I'm back from my vacation and will be writing regularly again.

Thank you all for your support !

Chapter 39…

{Jace's POV}

That night I hadn't seen Clary in the hall after our passionate embrace, and longed to speak with her.

Yet I decided it was best to leave her alone for a while, her life had flipped upside down within weeks. Especially now since we were beginning preparations for a battle against her own father.

It was around 10pm when I strolled into my room.

Collapsing onto my bed I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, a knot in my stomach loosening slightly.

I hadn't realised how nervous I had been for that day, but it had gone well.

Clary was now in league with the Clave, whether that would go well or not was another thing.

I had learned from experience that Clary hated receiving orders from others, so I wished the Consul all the best with that.

She was the single entity that consumed my thoughts now.

Clary.

It seemed every little thing I did, whether it was training or walking or even breathing, was because of her.

I had been told by my parents that Shadowhunters only loved once, and fiercely at that.

Yet, I had never thought I would meet anyone.

Anyone who would challenge me or use the same wit as me or make me laugh the way she did.

But Clary shattered everything I had once believed, and she probably didn't even know it.

{Clary's POV}

I had not slept that night, nor had I gone…Home.

But I didn't have one, did I.

Alicante wasn't home for me, besides I had no idea where to go.

Jace, was of course who I longed to be with. Yet I had no clue which house he was in and how to get there.

Moreover, my emotions were too heightened, too overwhelming for me to go to him.

He would want an explanation for the kiss, though I couldn't give him one. Because, I myself had no clue.

The only thing I did know, was that Jace was more than anyone else had been before.

More even my father.

I didn't know what 'more' was, but I knew I was going to find out. That reassurance was more than enough to settle me for the time being.

Gazing upon the sunrise over the sleeping city was enough to calm me.

It was true what the others had said, Alicante at sunrise was a view like none else.

If I were an artist then this view would have been the perfect inspiration for a breathtaking pastel piece.

Oh shit.

And then it clicked, Dawn.

I was late for the Consul's meeting.

Eh, I hadn't really given her a good first impression anyway.

I thought smugly, as I made my way down off the hill.

As I trotted into the Guard, I saw that they were all already in deep discussion.

Trying to slip in next to Izzy, I failed at being discreet.

"Miss Morgenstern, kind of you to grace us with your presence."

Consul Penhallow snapped at me in a court tone.

"Sorry, I was... urm… busy. I would very much prefer it if you called me Clarissa, since we are all friends here now."

I responded smoothly, grinning a marvelous grin at the Consul.

"Of course."

She answered sharply,

"We were discussing how to prepare for Valentine."

Imogen spoke up, redirecting the topic of conversation smoothly.

"Within 2 weeks we will have nearly all shadowhunters back here in Idris. Our numbers will outrank his drastically, so-"

"No."

I whispered.

The other gave me confused looks,

"No?"

Imogen repeated back to me.

"No. 2 weeks is too long, my father will have made his move within the week. Besides, there is no way we can outnumber him."

I explained with confidence.

"He has the Mortal Cup. As much as my father resents demons, he hates the Clave even more. The demons he could summon is an infinite number, so no Imogen we cannot outnumber him."

Everyone besides Jace looked exasperated - in fact Jace looked rather ecstatic.

"Jace, are you alright?"

I asked with concern,

"Better. You have all neglected the one thing Valentine will not account for"

"What?"

Alec qeried,

"Mataellarch."

He spoke in a low voice with a smug tugging at his lips.

And then I realised what he meant,

"Jace, you're brilliant."

I breathed loudly, looking up at him like he was the sun rising in the morning.

His eyes gleamed back at me,

"Valentine has no knowledge of what has become of the Mortal Sword. That is one of our advantages."

Jace explained smoothly for the others who were still perplexed.

"Where is Mataellarch?"

I asked the Consul as sweetly as I could so that it was almost mocking.

"We received it back from the Iron Sisters this very morning, it is in the weapon's lab for analysis. Whatever you did to it, cannot be reversed easily."

I ignored her snide comment and proceeded to ask a guard at the side of the room to retrieve it.

{Jace's POV}

Ever since I had mentioned Mataellarch, Clary has been looking at me brilliantly.

Which I did not mind, but in her eyes I could see a shield. She was holding something back, again.

I wasn't the only one who had noticed this guarded expression either,

"Clary, there's something you're not telling us. Isn't there?"

Izzy asked with an almost sorrow - predetermining that what Clary had to say was not going to be pleasant.

"Yes, I…"

Her voice trailed off, as if she were trying to find the words.

I tried to look at her encouragingly, but it only made her cringe away from me and shiver.

"Jace. Since we have met, you have felt a connection - one that drove you to see me by the Lake back home."

What Clary was saying came across as quite intimate, but I nodded in agreement nonetheless. Because Clary was right, the second I fought her on that roof I knew we were entwined somehow.

"That is not just coincidence. We are the same, you and I."

That word same sent an unwelcome shiver up my spine,

"What do you mean 'same'?"

"I was not Valentine's first experiment. You are."

I staggered backwards. What? No she couldn't be right. I wasn't… I couldn't be…

Unsettled by my reaction Clary elaborated,

"As I have the blood of the demon in my veins, you have the blood of the Angel."

"Don't we all?"

Alec interrupted,

"Yes, you do. But Jace… the blood of Ithuriel runs through you."

Clary had to force the words out of her mouth, as if it physically hurt her to say them.

I knew my face had dropped, I didn't know what to say. Part of me wanted to comfort Clary, her pained expression directed at me, but the other part felt this underlying rage - she had kept this from me.

"Why now? Why are you only telling me this now?"

"Jace, I didn't know it was you for sure. My father's diaries weren't explicit on that, but now I know."

"How?"

I knew I was being rude, but I couldn't help it.

"Because you're different. You're like me, stronger, faster and-"

"I am nothing like you."

The second those words left my mouth I regretted it, Clary's face faltered. She swiftly hid her hurt expression, determined not to let anyone see it. But I had seen it, and I harshly cursed myself.

How could I have said that? She has felt alone for 16 years and I just wrecked her hope that maybe she had someone to share in the pain.

"Yes. I understand, but you cannot change what is in your blood Jace. Besides, having the blood of Ithuriel is not such a bad thing to have."

Clary responded flatly.

I didn't know what to say, discovering that you were actually different when you had really known it most of your life was like finding something you had thought lost.

{Clary's POV}

I am nothing like you.

His words echoed around in my head like sharp knives. Each time cutting farther and farther in.

I had though Jace was… well I never really knew what he was to me, but now I knew that what I was, was something he resented.

Thankfully, the guard I had asked to fetch Mataellarch had glided back into the room, holding a glass case with the sword inside.

He lowered it down onto the table in the centre of the room,

"Thanks"

I mumbled and he smirked in response.

The others glanced over at me expectedly - waiting for me to open the case and retrieve the sword.

"Oh no. If I touch it then it will only get worse."

"Then who?"

Imogen asked impatiently,

"My demon blood deactivated the sword,"

I pushed the glass case towards Jace exaggeratedly.

"Your angelic blood will reactivate it."

Hope you enjoyed guys !

Did you guys like that Jace had angelic blood?

I thought it would enhance the whole 'star crossed lovers'

I am honestly so nervous of letting you down...

Song 17 ~ Water Fountain - Alec Benjamin