It fleet Palin. But I wrapped my arms around his neck.

He pulled me closer as I tangled my fingers in his hair and he groaned. I opened my eyes when Jeremy was ripped from me.

It was Jake. "How dare you touch my mate!" He yelled. Everyone was watching the twins. I was dazed.

"You have no right to call her your mate until you tell her the truth." Jeremy yelled.

"It was an accident and I was going to tell her. I just haven't found the right time. That doesn't mean you can't touch her. She's mine!" Jake yelled.

That was when Jake and Jeremy lunged at each other. The fight was brutal. People ran out of the palace screaming.

I stared wide eyed and lost. I didn't know what was happening. Everything was spinning.

Jake loves me. I told him I didn't love him. I told him a lie. He kissed Braeden.

Jeremy stole a kiss from me and I kissed back. The twins are fighting. Black spots dotted my vision and I fell to the floor.

I saw them both running to me before I closed my eyes.
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Since I'm speechless, I'll make this quick. I have no idea what is happening.

The characters are spinning out of control. By the way, the title of this chapter cane from Blank space by Taylor Swift.

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Until the next chapter...

-Daisy