Chapter 9

Sorry I didn't get it posted before Monday like I said I would, but internet was down Sunday. Hope you like it; let me know your opinions.

Clary was proud of herself for keeping her shock off of her face as she stood frozen in her place. Why is he here? What is he going to do? Will my father notice him? Is he going to confront Sebastian? The thoughts stormed Clary's mind as she barely managed to keep the panic whelming up inside of her in check.

She was a little startled when Sebastian pulled her in to kiss her on her cheek. Clary felt her cheeks redden as he did and forced her eyes away from Jace and to Sebastian. The surprise vanished as her eyes met his and a slight shiver went down her spine. Sebastian's eyes seemed almost completely black for a second and in that second they seemed cold and calculating. Clary blinked and when her eyes opened Sebastian's eyes were normal and held nothing but adoration in them as they looked down at her. Deciding she had imagined it, Clary pushed it to the back of her mind but even as she did a slight nagging feeling stayed there. This was also dutifully ignored.

Sebastian pulled Clary out onto the floor where the room full of guests were slowly moving out of the way to form a circle. Music started and Sebastian pulled her close and started to dance, Clary followed his lead.

"Everything alright?" Sebastian whispered softly as he leaned his lips down to her ear. At first Clary was surprised that he had noticed, but then she felt stupid for the thought. Of course he would notice, he knew her well enough by now to know when something was up.

"Not really. It's just finally sinking in that we are going to be married." Clary responded. It wasn't a lie, it really had taken her off guard a little, it just wasn't why she was distracted right at that moment.

Sebastian nodded at this and smiled, "Not getting cold feet already are you?"

"No. Besides I thought it was the men who usually got cold feet." Clary teased, relaxing a little and putting her full focus on Sebastian. He smiled at her response, causing her heart to skip a little.

"Glad to hear it, and point taken."

The continued to dance and eventually others joined them and Sebastian was weaving them in and out of people. He really was a good dancer.

After a while Clary got up the courage to ask, "Why do you want to marry me?"

Sebastian looked taken aback for a second and then one of his smug smiles spread across his face. "What do you mean?"

Clary frowned a little, he was teasing her. "I mean why me when you could marry any girl you want to."

Sebastian's face and tone of voice went serious. "Why wouldn't I want to marry you? You are exactly what I've been looking for, everything about you fascinates me."

"Oh," was all Clary said looking down. She could feel Sebastian looking down at her but she didn't dare look back up.

"Clarissa," Sebastian said softly. "Clary," he tried again when Clary didn't look up at him.

Surprised that Sebastian had used her nickname, Clary looked up and saw that his eyes held some strange emotion she couldn't put her finger on. The wind blew Clary's hair a little, causing her to realize that he had led them outside.

"Clary, why do you doubt yourself?"

Clary was confused at the question and didn't respond.

Somehow sensing her confusing, Sebastian sighed and pulled her closer to him, so close in fact that her body was against his and there was no space in between.

"Sebastian," Clary said a little breathily, her heart beating fast at being so close to him.

"You are so beautiful and it almost seems like you don't even know it. Every time I see you my breath is stolen from me. I love how when you smile it lights up your whole face and how your laugh sounds like music. I even like your quick wit. You are so captivating." Sebastian said as he stroked his fingers lightly down Clary's jawline. Then before she had the chance to respond, or even think of a response, he was kissing her.

As soon as it started it stopped it seemed, leaving Clary wanting more and unsatisfied. She was looking up at Sebastian and his eyes were looking at her with a hungry look that made her blush a little. Heart still beating fast, Clary heard someone clear their throat and looked behind her.

She could feel Sebastian tense a little and she realized why once her eyes focused on the figure in the shadows. It was Jace, standing there with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face. The smirk didn't reach his eyes at first though, for a while they held an immense sadness, but after a while it was replaced with an emotionless barrier.

"What do you want?" Sebastian asked in a cold tone. Clary looked back at him and saw his eyes flash with fury and menace, before settling to suspicious.

"Maybe your two should get a room, Verlac." Jace said a little smugly as he ignored the question.

"Maybe you should mind your own business."

"Perhaps, but I'm just so intrigued to know why Clary would want to be with you."

Clary's heart stopped for a second. "Sebastian, let's go." She whispered softly.

He ignored her. "Why? Jealous? Not like you would ever have a chance with her anyways even if we weren't engaged."

Clary almost choked. Sebastian hit the nail right on the head, because she knew that Jace was indeed jealous. Or at least she thought he was. Looking back at Jace, Clary saw that his expression was still a bit smug and that his eyes weren't giving him away. A little bit of disappointment flooded through Clary.

"Now why would I be jealous of someone like you," Jace said, clearly meaning it as an insult.

Sebastian's eyes gleamed with anger as he took a step forward. "Sebastian, don't." Clary said stepping in front of him and putting her hand on his chest, holding him back. "Let's just go inside, please."

Sebastian looked down at her and his eyes softened a little. He sighed and Clary felt his body relax a little. "Fine, if that's what you want." He said before glaring at Jace as he grabbed her hand and led her back inside.

As she passed Jace she heard him whisper something to her, a bit confused she looked back and watched him watch her walk away before disappearing into the shadows again.

"I'm sorry." Sebastian said as he stopped and turned to look at her.

Surprised, Clary said, "Why should you be sorry?"

"Because tonight was supposed to be a happy occasion and that jerk almost ruined the night."

Clary smiled a little, "Don't worry about it. He doesn't matter." She said, faltering a little at the end.

Sebastian searched her a little as he noticed the change in her voice, but didn't say anything about it. He merely nodded and kissed Clary on the cheek before being whisked away by his father.

Once they were out of her sight Clary snuck back outside and into the garden. Her stomach doing flips the entire time she made her way a little deeper into the garden.

"You came," a voice behind her said, causing her to jump a little. Turning around she saw Jace stepping out of the shadows.

"Yes, so why don't you tell me what you want." Clary asked a bit irritated.

"I wanted to see you."

"So you've seen me, now I need to be making my way back inside before someone misses my presence." Clary responded as she went to walk past him.

"Clary," he said as he caught her arm, stopping her, "please hear me out."

"Why should I after that scene you caused with Sebastian?"

"I'm sorry about that; the guy just gets under my skin."

"And that's your excuse?" Clary said pulling her arm out of his grasp. Anger was burning up inside of her and she really didn't want to talk to him at the moment.

"Clary, stop." Jace said in pleading tone as he stepped in front of her.

Clary sighed, exasperated. "What?" she said harshly.

Jace flinched a little at the hardness in her voice but he regained his composure. "I just wanted to see you."

"Well you could have done that inside."

"But I wouldn't have been able to talk to you, or to get this close to you." He said, stepping closer to her.

To Clary's surprised she stepped back, even though her body was yearning to be held in his strong arms. "Jace, I can't."

"Yes you can. You can get out of the marriage, and if worse comes to worse you can just leave him at the altar."

Clary almost laughed at the idea. A few weeks ago she was the one who wanted to run away from responsibility and now she was the one owning up to it while Jace was the one spouting of ridiculous ideas. It made her heart ache.

"Jace, don't do this now. You made your choice." Clary said as she tried to step past him again.

"Clary, please." He said catching her arm and looking at her mournfully.

"No, Jace. Stop being a child and grow up. You were the one who chose this path, so now it's time for you to man up and accept it. "Clary said even more irritated at him. How dare he try to win her heart again right when she had finally accepted her fate.

Jace's face turned to stone and then went hard and his eyes gleamed with anger. "Fine. Have it your way and live happily ever after with Verlac. I'm better off anyway without you." He said his voice cold and distant causing Clary's blood to run cold with regret.

But pride getting the better of her she smiled at him and walked off. "Have a nice life, sir. I know I will."

Once again I'm sorry it took so long. And sorry if I didn't catch any incorrect grammar or spelling that needed to be corrected.