HOLA MUCHACHOS
Whaddup? So I got a good response to last chapter, so thanks so much guys! I love reviews and especially (something about seeing that little 1 next to the private messaging time gets me all happy lol) so keep them coming guys! So I hope you guys like this chapter, there's gonna be a lot of fluff and lemonade (with sugar, ya'll nasties gotta wait for the good stuff ;) ) in this chapter! So beware! (or grab popcorn, I don't judge)
Disclaimer: do I even need to say it?
LEGGO.
I wake early in the next morning, opening my eyes reluctantly. I had the craziest dream, a dream that Valentine had finally gotten me married to some rude- yet incredibly sexy- king. God, had the maids slipped something into my food last night? I sigh and stretch out my arms, flinging them to the sides. But, instead of hitting my soft mattress, my left arm hits something hard. I open my eyes wide in confusion, but before I can process anything, I hear a swish of air and the bed rustle as something flies on top of me, grabbing my wrists and pinning them above my head. I open my mouth to scream for help, but I cut myself off when I realize who's on top of me.
Jace. So it hadn't been a crazy dream. I really was in the Herondale kingdom and engaged to him. I stare into his sleepy but somehow alert face. His confused look slowly fades into a reproachful one.
"You hit me." he says. I squirm under his grasp, but he doesn't seem concerned about letting me go anytime soon. In fact, I felt his grip tighten.
"And you're still on top of me." I shoot back. A dark smile curls his lips, and I feel a ball of heat slowly starting to form in my stomach at his intense gaze. He dips his head and lowers his lips to my ear, hot breath tickling my ear. I stop squirming and let myself slowly relax under him.
"Do you want me to let you go?" he growls darkly into my ear. I shudder slightly, and he nips my ear gently. I jump, arching myself into him. I feel his smile against my neck as he ghosted his lips over my jaw line. "Because I don't think you want me to."
I suck in a breath and hold it in a futile attempt to clear my head. It did nothing, and I still felt consumed in Jace, as if I was drowning in him but I didn't want air. I whimper, and Jace groans sexily at the sound. I steel my nerves and somehow manage to speak.
"Yes. Yes I do." I gasp, nowhere near convincingly enough. Jace concedes, pulling his body slowly away from mine and rolls off of me, landing on the bed next to me and jumping off. I sit up quickly before he can entrap me again and hurry to the bathroom.
I hadn't registered it yesterday, but it truly was huge. It was a little smaller then my room in the Morgenstern castle, and the walls painted a delicate dusty rose. The floor was tiled gold, giving the place a strange shimmer. There was a huge counter, a small separate room with the toilet, a 6 faucet shower, double French doors which led to Angel knows what, and a huge Jacuzzi. Jace seemed to have a different bathroom, which I was perfectly fine with.
I splash some cold water onto my face, rousing me from the remaining Jace- induced fog in my head. I grip the counter, my knuckles white. What was going on with me? I had never been swayed by any flirtatious behavior from past potential husbands, so what was so different about him? What did Jace possess that made me unravel like this?
I shook my head, as if that would clear the questions. I run my fingers through my tangled hair and look around for some way to contact Helen and Maia. I find a shiny call button next to the door, which I press. They arrive quickly, as if they had been waiting for me.
"Good morning my lady, how was your rest?" Helen asks politely. I nod and smile softly, hoping they were more comfortable around me now.
"It was wonderful, thank you. I just called to let you know I won't require your services most days. I can undo my own dresses." I add a laugh at the end, hoping they don't think I'm trying to be mean. I had only gotten help from my maids when I had to dress formally, which I usually didn't. I had learned to adjust, being more casual and self-sufficient than I imagined most princesses as. Helen and Maia look confused, but nodded, albeit unsurely.
"Thank you. Now if you don't mind, would you care to show me where everything is?" Maia nods and bounces forwards, promptly starting my small tour of the elegantly tiled bathroom.
"It's pretty simple my lady. The makeup is kept in the drawers on either side of the sink, and all hair objects in the cabinet to the left. You can find face creams over here"- she goes on, pointing out where everything is kept in the room. I nod along, carefully noting the locations. She stops talking and heads to the double doors I had noticed earlier. She grabs the gilded handles and throws the doors open, revealing a huge closet. It was lined with racks and racks of gowns, corsets, sleep wear, lingerie, gloves, and shoes. I gasp softly at the beautiful sight of the exquisite gowns. But where had they come from? All I had brought were some suitcases from home, and even if Valentine had sent the rest of my things over, I surely didn't own gowns this beautiful. I hesitantly step up and run my hands through one, a beautiful lavender gown with a sweetheart neckline, floor length silky soft. Real pearls seemed to be strung upon it, and I shuddered at the thought of the price.
I turn and look at the other ones. There seemed to be dozens, and I noticed the sexy, daring numbers also. Among them was a black dress that seemed to be backless, with a thick strap looping behind the neck and a crushed silvery powder in the material. Maybe it was that glitter Magnus had been talking about.
I draw a quick breath at the thought of somebody wearing a dress like this in public. But then again, at the engagement I had seen some extremely daring dresses, some even with sheer material. Maybe that's what was considered acceptable in Jace's kingdom.
Jace. Of course he had bought all these things. How rich was his kingdom? I wrinkle my nose at the thought of him buying me all this lingerie, as I f was going to wear it to bed. No thank you, I'll stick to my now normal seeming silk nightgowns. I force down the urge to hurt him and instead smile at Maia. She nods and her and Helen excuse themselves, and I slump against the wall, this is too much. Jace is too much. How was I going to survive this?
I moodily pull on a simple blue dress, drawn in at the hips. It looked classy enough, plus it was more comfortable then the look of some of the other dresses. I freshen up and let my hair down, gently styling it so the front was pulled back with two braids on either side, the rest cascading down my shoulder. I turn back to the closet and dig around, looking for something. I smile when I find them and pull them out; my training clothes. If Valentine had done one good thing as my father, it was training me. I was actually an exceptionally good shadow hunter, but due to being a queen, I would never actually get to be part of battle. I had never fought a demon, but I had fought Jonathon, who fought dirty. I had ended the day countless times with cuts and bruises and broken legs, all from some simple training against him. I had still never beaten him, but I knew I was good. I survey my old gear, finding everything looking normal. I set it carefully on a small decorative table and grab some shoes. I draw them on and look around for Jace in the bedroom. He's sitting on the bed, reading a letter. He had showered and changed into simple leather, engraved with Herondale markings. His hair was slightly damp and curling, darker than normal. He looks up when I come in and smirks, surveying the dress.
"I'm assuming you've found your new wardrobe." He says dryly. I nod curtly.
"Yes, thank you very much. I wanted to ask you where the training room is." He's deadly still for a moment. Not saying anything. Then he bursts out laughing.
I feel my anger rise and boil over. What's his problem? Did he think I couldn't fight? I could probably take his Herondale ass and serve it to him on a silver platter.
"Problem? I ask loudly, over his laughter. He's doubled over now, clutching his stomach. He finally stops his idiotic attack and wipes his eyes, finally looking at me.
"Yes. You, training? You seem like you couldn't stand breaking a fingernail, and you think you can slay demons? Please." He scoffs, and I clench my fists.
I mange to keep my voice cool. "I happen to be pretty decent with a dagger." I say confidently. He arches an annoyingly perfect eyebrow.
"Is that so Princess? He says mockingly. I try not to let his knifelike words get under my skin.
"Want to find out?" I challenge. He grins darkly and stands up, moving towards me so quickly I don't even process it. He's standing right in front of me, chest flush with my own.
"Why yes, I would." He says, a stupid half smirk on his face. He leans down towards my ear, and I steel myself.
"2nd floor training room, meet me there at noon." Is all he simply says, and then walks out of the room. I sag against a chair once he's gone. What was I thinking? What if he's better than Jonathon? Or maybe Jonathon was actually a horrible fighter and I was even worse than him. I hadn't had anybody else to compare to, after all.
What's going on with me? I shake my head. Where were these thoughts coming from? I had never doubted my abilities before, so why with Jace? I straighten up and grit my teeth. I was going to fight Jace. And I was going to kick his sorry ass.
"I was beginning to think you got lost."
I keep my cool face on, walking confidently into the training room. I had changed into my gear made of pounded leather, intricate runes sewed into the material. I had tied my hair back in a tight French braid, reaching just below my shoulder blades. It had taken a while to find the training room, but I found it just in time. It was huge, the size of a ballroom. The walls were thickly padded, along with the floor. Along one wall was every kind of weapon imaginable, from broadswords to maces, kindjals, chakrams, extra steles, and the classic seraph blades. Jace is leaning against the wall, marking his arms up with thick, spiraling runes. He has a confident smirk on his face, and I feel my skin prickle with the urge to wipe it off of his face.
"I found my way just fine, thank you." I say coolly. I paused in the middle of the room and dug out my mother's stele. It was the only thing of hers I still had. It was beautiful, pure admas with veins of gold shot through the handle. I held it carefully and slowly started to mark up my arms with runes similar to what Jace was applying. Runes for strength, speed, and quietness flowed out of the stele in thick black lines; sending prickles all up my arms. I finished off and placed the instrument on a wood table, turning to look at Jace. He was dressed in the same type of gear as me, making his gold hair stand out. He eyed my up and down, not in the least bit nervous. I grin internally and grab a training sword, surprised that it's steel, not wood. Guess they don't take baby steps here.
"You know, I usually don't fight girls, but I'm dying to see if you can actually hold a sword properly." Jace says, strolling idly into the center of the mat. I snort quietly and walk onto the mat, opposite Jace.
"You'll find out soon." I say cheerfully. Jace cocks an eyebrow and steps to the left, and we begin to circle each other. Jace still has his confident smirk on, but I see the laser sharp focus of his eyes, and his muscles, while relaxed, ready to spring into action at any moment. He reminded me of Jonathon, always focused but never showing. I stared into his eyes, remembering what Jonathon had once told me.
Watch their eyes, it'll show exactly what their planning. Jon had been true to his words. A moment before he attacked I saw his eyes flick to my right leg and within a split second, he dropped to the ground, sweeping out his legs in an attempt to sweep me off my feet. I react instantaneously, jumping to avoid his legs and sweeping down with the sword. Jace's arm flies up, and a large clang reverberates through the training room as our swords meet. He jumps up back onto his feet, a maniac grin on his face. I spin and fling out the sword, but it's blocked by Jace. He twists and aims for a jab at my waist, but I manage to spin my body, narrowly avoiding the blade.
I puff out a breath in frustration. He was definitely as good as Jonathon, maybe better. He notices and laughs, as sharp and cold as the steel. "Ready to give up?" he taunts, swinging his blade. I straighten up.
"Not even close."
I strike out again, and he blocks again. I try every single angle, every way to land a hit on him, but he parries every blow. He goes in for a couple of jabs of his own, but I manage to block those also. I can slowly see the easy relaxation disappearing from his face, a grim look on his face as he kept fending off my attacks. I blow a strand of hair that had fallen into my face away, trying to land a blow under his ribs. He blocks and I remember Jonathon's words again.
If they keep blocking you, take away their ability to block. I zero in on his hand, and I strike his blade with my own, kicking my hand out on his wrists. He yelps in surprise and let's go of the sword, which I grab and throw as hard as I can to the side.
Looks like Jonathon actually did something good as a brother. Jace stares in shook after his blade, and then turns to me slowly. A dark smile is on his face, and I feel my stomach curl.
"So you fight dirty. Just the way I like it." Then he lunges at me. I step back in surprise, and he uses the opportunity to twist my arm behind my back, grabbing my sword. I yelp as he holds me in place, the blade of the sword against my neck. His breathing was harsh against my ear.
"Rule number one, never let your guard down." He growls, pushing the blade slightly into my neck, an ounce of pressure more and he would've broken the skin.
I tilt my head slightly, so his lips brushed my cheek. "Rule number two, remember your own advice." I bring my leg up and grab the small dagger I had hidden in my boot, and proceed to rake it across the small strip of skin visible between his vest and pants. He gasps with surprise and pain, his grip loosening on the sword, bringing it away from my neck. I spin in his grasp, grabbing the sword and spinning to place it at his neck, the tip resting above his collarbone. He's stock still, eyeing me warily. I stay like that for half a minute, eyeing him for any signs of retaliation. I finally draw the sword back, straightening up.
"I win." I announce proudly. Slowly, even though nothing else moves, Jace smirks.
"You're good Red. With a little practice, you'd be great." I glare at him incredously.
"Are you kidding me? I won!" I say indignantly. He shrugs and walks towards me, so confident I find myself stepping away. He walks me backwards until I'm against one of the padded walls. A hand comes up to rest on the wall beside me, caging me halfway in. I look defiantly into his eyes, but I feel my resolve waver ever so slightly. His face comes nearer, and his hot breath washes over me, smelling like cool mint.
"If I had wanted, I could've killed you a hundred times over." Suddenly, his other hand comes up and slams into the wall, and it took everything in me not to jump from surprise. I couldn't suppress the tiniest flinch though. His nose runs along my jaw line, making me shiver quietly.
"Imagine I was some nasty man intent on doing bad, bad things to you. What would you do then? No matter how many daggers you hide in your boots, you couldn't stop me if I wanted to hurt you. Be glad I showed you mercy." He nips at my ear, and I feel heat flood my veins.
I grab his vest, bringing him in even closer. I leaned up until my lips were right next to his ear. "Mercy is for the weak." I whisper, then push him away. He goes willingly, a lazy grin on his face. I grab my stele and walk confidently out of the training room, a small smile on my face. Despite what he had said, I had beaten him. And it wouldn't be the last time.
Hey guys!
Sorry, a little shorter than most chapters, but I'm just dead tired because I went and saw Mockingjay (which by the way gave me CHILLS- so good!) and I feel bad because I haven't updated in so long so I gave you guys this! I hope you like it!
By the way, Clary's gonna have a little more backbone in this story. I know some might think in my other stories I portray her as a little more 'susceptible' to Jace's charm than necessary, but I really want her to be more confident and daring in this story, so I hope you guys like that kind of stuff! And yes, there will be a LOT of unresolved sexual tension ;)
I love you all!
Keep reading…*MUAH!*-Madeline