.

Previously:

I was shocked at how awesomely the potion was working out for me. "Yes! Yes I will marry you!"

A giant grin crossed his face and he crushed me into a hug, that I gladly returned. I hoped that he would ask me to marry him, but I didn't know it would happen so soon. "I'm so happy you agreed. Let's plan the wedding immediately!"

Clary was long forgotten.

Chapter 12

Plans, Newspaper, and White Hair

(Jace's pov)

The kingdom was buzzing about the wedding and I couldn't be happier. Yet everyone once in a while that same feeling kept washing over me. The one where I felt like I was missing something. Nevertheless, I was still happy! The queen put our marriage announcement in the news paper so that the whole kingdom would know of our engagement.

Now we were making plans. Usually, I wouldn't care less about weddings plans, but something about now just pulled me right in. "We should get married as soon as we can," the queen said.

I nodded vigorously. "Oh yes! And we can have a huge wedding! Everyone can come and-"

She silenced me by putting her index finger to my mouth. She sighed. "As much as I hate to say this, I think we should just have a small wedding."

I frowned. I really wanted our ceremony of love to be extravagant and full of people. Maybe I could get those presents back. "But why? Don't you want to share our love with the world?"

"Of course I do!" She said quickly with a devious smile, but I didn't get why she was grinning like that. "It's just that we would be able to get married sooner if we have a small ceremony. We'll just invite people that live in the castle. Higher up people."

"Okay I suppose your right. Do we have a date?"

"Tomorrow," she said immediately.

"Tomorrow?! Are you crazy? (A/N: yes) Don't you know how much planning there is left to do!" I exclaimed.

"Don't worry. The servants will take care of everything! All I need to do is get fitted for my dress and you for your suit."

"Alright. But there better be a cake!"

She laughed. "Of course there will be a cake," she said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. I noticed that she said "of course" a lot. As if I'm supposed to know all these things.

I raised my eyebrows hopefully. "Will it be vanilla?"

(Clary's pov)

I was sitting in my room, drawing a rather impressive flower (if I do say so myself). I was also trying to distract myself from my scar, when I heard footsteps through my door. They were quiet and light when passing, but once they were passed my door, they were heavy again. Well that's weird. I heard muffled voices coming from the room next to mine. I pressed my ear up against the wall to listen in.

"-bad. We cant let her know," Simon's voice said.

"It was in the newspaper that I read in town. Are you sure we shouldn't tell her?" Alec said. Tell who about what?!

"I say we tell Clary. She needs to get over him," an angry Max said. So they are talking about me. And get over who? This couldn't be about Jace, could it? I need to find out. So I stormed over to the room next to mine- Simon's.

"What's going on?" I said angrily. A look of fear washed over them before they composed themselves.

"Uhh- Clary! What's up?" Simon said.

"Don't try to change the subject! Why were you guys talking about me?" I commanded.

"Were you eavesdropping?" Alec yelled.

"It's a little hard not to when you have specially trained ears and thin walls!" Okay I kind of lied. . . I had purposely listened in.

They look hesitant. So I gave them the best glare I could, aiming it mostly at Simon. He was the biggest softy in our group. He looked down. "We'll tell you, but don't get mad at us." I nodded. "Alec found out-" Alec gave him a look like he was mad for mentioning his name. "-that Jace is going to be married to the queen tomorrow."

My breath caught. I was not expecting that. "What?" I asked surprised. They all looked at me sadly. No way! Half of me was saying "who cares?" and the other half was saying "you do!" I hadn't realized how much I actually liked him until this. And man did it hit me hard. I guess we all want what we can't have. They're in love with each other and I'm in love with him. A small part of me thought that he liked me back.

I turned and ran out the door, to outside. I climbed up a tree because that's where I did my best thinking. Except I didn't really think much, instead I burst into tears. They were hot, angry and sad at the same time. Why do we have to cry? What's the point? All it does it just show people how weak you are. That's all I am: weak. This is the second time in a few days that I've cried. I buried my head in my hands. My cheek was bumpy, reminding me of the awful scars that were forming there.

"Clary?" a soft voice whispered. I looked up to see Max with a worried expression on his face. "Are you okay?"

I wiped at my face but the tears kept coming. "I don't know," my voice was shaky from the sobs.

He sat on the branch and dangled his feet over the side. "Well I've never been in love with a boy- or really in love with anyone- but I do know that no one should be the one to make you cry."

I didn't look at him. Here I was: a 18 year old girl getting a pep talk from a 13 year old boy. Pathetic. Sad. Weak. The words shivered through my spine. "Thanks for trying to make me feel better."

"Did it work?"

"A little, I guess." I looked down towards the ground. "I think I'm going to go take a walk."

He nodded. We both jumped down from our respective branched. "You know when I said I didn't love anyone?" I nodded. "Well I lied. I love you, Clary."

This made me smile. Gosh, I felt like I haven't smiled in years. I pulled him into a hug. "Thanks Max."

I walked towards the town with no clear destination in my mind. The town was bleak and gray. I cant believe how awful it looks. "Excuse me?" A small voice said. I looked down and saw a little girl. "Do you have any food?"

My eyes rimmed with tears, but my mind raged with anger. The queen is making this poor girl starve. "No," I forced myself to say, I didn't want to break her heart. "I'm sorry."

I was so caught up in my own thoughts that I didn't realize I was walking straight into someone. Before I fell, two strong hands caught me. My savior was tall, muscular and well, very handsome. His hair was white, which was a little odd, but what even more odd was that his pupils were pure black. Not dark brown but black. I mentally cursed myself for not being on guard. I'm a bandit! My senses always have to be on high. And even though he is handsome, something is wrong about him... maybe it was just his eyes.

"Sorry, I just paying attention," I quickly said.

He chuckled, one that sent chills up my spine. I ignored them. "Well neither was I, so I guess were even. What's you name?"

"Clary Fray." I held out my hand. He seemed surprised at how forward I am. I didn't need to worry, I had awesome skills if he ever tries to hurt me.

He shook it. "Sebastian Verlac."

I know some of you are freaked out about the whole Jace marrying the Queen thing, so just to warn you, it will be like this for a little while longer.

To all my fellow Vampire Academy fans: I finished Shadow Kiss yesterday. . . and let me just say WHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?! Tell me things (and you know what "things" I'm talking about) will get better?! DON'T SPOIL ANYTHING THOUGH! Just a simple yes or no question.

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