I'm so sorry that this chapter took so long. I've been having a busy time of it lately but hopefully the next one can be up quicker (although I did say that last time and it didn't work out too well).

Also I want to give a big, BIG thank you to my new beta RedCoral. This wouldn't be anywhere near as good as it is without her. You should totally check out her stories! :)

RECKLESS LOVE

CHAPTER THREE:

It was five in the morning when Jace arrived looking dishevelled. He had lipstick on his cheek and his clothes were crumpled and creased. When I locked eyes with him, I instantly felt that twinge of envy, although I covered it up with a small smile and brought my index finger to my mouth in a shushing-like motion as he bumped into the umbrella stand, causing a large clattering sound.

"Alec, my man! My main man, you!" Jace half shouted into the darkened hallway, drawing out the 'main man' part. I hushed him again, daring to whisper into the empty room. Luckily our parents had gotten tired of waiting up and had wondered up to bed, Izzy had then trodden after them pretending she was tired – I knew she just wanted to be alone to cry about Simon in peace – so nothing stirred as Jace bellowed into the gloom again.

"But Alec," He whined. "It was amazing! Clary and I…" Jace trailed off, a dopey grin covering his face. "We went back to her house and her mum wasn't in, so we…" He stopped there and I felt my insides twist in bitterness. There was no difficulty in guessing what they did, I'm glad he shut up or I might have done something difficult to explain.

Jace wobbled on the spot as I contemplated what to do with him. I couldn't take him to his room, we'd have to go to the same floor (the third one) as our parents were sleeping and we'd have to get past their room. Instead I made the choice of taking him into my room. Of course he'd have to take the bed, he could barely stand up.

In any other situation I'd have been more than happy to have Jace in my room - and don't take that the wrong way – but this was not something that I was overjoyed about. Especially since what he'd just said really hit it home to me that he had a girlfriend, with emphasis on 'girl'.

I was confused. I still felt these things for Jace, yet when I'd met Magnus, all of those thoughts disappeared from my mind, like I couldn't think of anything else but Magnus's deep rich voice and flawless face. But there was no use thinking about Magnus, when there was doubt that I'd even see him again.

"Jace come on," I muttered as I tried to drag him up to the first floor, where my bedroom was. He cried in protest before falling over his own feet and face planting on the stairs.

However, when we finally got to my room, Jace mumbled something incoherent and flopped onto my bed without even taking his shoes off. Within seconds he was snoring and I figured it would be easier to leave him be and sleep on the floor next to my bed.

I refrained from staring at him while he was asleep, so without disturbing him I gently took one of the pillows from my bed and pulled up my duvet so it was resting on his sleeping body. Then I dug out my spare blanket from under the bed and settled down, huddling underneath the dark blue material in an attempt to bag myself a couple of hours sleep before training began.

Training isn't an easiest thing to do at eight in the morning when you've had hardly a wink of rest and you're dealing with a hung-over, moaning and downright grumpy Jace who was grumbling about a headache. When Izzy called a five minute break, I sighed in relief and let my eyes droop down. I too had a massive headache and my back was stiff from lying on the floor, I felt like an old man.

"Alright Alec, it's time for punching bags! Get UP!" I rubbed my eyes and stood up, trying to force the tiredness out of me, so I could concentrate properly. I didn't want a punching bag swinging into my face and breaking my nose like the last time I'd got distracted – only that time Jace had just walked into the training room shirtless, I blame him.

Just as I walked up to the punching bag next to Izzy's, the doors to the training room burst open causing Izzy and I to snap our heads in that direction (Jace was too busy moping around on the bench to notice anything). In swept Mum, who calmly walked to me.

"Alec, you're needed in the living room. We have a guest who is staying for a couple of days. Your father and I would like you to take him on a tour of the house and make up the guest bedroom on the first floor for him. We've unlocked it this morning so you can get in." Yes, our parents locked the guest rooms every time they were away so that we can't have anybody staying over. I don't think that'd stop Jace or Izzy anyway. "Alec, are you going or shall I get Jace to do it? He doesn't seem to be in a fit state to move, let alone give a tour of the whole Institute, what do you think?" Something told me that Mum didn't believe what we'd told her last night.

So acting reluctant for the sake of Izzy, even though I didn't really care either way, I walked out of training and down the stairs. I didn't really take notice of where I was going until literally bumped into somebody.

"Alexander Lightwood," The sound of my father's harsh voice reprimanding me got my full attention. "Please apologize to our guest." What? Father never said please, unless he was trying to impress somebody important. Whoever our guest was, they must have been high up in the rankings.

I looked properly at the face of our guest and nearly fell backwards from the shock. The oh-so-glittery party host from last night – Magnus Bane – was standing in the Institute. I noticed his cat eyes flash for a second, maybe with recognition? But nothing else about his expression changed.

"Of course," Magnus uttered under his breath so softly that I nearly missed it. I wasn't sure what he was talking about, but I was fairly certain that he hadn't meant to speak out loud.

I cleared my throat, "I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to walk into you." My voice was quiet and I became painfully aware of his staring at me so I lowered my own gaze to stare at the floor, trying to stop the heat that was blooming in my cheeks.

"Oh, no. There's no need to apologize..." From the way he abruptly closed his mouth and glanced to my father, I could tell that he was going to say more but didn't think it wise at the precise moment. "Right, how about that tour?"

I looked up and at my father who nodded impatiently. "The meeting starts at half past one Mr. Bane. I hope that's a convenient time for you."

"Yes, yes. Quite. As long as I don't get any emergency clients that is." Magnus said, with that my father smiled and then turned and walked to his study, closing the door behind him.

"So, shall we?" Magnus asked, holding his arm out in front of him in the direction of where I'd entered from as if telling me to lead the way.

Anyway, that's it for now. Did you like it? Thanks for reading! :)

- CMF