DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to Cassandra Clare and the Infernal Devices series!

A/N: HEY ALL! Here is Chapter 9 :) school is back ughh... -.- but I promise I will work hard at writing as many chapters as I can! Please favourite, follow and/or review! All reviews are deeply appreciated! THANKS ALL and enjoy :)

"That's really crazy, and I think you've gone a little insane," Jace was shaking his head and was now standing erect in front of me. He had his amber eyes squinted in a deathly stare at me.
His comment faltered my confidence a bit, and so did his stare. I needed to learn how to fight in this war though, so I could stay with Jem and protect him, and Jace. I knew that I had to learn to defend myself so I could be of some sort of substantial use, and not just thought of as a damsel in distress.

I stood taller, rolled back my shoulders, and lifted the corners of my mouth up into a smile. Isabelle stood a little straighter, and nodded in approval and respect. Alec was still slumped in his chair, but with his eyes on me, though his expression stayed the same.

Isabelle turned her attention to Jace and rolled her eyes, "I think it's a good idea, Jace. She could help us devise a plan, and if I recall, like two seconds ago you wanted a plan," Isabelle stepped forward and stood beside me, facing Jace with confidence, "And she can give us one."

I glanced at Isabelle, and admired her for standing up for me. I noticed Alec nodding along with her, which also boosted my esteem. Jace seemed to hesitate.

"She's a warlock for one thing; she's not as strong as us and doesn't even have powers like Magnus. It will be like training a mundane. She won't be strong enough to fight in the war. Training her would be pointless," Jace ran his fingers through his hair and stared at the ground. I bit down on my lip, knowing he was telling the truth. I was weaker; I didn't have powers like normal warlocks, or the ally of the runes. Then, I remember I have no human in me, and I am not like other warlocks.

"I am half Shadowhunter, half warlock though."

Isabelle and Alec widened their eyes, and Jace snapped his attention away from the floor and to my face. Isabelle made an almost inaudible gasp, and Jace parted his lips in confusion.

Alec snorted, "That's not possible."

I grinned, "Of course it is. I've just never been properly trained, and runes don't exactly work on me."

Jace looked up at me, folded his arms, then stepped forward. He raised his eyebrows and smirked, "We could give it a try then."

Isabelle nodded, "Definitely."

I felt giddy, and I could feel the joy spread through me. I am finally fulfilling my dream of being like Boadicea. I knew Will would be proud of me.

The trouble was though, that Jem would be less than content with my decision. I left the library, and was trotting toward bedroom that Jem and I shared. That morning, when Jocelyn had told me I was to remain in the Institute while they go to Idris to find Sebastian and fight, she had mentioned Jem's agreement with keeping me a prisoner in these old church walls. I had to convince Jem, and prove to him I could be of worthy use, and not just looking after Jace and the others.

I finally arrived to our bedroom, and hastily swung the door open.

"Jem?" The curtains were open and light was streaming into the room. The fireplace had a dull, shine of an ember, and the smell of spices and sunlight filled my head.

And there he was.

I hadn't seen him in a little over 11 hours, and yet I had missed him so much. He was sitting on an armchair next to the fireplace, and was watching the smouldering ember spit. His charcoal hair was its usual scruff, and his angular face was fine and set in a serious expression.
He sat with his legs outstretched, and was wearing a knitted sweater, dark jeans, and just bare feet. I stood silently in the doorway and admired him. My Jem. So steady and enlightening, not only in his looks, but his heart.

I snapped out of my trance, and closed the door behind me. I met his eyes as he tore his gaze away from the fireplace. He took in a breath, and as did I.

"Tessa, I was waiting for you. Jocelyn said you were headed to the library, so I decided to wait for you here," he slowly drew his mouth into a lopsided grin that made my heart stutter, "though, I knew you could have been there all afternoon."

I sighed and walked over to him. "You know me too well, Jem. That's a curse and a blessing."

He sat forward on his chair, and I came to a stop in front of him. He wrapped his arms around my hips and pulled me towards him. For a second, I stood there in his arms. I forgot that I was incredibly upset and mad at him, and gladly took in the warmth his arms gave me. His chin grazed my stomach as he lifted his head up to look at me, and I carefully cupped his neck with my hands. His pulse was fast and reassuring underneath my fingers, and he hugged me a little tighter, eliciting a strong euphoria feeling from me.

Jem always had this effect on me. He always held me in a way that rids any negativity or doubt. He always made me feel as if I had landed myself in a dream where everything was a little brighter, a little more colourful, and his touch- oh, his touch. It haunted me. The softest touch, the smallest graze of skin, always left me in a daze.

I closed my eyes; welcoming the elation he was bringing me, and slowly moved my hands into his tousled hair. In reaction, he pressed his lips to my abdomen and left them there to linger.

I suddenly remembered why I was here in the first place.

I immediately opened my eyes, and tensed my body. Of course, he felt this right away, and removed his lips from my body and loosened his grip. He looked up to me, his deep ink eyes looked brimmed with concern.

"You ok, Tess?" He frowned at his words. It seemed like he feel he has done no wrong.

"I am sincerely not ok," I say boldly, and he raises an eyebrow questionably. I find the courage to peel my hands off him and step out of his reach, "you have gone behind my back."

"Tessa-"

"Jocelyn told me you want me to stay here to look after Jace, and Clary, and Isabelle and Alec. She said you are going to leave me here while you leave to Idris to help the Clave," he winced slightly at my words, and hunched his back, "you deem me weak, as if I cannot stand on my own. I am half Shadowhunter, I can be trained, and that's exactly what will happen, since Jace and the others have accepted to train me."

He met my eyes with a fierce look. "Tess, I do not think you are weak."

I watched his hunched back steadily move up and down with his breath. I failed in suppressing a smile at his reassurance, but I made sure it dissolved as fast as it appeared.

"You act as if I am though," my voice was small, and I felt unsteady. I stared at my shoes, and refused to give into looking at him.

He sighed. "I don't think you are weak, I just want to keep you safe-"

I rolled my eyes then shook my head at him, "Because I'm weak."

He rubbed his jaw for a second than stood up and walked towards me. I looked past his shoulder to the fireplace, which still had the faint glow of embers, and to the window where the afternoon sunlight was growing weaker and weaker. My resolve was dwindling like the embers and the sun.

I looked back to him. He stood inches from me now, and was looking at me hard in the eye. He was frowning, so I bit down on my lip.

"You're not weak, you're strong, you're brave, Tessa. You'd do anything for the people you love," he carefully took my hands in his and rubbed his thumbs over and over in circles on my knuckles. I let out a small sigh. "You are so wonderful like that. I just cannot lose you, Tess. I want you here, safe, not because I think you are weak but because I cannot lose you. You are the last of my life, the last remaining reason for my existence, and I object to ever losing you again."

He was looking down at our joint hands, while I was staring at him in awe. His words were so beautiful, meaningful. They were so full of truth and splendour, that I instantly forgave him and longed for our souls and bodies to be entwined.

"Jem," I breathed.

He looked up to me and flashed his lopsided grin, "Yes?"

"Can you do something for me?"

"Shénme, Tessa, anything."

I grinned, "Kiss me so I can forget all the evil in this world."

He released my hands, then pulled me by the hips to meet his own. Our noses were touching, and his eyes were focused on my lips, as if he was memorizing the shape of them.

"Of course."

Our lips collided and he wasted no time in parting my lips with his tongue. All I could focus on was his hands tugging my t-shirt, and his steaming mouth meeting mine. I myself tugged at his sweater, and we found ourselves stumbling over to the bed, and landing on it in a heap. I giggled and he laughed at our graceful fall onto the bed. As he resumed our kissing, with him propped above me, my head echoed with his laughter.
Our kisses grew deeper and deeper, and it was like we could breathe each other or devour each other whole. His fingertips left burn marks all over my skin, and I shuddered as he moved his lips to the pulse at my throat. I tangled my hands in his hair, and squeezed my eyes shut. Our legs were tangled, our bodies pressed so tightly, our lips swollen from kisses, but the fire between us was only getting bigger. I managed to pull his sweater over his head, but whimpered at the lost sensation of his lips. He quickly rolled my t-shirt over my head too, and he paused for a second to look down at me in my plain, black bra. I realized he had not seen me so exposed before and I felt my cheeks burn. His torso though was built, and full of hard muscle. I touched his abdomen and I met hot, solid skin. He quietly let out a moan, before leaning down and crashing his lips onto mine. My throat ached with his scent, and my body yearned for his touch over and over again. He ran his tongue along my lips, and clung to my hips tightly. The sensations he sent through my body made me feel as if I were flying, and like I had a never-ending fever of love and heat. I squeezed my legs around his waist, and bit his lower lip as his hand ran down my right leg. He started to gently rock against me, and I eagerly allowed him too, and followed his lead. This fire we were making was ridding me of any self-control I thought I had, and was sending me over an edge with a never-ending fall. 'Love in its essence is spiritual fire', and Jem and I were engulfed in love's flames.

"James," I whimpered against his mouth and raised my voice, "Yes!"

He sucked lightly on my jaw, and steadily moved his fingers to the buttons of my jeans. I could feel myself trembling under him, and I was about to shut my eyes when the bedroom door swung wide.

"SHIT!" Jace stood in the doorway with his hands over his eyes.

Jem rolled off me and sprung upright on the bed. His eyes were wide, but not as wide as mine were. I grabbed a pillow and hid my chest with it in a rush. Jem quickly recovered his sweater and pulled it over his head.

"Jace," he began, with a amusement in his voice, "You should have knocked."

"By the Angel, I did, and she," Jace pointed accusingly at me, "Said yes!"

My face was completely red and Jem was trying his best not to laugh at the misunderstanding.

"I came to tell you dinner is ready. I won't be coming again so hurry up before you both forget," he shook his head before hurrying out of the room and shutting the door.

Jem and I looked at each other, and his face was just as scarlet as mine. I sat up next to him and laid my head on his shoulder. The heat between us had evaporated, but Jem still had his natural loving warmth. My head raised with his breath, and I felt secure and content.

"We need a lock," he observed.

I chuckled. "Are you implying we will be doing that again, Jem?"

He leaned down and planted a kiss to my forehead, then kept his lips planted there as he whispered against my skin, "Most definitely."