A/N: This is Jace's point of view from the incedent down in the Fairy Court. This is only my third fic for "The Mortal Instruments", so it is to be expected that my characterization is still rough. If you review, please do not mention anything about the book except for this scene. I am not done the book yet nad I don't think other readers who like to read reviews would want spoilers. Read and review? Enjoy!

Warning: Spoilers for "City Of Ashes"

Disclaimer: I do not own The Mortal Instruments or any of the characters.

High Prices Offer Sweet Rewards

This was his chance. The Queen of the Seelie Court was giving him a gift he had long since desired. Just a while ago he himself had told Clary that the Fair Folk gave you the thing you wanted most but in a form where it felt like a torture session instead of pleasure; this time, that was not the case. When the Queen had demanded that in exchange for his sister's freedom, she wanted a kiss, he knew immediately who she was referring too. And if he knew the Fair Folk, there would be no alternatives.

"I could kiss Meliorn." Isabelle's voice rang out.

He didn't bother listening to the Queen's reply. He knew already that a kiss between Isabelle and her fairy play toy wouldn't do. Not even close.

"If a kiss is all…" Simon trailed off, walking towards Clary, who was trapped behind the invisible barrier.

Snorting, he rolled his eyes, hoping none of his companions had noticed. The mundane thought he was her Prince Charming, her knight in shining armor- too bad Clary unconsciously flinched away when he reached out to touch her.

The hint of a smirk crossed his face. She was repulsed by him. She had to be. It was clear to him that she didn't want to kissing her dolt of a best friend.

There was still hope for him yet.

The red haired angel not ten feet away shot him a look, her green gaze boring into him. He made quick work of turning his smirk into a scowl. Sighing, he listened intently while his friends rambled on about who needed to kiss who, only jumping in to trick the mundane into confessing that he wanted to kiss him.

Yeah, like that would ever happen, he thought darkly.

When the Queen had professed that it was Clary's most desirable kiss- her secretly forbidden kiss -that would free her from her invisible confines, it appeared that Simon was about to get sick.

Showing no emotion, he ran a hand through his blonde hair and spoke up.

"Why are you doing this?"

The Queen grinned at him and replied innocently, "I rather thought I was offering you a boon."

A shadow of a smile quickly crossed his face. So he had been right. Licking his lips, he made his demeanor harden.

Hiding all emotion from his peers, Jace turned his eyes upon his sister. The Queen was giving him a chance to make decent amends with Clary, and there was no way he was going to turn that offer away.

The fairy's intentions were to make him and Clary uncomfortable in front of the entire Seelie Court- that he could easily tell. He doubted that she really expected him to kiss his sister, his own flesh and blood, when there was an audience. He could see it in her posture, her face.

After catching the Queen's eye and seeing the amusement that floated within her stare, he couldn't help but let his own mask down. She was daring him. And Jace had never turned down a dare.

Though the price was high, the reward would be sweet.