A/N - OMG Y'ALL I"M SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING IN LIKE 2 WEEKS. Where did my time go?! Seriously though, for like a week every morning I'd get up and be all "okay Emily, you have to put up that next chapter today, don't let the people down." And then I go to bed at night like "shit Emily, you forgot... just remember to do it tomorrow."

OKAY I WON'T KEEP YOU WAITING ANY LONGER. As a refresher, Clary has escaped from Valentine and is now back in Idris with Jocelyn and Luke.

Disclaimer: themortalinstrumentbelongstoqueencassieisimplyborrowhercharacters

I wake up in my own bed in my own room for the first time in quite a while.

Today I have to meet with the Clave and go over everything that has happened. I'm not even sure if they know I was with my insane biological father.

The Lightwoods and Jace are coming back to Idris for their own safety and to keep Max from getting too shaken up about the whole situation. Unfortunately, his test date remains the same.

I haven't eaten or drank anything since escaping... someone put a few nourishment runes on me last night, but they've faded now. I can smell someone cooking in the kitchen and I slowly get up from my bed and pad downstairs.

Luke's making waffles.

He looks up as I sit at the breakfast bar. "How're you feeling?"

"Less hungry when you feed me," I reply with a smile.

He studies me. "You don't want to talk about anything before meeting with the Clave?"

I think about it for a minute. "When are the Lightwoods getting here?" is what comes out of my mouth.

Luke looks surprised. "Umm, a couple hours, probably."

I'm suddenly anxious and excited all at the same time. And I just want to see Jace and kiss him and-

I have to tell Luke and my mom about him. I was just kidnapped by Valentine and escaped, and apparently telling my parents that I have a legitimate boyfriend is what has me the most worried.

"When's mom coming down?"

Luke's eyebrows furrow together. "Are you sure you're okay? You're a little antsy."

I'm already finished my breakfast. "Yeah, I'm fine." I jump down from the breakfast bar and head towards the front door. "I'm just going for a walk," I call back.

"You're not going anywhere." I'm just reaching for the door when I hear my mom.

I sigh. There is no fighting with her; she's not easily moved. I walk back into the kitchen. My mom sits at the breakfast bar.

I don't really remember the night before. Just exhaustion and crying and seeing my mom for the first time in a while. She looks different; older.

"How are you doing, Clary?" she asks when I sit back down beside her.

I don't make eye contact. "I'm okay." It's not a lie. But so many things are rushing through my head at once. So many questions I have to ask. But only one is really sticking. "Why didn't you tell me I had a brother?"

Mom's eyes widen. She doesn't look sad, she looks terrified. It takes her a moment to compose herself before replying, "he was never my son. Valentine used him for some sick experiment."

Hurt washes through me. "Right. A sick experiment," I whisper. I'm not sure that she hears me.

When my mom wraps her arm around me and tells me that it's okay, because I'm her daughter, I don't feel it. It's odd to go through life without knowing something about yourself. Then, when you discover it, your whole life seems different. But it's not – not really. You're still the same person, you just feel different.

I'd always known that Valentine had done something to me, but it never felt true.

Anger and hurt fill my veins. "You know I have angel blood." I don't ask it, because she had to have known. All the weird rune talents, she must have suspected where they came from. "I'm a sick experiment just as much as my brother was."

She realizes her mistake then. "Oh, Clary-"

I jump down from my stool and start to the door.

"Where are you going?" Mom calls to me.

"For a walk!" I yell back. Then I'm out the door.

I've probably been out too long but once an hour has passed I know the Lightwoods will be coming through the portal shortly and I don't see the point in going back home.

People stare as I walk down the streets of Alicante. Not the normal stares, the kind the make you want to zip up your sweater and pull the hood over your head. It's not until I stand on one of the many bridges in Alicante and stare at my reflection in a canal that I realize I have massive bruises on my neck from Valentine strangling me.

It feels like forever ago that it happened.

I head to the Gard where the only Portal in Idris is located. It'll be where the Lightwoods come through.

I wait even longer and then Luke and Mom are walking towards me and I stand.

Luke is the one to tell me that the Lightwoods will be coming through soon; Mom and I don't make eye contact.

The doors to the Gard finally crack open and I'm relieved to see the Lightwoods walk through and trailing behind them, Jace.

They all see me; Max and Izzy and Alec are all running towards me and I'm running towards them. Their love surrounds me in a group hug.

"I'm so glad you're okay, Clary," Izzy says. "You have no ideas we were so worried." Her voice cracks and her eyes are filled with moisture.

Max's arms wrap around my torso and I've never been so glad to see the kid in my life. He doesn't even say anything, but I can tell he's trying not to cry and I embrace him back.

Alec gives me a strong, warm hug. "How are you feeling?" he asks, concern ridden all over his face.

I smiled at him. "I'm okay."

Max still hasn't let go of my torso and I hear Jace's voice from behind me. "Come on, kid, everyone wants a chance to hug the pretty girl." I've never been so happy to hear his sarcastic tone before.

Max releases me and I turn to see Jace's golden eyes. He smiles sadly. I take a few quick steps towards him and his arms wrap around my waist and as he straightens my feet lift off the ground. I hug him so tightly I'm worried the muscles in my arms might hurt tomorrow but I don't care.

I don't realize I'm crying until I see the wet mark I've left on Jace's shirt.

"I missed you Clary," he whispers into my ear. "I was so worried. Your scream woke everyone up and then you were just gone."

I just bury my face into his shoulder. "It was horrible, Jace," I admit into his shoulder. I squeeze him tighter. "I missed you so much."

His grip starts to loosen and my feet are on the ground again. His face is right next to mine and I can feel his breath on my ear. When I turn my head our lips meet instantly. I crave more but Jace pulls away after we kiss just once, and that's when I remember all the other people around us. I suspect I'd blush if I cared.

Jace's thumbs brush under my eyes as he wipes away the moisture my tears left behind.

"How's your neck?" he asks.

I shrug. "It doesn't hurt. I just didn't get a rune on it fast enough to take away the bruising."

Jace frowns, his eyebrows pull together.

"What?" I ask.

His face smoothes out. "Nothing," his voice drops. "I believe we have an audience."

I glance behind me. Maryse and my mom are standing at an awkward distance while everyone else looks as though their trying very hard not to look in our direction.

I clear my throat and everyone turns to look at Jace and I. "Mom, Luke, you know Jace Herondale," I say, trying my best to keep it as least awkward as possible.

Mom nods and smiles. "Nice to see you again, Jace."

Luke steps forward to shake Jace's hand. "It's good to meet the second best shadow-hunter of his age."

Jace laughs.

I freeze. I can't help it; Jace is the best shadow-hunter of his age now because I'm not actually me; I'm just high on angel blood all the time. I feel like doubling-over, like someone punched me in the stomach.

Luke's face falls. "Clary-"

I swallowed hard. "No it's fine, I'm just gonna head over to the Clave. I've got a meeting soon."

I try to back away but my eyes lock with my mom's and I feel like I can't move. "Clary," she says. "You can't do this now."

I kept my eyes connected with hers. "It's too bad you didn't have the decency to tell me before I was kidnapped by my father."

I feel all eyes on me, but I don't care.

"You need to calm down, Clary. You know-"

"No," I interrupt. "You know exactly what's going to happen next."

Her eyes turn sad. I should feel guilty but I know it's true. At the meeting I'll have to go through every detail ever, and I'm positive they'll lock me up.

"They're bringing in Clave members from all over the world, you know," Luke says. "Neither of you know what's going to happen in there."

My eyes shift over to Luke. "I really hope you're right."

A/N - such drama! I love it when y'all take the time to let me know what you thought of each chapter, so thanks so much for reviewing; it always makes me smile to hear wonderful things! New chapter SOON!