Chapter 2

Maryse had certainly left no expense spared with this party. The guest list wasn't huge by any means, but neither was the room which they'd hired. It was a small underground function room with exposed brick walls and wooden roof beams, from which hung ropes and loops of white fairy lights, illuminating the whole room. Around a small dancefloor were numerous tables, set out ready for a three-course-meal, and a swing band dressed in penguin suits were tuning up on a small stage near the back.

Jace stood with Maryse and Robert near the large staircase which led up to the entrance of the building. A few guests had already arrived, but no one of importance to Jace; just some of the Lightwoods' old Shadowhunter allies, or people who had passed through the Institute. Jace had greeted them politely and watched as they took seats at the tables, sitting in quite close huddles, or took up residence at the bar on the right, which ran the entire length of the room.

The first real guest to arrive was Luke. He looked a little uncomfortable in his smart suit and had even shaved for the occasion. Jace had insisted on the party not being held at the Institute, so that Luke, Magnus, Maia and (it took much cajoling from Isabelle to get him to admit it) Simon could attend. He was genuinely happy that Luke had managed to make it.

"Robert, Maryse," said Luke, as he reached the bottom of the stairs, shaking the Lightwoods' hands in turn. He turned to Jace with such an almost proud, paternal expression on his face that he wondered for a split second if Luke was going to hug him. He didn't, to Jace's relief; just shook his hand also and produced a small wrapped present from the inside pocket of his suit jacket. "A little something from the bookstore. Don't complain, I didn't spend a penny on it, but I thought you'd like it."

"You didn't have to, Luke," said Jace, taking the present and privately feeling a little pleased.

"I know, but I wanted to give you at least something. It's one of Clary's favourites."

Great. "Thanks." Jace smiled and tried to sound as genuine as he knew he did before. He couldn't tell whether it had worked or not but Luke seemed content enough to go and busy himself at the bar.

More guests began to filter in, Jace greeted them on autopilot. Magnus swept down the stairs looking like he'd been caught in a fight between a rainbow and a pot of glitter.

"Joseph called," Jace said lazily, amused. "He wants his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat back."

"Hilarious, little Nephilim," replied Magnus, rolling his eyes. "I didn't get you a gift because I figured my services to you over the past few months would suffice."

"Of course." Jace inclined his head and Magnus glided as if on wheels towards the bar.

He felt an odd jittery sensation right in the pit of his stomach. He'd never had a birthday before, maybe it was nerves? Jace dismissed the thought. He considered it a week wasted if he hadn't killed at least three demons, why should he be nervous about a birthday party?

His case of the jitters had started long before the party, as he stood in his bedroom in the Institute getting ready. Maryse had told him it would be a formal occasion and forbade him to wear his demon-hunting gear, which had initially annoyed Jace, as he felt he looked his best when he was dressed all in black with angel blades through his belt and Marks up and down his arms. He had eventually settled for a soft white shirt of an expensive material, and charcoal grey trousers. His hair had grown a little since Maryse had taken her scissors to it, but it was not yet long enough for it to look untidy. He thought he scrubbed up rather well. In fact, he knew that he did.

It was as he contemplated these nerves that he saw Isabelle and Alec appear at the top of the stairs. They were arm in arm, both looking like they'd stepped from the pages of a fashion magazine. For Isabelle, this was nothing unusual but Alec... Jace couldn't fail to notice the marked difference in him recently. He had always been good-looking but had shied away from it in the past. Now he seemed to be glowing with some kind of inner warmth and – did he just wink? Jace was sure his eyes must be deceiving him. Alec didn't wink. At least not until lately.

The beautiful siblings floated down the stairs like they were born to attend high society dinner parties and Isabelle was at Jace's side immediately, kissing him on both cheeks and almost choking him on some kind of expensive perfume.

"Happy birthday," she beamed. Isabelle's megawatt smile, when turned up to its full power, could knock males off their feet. Jace had seen it himself. It was a good job Simon hadn't arrived yet. "We've decided to give you your presents later, in a little after party back at home."

"You didn't have to get me anything," Jace said, growing tired of that sentence.

"Whatever. Who's already here?" Isabelle inquired.

"So far, just Luke and Magnus really. I thought Clary was supposed to be coming with you two?" said Jace accusingly.

"She's waiting outside for the mundane. Sorry... Simon," corrected Alec after a glare from his sister. "Old habits die hard."

"I should have known," said Jace. Tiny stabs of annoyance pierced his insides. He should have known she'd be waiting for him. He guessed that Clary's old habits died hard too.

"Do you want a drink or anything?" asked Alec.

"I'm alright, thanks," replied Jace. Alec shrugged and followed his sister to the bar and Jace shoved his hands into his pockets moodily, turning around to wait for the next guest.

The next guest turned out to be Maia, in a simple gold dress that set off her skin tone surprisingly well. She had taken out her braids for the occasion and her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail. Jace was happy to see her, for a reason he couldn't quite place. Maybe it was because she did look very pretty. Maybe even pretty enough to unglue Simon from Clary's side for a few minutes. Jace mentally slapped himself.

"Thanks for coming," he said to Maia as she neared the bottom of the stairs.

"Thanks for the invite," she replied, nodding. Her eyes were darting around the room. "And happy birthday."

"Thanks." Jace could think of nothing else to say. He and Maia had never really had that much in common. Or maybe they'd never really had the chance to actually talk properly. Jace didn't know, but he didn't really feel like making a new friend tonight.

"Is um... is Simon here yet?" Maia asked, a little colour creeping onto her cheeks.

"No. Didn't you see Clary upstairs? She's waiting for him," Jace explained.

Maia let out a little giggle, a girly, sweet sound. "Oh boy, I saw Clary. Someone's in for a treat tonight..." She quirked her eyebrows at Jace and carried on past him to the bar where she struck up conversation with Luke and left Jace wondering what in the name of the Angel she meant by that.

It turned out, he didn't have long to wait to find out. He had barely turned back around before movement at the top of the stairs caught his eye. Clary stood on the very top step in a long, emerald green gown that skimmed the floor. Her shoulders were practically bare, but for two diagonal straps and her vivid scarlet hair was thrown over one shoulder, spilling from a sparkly clip in soft curls. She looked tiny and delicate, her body language suggesting that she had absolutely no idea that she was taking someone's breath away at that very moment. She was standing slightly side-on and it was only then that Jace realised why.

Standing next to her, on the step below but still slightly taller than her, was Simon. Their fingers were interlocked, Simon was smiling wryly and saying something to Clary that was making her smile reluctantly in return. The warmth that had flooded Jace's being at the sight of Clary suddenly turned to ice and he felt frozen and numb all over. She and Simon began to descend the steps and Jace felt a strong desire to kick something. Something expensive.

Halfway down the staircase, Clary's eyes found him and he watched as a dark flush stole across her cheekbones. Jace's limbs were feeling as though they were made of ice that was slowly melting. He hoped she could see what she did to him, he tried so hard to convey it in his eyes. She reached the bottom step and Simon leaned down, pushing a curl of her hair back to whisper something in her ear. Jace repressed an urge to punch him up to the top of the stairs and push him back down.

Jace still couldn't take his eyes off Clary. Up close he could smell her soft flowery scent, could count the freckles on her shoulders, could see where she bit her lip and could see the nerves in her eyes. She was nervous. Good.

"Happy birthday," said Simon, forcing Jace to finally look away from Clary. He fixed Simon with a lazy stare.

"Thanks, bloodsucker. You know, I think you'd probably go check at the bar, I'm not sure whether they do Bloody Marys."

Jace heard Clary exhale in annoyance, but Simon just shrugged. "Whatever. I'm gonna go speak to Maia. I'll come find you later, Clary."

He moved away with his odd new-found grace and left Jace alone with Clary. She was watching Simon walk away. Jace had the feeling she would rather be looking anywhere but at him, and now that they were alone, he didn't have a clue what to say to her. Should he tell her she looked nice? Of course not, because 'nice' was an understatement. Should he thank her for coming? No, because he knew she wouldn't have missed it for the world. He needn't have worried about what to say, Clary made the first move.

"It looks nice in here. Did Maryse do all this?"

"She sure did. And I'm guessing Isabelle did all... this?"

His eyes moved over her, drinking her in. The silky dress was the exact same colour of her eyes, which were rimmed with black and gold. She fidgeted self-consciously as his eyes finished their appraisal of her.

"Yeah. I feel stupid," she admitted.

Jace looked her directly in the eye. "You look beautiful."