12

The warmth of the bath coddled me so delightfully that I slept in the tub for a bit, but not long enough for anyone to notice. My stomach gurgles and I grab a bathrobe and put it on, my body numb from sitting for so long. The tray of food was too delicious for me to wait, and within seconds, I was able to finish it all. All that was left was for me to have a cup of tea to famish my cravings of having something warm down my throat.

The gowns Mother Margarine left for me were all adorable baby pink and white shades of soft silk, perfect for lounging and bedtime. I chose a mid-length gown with a pink bow in the center and frills under the boob, the pale pink fabric being very light to the point of it being a bit transparent, but it did not bother me. Pouring myself a cup of tea, I sit in bed and sip slowly, enjoying the internal hugs of the warm beverage.

A knock on the door alerts me and I quickly straighten up, settling my tea back down.

"Come in" I say.

Jace walks in and I sigh, rolling my eyes. There is nothing he needs to say that cannot wait until tomorrow, for all we really have to talk about is the wedding.

I catch his eyes working their way down my gown and back up, but only for a bit before he breaks the silence.

"Luna, about what you said upstairs..."

"No, I mean it all Jace, be delighted that I'm on the same page as you" I say.

"It isn't that."

"Okay what the fuck is your problem?" I shout, annoyance filling me up bit by bit at his confusing words. "You fuck things up, then come back and deny it."

"All I'm saying is, our marriage doesn't have to be that restrictive, people will notice. Once we marry, it is mandatory that you move to a bigger chamber with me. For your sake, it is a room with a door in the middle, so no one will know of our separate ways, only that we walk into the same 'room' together."

"And this planning can not wait until tomorrow?" I reply in anger, but mostly hurt since I had thought he came down to apologize. I am stupid for reading it all wrong.

"It is only right that I tell you now since you were so eager earlier to establish your boundaries" Jace replies.

"I see."

Jace walks towards my bed and I freeze as he sits not far from me.

"Luna, let me taste you again."

"What?" I scoff, bewildered that after what he said about the whole human blood case he continues to lie.

"Please, only once."

"How are you able to lie so seamlessly?" I ask, stifling into my own side of the bed.

"What now have I done?" he replies boredly.

"Everything you told me back at the tower, with the human blood stuff, and now you want my blood again? You're a natural fib that touches hearts."

"I cannot help that I hold a monster at heart, like you call me time and time again."

"Because it's true" I reply.

"If I were a horrible monster, I wouldn't even ask for your blood politely like I am now" he whispers, crouching towards me.

I am tense and he notices, for he rubs at the goosebumps studded all over my bare arm.

"Do I frighten you Luna?"

"A little, it is almost hate" I say.

"What about me do you hate?" he replies tentatively.

"Your presence hurts me" I whisper.

"Does it hurt you now?" Jace asks as he traces his finger around my goosebumps.

I stay silent because I am not sure what to say to this. It does hurt me but it doesn't? I loathe him while he is here, but miss him when he is gone. Like I said, it is complicated.

"What do you want from me Jace?" I say instead.

He stops his trails of touches and looks at me with a puzzled expression. In return I look down at my interlaced fingers and my sweaty palms, anxious from how awkward this is becoming.

"Goodnight." He gets up to leave and I let him without replying back; it is not worth anything anyway.

I sigh and pull at the duvets until they cover me whole, and I turn off the lantern next to me. I snuggle deeper into the duvets until I can barely breath, but I stay this way for a while, because the fun of holding my breath entertains me for a bit until I am tired enough to sleep, to which I eventually do.