Chapter 21

Clary's POV

Thursday morning I tugged on my Gear as I thought about my day. Right now, I was going to train with Jace. We had gotten into a routine of training before breakfast and studying with our friends after class then doing our own private "studying" after dinner. More often than not we trained again after that. However, tonight I was going to dinner with Sebastian for a change, so I told Jace we would pass on our nightly activities. Still worried about Sebastian, Jace had asked me to check in with him after returning. I figured since Jace didn't fight me about having a friendship with Sebastian even though it put him at ease that I could at least check in.

I started to imagine what could possibly happen when I checked in with Jace tonight when a knock sounded at the door. I sighed at the impatience Jace had. I crossed my room to unlock my door and pull it open just slightly before going back to braiding my hair.

"I'll be just a second," I said through my hair tie which I held between my teeth. I heard Jace enter the room, but stay close to the door. I glanced behind me because he normally came up and kissed my neck, pausing in my ministrations.

My jaw dropped, and I felt the hair tie drop to the floor. "Jon."

Jon still hadn't spoken to me since that day he walked in on Jace and me. He still looked angry, but a different kind of angry. I couldn't read in his face what was going on in his head. Watching him carefully, I lowered my hands and stood straight.

My brother took a deep breath, took a step forward, and opened his mouth. "I, um…" Jon cleared his throat. "Clary…"

His face changed when he said my name, and I realized what my brother was trying to say. He was still angry about my thing with Jace, but… "I missed you, too."

Jon let out a breath and crossed the room before pulling me into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry, Clary."

I squeezed him back and nodded into his shoulder. I wanted to tell him I was sorry too, but I had started to tear up a little at being back with my brother.

"You're not stupid, Clary. I shouldn't have ever said that. You're my number one, and I just don't want to watch you get hurt." Jon paused. "And I might've been a little jealous."

He said it so fast, I wasn't sure I heard him correctly, and I pulled back. I kept a hold on his hand, though. "What?"

Jon shrugged and went to sit on my bed, pulling me with him. "We've been at the Academy for a couple of months, and I- we don't ever get to spend much time together. It used to just be us and Simon and the rest of our family. Suddenly we're surrounded by all these people, most of whom hate us. And you seemed to spend a lot of time with Jace. I just miss you." He shrugged again.

"You know you could've just told me." I shook Jon's hand. "I love you, and I missed spending as much time with you as we used to, too. We'll just have to make more of an effort to schedule brother and sister time together."

I leaned my head on his shoulder, and we sat in silence for a few minutes. I still had a grasp on Jon's hand, and I could feel his shoulders rise with his breath.

"I still don't like Jace."

I had to let out a chuckle. I had been wondering when that would come up. "Would you be mad if I told you we were spending more time together and possibly on our way to starting a relationship?"

Jon grumbled. "I wouldn't be happy."

Jon met my eyes with his. He analyzed my face for a moment before sighing. "No, I'm not mad. I'll admit I wasn't particularly thrilled to see you… kissing… Jace-"

"Thrilled?"

Jon glared at me, but only in the way a brother could at a sister he loved. "But…if you want to be with Jace, I suppose I have to let you. I still don't trust him, though, and I urge you to be cautious."

I snorted. "You sound like Jace."

Jon's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Jace warns you against me?" He looked like he was about to rant again.

"No! Sebastian. We're friends, but Jace doesn't trust him."

"Sebastian Verlac?"

When I nodded, a shadow passed over my brother's face. "What?"

My brother didn't say anything, but shook his head. He pulled his hand away from mine and stood. "I have to get going. Let's grab dinner tomorrow, and we'll talk more about Jace and Verlac. Plus, I have a surprise for you." Jon smiled at me, but the smile was off a little bit. I couldn't quite figure out what Sebastian meant to my brother. It couldn't be good, though.

My brother opened the door. "Jon!" He turned and gave me a questioning look. "We're okay, right?"

Jon gave me a smile, this one genuine. "Always…eventually, anyway."

"Am I interrupting?"

The familiar voice brought butterflies to my stomach even with the uncertainty to it. I leaned around Jon to find Jace standing there, looking as if he wasn't sure if he should be worried about me or himself. His blond hair was mussed as if he had woken up and used his fingers to straighten it out, but his Gear was impeccable as always. When he saw my smile at him, he flashed me one back.

"Hi. You're late."

"I had an unexpected visitor."

"Mm." Jace looked to Jon, so I did too. Jon didn't look at Jace fondly, but at least he didn't look as if he was going to pull the knife I knew was in his boot out to slash his throat.

Jon took a step forward. "If you hurt her or use her-"

Jace cut him off. "I'll hand you the blade myself."

Jon glanced back at me once more before stepping around Jace. "Dinner tomorrow," was all he said before disappearing down the hall.

Jace's golden eyes narrowed at me as he slid his arm around my waist. "I thought you promised me dinner tomorrow?"

I shrugged before kissing him. "My brother needs this. You can take me out on Saturday. You want me to make up with him, don't you?"

"Do I?" Jace looked skeptical but flashed me a smile. "You'll be making it up to me. After all, my services aren't free, and you need at least 48 hours notice to change or cancel your reservation at no cost."

I rolled my eyes as I locked my door behind us.