A/N: This is a long chapter so enjoy! I'll edit it tomorrow when I'm rested.

Chapter summary: In which Magnus and Clary realize they can't have what they had, Simon has lots of questions, and the Shadowhunter gang needs information and gets a ruby.

7: Desires, Question, and a Ruby

Magnus took a deep, steadying breath in as he absorbed the destruction around him. This may not have been his Lair, but this was as much his home as his Lair was. His Lair was who he was: the High Warlock of Brooklyn with over 400 years under his belt and formidable magic power. But this small place was who he wanted to be: just Magnus Bane, an eccentric uncle with a penchant for mischief and magic.

Seeing his second home, built over several years, ripped apart like this was a chilling reminder that he could never ben who he wanted to be. Not entirely and never forever. He bit his lip and stepped gingerly into the room that once served as his studio. He could feel Clary hesitating behind him. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and squeezed. He reached up and brushed her fingers with his before stepping further into the room.

He had to find Chairman Meow. He'd only had the tiny cat for a couple months but they'd bonded quicker than he'd dared hope they would. He didn't realize how much he needed the little kitten left in a dumpster until it was too late and the Chairman had successfully burrowed his way into Magnus's heart.

"Chairman," he called softly, his voice carrying through the studio apartment. "Come here, little one. Chairman?"

"Here kitty kitty," Clary called, getting down on her hands and knees to look under the damaged futon couch and flipped coffee table. She tried to be mindful of the bits of glass and debris from the busted furniture. She saw Magnus lift the fabric of his hammock bed, sifting through the blankets and pillows, calling for his little friend.

Guilt ate at her. This was her fault. She'd called Magnus last night. She'd gone to him seeking help and he'd taken her in, hidden her, and protected her. But at what cost to him?

The Shadowhunters chasing them were now hunting warlocks, his people, his home was ransacked, and his kitten was missing. She'd never stopped to consider what her involvement in all this was causing for the people around her. She couldn't keep hiding forever. That never seemed to work out in books and movies. Eventually, the hunted had to become the hunter.

She had to stop running. It wasn't getting her anywhere. It was just causing strife and making a bad situation worse.

A familiar ding interrupted her thoughts and she pulled out her phone. An incoming text message from Simon illuminated the screen. She paused her search to open the text and read it through.

/Sent: 4:07 PM
From: Simon
Hey. I'm sorry. I called Luke. I DIDN'T say ANYTHING! Promise! I just said u vanished last night. Nothing else. Look just tell me yur ok. Dot's place is closed n I don't know what to do./

Clary pursed her lips feeling her heart pound precariously as she read the text. Luke knew she was gone.

/Sent: 4:07 PM
From: Clary
I told you NOT to! Are you ok?/

She moved to slip her phone back in her pocket when it dinged again. Tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, she opened the new text.

/Sent: 4:07 PM
From: Simon
OMG U OK! Where r u?!/

/Sent: 4:08 PM
From: Clary
I'm ok. Just stay away from Luke. Long story. Just trust me./

"Clary?" Magnus called. She looked up to Magnus questioning eyes. "Is everything alright?"

"I-" She was interrupted by yet another ding.

/Sent: 4:08 PM
From: Simon
Why r u at Magnus's place? HOW r u there? How'd you get past the cop?/

"Cop?" Clary muttered, quickly typing and sending the question.

/Sent: 4:08 PM
From: Simon
The cop by the front door. Dude what?/

/Sent: 4:08 PM
From: Simon
2 more cop cars pulled up. If u wunna avoid Luke, u might want to get out./

"Shit!"

"Clary?" Magnus called.

Clary scrambled up from her spot on the floor and rushed to the broken window by the fire escape. She didn't have a good view of the street through the alleyway, but she did see a police car pulled up to the building.

"Clary, what's wrong?" Magnus demanded, following his niece.

"Cops," Clary answered curtly. "Simon warned me."

"He knows we're here?" Magnus gasped, hurrying to join Clary by the window and look out at the gathering crowd in front of his house.

No sooner did they both look out did the sound of voices rise from the store on the first floor below. Magnus tensed and began to work at pushing the window up. Clary quickly pulled out her phone and texted Simon.

/Sent: 4:09 PM
From: Clary
Quick! Where are you?/

/Sent: 4:09 PM
From: Simon
By Dot's place. In the van. Y?/

"Magnus!" she commanded, grabbing her uncle's wrist yanking him from the window. "Portal us to Dot's place."

Magnus glanced at the stairs leading downstairs suspiciously. "What? Why? Clar-"

The voices came closer to the foot of the stairs and Clary recognized Luke's voice. "Magnus now!" she ordered sternly.

Without another question, Magnus activated a Portal and they both hurried in. The last thing she heard was the footsteps hurrying up the stairs before she burst out of existence and reformed in Dot's store. The Portal snapped closed behind her and Magnus but she ignored it in favor was taking in the ruin that was Dot's little store.

"Oh god," she breathed, her hands covering her mouth.

Magnus strode past her, a stern expression on his face, and began feeling the walls and studying the tell-tale stains on the ground. His clinical approach shook her slightly from her shock. She gulped and walked to the doorway facing the small patio that served as a city version of a yard as well as the shaded walkway to Dot's store and her apartment on the second floor.

True to his word, Simon stood by his bright yellow van parked out front by the meter. Her spray paint art stood out against the yellow metal as she ran out the broken door towards her best friend.

"Simon," she called, running to him. "Simon!" she called again when he didn't respond.

Her brow furrowed in confusion and stepped out onto the sidewalk. Simon jumped and made a very unmanly squeak when she appeared in front of him.

"Clary!" Simon cried. "Wh-wh-where did you come- I didn't- How-?"

"I've been calling you this whole time," Clary said, continuing forward until she enveloped her best friend in a fierce hug. "Oh god Simon."

Simon wrapped his arms around Clary and held her tightly to his body. He was so confused and scared for his friend and trying desperately to keep his head above water in this madness. "Hey," he said gently into Clary's hair. "Hey, it's okay. I'm here. You're okay. You- Oh. Holy cow," he breathed.

"What?" Clary asked, stepping back from Simon and following his gaze over her shoulder to see Uncle Magnus standing by the entrance to her place. Her mouth dropped open. "What the... Where's the-?"

"It's hidden by a glamour," the warlock said, glancing back at the building. "It feels like Dot's magic."

"Magic?" Simon repeated incredulously.

"It's keeping the damage hidden from Mundanes," Magnus continued, ignoring Simon. "I should have cast one over my place before leaving," he muttered in frustration.

"We didn't exactly have time," Clary said, reaching out to press against her uncle's arm affectionately. "If we'd stayed any longer they would've killed us."

"Killed?!" Simon gasped loudly. "Woah, woah, what now?"

"Not here," Magnus said, grabbing Simon's shoulder and hustling back through the very clearly closed and locked gate.

Simon flinched away from the metal only to walk right through it. He blinked and his mouth dropped open in shock. He turned back to make sure what just happened had indeed happened and was stunned to see the gate hanging wide open on its hinges and was that a puddle of dried blood on the stones there?

"Clary," he stuttered, gripping his friend's hand, "what's going on? What's that?" he asked, pointing to the red stain.

Clary followed his gaze and paled visibly, her free hand going up to cover her mouth.

"Blood," Magnus answered sharply. He knelt by the stain and pressed a finger to it. Phantom blue-violet flames danced across the stain briefly before vanishing. "Warlock blood," he said definitely.

"Dot," Clary breathed, fighting back a sob.

"Most likely," Magnus replied, watching Clary sympathetically. "But even if it is her's, I'm sure she isn't dead."

"How?" Clary demanded. "How can you know that?"

"Because her glamour is still up," Magnus answered, his voice calm and sure. He rolled up his sleeves and walked back into Clary's loft, making sure his companions followed. "If she was dead, her glamour would vanish."

"That's good to know," Simon said. "Now can someone please tell me what is going on here? I mean, first you keep disappearing on me," he said, pointing an accusing finger at Clary, "then you go missing-" he continued, pointing at Magnus.

"Missing?" Magnus interrupted in surprise.

"Uh, yeah," Simon snarked. "That's kind of why those cops were at your place. They think you were kidnapped or something."

Magnus ran a hand down his face, careful not to mess up his makeup. "Oh dear, this isn't what's supposed to happen," he mumbled.

"Then what was supposed to happen?" Simon insisted. "No, no, not important. What, by all that's holy, did you just do to that blood? I mean, those were flames. Fire. Blue fire. You made blue fire from your fingers. How are you not burned? How is that not burned? My head is seriously going to explode. I need sanity. I'm going insane."

Magnus took a deep breath and tuned out Simon. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the scattered antiquities and tossed chairs. His fingers interlaced with each other as he forced himself to calm down and think. As long as they were here, they could go through Clary's things to make sure she couldn't be tracked.

"We might as well check your room," he said finally. "If there's anything in there you value, I suggest you take it. Otherwise, someone else can use it to track you."

"Wait, someone else?" Simon said. "As in, someone has already tracked you? You do realize no one's explained this whole thing to me yet, right?"

"When we get back," Clary said, patting Simon's shoulder. "Promise."

Simon sighed in resignation. "Fine," he said. "I trust you."

Clary smiled in relief and hurried up the steps to the second floor that served as her ransacked home. She made her way to her bedroom. The moment she entered she pulled up short. The sudden stop caught Simon off guard and he very nearly walked into her. He opened his mouth to ask what was wrong when he saw his best friend's bedroom, or what was left of it. The room was charred and blacked from a very hot, very contained fire.

"You're mother's work, no doubt," Magnus said from his place by Clary's bed. "She must have made sure you couldn't be tracked before facing the Circle."

"The who?" Simon asked.

"The Circle," Clary said. "Are those the Shadowhunters chasing me?"

Magnus looked at her in resignation. "I don't have any firm confirmation," he admitted slowly. "But I would be surprised if it was anyone else." He stood and brushed his ash covered hands off on the remains of Clary's bedspread. "Your mother ran from them to protect you. It would make sense if they found her and this," he gestured widely indicating the whole situation, "is the result."

"Why would she..." Clary started then her eyes narrowed. "This has to do with that Mortal Cup thing, doesn't it?" Magnus didn't give an answer aloud but his silence was answer enough. She shook her head. "Nevermind. We'll do this later."

She began digging through her bedroom for anything she couldn't live without that wasn't burned. Simon moved to join her and promptly fell through a whole in the floor, courtesy of a rickety floorboard.

"Shit!" he gasped, promptly smacking a hand over his mouth. "Oh god, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it."

Magnus scoffed theatrically. "Please, as if that's the worst thing I've ever heard," he said waving dismissively.

Simon flushed. "Oh, ah, right." He cleared his throat awkwardly. "'Kay."

Clary ignored the exchange in kneeling down to reach down into the hole Simon's foot had found itself in. Something was under there. She could just make out the outline in the dim afternoon filtering through her burned curtains.

"What're you doing?" Simon asked, kneeling down beside his friend and watching her reach into the hole.

"There's something under here," she mumbled, focused on brushing her fingers across the object. Frustrated, she sat back and began trying to rip the floorboard up. She gave a small cry and fell back on her bottom when the floorboard vanished from her floor and subsequently her hands. She looked up at Magnus who shrugged.

"Having magic does have it's perks," he said with a wink.

She smiled and turned back to the hole. Her smile slipped as she pulled out a very old looking wooden box. Metal strips covered the edges and metal clasps were firmly locked in place. The letters 'JC' were made of metal and bolted on either side of the lock in the center.

"What is that?" Simon asked, scooting closer to study to box curiously. "A time capsule or something?"

Clary shook her head. "I... I don't know what this is," she admitted. "I mean, I recognize it but I don't..." She pressed her lips together, vexed. She was getting tired of new things that posed a problem. This box was a problem. But thankfully it wasn't urgent.

"I suggest you keep it with you," Magnus said, drawing the youngsters' attention. "Better safe than sorry."

Clary tucked the box under her arm and stood, Simon loyally by her side. Magnus sighed. He could tell from the look on Simon's face that he probably wasn't going to let Clary out of his sight. Unfortunately for Simon, Magnus's Lair was currently packed to capacity and Simon couldn't leave his van out front forever. It would inevitably be towed.

A soft chime cut through his brooding and he absently pulled out his phone to see a message from Elias glowing on the screen. He read through it briefly and hummed. He didn't want to leave yet, but he knew the longer he stayed away from the protection of his Lair, the more vulnerable he and Clary were.

"Alright," he said, clasping his hands together. "We've overstayed our welcome here. Clary, we need to go back to my Lair for the time being. I need to see to my guests and we need my Lair's protection. Séamus-"

"It's Simon," Simon corrected with a sigh that barely masked the smirk.

Magnus waved away his words and continued. "You should go back home."

"I'm not leaving Clary," Simon insisted, crossing his arms and looking ever bit like a puffed up chipmunk. It was almost cute.

"I don't care," Magnus said. He flicked the middle wire of Simon's glasses distracting him and said, "You can't stay at my Lair."

"Why-"

"Clary," Magnus said, "my Lair is packed as it is. I may love parties but I do like to have a place to call my own."

Clary made a face and nodded reluctantly. "But we can keep texting." It wasn't quite a question given the way she'd word it, but Magnus could hear the subtle request for permission.

"You can keep texting, yes," he said. "But don't," he said this to Simon specifically, "do or say anything that would imply you've seen us. Don't tell Luke anything, and for the Angel's sake stop trying to track us."

Simon's shoulders drooped. "The Find Friends app doesn't even work for wherever you are anyway," he mumbled.

"Of course it doesn't," Magnus said, as if it was obvious.

"Come on Simon," Clary said, looping her arm through Simon's. "I'll walk you back to your van."

Magnus followed the two friends at a slower pace. He had to think and plan. He could already tell that his cute niece would be staying with him for an extended time. He had no problem with that, but it posed a few problems such as where she was going to sleep. He was a gentleman, but even he had limits. There was no way he was giving up his bed for an unknown amount of time. His bed was his nest.

But Clary couldn't be expected to sleep on his couch either. That would just be plain rude. Let it never be said Magnus was a less than perfect host. He had a reputation to keep after all.

That meant he had to find Clary a bed. He stepped out onto the sidewalk just shy of the glamour barrier and stared in the direction of his shop and apartment. He needed to grab a few things in preparation for Clary's stay. The hammock definitely, the pillows and blankets were a must, a few of those books too because they were his, the money in the register for Clary's allowance, and his cat paraphernalia for when he found his little Chairman Meow.

He needed to find his cat. He watched Clary hug Simon close and step back into the glamour's barrier. He snickered at Simon's reaction to Clary seemingly vanishing into thin air. Simon ran a hand through his mop of hair, pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, and, after a quick glance in either direction, got into his van and drove off.

"He'll be fine, Clary," Magnus said, drawing his niece further into the glamoured patio. "But we do need to go." He rolled his shoulders. "I have a few chores to do tonight."

She gave him a wry grin but glanced over her shoulder again, watching the yellow van round a corner and disappear. "Like what?" she asked.

Magnus grinned, his eyes sparkling mischievously. "What do you think about borrowing a few thing from my apartment?" he inquired with a sly waggle of his eyebrows.

"You mean borrow your own stuff?" she shot back with a snort.

Magnus shrugged. "Well, I'd have to do it after the Mundanes left but you understand. Interested?"

Clary met his gaze with an equally impish grin. "Definitely."

Magnus's grin widened gleefully. He snapped his fingers and a Portal materialized in place of the broken door that was once the entrance to Dot's shop. He held out his hand to Clary in a playful manner. "Coming, fair lady?"

Clary took his hand and sniffed. "Always, fair lord," she replied in a posh, overly exaggerated accent.

Magnus snorted. "I do not sound like that," he said, walking with her towards the Portal.

"Whatever you say," Clary sang.

Magnus shot his niece a suspicious look right before they stepped into the Portal.

Alec arrived at the Institute a few minutes behind Isabelle and Jace. He stepped into the old church and was greeted something soft brushing against his ankles. He carefully stepped around the Institute's resident cat, using his foot to prevent the mass of gray fur from escaping through the front door. Once the door was closed, he squatted down to pet the cat's head.

"Hey there Church," he said softly.

Church tolerated the petting for all of three seconds before deciding the squirmy thing in Alec's pocket was more interesting. The old cat placed both of its front paws on Alec's knee and stood on its hind legs to get a peak at Alec's pocket. Alec leaned back, worried about Church's possible reaction to his new little friend.

The kitten meow pitifully and poked its head out of Alec's jacket pocket and stared at Church with wide, green-gold eyes. Alec gingerly scooped the handful of fluff out of his pocket and held it out for Church to sniff. Church hissed and Alec winced. However, before he had the chance to react, the kitten meowed loudly and lashed out with a tiny paw and scratched at Church's face. There was no harm done because the kitten's claws got caught in Church's matted fur, bit the point got across quite clearly judging by Church's reaction.

Alec blinked in surprise when Church dropped back down to the floor and scampered away. He studied the kitten in his hand again and felt a smile tug at his lips. This undersized newbie had basically just told Church to back off and, wonder of all wonders, Church listened. He briefly wondered if there was a new powerhouse in the Institute. Better get on this one's good side early in the game.

The cat meowed and tried to claw its way back up Alec's shirt to the pocket again. Smiling, Alec helped the cat on its way and stood. He made his way out down the entryway, freezing when he saw his siblings standing at the other end with smiles on their faces.

"Found a new friend, I see," Isabelle teased.

Alec blushed and pushed past them. Isabelle simply pranced up to him so she kept pace with him while Jace matched his stride easily. "I found him at Magnus's place," he said. "I couldn't leave him there."

"Of course not," Izzy agreed easily. "Does he have a name?"

Alec shrugged. This time Jace spoke.

"He needs a name." Alec gave his parabatai a look which Jace studiously ignored. The blonde made a show of thinking hard, then snapped his fingers. "Eureka," he said. "We can call him Eureka."

"What kind of name is that?" Alec groaned.

"It's a perfectly good name," Jace said wisely.

"So is Duck," Alec countered with a smirk.

Jace flinched and stared at his brother in horror. "That is not okay."

Alec chuckled. "Neither is Eureka."

Isabelle flipped her hair over her shoulder and smirked at her brothers' antics. "You're both bad at this," she said.

"What," Alec said, "like you can do better."

"I can," Isabelle said. "Precious."

"That's an adjective," Jace said.

"And church is a building," Isabelle shot back.

Jace held up a finger to start an argument, then shrugged conceding the point. "You're right," he admitted. "Besides, that cat's more Alec's cat than the Institute's cat."

"He is not," Alec said dismissively.

"Dude, that thing won't let anyone near him except you," Jace argued. "Don't even get me started on trying to pet it."

Alec rolled his eyes, absently petting the soft gray and white fur on the new cat's head. He could feel the cat's pleased purr through his jacket against his chest. Unfortunately, that reminded him of what was in his other jacket pocket. He pulled out the photograph and held it out.

"I also found this," he said seriously. "Recognize anyone?"

Isabelle took the photo from her big brother's hand and stared at it in amazement. "Is that-"

"Magnus and that girl," Alec said nodding.

"Clary," Jace said, crossing his arms as he took in the photo's contents.

"I think we can now definitely say the witch hunt for warlocks and this new Shadowhunter girl are related," Isabelle said looking up.

"We should tell Hodge," Jace said.

"Tell me what?" Hodge asked, climbing down the steps from the workout floor. He wiped his sweaty face and hands with a towel before taking the offered photograph. His eyebrows met his hairline when he saw who was in it. "Wow. I've never... seen him like that before."

"The girl in the background is the new Shadowhunter we told you about," Jace said, pointing to the red haired girl. "Her name's Clary."

"How do you know that?" Hodge asked, handing the photo back to Isabelle.

"Apparently, a Mundie friend of her's was looking for her," Jace said.

"He knew about Magnus too," Alec added.

"The Mundane?" Hodge said in disbelief, looking at all three siblings for confirmation.

"Yeah and get this," Jace said, leaning close as if divulging a secret, "Mundie called him 'Uncle' Magnus."

"'Uncle'," Hodge said, his voice and face deadpan. His eyes flicked to Isabelle who shrugged.

"He did," she said. "I heard it. Which brings up another point: Magnus's place was broken into."

"Try trashed," Alec said, pulling out the now antsy kitten from his pocket. He let it burrow into the crease of his elbow and purr as he scratched behind its ears. "The place was turned inside out."

"I assume that's where you found this little guy," Hodge said, stepping up and running a single finger along the kitten head with a soft smile on his face.

Alec flushed and shifted awkwardly. "I...couldn't leave him alone," he mumbled. He huffed. "Especially when the Mundane law enforcement was involved."

Hodge looked up at him bewildered. "Why were the Mundanes involved? Magnus is a powerful warlock. He can hide from the Silent Brothers if he wants to. He wouldn't leave his Lair unwarded like that."

Alec shook his head. "It wasn't his Lair," he said firmly. "It didn't feel... It felt lived in but it didn't feel like a Lair."

"So a cover then." Hodge stood back and scratched his beard thoughtfully. "Anything else?"

"Yeah," Alec said grimly. "It was definitely Shadowhunters who trashed the place. One of the doors had clearly been slashed by seraph blades."

Hodge closed his eyes in defeat. "It's the Circle," he said.

"The Circle was defeated after the Uprising," Isabelle said.

Their mentor held up a hand. "Officially, yes. Unofficially, no. Not all the members were captured. And who's to say more didn't join up?"

"Yes, but Valentine is dead," Jace said, looking to his parabatai for backup. "Everyone knows that."

"No body was found," Hodge countered. "Playing Devil's advocate here," he said, leaning against a column, "Valentine could- nngh!" He suddenly winced and doubled over in pain as a circular rune on his neck burned hot and red.

Jace hissed and held Hodge up, supporting him through the pain. Alec and Isabelle grimaced in sympathy.

"The monster," Hodge corrected himself, "very well be alive and reviving the Circle. Or he could really be dead and the Circle's decided to act up without him. Or it may not be the Circle at all."

"But you think it is," Isabelle said grimly.

Hodge nodded silently. She met her big brother's eyes and felt small. This was bigger than all of them. Alec pressed his lips together in thought.

"We have to talk to Magnus," Isabelle said. "We saw him protecting Clary and we know they're on good terms-"

"And that something or someone," Alec added with a glance at Hodge, "is hunting warlocks. They're both in the middle of this."

"But if Magnus is gone to ground, then it'll be hard to get him to come out," Jace said, huffing in disappointment.

Hodge tilted his head. "Not necessarily," he said slowly.

He gestured for the siblings to follow him and made his way over to a certain tile on the floor. He drew out his stele and drew the rune inscribed on the tile. A hidden storage shelf rose up out of the floor revealing several layers of glass shelves and a box at the bottom. He slid the lid of the box off and drew out a silver necklace with a huge, red jewel embedded in the pendant.

Isabelle's eyes glowed with awe. "Is that what I think it is?" she breathed.

"It is indeed," Hodge said, a grin on his face. "Four karat, unheated Burmese ruby. Magnus gave this to your ancestors about a century ago. It's enchanted to alert the wearer if demons are nearby." He looped the chain over his fingers so the pendant rested in the palm of his hand. "He makes no secret of his desire to have it back."

"Why?" Alec asked curiously eyeing the ruby.

"It was a gift to his lover at the time," Hodge explained. "Camille Belcourt."

Alec's eyebrow lifted in surprise. "Warlock gets around." Jace snorted impolitely and Alec felt his lips twitch up at the corners.

Hodge rolled his eyes at the youngsters's bickering. "Offer this to Magnus," Hodge suggested. "If it matters as much to him as he claims it does then he might just take the bait."

Jace shook his head. "He may want it but... Nah. Magnus won't come out of hiding just for some necklace. Even if it is enchanted."

"Agreed," Alec said. "Not with the Circle or even Valentine trying to kill him."

"Never underestimate Magnus's hedonism, or his greed," Hodge said, handing the necklace to Isabelle. "Find a way to contact him. Get the word out to your Downworlder friends that you're interested in a trade."

"The necklace for information," Isabelle said, taking the jewel reverently.

"He won't do it," Alec said, crossing his arms and leaning toward his parabatai.

Isabelle smirked. "Oh he will."

She closed her hand around the jewel and strode confidently over to a tablet lying on a table nearby. She casually picked it up and swiped through several screens before sending the current image of her choosing up to one of the larger screens. The image was a snapshot of a VIP invitation to a rave at the Downworld bar Hardtail.

"Where'd you get that?" Alec teased.

Isabelle just winked at him. "Some of us go out every now and then," she said, a shit-eating grin on her face. Alec rolled his eyes and Izzy turned back to the screen. "word on the street is that Magnus likes to party. We can set up a meeting here tomorrow night and no one would bat an eye."

"And if he doesn't show," Alec said, fingering the photograph, "we can try to track him with this." Jace met his gaze and nodded in agreement.

"Sounds good," the blonde Shadowhunter said.

"Don't underestimate him," Hodge warned. "Magnus is both very old and very powerful. He's a High Warlock and has friends in high places. I would suggest using caution." Here he stared at Jace specifically. Jace gave his mentor his best innocent look which only resulted in a snort.

"I'll spread the word," Isabelle said. "Just let me put on something decent."

Jace pressed his lips together hard, fighting back his laughter.

"Not a word," Alec warned.

Jace covered his mouth and his shoulders trembled but somehow managed to stay silent. It was clearly a Herculean effort.