As Will Herondale looked at her with those startling blue eyes, she saw the dancing excitement behind them start to burn out. She thought of Jem, he was so sweet and kind; she would only break his heart by telling him the truth. Then there was Will, a complete whirlwind of emotions that left her breathless. She knew in her heart that if she was not already betrothed to Jem she would have in a heartbeat told Will how much she loved him. As it was she felt like she was choking back bile, fighting the words that she had longed to say for so long now Will, I love you. However, there was Jem to think about and no matter how much she loved Will, and in the deepest corner of her mind she knew her love for Will to be stronger than hers for Jem, but she could never tear the two boys apart.

And so she knew that she could never tell Will her true feelings for him. She would never be able to feel his lips against hers or be held by him as she slept, that she would have to break his heart for Jem.

That realization made her knees grow week and fall out from under her. She didn't realise that she had begun crying but as Will bent down beside her his blue eyes full of concern, she knew he had seen her and that there was no use trying to hide it.

"Tess? Tess what is it?" Will asked her.

"Oh Will, I have made a grave mistake, I – I – fear that none of us will ever be happy, and I am so sorry for that but I cannot-" she broke off with a great sob. Breaking his heart was like tearing her own in two.

"Tess, whatever it is, we can get through it, I'll help you, nothing can be this bad, just please look at me Tess." He begged her.

"No Will, it can be, and it is. I – I think it would be best if you were to leave. I cannot return your feelings, I am so – rry. Really Will I am." She looked at him with tears in her eyes and saw that he was now, too crying. As he turned and left the room she realised that she could not give Jem what he deserved. She could not be a loving wife when a larger part of her heart belonged to someone else. And she could not put Will through the torture that marrying Jem would cause. She had to break things off with Jem.

So it was with that thought in mind that she pulled herself off the floor. What business was it of hers to be messing up mortals lives anyways, what sort of happiness could possibly come out of dallying with a warlock. For she did not age, could not give them children.

She set off down the hall to her bedroom and stopped at the door opposite hers, she knocked once and Jem came out.

"Tessa!" he greeted her with a smile that stopped her heart. Upon noticing her tear streaked cheeks he faltered. "Wait is something wrong?"

"Jem, I know it is cruel of me to – to do this. You are a great man and any lady would be so lucky to be with you. It's just that I – I can't. I fear that my whole heart would not be in it and that is not fair to you. I am sorry that I had to do this, I didn't wish to hurt you."