Clary folded her arms, glaring at Jace. "I can take care of myself," she snapped.
"No, you can't," he dismissed without even looking at her. "We can't send her as bait."
"Jace," Isabelle said patiently. "The demon targets petite redheads. Clary is the ideal bait. You've never objected when I had to draw the target in."
"You - that's different," Jace ran his hand through his hair frustratedly. Clary hated how it only made him more handsome.
"How?" she questioned, but Alec only looked knowing. He cleared his throat.
"How about a compromise," he suggested. "Most of these redheads were with significant others. We can send someone in along with Clary."
Clary wanted to dig her heels in and refuse, but she took a deep breath. As long as it wasn't -
"I'll go," Jace said immediately.
Of course.
She was still sulking when they headed out on patrol - not in gear, of course. To be effective bait, they had to appear as casual mundanes.
Out on a date.
As though Jace Lightwood Herondale would ever deign to lower himself to date her.
Jace seemed oddly skittish, golden eyes restless. His golden curls were styled as well as always - he hadn't needed to change that for the disguise - but it was the first time Clary had seen him out of gear, or pajamas from that one time they'd run into one another in the middle of the night.
"He's following us." Jace's voice in her ear caused her to shiver, for some reason.
"How can you tell?" she whispered back, pretending to shift a curl from his eyes. His eyes darkened as they peered at her, causing her heartbeat to quicken.
"It's either a demon or a serial killer," he said sarcastically.
Clary rolled her eyes. Every time she thought he wasn't as infuriating -
Jace put his hand on her back to guide her into an alley. The touch burned, and she resisted the urge to shove it off.
"No one's following," she noted.
Jace made a frustrated noise. "He must be suspicious. Or wondering why we're making it so easy for him."
"So what do we do to draw him in?" Clary raised her brows.
He smirked. "Close your eyes and think of England."
"Wha-?"
Before she could finish the word, his lips were on hers.
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Clary shouldnât really have expected anything different, though - how else was one supposed to act when their marriage proposal was turned down? She can't blame him for being hurt, but she longs for the peaceful days of a couple weeks ago, when Jace was secure in the knowledge that she loved him.
hell was the journey but it brought me heaven by booksnitch
OH MY GOD, this wrecked me way more than it had any right to!!! I didn't know I desperately needed this until it shattered my soul!
{RATING SYSTEM FF.NET: K = 5+, content suitable for most ages, K+ = 9+, some content may not be suitable for young children, T = 13+, contains content not suitable for children, M = 16+, contains content suitable for mature teens and older, MA = 18+, contains mature content for adults only. RATING SYSTEM AO3: G = general audiences, T = teen and up audience, M = mature, E = explicit, only suitable for adults.}
Ache For Us by @serenecalamity [ E | AU | 99k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
Jace knows who she is to him the minute he walked into the club. He had known who she was to him since four years ago. Werewolf/Mates AU.
Without A Clue by @serenecalamity [ M | AU | 49k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
They were best friends. Room mates. Maybe something more...
Colour Crimson In Her Eyes by @serenecalamity [ E | AU | 3k+ | one-shot ]
The Alpha of Alicante Valley isn't always what people expect. Werewolf AU.
Running Among Wolves by @serenecalamity [ E | AU | 50k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
Clary was one the only humans in Jace's pack, but she was so much more than a human to the werewolves, especially to the Alpha. Werewolf AU.
Sharing Kisses With A Demon by @serenecalamity [ T | AU | 1k+ | one-shot ]
Clary hadn't been able to stop thinking about Isabelle's biker cousin. She didn't realize he felt the same.
Kiss me better? by @/icantthinkofaname11 [ TÂ | AU | 43k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
Hospital au: Jace punches a wall. He doesn't know how else to deal with the anger inside him. It helps. Not the broken hand he got from punching the wall but who it lead him to. Clary, a doctor who ends up fixing more than just his hand.Â
Even Angels Have Their Wicked Schemes by @/CuriousMidnightHeart [ T | AU | 74+ | complete | multi chapter ]Â
After Jace Herondale, a self-centered, vain, and arrogant prince is turned into a hideous beast, he has until his 21st birthday to find true love, which he doesn't believe in. Until he meets Clary, a beautiful,fiesty redhead who is just as stubborn as him. But Sebastian Velrac, a ruthless hunter, is determined to marry her as well.
The Cost Of Survival by @/AnikaandAj [ T | AU | 77+ | complete | multi chapter ]
âI figured I either have two options. Shoot you before you have the chance to run or let you go and wake up to find all of my stuff gone. So I chose the third option.â âAnd that would be?â âDoing a favor to the human race by not letting a pretty girl starve to death, of course.â Jace and Clary are two survivors in the zombie apocalypse. If only zombies were their biggest problem.
The Girl Behind The Pictures by @serenecalamity [ M | AU | 79k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
Because of Jace's parents, his life was a lot more open to the public than others. Maybe that was how he had found himself falling for a girl that he had never met, and had only been exchanging pictures with.
City of the Unknown by @/Rowen-Bells [ K+ | 178k | complete | multi chapter ]
Jace always knew how to handle things. He always knew where his life was headed and how to react in any situation. That is, until he met Clary Fray at the Pandemonium. He shouldn't have met her, because she shouldn't have been able to see him. But now that she has, he feels compelled to learn more about her. COB in Jace's POV.
City of Heartache by @/Rowen-Bells [ T | 192k | complete | multi chapter ]
Now that Clary and him are siblings, Jace has to hide his feelings for her. But that's only the tip of the demon. Between his father and the Clave, it seems like everyone's out to get him. COA in Jace's POV
City of Lies by @/Rowen-Bells [ T | 214k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
Now that Jace got Clary to stay in New York . . . what can go wrong? COG in Jace's POV
Covert Casanova by @/ddpjclaf [ M | AU | 239k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
She's the artsy, outcast daughter of a rich, crooked lawyer. He's the self-absorbed undercover agent assigned to do whatever it takes to get the goods on daddy - even if that means making a play for his feisty daughter.
The Nine Consequences of One Night and a Door by @/ddpjclaaf [ M | AU | 340k+ | complete | multi chapter ]Â
The teenaged daughter and son of sworn rivals meet with a bang one drunken night against the bathroom door. Now everyone must come to terms with the 9 consequences of one night, a girl, a boy, and a door.
The Art Of Kissing by @/Whisper-Of-Warning [ T | AU | 53k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
Sebastian Verlac is mysterious and tantalizing; any girl would be crazy not to want him and Clary is no exception. So when he asks her on a date she's ecstatic. Problem? She has no idea how to kiss. But don't worry, her brother's best friend is there to help. Problem? She hates him. But she'll need all the help she can get. He'll tutor her in the art of the perfect kiss, and perhaps love?
Breathing Into You by @serenecalamity [ T | AU | 60k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
Clary was a carefree university student, who split her time between classes, painting in her cheap apartment, drinking with her friends, and getting high with an older guy named Jace.
Build A Dynasty (That Heaven Couldnât Shake) by @serenecalamity [ T | AU | 1k+ | one-shot ]
Clary was a new Alpha, but she believed in her pack.
Empire of Shadows by @/cariaudry [ T | AU | 109k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
Clary is the daughter of Valentine, King of Alicante, and she views her life as princess as something of an aging joke. She has only one friend, no mother, and a dark secret. It isn't until Jace, a slave, comes along, that Clary's life begins to unravel.
Empire of Darkness by @/cariaudry [ M | AU | 111k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
Clary and Jace, having escaped Valentine and Jonathan, are safely hidden in the City of Glass, and are settling into the marriage they have both longed for. Clary, though, is still haunted by her past, not helped by the unwelcome reappearance of her mother, and things soon turn sour in Idris. The Clave is desperate to act and Clary and Jace find themselves in the heart of it all.
Empire of Starlight by @/cariaudry [ M | AU | 121k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
The war against Jonathan is well underway and in the middle of it all, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, and Alec retrieve the Cup, but at a price: Clary and Jace are trapped in Idris. Prisoners in a court full of demons, Clary and Jace soon discover their only hope of survival may rest in Jonathan's dark past, but finding the boy he once was might be more dangerous than they thought.
A Touch Of Lighting by @serenecalamity [ E | AU | 51k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
When Jace's pack encounters an enemy they don't understand, they are forced to call in help from a powerful Spark who seems to know a lot more than what she's saying. Werewolf/Spark AU.
Seeing Red by @/Slytherin Princess Nysa [ M | AU | 47k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
Clary Fray and Jace Herondale may not be the most functional roommates. He leaves his used towels on the floor and she leaves wet paint brushes on the coffee table. When an accident results in the perfect situation landing in Jace's lap he has to take it, making a deal with her seems easy, but not all deals can be broken without consequences.
The Boy From The Peaky Blinders by @serenecalamity [ E | AU | 4k+ | one-shot ]
It had been nearly five years since Clary had seen Jace. She hated that she still loved him.
His Little Red by @serenecalamity [ M | AU | 56k+ | complete | multi chapter ] Most of the time Clary was good. But there was something about the golden eyed boy that made her want to break the rules.
Sleepy by @/BennieWaffles [ K+ | AU | 1k+ | one-shot ]
She's a weird sleeper. He thinks it's adorable.
Clash by @/BennieWaffles [ T | AU | 4k+ | one-shot ]
She shouldn't be here. She should never have come, it was forbidden. But she did it, anyway. And, as a result, the unthinkable happened. But, oh, it was so good.
Feet First, Donât Fall by @serenecalamity [ M | AU | 69k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
Jace and Clary were good friends, and a lot of the time, they were more friends. It was just for fun, nothing exclusive or serious, and that was enough, right?
Another Path by @/junebag19 [ M | AU | 70k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
What would have happened if Clary never went to the Pandemonium and missed that fateful meeting with Jace, Izzy and Alec? Clary is kidnapped by Valentine along with her mother and becomes part of Valentine's plans to take over the Clave. She meets her brother, Jonathan, before ever knowing Jace. Is their love predestined? Will they still find a way into each other's lives?
Happy New Year by @/Wisterian Princess [ T | AU | 7k+ | one-shot ]
Clary and Simon get invited to Isabelle's New Year's Eve party, where Clary gets locked in the bathroom with Jace, Isabelle and Simon start flirting, and Alec comes out of the closet.
5B by @/HidingBehindMyWords [ T | AU | 26k+ | complete | multi chapter ]Â
Jace Herondale is a NYC firefighter. He has a great job, a supportive family, and plenty of girls to keep him company. His life seems pretty set until an artsy college dropout moves into the flat next door to his 5th floor walk-up.
Say My Name by @/HidingBehindMyWords [ M | AU | 3k+ | one-shot ]
Jace hooks up with a redheaded vixen at a musical festival and can't get her out of his head.
Battle of the Bands by @simplymoshingintomordor [ T | AU | 187k+ | complete | multi chapter ]Â
Jace is an arrogant, spotlight-hogging lead guitarist and Jonathan Morgenstern's best friend. The trouble is, Jon's sister - Clary - can't stand him, and the feeling's mutual. But when the boys enter the Battle of the Bands contest and all but move in with the Morgensterns, the two of them are forced to see a lot more of each other than they would like.
Nowhere to Run by @/Isob3l [ T | AU | 93k+ | complete | multi chapter ]Â
Clary Fray is at the end of her rope when Jace finds her and takes her in. He's used to keeping secrets, but this tiny, fiery stranger has a way of getting behind his defenses. Little does he know that her secrets are far more dangerous than he could ever predict.
Chasing the Sun by @/Niknakz93 [ M | AU | 93k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
After a brutal tour in Afghanistan turns his life upside down, Jace is forced to battle a new war. This time, one of his own. Fortunately, he's not alone. Can new next-door neighbor Clary help heal a wounded soldier's heart? Vulgar language and lots of lemonade
Day Late Friend by @/spikeyhairgood [ T | AU | 236k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
Jace Herondale and Clarissa Morgenstern grew up together while their parents toured with their successful rock band, The Uprising. Since the band's rocky break up and their sudden separation, Jace and Clary haven't spoken to one another in years. After an arranged reunion set up by their parents, one unexpected offer will turn everyone's lives upside down.
Locked in a Freezer by @/Two Girls One Account [ T | AU | 2k+ | one-shot ]
Isabelle and Magnus are sick of Jace and Clary not getting alone, so they decide to lock them in a freezer so they can work out their problems.
The Pretty Wrecked by @serenecalamity [ M | AU | 143k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
They came from two completely different worlds, but they were both as wrecked as each other.
Seven Minutes in Heaven by @/SmileandWaveBoys [ T | AU | 4k+ | one-shot ]
âTwo names are called out by the host to go in a barren closet, lights shut off, for seven minutes straight, no interruptions and you can't get out no matter what.â âHow do the two people even find each other in the dark?â âWith their lips...and other things.â Because who says a make-out party has to be reasonable?
Airplane Mode by @/SmileandWaveBoys [ T | AU | 5k+ | one-shot ]
Being stuck in an airport for four hours sucks, Clary knows especially because she happens to now be familiar with that situation. But when she's got her laptop with her and a hot not-so stranger, how could things not look up?
Midnight Snacks by @/SmileandWaveBoys [ T | AU | 7k+ | one-shot ]
âJust â just tell me what you came here for.â âThe reason is pretty stupid.â âI'll be the judge of that.âWhen Jace Lightwood finds himself unruly woken up by the girl he'd been obsessing about for the longest of time, he doesn't know whether to be annoyed or delighted. âCan you open this box for me?â When he finds out what's inside, he's surprised.
Iâm in love with the bartender by @/Yuki Kamea [ M | AU | 143k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
Clary is a night club bartender with a dysfunctional family. Jace Herondale is the Rock star heart throb and party boy. What happens when they meet at the club one night? Will it be love at first sight or just a one night stand?
Because You Live by @serenecalamity [ G | AU | 1k+ | one-shot ]
He was completely, head over heels in love with her.
Pour Some Sugar On Me by @serenecalamity [ E | AU | 1k+ | one-shot ]
Clary hated the term 'sugar daddy'. It just so happened that Jace was a couple of years older than her, and liked to buy her nice things.
Safe Heaven by @serenecalamity [ M | AU | 54k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
Clary's in trouble. And it seems like the best person to help her is the man who broke her heart at seventeen.
Life Unscripted by @serenecalamity [ M | AU | 63k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
As teenagers, they played sweethearts on a popular television show. But it's been years now since they've seen each other.
Lonesome Wonderers by @/reader-chic-2 [ T | AU | 68k+ | compelte | multi chapter ]
The idea behind foster siblings never connected in Clary's brain. Two teenagers who had never met once in their life were thrust together in a spectacle of violent yelling and silent sobbing. Sibling love? Why would she? More importantly, why should she love him like a brother? Jace Wayland. She spat on that name. Foster sibling or not, she would do whatever she wanted with him.
And Now Iâve Got You by @saltyfrenchfrys [ T | 5k+ | one-shot ]
Clary has been sick recently and Jace's mind goes straight for the worst case scenario. It takes several weeks and the best Christmas present he could have asked for to make him realize things have never been better.
Clace? by @/Marie_Tomas [ T | AU | 42k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
For as long as she can remember, art student Clary Fray has loved the idea of love and romance, especially the romances and 'ships' of the fictional worlds in the books and TV shows that she and her best friend Simon obsess over. Although she's pretty inexperienced in love and romance herself, Clary has always liked sketching romantic scenes in New York City, as well as sketching pictures and comic strips of her favorite fictional couples to upload to a site dedicated to fan art. One Friday afternoon, she heads to a coffee shop in Brooklyn after class, where two men called Magnus and Alec happen to be having their first date. Although only observing the two of them from a distance, Clary quickly becomes invested in Magnus and Alec's blossoming romance, much to the amusement of one of the coffee shop's baristas, Jace.
loveâs far away, but weâre moving closer by @/onesunshinechild [ T | AU | 2k+ | one-shot ]
Clary and Jace as they fall in love without knowing they are soulmates.
Fire And Gold by @serenecalamity [ M | AU | 70k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
They weren't looking for any further entanglements. But they just kept on bumping into each other.
Hearts Gone Wrong by @serenecalamity [ M | AU | 61k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
They were both raised in the biker lifestyle but they were on opposing sides. They had walked away from each other before, but it wasn't going to be so easy a second time.
Welcome to the Hall of Mirrors by @/hedgehogthewriter [ T | AU | 2k+ | one-shot ]
Clace Historical AU where Clary is a court lady at Versailles in the time of Louis XIV and Jace is a guard in the palace. They meet in the Hall of Mirrors and have a little adventure.
The Stolen Herondale by @upagainstabookcase [ T | AU | 5k+ | one-shot ]
Imagine for a moment a world in which Celine managed to get out a call for help before she died. They were too later to save her but once Tessa Gray was searching, she found out where the stolen baby had been taken. So she stole him back. Jonathan Christopher Herondale was raised by a warlock who for all her strangeness raised him on love and respect and his best friend, his only human friend, was Clary Fray, the other child who was being hidden from Valentine Morgenstern. This story starts with the events of The Last Stand of the New York Institute and runs up to the first events of City of Bones. It's a one shot.
Meet Me Inside by @/literallyhelp [ T | AU | 2k+ | one-shot ]
Jace's main priority is his job, but he still manages to get distracted. How could he not, when his job is his boss's daughter?
(F You) Better by @serenecalamity [ M | AU | 3k+ | one-shot ]
She just kept coming up, and Jace couldn't get her out of his head.
Hit Me With A Text by @serenecalamity [ E | AU | 4k+ | one-shot ]
Clary sexts her 'one night stand' but it turns out that she accidentally sent it to her boss.
Drip Drop by @serenecalamity [ M | AU | 1k+ | one-shot ]
The view from Jace's window suddenly became a whole lot better.
Pizza Girl by @serenecalamity [ T | AU | 1k+ | one-shot ]
It had been four months, and maybe Jace was low key stalking the gorgeous girl who worked behind the counter at the pizza place.
Whatâs In A Name by @serenecalamity [ T | 3k+ | one-shot ]
With her due date only weeks away, Jace and Clary are till trying to decide on a name.
Loving You Is Chaos ( But The Fire Is Incredible) by @serenecalamity [ E | AU | 2K+ | one-shot ]
Things could get a bit... heated when they were together.
The Way She Loves Me by @serenecalamity [ T | AU | 2k+ | one-shot ]
Jace had always known that there were going to be some problems when his relationship with Clary became public, but they hadn't quite been prepared for this.
On Your Side by @serenecalamity [ T | AU | 3k+ | one-shot]
On days like this, he just needed his family.
The Girl Backstage by @serenecalamity [ G | AU | 1k+ | one-shot ]
When Jace was sixteen, he was vaulted to superstardom. But even now, years later, there's only one girl that he's on stage for.
I See Fire by @serenecalamity [ T | AU | 7k+ | complete | multi chapter |
In the end, she knew that it was going to come down to a choice. Him or her family.
Sorority Girl by @serenecalamity [ M | AU | 3k+ | one-shot ]
Jace really hadn't wanted to ended up in a sorority house on a Friday night. But here he was, with a loud, bubbly redhead that he really hadn't expected to like.
The Ghost Of The Wayland Manor by @beclynn-herondale [ T | | 1k+ | one-shot ]
It was a rainy day at the manor and Jonathan was sitting at the piano playing a song, on days when he felt sad the piano was always a comfort, he chose to learn piano cause he felt called to it in a way. He wondered if the woman would come today, she always did on the days his father was angry, and today was one of those days, whenever he messed up his father got angry, he didn't mean to but he did, and he does need to do better.
Youâve Been Right In Front Of Me (Why Didnât I See?) by @serenecalamity [ M | AU | 4k+ | one-shot ]
They were a little messy, but both of them were fine with what they had.
Could This Be Love (Iâm Feeling Drifting Up) by @serenecalamity [ T | AU | 1k+ | one-shot ]
Jace's has had strong feelings for Clary for a long time now.
Does It Burn You, Like It Burns Me? by @serenecalamity [ E | AU | 33k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
Jace had never expected to end up feeling this way.
Fairytale of New York by @/HeadGirl91 [ G | AU | 5k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
âThat lovely boy who brought you home. I invited him to dinner, to say thank you,â Jocelyn told her.âBut-but-â Clary stammered, putting down her tea. âI canât see him!â âWhy not?â Jocelyn countered. âBecause I was knocked unconscious by a five-year-old, threw up in front of him, and then fell asleep in his car! All while being dressed like one on Santaâs Elves!â Clary hid her face with her hands. âIt was the most embarrassing day of my entire life.â
Little Bit Of Poison In Me by @serenecalamity [ E | AU | 6k+ | one-shot ]
It's Hallows Eve, and the moon is full as Clary runs through the woods in her torn dress.
The Path Of Butterflies by @serenecalamity [ T | AU | 1k+ | one-shot ]
Jace just needed to get to his fairy.
Enchanted To Meet You by @serenecalamity [ T | AU | 4k+ | complete | multi chapter ]
Jace had always dreamed of singing on stage with Clary.
Iâm Cold by @amillionblankpages [ M | AU | 1k+ | one-shot ]
Winter is a rough month, especially for Clary Fray. But her boyfriend, Jace, doesn't mind helping her feel better after a long day of work....
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my laptop is being repaired right now, so I canât make a pretty fic cover for this but:
on witchlight and spires of glass
The most enjoyable moments in the city of glass arenât those of battle or meetings of high importance, theyâre moments stolen in the times between, when the cobbled streets of Alicante give way to grassy hills overlooking Lake Lyn, when the sun is setting, the wine is sweet, and the world is quiet for a few hours.
Jace stares out his window unseeingly. Itâs raining and drops of water slide down the windowpane in jagged lines.
He runs his hand up and down his forearm, rubbing absently over the rune heâd activated earlier.
Activated without a stele. He doesnât know what the hell that means.
Itâs late. He knows he should sleep, but he canât get his brain to shut off. Heâd contemplated going to find Alec, maybe crawl into bed with him and let the soothing feel of the other half of his soul calm his racing thoughts.
But Alec hasnât been at the Institute at night for a while now and Jace doesnât want to go check, only to be met with an empty room.
He shuts his eyes and takes a deep breath.
âHey.â
Jace startles, dropping his hand to his lap.
Clary stands in the doorway.
âHey,â Jace replies.
Clary doesnât say anything else, just stands in the doorway looking at him. Jaceâs skin prickles under her gaze, he feels too transparent.
âCanât sleep?â he asks.
It breaks whatever unspoken agreement Clary has with herself over not coming into his room, because she huffs a bitter sort of laugh and joins him on the edge of his bed.
âUnderstatement of the century,â she says.
She leans closer into his space, looking pointedly at the hand still in his lap.
âWhat were you doing?â
Jace leans back onto his hands without looking at her.
âNothing.â
âJace.â
He huffs and glares at her but all she does is quirk an eyebrow in return.
If it was Alec, or even Izzy, theyâd drop it. Claryâs so fucking stubborn. He hates it.
Except he doesnât.
He holds out his arm, the sleeve pushed up to reveal his strength rune.
âI justââ
Claryâs fingers brush the rune and Jace cuts himself off. Her touch is barely there but it still leaves tingles on his skin.
âI know,â she whispers.
She doesnât move her hand from his arm when she looks up at him.
âClary Iââ he cuts himself off again and shakes his head. Heâs usually so good at playing things off with charm and deflection but thereâs something about Clary that makes it so hard.
âI know,â she says again, âI thought this would all be okay after weâd caught Valentine, but everything is still a mess.â
Jace looks down at his arm and sighs.
âDo you ever wonder if he really knew what he was doing to us?â
âValentineâs a monster,â Clary says vehemently, instead of answering the question.
Jace doesnât know if he necessarily disagrees.
âBut heâs also smart. And weâre his weapons, Clary,â he pretends not to notice the way she shudders at that, âmakes you think about what he wanted to use us for.â
âWeâd neverââ Clary begins, righteous anger bright in her voice.
It makes Jace smile despite himself.
âI know,â he allows.
He knows sheâd never. The way sheâd been raised, she always seems to know whatâs right, always fights with such confidence for what she believes in.
As if itâs that easy.
Itâs himself heâs worried about. The boy Valentine had raised for ten years. The boy heâd groomed to fight by his side. Jace doesnât know what Valentine wanted with him, but it couldnât have been anything good.
âHave you tried it?â Clary asks, interrupting Jaceâs thoughts.
âWhat?â
âActivating the rune again,â she says, âhave you tried it?â
He had, but he stares hard at the rune again anyway. The last time it had been because Clary was there, maybe now that she was asking he could somehow do it again.
He tenses his muscles and tries to reach for that feeling again. The adrenaline heâd felt when heâd seen her in danger. The way his skin had burned for a split second before the rune activated.
He watches the rune, feels Claryâs eyes on him too, but he has no luck.
âDamnit,â he mutters, swiping his palm over the unchanged rune, covering it.
He tries not to let the frustration show, but itâs Clary so it doesnât exactly work.
âItâs okay, Jace.â
He watches her pull out her stele and bring the tip to her palm. The sunlight rune glows gold on her palm but nothing happens. Claryâs shoulderâs slump but she looks over at Jace with a small smile.
Jace aches to pull her closer, into the space under his chin where she seems to fit perfectly. He hasnât had her this close in a long time.
âMaybe itâs for the better,â he says instead.
Clary blinks rapidly a few times and her eyes look slightly damp. Jace swallows.
âWhat do you mean?â Clary asks quietly.
âWe arenât meant to be able to do these things,â Jace mutters, âValentine made us like this. Maybe itâs better if we canât do what he planned.â
Clary doesnât say anything, she just turns so sheâs facing Jace fully and seems to study him.
He holds his breath, watching her gaze flit over his face.
âYouâre right,â she says quietly, resting her hand back onto Jaceâs strength rune, âbut youâre also very wrong.â
âWhatââ
âYou arenât Valentine, Jace,â she says fervently, a confidence there that Jace doesnât feel like he deserves, âMaybe we were meant to be weapons, or dangerous in a horrible world ending way, but that doesnât mean thatâs the only thing we can be. Itâs about choice.ââ
Choice. Jace canât help but think heâs only been making the wrong choices lately.
âI know you, Jace,â Clary ducks her head so she can make eye contact with him, âyou arenât a bad person.â
