Hey guys. I'm really sorry I didn't update last weekend. This last two weeks have been a little stressful. And I'm not gonna lie, this definitely isn't the best chapter I've written. The things that have been going are starting to take its toll on me. I know I should probably just take a little more time to fix it but I honestly can't bear to keep you guys on your toes anymore. I feel guilty enough. But anyway, enough of my blabbing, I hope this chapter doesn't suck as I think it does lol

"He has three cracked ribs on his right side and on his left, one is broken and puncturing his lung."

I hadn't realized how tightly my hands were balled up until Jace loosened one of them and placed it in his own.

The gesture was sweet but I was so stressed I had to take out my frustration on something. I settled for grinding my teeth.

Magnus rand a hair through his blue sparkling hair and continued. "His jaw was dislocated so I'll have to ask that you only feed soft things. I don't recommend chewing."

Maryse nodded. "We can handle that."

"Well, that's pretty much it. Anything else is just too minor for worrying or is probably already healed. So, I'll be going back home."

"Thank you, Magnus. So much."

I looked at my mother and almost flinched at her horrifying state. Here usual bright green eyes were dull. They almost looked gray from where I was standing. The shadows under her eyes made her look like a zombie. The wrinkles on her forehead were more prominent now, making her look ten years older than she was. And her hair didn't look as radiant. I could see more grays than before.

"Mom?"

She looked up at me and grimaced. I think maybe she was trying to smile.

"Are you ok?"

"I've been better," she said lightly.

"Luke will be ok." I said it with confidence. I knew he would be ok. Magnus said that there was no doubt that he would be up and about in about a week. With werewolves' ability to heal faster than humans and Magnus's power to speed the healing process, things should be looking up for Luke.

"I know."

"Then why are you crying?" By this time, everyone had gone back to their rooms. It was only Jocelyn, Jace and I left standing here outside Luke's room.

Jace bent down to whisper in my ear. "Would you like me to give you some privacy?"

I nodded. "Please? I'll meet up with you later."

He kissed my temple. "Sure. I'll be in my room if you need me."

I squeezed his hand gently before letting go of him. "I always need you. But I'll come see you later."

With one last look, he turned on his heel and walked down the hallway.

Jocelyn ran another hand through her hair. "I'm so worried about you. While you're here training, you could be attacked like Luke was. And you don't heal as fast as he does."

I pulled out my stele. "Actually, I do."

"An iratz won't heal everything."

"But it heals most things," I said. "Mom, look, I need you to trust me."

"Oh, honey." She stepped forward and held my face in her hands. "I do trust you. It's Valentine I don't trust."

I pulled her into a hug. "I'll be fine. I promise. Now, let's stop worrying about this, ok? Luke needs us to be there for him."

She nodded and we walked inside the infirmary.

We sat on either side of his sleeping form. We didn't say anything. I wasn't one to talk a lot about how I felt, a gene I inherited from my mother.

We sat there for a couple of hours only speaking when absolutely necessary. It was when Jocelyn started yawning that I told her to go home and that I'd stay with him.

Of course she refused but I at least got her to stay in one of the rooms in the institute.

I curled up in the chair and had a sudden wave of déjà vu. I thought back and saw myself sitting next to Isabelle after she'd been shot looking for my brother. The progress we've made since then almost made me smile.

The next morning, I woke up feeling warmer than usual. It made me feel bubbly which was strange because I usually wasn't a morning person and with everything that had been happening I wasn't exactly in a chipper mood.

I rolled over and was met with some very toned abs.

Unable to control myself, I traced the outline of muscles.

"Like what you see?"

I looked up into his sparkling gold eyes. "I do. How did I get here anywhere."

He rolled his eyes. "Silly girl. I carried you. You fell asleep in the infirmary."

I pulled myself closer to him and gave him a sorry excuse for a hug. It's actually harder than it seems while lying in bed. "Thank you. What time is it?"

"Almost seven. We have to get up to train."

I groaned. "Why can't I just stay here?"

He chuckled. "We have to get ready to kick butt."

I laughed into his shoulder. "Yeah, I guess you're right." I sat up and as the light blanket fell, I found myself only in my bra and panties. "You took my clothes off?"

"No one likes to sleep in their clothes," he said with a shrug. "Plus, I love seeing your creamy skin."

I would've scoffed or rolled my eyes or do something if the way he was looking at me didn't turn me on so much. And the fact that he was shirtless didn't help the situation.

I climbed out of bed and put my clothes from yesterday on. "Thanks for bringing me to bed. I have to go to my room to change. I'll meet you in the gym."

"Just like you were supposed to meet me last night?"

I mock glared. "I fell asleep by accident."

"Whatever."

I giggled and kissed him chastely. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

In one swift move, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me down against him. "It better not."

I was too busy wiggling and laughing to respond. He was tickling my sides as punishment. "J-Jace, stop it!"

He only laughed and continued to torture me. Then finally, he rested his fingers. "Promise you won't do it again."

"I swear!" I said breathlessly. "I swear on the Codex I won't do it again."

He smiled. "That's more like it."

I pushed myself back to my feet and went to my room while Jace dressed.

In the gym, I got so used to seeing Alec and Isabelle sparring or doing some kind of training on their own. But it was different that time.

The two of them were on the floor polishing weapons.

With a shrug, Jace and I walked inside.

Alec stood up and handed Jace a seraph blade and me a dagger.

"Today they're training with weapons," said Alec. "As you already know, this artillery is special. It has chosen you to be its wielder. They're very easy to use, the reason being the weapons are in control of themselves. You just need to learn how to awaken their power."

Why was I thinking about Kingdom Hearts? Too many video games with Simon were kicking me in the ass right now.

Isabelle stood next to Alec. "Think of it like an on and off switch. Right now they're off. And you need to find the trigger that turns them on." She unwrapped the gold whip from around her wrist. "For example, my whip is a part of me. When I hold it, I don't even have to think about what I need to do for it to do what I want. It's like walking. You don't think about how far to stretch your leg. You're so used to doing it, it's effortless."

With a flick of her wrist she had the whip snapping in the air and then wrapped back around her wrist in just a few short seconds. "Who wants to go first?"

Jace elbowed me.

With a roll of my eyes, I followed Alec to where I guessed he and Isabelle set up the dart board.

"Ok." Alec instructed me to stand behind the tape he put on the ground. "Just like Isabelle said, it's effortless. The trick is to not try."

"Don't try?" I laughed. "That's what you've got for me?"

"You can do it."

With a sigh, I tried to relax my body. The dagger felt weightless.

I remembered the way I had thrown the dagger before. When Jace and I snuck out to the Chrysler Building, Isabelle and Alec were in trouble. I didn't think about any of my training. I threw the dagger as a reflex. And it went exactly where I hopped it would.

I looked at the small circle on the board and knew that I would hit the bull's eye.

The dagger slipped from my fingers and I saw it fly in a straight line to the board. When it hit dead center, I fought the urge to jump up and down.

Jace's loud clapping made me jump but I smiled at him in thanks.

"That was great!" Isabelle cheered. "See, didn't I tell you it was easy?"

"Yeah, yeah." I shoved Jace toward Alec. "Show us what you're made of!"

I watched Jace call the blade the life and twirl it in different ways. It looked a bit amusing to me but I guessed it would look more violent if a demon were standing in front of him.

"Either Alec and I are amazing teachers or you two are the most amazing shadowhunters I've ever met."

I looked over at Isabelle and smiled. "Should I say thank you or compliment your teaching skills?"

With a laugh, she shoved me lightly. "Shut up. You know what I'm trying to say."

I nodded. "And thank you. For saying but not really saying it."

"You're welcome."

I looked at Jace and I thought about the battle we were facing. I thought about how many lives that would be lost. I thought about the drawing I still had of Jace lying dead with a demon hovering over him.

It had been a little over a month since I've had that vision. I had told no one in hope that I would be able to protect him. Or that he would be able to protect himself.

"Clary?"

I tried to wipe any emotions that could be shown on my face away. "Yeah?"

"Are you ok?"

I nodded. "Absolutely."

We watched Jace work the seraph blade for a couple seconds in silence.

"Isabelle, can I ask you a question?"

She looked at me with a concerned look. "What is it?"

"Do you honestly think that Jace and I are good?"

"Of course." She crossed her arms. "I would never lie about something that serious. You know that."

I shrugged.

"Clary, what's going on that you're not telling me?"

I ran a hand through my hair. "I don't know. I guess I'm just worried that something is going to go right."

Isabelle wrapped her arm around my shoulders. I was still trying to get used to her kindness to me. "I swear to you, with everyone we have on our side, and your strength I might add, we'll be fine. I won't let anything happen to you. Or to Jace."

"How can you promise something like that to me?" I asked.

She winked. "Just trust me."

After training, all of us were about to go to our rooms for a nice cool shower when Maryse and Robert asked to speak to Isabelle and I.

"What's up?" Isabelle said as we followed her parents to the library.

Robert opened the doors to reveal a woman to be about Maryse's age. She had long blonde wavy hair that reminded me of Camille. Except she was way too chipper.

"I'd like you to meet Annamarie Highsmith. She's one of my good friends," Robert said. "And she agreed to help you with your ceremony."

Isabelle looked at each other and then back at her parents.

"Yes," said Maryse. "We're giving you our blessing. You may become parabatai if it's what you really want."

"Clary?"

I gave Isabelle a huge smile.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?"

I nodded. "We've got some planning to do."

Yeah, it was a bit rushed. I know. But I don't have a whole lot of time on my hands anymore. I hope it was somewhat enjoyable. Let me know! Reviews make me feel good :)

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