**************** Chapter 19 *******************

Valentine walked down the meadow happily.

Things were working out better than he could have ever hoped for. His children had proven themselves worthy beyond what he could have ever hoped for. Soon he would soon have the sword in his hands and an army of Forsaken and demons to attack the Clave. To top it off Jace and Clarissa would soon be betrothed. He had never even considered pairing those two together. He wondered why he had been blind to their feelings for so long. Walking into the library that night and seeing the look on their faces was a delight to behold. The two angel children together. He could only imagine how powerful his grandchildren would be. They would have even more angel blood than their parents! It was a shame they would carry on the Herondale line and not the Morgenstern. Regardless, he had Jonathan for that. His children would be happy and he could continue his experiments. Now all he had to do was mold Jonathan into the perfect weapon and insure he procreated with the proper spouse. He was too excited at the possibilities to notice something was off.

Valentine's excitement faded as he entered the cave. Just at the entrance lay two guards laying cold and dead with bite marks on their necks. Valentine looked down at the dead men as anger over took his features. Stepping further into the cave he saw that the Downworlders were gone. Aside from the ones who obviously perished in the night the rest of them were missing. Rushing down the hallway he saw one dead vampire on the floor. Someone had attacked it. Something wasn't right. One of them must have gotten out in the middle of the night and released the others. His guards were proving to be more incompetent by the day. How did they even get out?

Valentine entered one of the cells. Its walls had been smashed and there was something hidden in the dark corner. He took another step and came across a dead body. It was one of his Forsaken. He hadn't even thought to check on the miserable monsters. His first priority was to check on the mundane boy. Now Valentine leaned down next to the pitiful creature.

"But how?" he said out loud before getting up and rushing outside.

In the center of the grass lay the remains of a bonfire. In the ashes lay the remains of bones; countless amounts of bones. Valentine cursed under his breath. Clearly they had a spy amongst them. The only people who knew about the Forsaken were his lieutenants, Pangborn, Blackwell and …Jonathan. Valentine brushed the last name off. No it couldn't have been Jonathan. He was out with Jace and Clary finding the Cup. He doubted that the three of them would even be capable of fighting off a hoard of Forsaken alone. Not even three adult shadowhunters would be able to take on an army for Forsaken. That and if they were against him why would his children bring him the cup? No, it was more likely that one of his lieutenants betrayed him or that someone was watching the house. They could have followed the boys out to the clearing and then back here.

Valentine got on his horse and began heading back to the house at full force. He had to be more cautious who he gave information to. He was going to get to the bottom of this. One way or another.

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"We didn't exactly have any other choice!" Jonathan said.

Clary was still exhausted; too exhausted to open her eyes. The sound of his brother's voice had woken her up a while ago. Though her eyes wouldn't open her ears were still working. She could feel someone brushing their fingers through her hair. The fingernails were too long to be one of the boys so she assumed it was her mother.

"I understand but you children just can't go on barging off and putting yourselves in danger like that. Taking on Forsaken alone! You all could have died!" her mother said sternly. She was always very protective of her children even Jonathan though he refused to acknowledge it.

"It wasn't like that at all. The Forsaken were a bit difficult but no one got hurt, well seriously anyway." Jonathan lied shooting a look at Jace.

Yeah! Just a few scratches." Jace added.

It sounded like Jace's normal sugarcoating. He always sugarcoated things to their mother. Jace had a way of downplaying dangerous situations. She doubted her mother would believe him, she wasn't stupid. She probably knew something happened. Her mother would probably ask her later what really happened. Clary didn't want to have to answer her questions.

"Well… besides Clary. Those runes seemed to take a lot out of her." Jonathan jested.

Clary was still tired but opened her eyes reluctantly. If everyone else was up it was probably time for her to be up too. She saw that Jace and Jonathan were leaning against the wall across the room. She turned her head and saw her mother sitting next to her. After a moment her mother sensed her movement; looking down her mother smiled at her.

"Good evening honey. Did you sleep well?"

"Evening?" Clary asked suppressing a yawn.

"Yeah champ. It's 7 at night. You've been sleeping for twelve hours." Jonathan grinned walking over and sitting down at the end of the bed.

Clary leaned up and rubbed her eyes. She was still tired but she needed to use the bathroom and she was overdue for a shower. She was still in the blood stained clothes that she had been wearing this morning. She looked up and met Jace's golden eyes. Her heart leaped in her chest and she had to restrain herself from running across the room and into his arms.

"How long have you guys been up?" she asked.

"Only a few hours. Are you hungry?" Jace asked.

As if on cue her stomach growled. Her mother looked down at her and smiled once more.

"Dinner will be reading in thirty minutes. Why don't you wash up and join us when you're ready?" Her mother said.

Clary nodded and lifted herself off the bed. Her body was still sleepy but it was nothing that a cold shower wouldn't fix.

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Valentine returned home just in time for dinner. He came in and took his seat at the head of the table. Clary looked at her father's face trying to find any trace of anger. Surely he had gone to the meadow and saw that his precious experiments were gone. She had expected him to come into the house slamming the door and yelling at them. She knew that they would have to be more careful from here on out. Their father was not a stupid man and it was only a matter of time before he caught them.

Valentine looked up and met his daughters gaze. He looked back at her and smiled happily. She returned the smile and broke the gaze. Something was going on and Clary didn't like it at all.

"It has been awhile since our entire family has sat down for dinner together." He grinned.

"Yes my dear, it has been too long. I have missed seeing all of my children together." Jocelyn chimed in happily.

"Does that mean that Clary won't have to return to school at the end of the week?" Jonathan asked hopefully.

"I am afraid not Jonathan; Clary will be returning to New York Friday. Which reminds me, Clary I have some important news concerning you."

Clary looked up at her father nervously.

"What is the news father?" she asked.

"I want to enjoy this dinner my dear. I am not sure how you will react so I rather save it for dessert if you don't mind. First I would like to know what happened last night. How did you three get the cup?" he asked.

Clary looked down quickly. She hadn't had time to come up with a story let alone drill the boys so their stories collaborated.

"It's a long story" Jonathan stated.

Valentine looked at his son.

"I have time. Let's hear it." He grinned.

"Well Clary was thinking about how that witch you caught lived in New York."

Valentine looked at his son sharply.

"Sorry father, mother told us what happened after you went off on Gabriel that night." Jace elaborated.

Valentine shoot Jocelyn a glance. She placed her hand on his under the table; lightly squeezing it affectionately. It was an intimate gesture that cooled his anger. 'The power this women had over me,' he thought.

"So she went to go and double check the apartment. Long story short she found out that one of the neighbors had recently seen her. It must have been after she escaped or was broken out. Whatever. So Clary after doing some research found out that the old lady liked to visit the local magic shop that the neighbor owned. Clary went in to get her fortune told and when the lady showed her the Ace of Cups card she could feel the power within it." Jonathan chimed in.

"I asked the mundane lady where she got them and she told me that Dorthea had pawned them to her. She said that they reminded her of a very unpleasant person and she wanted to be rid of them." Clary said looking at her mother. "Sorry mom."

"I don't blame her Clary." Her mother frowned.

"She asked for the cards but the woman wouldn't give them up. So she got Magnus to portal her here and we used the apartment to visit New York. We broke in and took the cards. Clary grabbed it out of the painting and we jumped for joy when we saw that it was the real cup." Jonathan said.

"We ran into some vampires on the way out. Things got a little messy but we killed them. Then got back here just in time to give it to you before your morning breakfast." Jace finished.

"Well that is very…interesting." Valentine said. "I have feeling you guys are leaving something out."

"Us leave something out? Jonathan said sarcastically.

"We only emit the dangerous life threatening parts when moms around father." Clary giggled.

"Yes, I appreciate that children. " Jocelyn said sarcastically shaking her head.

Valentine chuckled at this.

"Well the important part is that the cup is ours. I am proud of you three. You have proven yourselves more competent than most in the circle already." Valentine smiled wickedly.

Jonathan nodded and Jace placed his hand on Clary's in a gesture to help her calm down. She looked at him and smiled. The gesture didn't go unnoticed by their parents. Jocelyn looked at her daughter and adoptive son before looking at her husband. Valentine nodded as the servant removed the plates quietly.

"Your mother made Clary's favorite dessert to celebrate the special announcement I have for you." Valentine chimed.

Everyone looked up as the servant brought in a plate and placed it in front of their father. Clary was momentarily distracted by the warm piece of apple pie with vanilla ice cream placed in front of her. She looked up at her father catching his gaze. He and her mother were looking at her and Jace. A small feeling of fear filled her stomach.

"What is your news father?" she asked digging in trying to appear calm.

"I am glad you asked. My news is that I have finally chosen your betrothed my sweet daughter."

Clary almost choked on her food. She brought her hand to her chest in an attempt to dislodge the small bite of pie in her airway.

"You have accepted one of the proposals?" Jonathan asked bitterly.

Clary should have known it would come to this. She had fallen madly in love and here her father was trying to marry her off. Well she would be damned if she was going to let that happen. The only one she wanted was Jace and her virtue was already gone. She doubted that would look good to any proposing family.

"The boy is from a good name and has been raised to meet the expectations that I would expect in someone who would marry my daughter." Valentine replied.

"I assume you have chosen Jace and I's future wives as well while you were out playing match maker father?" Jonathan asked coldly.

"Well yes and no. I haven't found anyone suitable enough for you yet Jonathan but Jace on the other hand will be engaged tonight as well." He grinned mischievously.

Valentine was trying to draw this out as long as he could and Clary had had about enough. She stood up from the table to look at her father.

"And who meets your high expectations father? Are we to know the names of our betrothed or not?" She asked.

"Why yes my dear. I am actually quite delighted in my decision and I know you will be too."

"I highly doubt that." Clary responded with cold civility.

"Do you believe that I would not want my only daughter to be happy? Well it may surprise you but I do care my dear. I might also add that when it comes to you and Jace, I am not blind."

Clary blushed meeting her father's eye. By the Angel! He did know. Of course he knew and now he planned to separate them with an arranged marriages. Clary looked down as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. Everyone was silent and looking at her. She hated appearing weak in front of others especially her father.

"I'm sorry. Please don't blame Clarissa it was all my –"Jace started standing up.

"Jace." Valentine commanded halting Jace's speech.

"Yes?" he asked not taking his eyes off of Clary looked down attempting to hide the silent tears falling down her cheeks.

"Take your fiancée to her room and have her wash her face. I expect both of you back here in five minutes."

Clary nodded and began to move when his words hit her like a wave of ice water. She gasped and looked up at her father. Valentine was smiling back at her.

"Do you mean-"

"Clarissa, your father and I have decided that you and Jace shall marry after your eighteenth birthday." Her mother spoke fondly. She was getting tired of her husband beating around the bush.

Clary was in shock for a moment. She was overwhelmed with pure joy. She did the first thing that came to mind. She ran to her father and hugged him catching him completely by surprise. She hadn't given her father affection willingly in years.

"Thank you father! Thank you!" she squealed.

"You are welcome my daughter." He replied wrapping his arms around her and kissing her on the head. "Now go wash your face."

Clary did as she was told. She left the room with Jace right behind her. Jace didn't know what to say so he nodded to his father and followed her out of the room quietly. Clary rushed to her room and washed the tears from her face. Jace sat on her bed waiting for her in silence.

"Are you…alright?" she asked cautiously. She couldn't help but feel that maybe he wasn't happy. Maybe he didn't want to marry her.

"I'm just in shock." He replied. "I have always had nightmares about what Valentine would do to me if I acted upon my feelings and now here he is not only accepting it but encouraging us by making us get married. It's a lot to take in."

"Do you not want to marry me?" she asked meekly.

Jace looked up at her in confusion.

"Is that what you think?" He asked softly.

Jace pulled her onto his lap.

"You silly beautiful girl. I am madly in love with you. Of course I want to marry you. I've never wanted to marry anyone else. Since I was eight years old I told Jocelyn that I wanted to marry you." He whispered kissing her lips gently.

"Did you really tell her that?" she giggled.

"Embarrassingly… yes." He said kissing her once again.

Clary sighed and returned his kiss with renewed passion. Jace could feel his heart accelerate with hers as each kiss became deeper and deeper. Clary lifted her fingers through his blonde hair as his hands placed themselves on top of her breasts. It seemed like no time had passed at all when Jonathan knocked on the door.

"Okay love birds! It's been almost fifteen minutes. Father wants to see you both back in the dining room now."

Clary and Jace looked at each other for a moment blushing. Slowly they both started laughing.

Jonathan grunted turning and leaving with a frown. He was happy for them both but a part of him still longed to be the one that his sister kissed like that. He shrugged the feeling off. He would not let his demon side control him. He was a Nephilim and he would be damned if he let his demon blood win. No, he would be happy for them even if it killed him.