CHAPTER 7

The sheets were tangled around my limbs and clamped between my sweaty palms. I sighed, stretching my body out, a yawn escaping me. A chuckle came from beside me and then a deep murmur, "Morning, Angel," the voice said.

I glanced up into the tawny eyes of the boy I loved, the boy I had gone to the darkest corner of Alicante for, and smiled. "Did you sleep well?" He asked.

"Very." I whispered and watched as Jace's lips turned up at the corners with a smirk.

"Good," he returned. He reached down into a drawer beside the bed and pulled out a pair of boxers. Underneath the covers he slipped them on and I couldn't help but glance down at myself from under the covers. I was naked, if it wasn't for the sheets and bedspread, I would have been exposed to the world.

Jace was already on the other side of the room, rummaging through one of the drawers when he threw me one of his shirts. He slipped into the bathroom and I slid the shirt on. Sliding out from under the covers, I padded out of the room and headed to my room. My bag was still there and so were a few of my clothes. Quickly, I changed into a green tank top and a pair of skinny jeans and headed down to the kitchen.

The kitchen was empty and dark when I entered so I began to cook some bacon and eggs. As I was flipping over an egg, arms wound around me from behind. Shrieking softly I whirled around, my heart slamming against my rib cage and all of my muscles tense like a rubber band ready to snap. I knew it had been Jace but for some reason the thought of Lucifer returning lurked in the back of my mind.

"Woah," Jace began, arms up in surrender at the sight of my face which must have shown all the fear I felt. "It's just me…" he reassured me. I nodded and slowly I felt muscle after muscle begin to relax. He tucked a strand of loose hair, that had come out of its bun during my shaken state, behind my ear. "Are you ok? Did you think I was—" Understanding suddenly bloomed in his eyes as my eyes darted to the tiles.

"Hey, hey, look at me." Jace placed a hand underneath my chin and guided my gaze up to his. "It's ok to still be scared but you know I won't let anything happen to you, right? I'll always keep you safe." I nodded and relaxed completely as his arms wrapped around me and drew me into his warmth. Just the feel of his skin again mine, his lips against my forehead and his warmth that radiated off of his body, made me feel that much safer because he was there.

By that point, the food was burnt but Jace didn't care he just pulled us out of the door and we were sitting across from each other in booths at Taki's.

Jace reached over and clasped my hands between both of his. "Just a strawberry shake." I replied, when Kaelie came up and asked for our orders. Jace ordered a cheeseburger with fries.

We ate and sat in silence and when we got up to leave, Jace began to talk. We walked out through the door and stood on the curb, waiting for a taxi. He took my hand in his and smiled down at me. "You've been awfully quiet; trapped in your thoughts ever since this morning's incident, Clary…"

We were in the backseat of a cab and I squeezed my eyes shut. I felt the pressure of Jace's hand against my palm, squeezing reassuringly. "I can still remember every vivid detail about that night. I'm scared he's going to come looking for me…"

His tawny, golden eyes were set determinedly on me as he spoke, "Clary, I told you, I'm not going to let anything happen to you. You're safe with me. If Lucifer wants to come back and hurt you; if anything tries to hurt you ever again; they're going to have to go through me first."

I smiled and rested my head against his toned chest. He kissed the top of my head lightly before relaxing his head atop of mine.

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The day was at its end when Jace and I returned back to the institute. Jace took my hand in his and led me up the stairs. I continued to have my head rested against him because every part of my body felt drained; mentally, emotionally and physically. He looped an arm around my waist and supported my weight as my body leaned on him, heavy with exhaustion.

A lump lay on the concrete tiles as we drew closer to the door. The mound didn't move, it just lay under a heap of blankets. Jace released me and knelt down beside it. I thought I would fall over then and there from exhaustion without his support. Except what I saw made me stand rigid and stiff. A pair of angel wings sat on the top step. Jace was frozen in place and I couldn't help the scream of horror that erupted from my lungs.

Jace leapt up and gathered me in his arms, kissing my temple fiercely and protectively. In a matter minutes—or was it hours? Time had seemed to slow very slowly – Maryse, Robert, Isabelle and Alec were all standing in front of Jace and I, their gazes fixated on the sight before them. A note smeared with blood lay to the side of the wings.

Robert bent down to retrieve it and as he began to read the sprawled out letters, a heavy weight dropped into my stomach.

My dear sister, Clarissa-you have been a naughty girl, haven't you? Well I'm coming for you and this time I have someone to help me. I'm sure you'll remember your old friend, Lucifer? Well, see you soon, sister.

My heart was pounding faster than I ever thought it could, sweat was matting my red hair together and my grip on Jace's shirt had increased. His eyes were trained on me with concern. In fact, so was everyone else's. My gaze wandered up to his tawny eyes, fear must have been reading all over my face.

"Excuse me a moment…" Maryse murmured and then hurried back inside, probably to contact the Enclave and Silent Brothers.

"Clary…" Jace began and tightened his grip around me. "Let's get you inside." He tried pulling me around the angel's wings but I was frozen in place, my mind whirling at a hundred kilometres per hour. "Clary?" I snapped out of my daze and stared up at Jace, wide eyed. He gave me a little tug and I let him this time. This time, I let him lead me away from the scene.