@nothingweak plotted for a starter
Jace sighed, as the doors of the manor were opened and people started spilling inside. He tried to keep a neutral face on, instead of the sneer he actually felt like doing, and tried not to hiss when curious eyes started setting on him. His father, by his side, only gave him a look. He didn’t have to say anything, as the actual words had already been said during a preemptive punishment earlier, when he’d made sure Jace would remember to be on his best behavior. He tugged on the sleeves of his formal robe and downed his head, angrily. He didn’t want to be here, he sure as Hell didn’t want the result of this meeting on his life. He just wanted to keep on shadowhunting in secret when he could feel truly alive. And he wouldn’t mind seeing his mysterious partner again.
“Good. You’re all here. For the next two days I will talk to each of you, you will have a chance to speak to the omega,” Jace cringed, that was it wasn’t it? He didn’t even have a name anymore, “and attend social gatherings and a traditional-” archaic “-final show of strength, in a group training at our outside training facilities. On tomorrow’s dinner, one of you will become engaged to my son.” Jace tuned out as his father went on and raised his head slowly, stomach churning, and walled up his eyes as he glanced as distantly as he could at the people around them. He knew those looks. Hunger, disgust, surprise, pity, preying, they alternated among the parents and young alphas present, and what he didn’t know was which of them he hated the most.
He started to move as soon as his father did, climbing down the steps, relieved to at least be out of the dramatic spot, and following him into the crowd. With each new introduction he felt sicker, each new bow, or kiss to his hand making him more annoyed and irritated. They were barely through half and already he felt the need to shower, all of the overpowering alpha scents being throw his way and suffocating him. It went by in a daze, until they reached the last family, and Jace took a long breath, of relief, just as his father introduced him, and he raised his eyes only to meet the last face he expected to see today. Alexander. His eyes widened just a fraction, before he caught a hold of himself and tried to school his expression even as his heart thumped against his rib cage. Fuck. He winced mentally at the thought of how big the beating was going to be for this one, once Alexander Lightwood told his father what this unruly omega was doing in his spare time. Raziel, it was going to be bad, wasn’t it?
He watched the moment Alec recognized him, as he took his hand and pressed the traditional kiss to his wrist, and his nostrils flared with his scent. His head snapped up as he stared at Jace, and Jace flustered, cursing internally again.
“Jonathan!” Jace looked to the side, suddenly realizing he had zoned out of the conversation between Valentine and Maryse Lightwood. To his surprise, Valentine made a laughing sound. “Seems you two are quite taken already, so if you want him, Alexander, you better convince your mother here to put on a good case for you.” Right... To increase the price they were willing to pay for a breeding omega. Jace swallowed tightly and popped his jaw, but kept still, holding his hands in front of him demurely.
He was wearing traditional black cloak that tightened around the waist and then fell backwards towards his calves to show off his legs in tight pants, and boots, and underneath a cream colored vest, which raised up to a stiff high collar around his neck, protecting it without covering it up. Over his shoulders were golden feathers which connected by chains over his body. He didn’t hate the garments by themselves but he did hate the implications behind each of them. He gave Alec another look, and felt himself go queasy. His plan of marrying anyone his father picked, then finding an escape route as soon as he was safely out of the manor would be ruined if Alec spoke up. He’d be watched every second from then on.