He's really good. I thought while my Seraph blade crossed the path of Jace's.
Our fight had been lasting for the last twenty minutes. We were equal, nobody could claim to be closer to the victory. He was taller and stronger than me, but my speed was giving me the chance to parry him. I waited for him to attack me, avoided it and then struck back. But, as I knew his strategy was to attack, he knew what I was about to do and he was ready for it. My counterattacks were of very little use to me.
Jace was the first one who gave me troubles in a fight. Before him, my longest fight had lasted seven or eight minutes. And now I could feel sweat on my forehead and I couldn't hold my Seraph blade as tightly as before. I was catching my breath and my pulse was punching against my temples. The hardest thing was to keep focus, to be concentrated all the time. It was exhausting, but I didn't intend to give up.
Finally, a real fight. I smiled to myself. No way that I'll give up. I'll continue until I win it.
I was satisfied to see that he got tired too. His breathing was heavier than before and his movements weren't so smooth and precise. But, he still stood his ground and didn't allow me to find a way through his defence. His golden eyes studied my movements, but I could see respect growing inside them. I wanted to remind him about his words of me wasting his time, but I didn't. It was a distraction to me as well and in this fight I couldn't afford myself to be distracted.
I had no idea how long this fight could last. I was determined not to give up even if I fall on my knees of fatigue, but Jace had the same thoughts written on his face. When he realized how good fighter I was, he had to beat me, for his own pride's sake. But, the pride wasn't only on his side, it was also on mine.
He's the one. I knew. He must be my parabatai. There is nobody else like him. He's the one I would trust my life with.
Suddenly, I heard somebody's voice. It was a girl's voice and it was familiar enough to me to recognize Isabelle.
"Do you have any intentions to finish soon? Lunch should have been ten minutes ago."
"Isabelle!" a new voice spoke, one of those I didn't know.
"Sam won't give up until she wins." Levi's voice joined the conversation. "I wouldn't count with the end soon."
"C'mon, Jace, stop playing around!" another female voice was heard.
Playing around?! I got angry at once. I must finish him first, but then, she's over.
In a second I changed my tactic completely. I jumped from my defence into sudden attack. Jace wasn't ready for that surprise of mine. We moved forward at the same time, but I knew his move and he didn't know mine. I avoided his Seraph blade that should have been run into my right shoulder and cut the part of his gear around ribs. I grabbed the black fabric and held it tight in my hands. I turned around elegantly, pleased with my victory. I heard clapping and saw Levi coming closer to me.
"Great fight, Sam." he patted my shoulder like a proud parent.
"Thanks." I smiled, turning around toward Jace. "I have to admit, this was my hardest victory ever."
He smiled, but there was cunning brilliance in his eyes.
"I wouldn't call it a victory exactly, if I were you." he raised his hand. There was a part of black fabric there as well.
My gaze lowered and I looked at my right shoulder. There wasn't only black fabric there. I could see a small part of my skin as well.
I was furious, but I tried to keep myself calm. If I showed him my anger because we were equal, he would likely use it to mock me. And I couldn't allow that.
"I guess you're right." I smiled sweetly, enough to be ironical. "That proves you have the abilities to be my parabatai."
Ironic smile vanished from his face. Seriousness appeared in all its features.
"This was a test, then? For you to see how I fight?"
I nodded.
"Yes. You're the best fighter I've ever met. I've been waiting for someone like you to show up in Idris. I found nobody here good enough to accept him or her as a parabatai. But, I will gladly accept you. If you don't have one already, of course."
My gaze went over his friends.
The red-haired girl and the pale guy didn't even look like Shadowhunters to me. They were skinny, with no hard muscles from exercising. Isabelle and her probably-brother seemed good, but Jace stood out even from them. I couldn't guess what the thing that was making him so special was, but I could see with one gaze he was the only one here who I would accept as a parabatai. And I saw no reason why he wouldn't accept me. I seriously doubted his possible parabatai was be among them.
"I don't have a parabatai yet." he said, his eyes staring at mine.
Yes! I'll finally fulfil the Clave's stupid law! I didn't show full extent of my joy, I just smiled.
"Then ... " I started, but I was interrupted after only one word.
"Jace, you can't do that! I thought ..."
My gaze went from Jace to the girl who had spoken. It was the red-haired girl and it was her voice which had told Jace to stop playing around during the fight. I wanted to punch her in revenge, but I had better ways to do it.
"Why wouldn't he?" I said, coming closer to her. "Who should he take as a parabatai? You?"
His eyes avoided my gaze and looked at Jace. We all stood silently for few moments and then I realized her problem.
"You're his girlfriend, aren't you?" I laughed at her jealousy.
Jace was handsome, even I had to admit that, but I wasn't looking for boyfriend, just for a parabatai. I didn't care about his relationships, as long as he was ready to fight alongside me in the times of need. I was ready to do the same for him. He could have one million girlfriends in his free time, I couldn't care less, but in fight against demons, my side was where he had to be at.
"Yes, she is." I heard Jace's voice, so I turned towards him again.
"I really don't care. I need you only as my parabatai, nothing more." I said and smirked at the red-haired girl. "She doesn't have to be afraid of me."
She stood silently and I realized I wouldn't hear another word from her. She was obviously ashamed of her jealousy, so I faced Jace again. But, now I could see rejection in his golden eyes now.
"Do you even understand the meaning of having a parabatai?" he asked me strictly.
"Parabatai is someone you can trust your life with. That's all I need if I must have one." I answered, meeting his gaze steadily. "Shadowhunting is my life. I have no fear of demons. And my parabatai can't be someone who'll hide like a coward. He or she must be as good fighter as I am, good enough to be the first rows during the fight. Otherwise, it would be like having no protection at all, just another distraction during the fight."
He understood my point, I could see it in his eyes. He knew I was right. He couldn't trust his life with someone incompetent either. But, there was another half in his view on the matter. And that one didn't agree with me.
"I'm sorry, but I can't be your parabatai then." he said, catching me off guard completely.
"What? Why?" I practically screamed, not able to control myself.
"I can't guarantee that I'll watch over you. My friends are more important to me. And you show no intention to become my friend. I'm sorry, but I could never be a good parabatai to you. I'll always put them before of you."
For few seconds I was speechless. But, Levi filled in my silence.
"Give Sam a chance, please." he said to Jace. "She is a very good friend once you get to know her. Just give her ..."
"You don't have to." rage erupted from me like lava from volcano. "If you don't want to be my parabatai, you don't have to. I'm good enough to fight on my own. If the Clave doesn't like it, I don't give a damn."
I turned around and left, leaving them all in silence. I didn't wait for Levi. I knew what he would say. And I had just openly despised his advice about making friends, so he probably had nothing to say to me.
I have a parabatai already, the best there is. I held my Seraph blade tightly, determined not to think about the trial I knew it would come to banish me from the world of Shadowhunters forever.
Since the entire story is from Sam's point of view, she couldn't have known Alec was Jace's parabatai. I could imagine Jace would keep it secret to give her a false hope, so that's kind of reason why he lied about it.