People, I'm so sorry this took so long! I have been on vacation and when I came back I just couldn't write this chapter. Thank you to those who stuck with this story, I will try to upload the chapters that are left soon! XO

Jace's POV

I stood there speechless and not moving, my heart racing. Before my mind was able to react, the petite red head ran at me and threw her arms around my neck, burying her face in my shoulder. My arms went instantly around her body, hugging her as if she could come even closer. I breathed in her scent and my eyes closed as I realized I had her again in my arms and didn't want to let go. The whole world around us melted away, but when she moved her face away from my body and I leaned in to capture her lips in mine, I heard Alec stopping us. I almost punched him, but then I noticed the person standing in front of him. He was tall and had hair so fair that it seemed white. Marks were all over his body too, so I figured he was a shadowhunter, but I still put Clary behind me and became aware of a blade in my belt.

"Jace, stop, stop." Of course she wouldn't let me try to take care of her. I looked down and saw Clary with a hand on my arm. "He's not dangerous. His name is Jonathan, and he's my brother."

Alec looked from Clary to the guy called Jonathan, mouth slightly agape. I could see where his thoughts were: they couldn't be more different from each other. While one was tall, almost taller than me, and had sandy hair and black eyes, the other was short and had flaming red hair and green eyes.

Jonathan began telling the story of when they had met and how he had become aware that they were siblings, but he still seemed dangerous to me. He had been in Valentine's army right until that moment, and I just couldn't trust him so easily.

They said they hadn't been followed, but just in case Alec got on a tree again and tried to see anything strange. I went around too, but the sensor showed nothing. I decided to take the first guard again, so Alec could get some rest and Clary too. I intended to make a plan as to what we would do to go back to the New York Institute, so I could do with the silence.

But only after a few moments of silence I heard something to my right, on another tree branch, and whipped out my seraph blade calling its name in a whisper. Staring back at me was an owl, and I huffed at myself being so caught up in my thoughts that a simple bird could put me on edge. I scared it away and before I could totally turn around I heard a voice and slammed the figure that was behind me into the tree, blade aimed at the neck. When I realized who it was I gasped and let go of her, apologizing over and over.

"It's okay, Jace; you're a shadowhunter and are supposed to be like this always… and also I had forgotten I had put on a soundless rune." She said as she brushed the hair out of her face to look at me. "I figured you'd like company." I nodded at her and she sat on the branch, facing me. I sat too, legs dangling in the empty space at both sides and looked at her.

"We missed you back in New York. Everyone's been going crazy looking for you, your parents… well, your mother and Luke."

"They are still my parents. I still consider him my father, you know. Valentine can be my biological father, but he was never there. I had many nights to consider it, and at first I was angry that no one had told me. Then I realized Luke is my true father." We stayed in comfortable silence for a few seconds. "I missed everyone too. I didn't know if I would see you again after everything I heard Valentine wanted to do."

"Of course you would see us, Clary, we were looking for you. Did he hurt you?" I lifted my hand and cupped her face, and she leaned against it after she shook her head. "By the Angel, I missed you."

I couldn't stop myself from leaning towards her and pushing my lips on hers. I needed her close since the day I realized I wanted her to be mine and she had been taken away. Her fingers caressed my face and neck, and my hands took her hair to get her even closer. It was not a violent kiss, but it didn't lack passion either.

"Hey, lovebirds, stop for a while." We parted and looked down to see Alec watching us. "It's almost dawn and there's enough light for us to continue. Our best chance is to get to Idris and get a portal there."

I jumped down and tried to help the red head, but she landed swiftly on her feet and smiled at me when she saw my eyes wide with surprise. She was clumsy, but had improved her skills. She winked as she stepped past me and talked as she walked away.

"There are a lot of new things about me you have not yet seen, Jace."

Clary's POV

I entered the tent and saw Alec gathering his weapons as he talked to Jonathan. The second one smiled at me as he put his blades through his weapon belt and handed me his stele. I smiled back as I grabbed it and started marking him. Jace came in after me and I could feel his stare on my back. The kiss we had shared had left me thinking of everything that had happened between us, and I knew I had to sort out my mind.

"You should let her mark you." Jonathan said to Alec as he was taking out his own stele. "Oh, wait. Didn't you tell them?" He eyed me and now I could feel everyone staring at me. I blushed and shook my head. He ushered me to show them, so I took something I could break and put an Open rune on it. It was the same example I had used to show everyone, but I didn't know how more to show them. "She can also put runes on you that will increase the power they have. For example, her speed rune. That's how we got here so fast, she increased its power."

"Well, lets see it then." Alec said as he handed me his stele. I put every Mark I knew would help on him and then Jace asked for the same. After finishing with them, I marked myself and we took off.

We knew Idris was not far away from where we had camped, so we wanted to get there before nightfall. The runes helped us do that, and the fact that we encountered no demons on the way too. Just as the first star was seen in the sky we could see the towers of Alicante, and soon enough a group of shadowhunters came to find us.

We introduced ourselves and explained our situation, and we were immediately taken before the Council. Everything was a rush, each of us was questioned thoroughly regarding Valentine and his plans, but Jonathan was the one who had the most information so he talked most of the time. Maryse, Robert and my parents had been already notified of us being in the shadowhunter country, and were coming by portal. Alec, Jace and I were excused after some hours of constant questioning and Jonathan was still being asked of the whereabouts of our biological father. They planned on attacking them as soon as possible so he could not assemble as many demons as he intended.

The only thing I wanted was to sleep, so I was showed to a bedroom in one of the main buildings, and Alec and Jace were showed to other bedrooms next to mine. As soon as my head touched the pillow I fell asleep, hoping my parents would be there soon and my mind could sort out everything.

"CLARY!" I was woken by a loud yelling and suddenly I was being crushed against a body I recognized as my mother's. I hugged back, and when she took my face in her hands I saw that her eyes were full of tears. "I was so worried about you!"

"We were so worried about you." I turned to my left and saw Luke sitting on the bed next to my mom, and I threw myself on him, hugging his body tightly.

"Mom! Dad!" I watched as my father's face changed, and I knew he was thinking about not being my biological father. "I don't care if you're not my blood father; you still are my real one." He smiled widely and embraced me once again. Not long after they had come into the room, a woman that had been in the Council earlier stepped in.

"We have Valentine Morgenstern's location."