Welcome to the final conclusion to my story.

Thank you for staying with me, I love you all.

Epilogue…

{Clary's POV}

I had been ordered to take a few days off before I returned to what Shadowhunter's considered 'normal life'.

It had now been 3 days since I had woken, and god was I being babied.

Jace never left my side, he slept next to my bed and refused to leave.

I appreciated the gesture, but there was nothing wrong with me, I felt fine.

Although the Brother's had something else to say, their conclusions had led them to think that I was still in great peril - yet I felt fine.

I had heard all the stories of 'You were hotter than the sun' and 'You should be dead' and 'The fire of the angels was within you', but I was sick of it. I had felt more than well since then.

It was now a lazy Saturday morning, all the other Nephilim would either be training or working - the thought of others being out there and me being cooped up was almost unbearable.

In response to my thoughts I groaned out loud, rolling over in my bed.

"Someone's not having a good morning,"

A sarcastic voice echoed across the room.

I rolled back over to watch his eager grin as he strode through the room towards me.

"How are we feeling tiger?"

Jace was at the bottom of my bed leaning on the frame, smiling wildly back at me.

"What do you think? I hate this, look at me,"

I sat up and gestured randomly to parts of my body,

"I am perfectly fine, no burning sensations. But they keep me here like some baby."

I scowled, needing someone to project my anger towards ; and Jace just happened to be there.

Instead of sympathising as I thought he would, he said,

"Well isn't it great that I just spoke with Brother Zachariah outside the Infirmary and you are cleared to leave?"

Instantly snapping out of my dull mood, my body shot upright - my spine rigid.

"I swear to the Angel, if you are lying Jace Herondale I will rip off your-"

"No need to finish that charming threat, I'm not joking, Clary. Now you could sit here and tell me all your other mindless threats, or… we can go outside and you can leave this bland room behind?"

Jace swooped in quickly.

Quietly, a smug grin creeped onto my face, and in a second I had jumped out of the covers and into his arms.

Having been taken slightly by surprise, Jace reflexively caught my legs and stumbled back a few steps before regaining his balance.

I wrapped my legs around his waist tightly, burying my face in his neck, planting kisses there before pulling back to look him in the face.

"You ready Blondie?"

I asked mockingly,

"Born ready"

He replied with a wink.

{Izzy's POV}

The past few days had been getting better, many had been mourning the dead, countless ceremonies had taken place to remember those who had fallen.

I had been fortunate enough to not lose anyone close to me in the battle, and for that I was grateful.

Even though the last few days had been peaceful, especially in comparison to the ones before it, a lingering feeling that something was missing weighted on my chest.

I knew what it was, Clary.

Her presence in a room was always felt, and with it gone everything was just slightly off.

"Izzy, are you even gonna try?"

Alec called from down below.

He, Jon and I were in the Alicante training facility. And I was working on my falls again, thinking that if I could manage to do at least 30 feet before Clary saw me then she would be impressed.

Despite my hard work I still clattered to the floor in a heap almost every time, my knees would buckle in the air so I would go tumbling.

Alec and Jon found it very amusing watching me fail over and over again, I rather felt it infuriating.

I walked to the edge of the platform and exhaled slowly, then as I closed my eyes I leapt off the platform. The sharp rush of the air running around my body was such a rush every time, and as I sensed the floor near I narrowed my mind and focused on the landing.

Come on Isabelle, knees and arms in. Then roll out and stand.

As I connected with the floor I threw my body forwards into a roll and gradually made it to a standing position.

I looked at Alec and Jon with my mouth wide open.

"I DID IT."

I screamed, grinning like a cheshire cat.

"About fucking time you did Lightwood."

A sarcastic voice came from the door.

Swivelling eagerly, I looked at the entrance and nearly screamed in delight.

There she was, slouching so casually against the doorway with her arms crossed over her slim frame.

"CLARY"

I belted out loud as I ran over to her, my arms swinging out wide to embrace her, as tight as I could without squashing the girl.

"Safe to say you missed me huh?"

Her words rung in my ear.

As I released her from the hug I saw she was smiling genuinely as well,

"You have no idea. How are you feeling?"

"Absolutely fine, and I have the past couple of days. But those stupid zombies decided to coop me up for a bit longer, I reckon they did it just to piss me off. The cheek on those little bastar-"

"I am sure they had their reasons."

Jace cut in, I hadn't even noticed his presence in the room ; all my attention had zoomed in on Clary.

"Clary!"

Jon shouted from behind me, and I saw her face light up ever so slightly when she recognised her brother.

As the two hugged tightly I heard them whisper small words to each other, I couldn't make out what they were, but I guess that was a brother-sister conversation anyway.

{Jace's POV}

A weight had definitely lifted off my chest, everything was finally fitting together.

I sighed out loud, the burden of every event I had endured being blown away.

Noticing my lightened mood Alec patted me on the shoulder, smiling at me brilliantly.

"What?"

I asked, confused by his cheshire grin.

"You do realise you are going back to school in 2 days?"

He announced, and I felt my face drain of colour.

Alec burst out laughing, but I stayed deathly still and looked at Clary.

We only had 2 days left together before we were going to be separated again.

"I'm not going then."

I said flatly.

"Not going where?"

A delightfully familiar voice sounded by my left shoulder - Clary wound her hand into mine, our hands entwined together.

"Jace, you know they will never let you do that"

Izzy retorted.

"Hey erm guys, what are we talking about?"

Clary asked again, obviously feeling a little in the dark.

I opened my mouth to speak, but was abruptly cut off.

"Jace and Izzy will be returning to the Shadowhunter Academy here in Idris."

It was Maryse who had gracefully floated into the room, a gentle smile on her lips.

"I'm not going to go Clary, so don't worry I'm not leaving."

I reassured her, as I saw her face darken ever so slightly - something most who didn't know her would not have noticed.

"You most certainly are Jace Herondale."

My mother and father were now walking into the room to join the conversation, eager to correct me.

"You don't underst-"

"Jace. You should go, it's compulsory for all Nephilim children to attend some form of education and training until they are 18. And you still have 1 year left. Besides, what would your excuse have been 'I don't want to leave my girlfriend'? That just makes me sound clingy and pathetic, not my style."

Clary interrupted, winking at the end of her speech. Although she was speaking in a joking and confident manner I knew she wasn't 100% believing what she was saying.

"But then we would be leaving you"

I mumbled.

"Actually, Clarissa you wi-"

"-Clary, please don't call me Clarissa."

Clary suddenly blurted out, I was a little surprised by her outburst as much as everyone else. But that was a conversation for later.

"Sorry, Clary you will be going to the Academy with the others."

{Clary's POV}

My ears pricked up and I twisted around so fast I was off balance.

"Erm what?"

I demanded, facing Maryse properly now.

"You heard me, this school year there will be a new addition to the Academy."

Maryse spoke clean and calm, exactly what I had learned to expect from her now, and I respected her for it.

"What the bloody hell are those useless teachers possibly going to teach me that I don't already know? You honestly expect me to sit through some useless classes, you can fuc-"

"Clary!"

Mid-rant I was cut off by Jocelyn, who had just entered the room ; most likely astonished at the language I was about to use.

"What? There's no way I'm going to learn anything there!"

I exclaimed, frustrated with what was being asked of me.

"And I wouldn't dream of sending you there as a student Claris- Clary, you will be a teacher. One of the physical training teacher's there, you will be coaching the highest level students at the Academy."

Maryse explained again in her usual monotone voice.

My jaw dropped, so did Jace's, Alec's and Jon's - the difference being theres broke into a smile whereas I couldn't move.

"Clary that's our class, you will be teaching Jace and I!"

Izzy shouted in joy beside me, shaking my arm as she jumped up and down.

Yet I was still rooted to the spot.

"How?"

I looked directly into her eyes when I asked the question,

"It was decided that you be sent to the Academy by the Council, you will be observed by the other Nephilim there to ensure nothing goes wrong."

Instantly I knew what she was talking about, when I lost control.

Bad things happened when I lost control, I had even hurt Jace.

Before I had a chance to reply, Jace nudged my shoulder.

"It wouldn't be so bad you know? Things are definitely interesting at the Academy, plus it means we would still be together there."

He explained in that perfect voice of his, I wanted nothing more than to tell him how excited I was to do it with him. However I had to ask a question before I agreed to anything,

"What happens if things go wrong?"

I queried, staring at Maryse again ; I saw her guard lapse slightly and saw a glimpse of the loving mother Alec and Izzy must have known. Then it was back up, and she was Maryse Lightwood again, a shadowhunter above all.

"That will be for the Council to debate. Let's hope it won't come to that."

Her clear cut voice shattered the silence, and I knew people were giving me questioning looks, contemplating what they thought I would do now.

I turned back around to look at Izzy and Jace.

"I'll do it."

Their faces broke into beams of light and laughter, then they all charged at me surrounding me on all sides for the tightest hug I had ever received, breathing was a struggle.

"Only because I need to have words with your old teacher, they were obviously crap,"

I smirked afterward, and felt my body shake as the two laughed.

"Wait, how come Jon and Alec won't be there?"

I queried, not getting why the two boys weren't joining in,

"We are 18 now, this year is our first year as adult Nephilim. We will still be in touch and able to drop in now and then, but most of our time will be spent at the New York Institute."

Jon replied, in a sad but encouraging voice.

"Oh shit yeah, I had almost forgot you guys won't be there"

Jace said from beside me, and underneath the surprise I detected a feeling of disappointment and worry. Which made sense once I thought it through, as although we would be seeing Alec and Jon frequently as normal to be distanced from your parabatai was said to make u slightly weaker - more mental than physical.

{Jace's POV}

The school year was sure to be different without Alec and Jon there, and I would miss them incredibly.

However, this year Clary would be there ; and I was looking forward to the benefits and obstacles that would come along with that.

I was familiar with the nephilim ways, and it was even more predominant at the Academy - they disliked outsiders, anyone who was different would be feared and repelled.

Of course Clary meets all this criteria, I knew that she would struggle with the title of Valentine's Daughter. It was a burden she would have to carry forever, yet somehow I knew that she would manage. For Clary was what she was always born to be, like a rose she was delicately intoxicating but her thick layer of thorns showed when you got too close.

~time skip~

For the rest of that day I had spent it socialising with those I hadn't seen since the battle, people had begun calling it the Mortal War, certainly needing a name for the magnitude of the battle.

It was now about 8pm, and the sun was casting out a warm golden glow over the Glass City, signalling dusk was near.

Out of the corner of my eye I glimpsed a flash of colour disappearing around a corner, turning up a set of twisted stairs.

Intrigued as to who it was and why they were moving so fast I started jogging up the same stairs, winding my way up the narrow turret like building.

Once I had reached the top I had to stop myself from gasping in pleasant surprise, there on the edge of the roof were 2 shadowhunters. A smaller one with ruffled brown hair who's head reached to about the shoulder of the other one, long red hair flowing down her back. Clary and Max.

Max was dragging Clary by the hand to the edge of the roof space, it was amusing that even though Clary was a good few years older than Max she was only a head taller than him.

With their hands linked, they sat down and looked out onto the horizon - I inched closer, not wanting to intrude, but so I could hear what they were talking about.

"...that's why the sunset in Alicante is the best, just before it fully goes down all the glass towers reflect the pretty colours."

Max was explaining to an eager Clary,

"Do you come here often Max?"

"Yeah, when we lived here for a bit I would sneak out every night with Jace to watch it. The other's didn't really care but he did, Jace would always take me."

I smiled and blushed warmly at the memories of Max and I creeping out of our bedrooms to come and watch one of the simplest yet most humbling visions of light and look forward to doing it again the next day.

"You know, I'll be your fighting instructor this year. You better behave,"

Clary spoke out of the silence, winking at my younger brother.

A shadow was cast across Clary's face after she spoke,

"Max, can I ask you a question?"

She breathed.

"Yes Clary?"

"That day in the New York Institute when I erm… used you. Can you forgive me?"

I staggered back a couple steps after hearing the remorse and regret in Clary's voice, it was unnatural to hear such a powerful girl like Clary ask for forgiveness.

I hadn't realised, but that event must have been playing on her mind - eating away at her every day.

"There's nothing to forgive,"

Max answered, causing Clary's head to snap up.

"What do you mean? I held a blade to your throat and threatened your life? You're so young, it was unforgivable of me - I shouldn't have asked you. I'm sorry."

Shaking his head Max replied,

"You did what you did because of family, because your father asked you too. I don't care who your father is, if mine had asked me to do the same then I would have - because that's what family is, blood will always be thicker than water."

The small boy spoke up, surprise gripped me at the echoes of experience and wisdom in his voice.

Thinking along the same lines as me, Clary said,

"You will be a great Shadowhunter someday Max Lightwood, you speak of knowledge and wisdom beyond your years."

The little boy grinned in delight at the compliment from the most dangerous Nephilim there had ever been.

"Thank you Clary, but only if you promise to make me a fighter like you and Jace. I want to be able to fight demons and other creatures as you do - a real shadowhunter, a fearless warrior."

Excitement was radiating out of the little boy,

"I will Max, but be careful what you wish for. Being a fearless warrior isn't all it's made out to be, you have to lose everything to be fearless, for when you have nothing then you are truly invulnerable. And that Bellator is a crushing burden the warrior bears alone."

{Clary's POV}

I hadn't meant to scare the little boy, but he knew not of what he was talking about.

All my life had been endured for the purpose that I would be the perfect warrior, the ultimate weapon. Looking back, I see how much I lost: a childhood, a father, empathy and emotion - and all for what? So I could never miss a target, never lose a fight.

"Now, it's getting late Max, you should go back to bed. I can't be having your mum on me, I'll see you tomorrow bellator."

The small boy nodded and stood up, not before asking,

"What does the name bellator mean?"

I sighed inwardly and smiled,

"It's from the latin term 'Little Warrior' , and now the name belongs to you."

Max smiled at my words and turned back towards the steps, the sound of his small body bouncing down them turned my lips up at the corners.

Without warning I felt a pair of strong secure arms wrap around my shoulders, and if it weren't for the gorgeously familiar scent that followed I would have thrown them off the roof.

"Clary Herondale."

His thick voice whispered in my ear,

"That's not my name Jace."

I whispered back,

"No, not yet. But one day it will be, and until that day I will love you as Clary Morgenstern, the girl who went back through hell to kill the devil."

I chuckled slightly at his euphemism, then turned in his arms to face him.

Jace was facing into the light and I gazed absentmindedly as the beautiful colours of the sunset danced on his sharp features.

"Are you ready?"

I asked him,

"Ready for what?"

"The rest of our lives, that was just chapter 1."

There it is, my gorgeous readers.

The official end of To Love is To Destroy.

Thank you for reading and reviewing, it has been one of the most humbling experiences I have had the pleasure of doing.

Your continued support outstands me constantly.

With regards to a sequel, I would love to write one.

But due to exams and school commitments it means I would be updating much less regularly. So I think I may begin writing the sequel when my exams are over in June.

Let me know what you think…

I will keep you all updated!

All my love…

Charlotte { }