Clary was sitting on the couch with her sketchbook. She was just finishing the eyes of the black winged angel she was drawing. Black eyes that stared back at her in a mixture of humor and menace. She was struggling to get them just right when a pop of dipping air pressure made her jump and turn to find Jonathan and Kesi grinning at one another. When he saw her in the living room, his smile widened and he swept forward to tumble down onto the couch with his head in her lap.
"Hello beautiful," he smiled up at her and reached out to pull her down into a quick kiss. She flushed slightly at his compliment and smirked down at him in amusement.
"You're in a good mood," she noted. "I take it Lillith was helpful?"
"More than," he said playing with her hair as he inspected the sketch she'd been working on with a tiny smirk. Side by side, she had to admit the likeness was a successful one. "She even gave me a wonderful idea on how to deal with the Shadowhunters without killing them."
"Do tell."
"Later," he grinned. "Tonight we are celebrating."
Clary giggled softly at his bright smile, something rare she had to admit she enjoyed. "What are we celebrating?"
"We have the vampires of New York City. If we're lucky, other clans will follow."
"The vampires?" She frowned. "I thought we were meeting with them later tonight."
"They found us first."
"They sent a creepy little minion to fetch us." Kesi interjected as she leaned against the side of the couch. "And by the by, Raphael is way too pretty to be dead."
"Raphael?" Clary asked, looking between them. She was a little disappointed that she had missed the exchange, but happy to know they were one step closer to taking down Valentine.
"He was meeting with another vampire leader," Jonathan explained. "He's on board provided a practice raid goes smoothly. It shouldn't be an issue."
"Yay us," Clary smiled and stroked back his pale hair from his face. "So what kind of celebrating did you have planned?"
He grinned up at her impishly. The look on his face made it clear where his thoughts had turned and she had to laugh.
"Other than that," she grinned playfully. Jonathan sat up, jumping to his feet to go to the bar.
"We could go out," he suggested with a shrug, pouring a glass of bourbon. From the side of the couch Kesi cleared her throat.
"The Seelie court is basking in the new moon tonight. They never miss a chance to celebrate the time when Luna hides away. We could crash?" Her hopeful smile made Jonathan turn a questioning look on Clary. Under the scrutiny of both of their unnaturally colored eyes, she found herself relenting.
"I guess we party crash," she shrugged to Jonathan's wide smile. "But first I need a shower."
She tucked her sketchbook up under her arm and padded to his bedroom to slide it onto the top of the dresser. Grabbing her silky robe from the drawer she had claimed, she made her way to the bathroom and tried to ignore the quiet chatter from the living room. If Kesi was going to stay here, which it seemed she was determined to do, Clary wasn't going to let her see how much it irritated her. At least not anymore than she already had. Somehow the show of jealousy seemed like a victory for the warlock, and Clary didn't want to give her the satisfaction anymore.
She shut the door with a soft click and tossed her robe onto the counter. The shower turned on with a hiss and she adjusted it until the heat was to her liking before she peeled off her socks and unzipped her jeans. When the door opened behind her she froze for only a moment before the arms that wrapped around her made her muscles relax again.
"You know, I was planning to do this alone."
Jonathan chuckled into the side of her neck, nuzzling into the skin to nip it playfully.
"How boring of you," he teased.
She turned around in his arms and looked up into his eyes with a frown that didn't quite reach her eyes. "The shower was supposed to be quick."
Jonathan arched a brow, smirking down at her. His hands slid along her sides to rest on her hips and he nodded toward the shower. "Then you'd best stop stalling, shouldn't you?"
Clary couldn't help her smile. His good mood was infectious. Music drifted suddenly in from the living room, loud enough to drown out any sounds they made, Clary assumed. Part of her was grateful that Kesi chose to ignore them. She didn't like the thought of her listening in.
Jonathan helped her out of her jeans with his usual wicked smile, letting his hands drift back up along her thighs to slip beneath her shirt. In a slow pull, that was gone as well, abandoned onto the counter with her robe. She watched him toe off his boots and kick them to the side as she unclasped her bra and tossed it aside. He took a moment to let his eyes trail across the pale exposed flesh of her chest before he tugged off his own shirt with a grin. It was Clary's turn to smile impishly as she watched the shifting muscles beneath his chest and arms as he removed his leather pants. An expanse of taught, pale flesh that seemed almost to shimmer with its collection of old rune scars. He was a truly beautiful thing, she thought to herself. She wondered why she had never allowed herself to really notice before the answer made her push the thoughts away. She was tired of shame, and here in this apartment, there was no reason for it. They were in their own private world, and apart from Kesi, there was no one here to judge them. Clary could indulge in this, whatever this was they had. She didn't have to think about the reality of it, the wrongness. Here she was free to give in to her pleasures, regardless of how dark they might be.
She giggled when Jonathan smacked her behind on the way to the shower, wriggling out of her panties with help from his eager fingers. He wasn't wearing anything beneath his clothes, it seemed. She caught sight of his naked body and blushed despite herself before they both stepped into the shower and let the hot water rain over them.
Her back was to him at first. Jonathan took the chance to wrap her in his strong arms and kiss her neck a moment before she turned to face him, giggling at his wickedly dark gaze as he took her in.
"We're showering, remember?"
"I can shower and tease at the same time," he insisted with a wiggle of his eyebrows. "I'm a skilled multitasker."
"I bet," she rolled her eyes and let her hands rest against the firmness of his chest. Beneath the water, his skin was slick and shimmering. She drank in the sight of him, allowing her hands to wander the expanse of his chest while his hands settled against the curve of her spine to press her closer. Her cheeks warmed at the distinct sensation of his cock as it pressed against her thigh, but hoped the flush would be covered by the heat of the water.
"Tell me what Lillith said," she spoke suddenly. Curiosity won out over her patience for him to explain. He paused only a moment, his smile seemed to freeze before the amusement returned to his eyes. Sometimes he was so guarded, she thought she might never truly know the workings of his mind. She was grateful when he shrugged and reached behind her to grab a bottle of bodywash she had insisted they get. The bar of soap that had been in the bathroom before was clearly for men, and she'd never been a fan of them anyway. He squeezed a bit into his palm before he slid it down her shoulders, watching the progress of his hands across her skin as if entranced.
"She's going to help me shift the tide," he explained, somewhat distracted as he lathered her in suds.
"How?" Clary prompted when it was clear he was too focused on lathering her breasts to continue. It felt wonderful to have his hands gliding over her slick skin, but she needed answers. His dark eyes lifted momentarily to her before they returned to his work.
"There is a way to make something that will shift their loyalty."
"Jonathan," she spoke a touch sharply. "No hedging answers. You promised to keep me in the loop."
"A cup," he sighed as his hands slid across her thighs. She stiffled her responsive shiver, reminding herself how easily he could distract her. She was determined not to let him this time, but sweet angel he made it difficult.
"The mortal cup?" She asked, noting the slight tremor in her voice as his fingers slid dangerously close to the place between her thighs. He caught the sound and his black eyes lifted to meet hers, dancing with a knowing amusement.
"No," he smiled. "Something new. A cup that is powered by Lillith's magic, infernal, I suppose. Those who drink from it will be infused with her power, as I am. They will no longer be Shadowhunters. They will be something new. Something more like me."
She couldn't help the slight pinch in her brow at this thought. He wanted to turn Shadowhunters into something demonic. What would that mean for those turned?
"Will it hurt them?"
"I don't think so," he shrugged and turned her around in his arms to begin washing her back. "At least not for more than a moment."
Without his eyes on her face, Clary let herself frown in thought, but he continued before she could voice her concerns.
"Think about it Clary. A race of Shadowhunters that are stronger, faster. They would be more powerful for it. We could make our people better, and they will follow us over Valentine. We could turn his own army against him. No one has to die."
The last part was tacked on almost as an afterthought, for her benefit, she knew. Despite the gentility of his current treatment of her, Clary knew her brother for the darkness that lurked within him. If he had to, he would kill everyone and everything that stood in his way, and he would do it without a shred of guilt. Wasn't this better? If they could spare the lives of those crushed under the bootheel of their father, shouldn't they try? She didn't want to kill anyone. There were those loyal to Valentine because they shared his beliefs, but even more followed his rule because they had no other choice. If doing this made them stronger in the long run, wasn't that better? She truly hoped so, but she couldn't deny the edge of alarm that came with the thought of turning Shadowhunters into something more akin to demons. What would the price be? How would they change?
"How do you know they would follow you?" She asked instead. It was better to keep her doubts to herself for now, until she saw what exactly this supposed cup would do.
"Why wouldn't they?" Jonathan chuckled behind her. "If their choice is to fall beside the man who would kill their loved ones for disloyalty, or the one who would offer them more power then they could have dreamed, why would they deny it?"
"Will you though?" She asked it softly, feeling him go still behind her. "Will you give them a choice?"
The silence was all too telling. She shifted to turn and face him, but Jonathan's arms wrapped around her and held her firmly back against his chest. Their skin slid silkily against each other and his head dipped down to kiss her shoulder. The warmth of him seemed more intense than even the hot water that rained over them. She felt the all too familiar thought creep across her mind as his mouth made her head feel light and her skin tighten with excitement.
Not fair, she thought. Not fair that you can distract me so completely. And not fair that you know it.
"We could be free Clary," he said rather than answering her question. He didn't need to. They both knew what his answer would have been. Another cold, slithering of doubt moved through her chest, but the brief sharpness of his teeth pinching her shoulder pushed it down below other, more selfish desires.
"We could free our people. Free the downworld. We would save them all." His forehead rested in the curve of her neck, his voice taking on an odd, almost pleading quality. It was tentative, soft. His normal confidence lost to a simple question.
"Will you trust me Clary? I can live with taking loyalty from those too hesitant to give it freely, but you...I need you to be on my side."
Clary took a shaking breath before her hands wrapped around his, hugging him closer. Could she, she wondered. Could she trust the demon that would kill their father if it meant they were free to make their own choices? It seemed like such a small thing, but trust was hard to come by. It meant more than simple words.
"I trust you," she said softly, and found herself believing it. If they could free their people, if they could rid the world of the scourge that was Valentine Morgenstern, she had to allow herself to accept the cost. She had to believe that Jonathan could win, and the world might be better for it.
She felt him smile against her skin and shreiked a giggle of surprise when he bit her again, slapping at his hands playfully.
"I knew you were wonderful," he said against her ear. "I knew from the moment I saw you that you were more than he believed you to be. My beautiful, angel girl."
"Flattery will get you everywhere," she smiled as she leaned back against him, her shower all but forgotten.
"I know," he chuckled. "Now turn around, I'm going to wash your fantastic, red hair."
She giggled again as she complied, feeling somewhat at ease in this new knowledge of what was to come. Perhaps the world was less black and white than she had believed. Perhaps there were shades of grey that seemed ominous at first, but in the end could change the world. It felt good to hope, good to let herself imagine a world where she could exist without fear. If Jonathan was there to protect her, and she him in return, she could allow herself to hope that the world might change for the better.
Kesi was sprawled across the couch when they finally emerged from the bathroom. They had finished washing, but as it usually did with Jonathan, things took a more wicked turn as they finished. He teased and kissed her until the water had run cold and they had been forced out, laughing, to return to the world. The warlock eyed them speculatively a moment before she rolled her eyes and sighed. She'd dressed for their celebratory night out while they were busy. Her tight black pants hugged her long, slender legs, tipped in heeled black boots that were studded in golden grommets. A gold, silk top hung loose down one of her shoulders. Her usually, voluminous spiraling curls had been braided along the left side of her head. The right was a collection of long braids decorated by gold hoops and beads made of what looked like bone. She looked like a beautiful, savage goddess and Clary found herself once again silently cursing the warlock for her looks. Especially when Jonathan paused to give her a heated look that spoke volumes as to how much he appreciated them.
"Could you have taken any longer?" Kesi asked with the cock of an eyebrow. Jonathan grinned back at her and raised Clary's hand to kiss the back of it, giving her a brief teasing smile.
"Hygiene is no joke Kesidorma. I had to be thorough." Clary blushed while Kesi rolled her eyes.
"I bet," she sighed before turning her strange pale eyes to Clary. "Now that you're done screwing around, what are you going to wear?"
"I think that's my cue to leave you to the womanly chatter." Jonathan smirked between them and turned to pad down the hallway in only the towel wrapped around his hips. Kesi flipped him off half-heartedly and pushed herself from the couch to approach Clary.
"You can't have much in the way of party clothes."
Crossing her arms, Clary frowned. "I'm not much of a party girl." She said defensively to the warlock's snort of laughter.
"Trust me, honey. You keep spending time in his world and that is going to change. You're about to be the queen of the Shadowhunters. That requires a bit more...hmm" she tapped her lip in thought as she inspected Clary like a painting in a museum. "Well more than jeans. Do you even own a dress?"
"You know," Clary spoke sharply, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You aren't exactly an easy person to like."
Kesi laughed at that, moving slowly around Clary as if she were taking her measure. "You haven't bothered to get to know me Clary. How would you know what kind of person I am?"
The truth of that stung a bit, though Clary didn't want to admit it. She reminded herself of her earlier pledge to keep her irritation toward the witch to herself. At the same time a question popped out of her unbidden, driven by curiosity.
"Why are you here?" She asked softly, hesitanting only a moment before she asked what was really on her mind. The question that burned since the first time she had made a passing joke at the obvious closeness between Clary and Jonathan. "Why are you...ok with all of this?"
Kesi stopped in front of Clary, searching her eyes a long moment. "You mean why am I ok with what you and your brother get up to in your spare time?"
Clary blushed, her eyes falling to the floor. She didn't like the way she said it so plainly, as if it meant nothing. Kesi sighed heavily, crossing her arms over her chest.
"This world we live in, it isn't a fairytale. There is darkness out there you can't imagine. I've seen things that haunt me in my dreams, things that the monsters out there do with a smile. Happiness, pleasure, they are often fleeting. I have no reason to take them from others. If Jonathan finds happiness with you, I won't be the one to take it from him." She smirked and leaned in to whisper conspiratorially. "We both know he doesn't like having his favorite things taken away."
"So you do it for him?" Clary questioned a bit harshly, as if it were something to be ashamed of. Deep down she knew she was only projecting her own shame on the only other person who seemed not to care.
"Of course." The warlock shrugged a graceful shoulder and smiled. "I'm not going to get in the way of his happiness, not when we both know it's such a fragile thing. He might be powerful and determined, but he still has doubts Clary. I'm not going to press them. Doesn't he deserve a little bit of happiness after the things your father did to him? Don't you?"
She didn't know how to respond to that. Honestly she didn't know how to handle this strange creature who seemed to give so little thought to right and wrong. So like Jonathan. It was almost unnerving.
"Right," Kesi grinned to bring them back to the matter at hand. "You need to look hot for your honey. I think I've got the solution."
"I doubt I'd fit in anything you own," she grumbled and tried not to notice the shapely figure of the woman before her. Clary wasn't the twig of a person she had become in Alicante anymore. Since arriving here, she was eating regularly again. No longer gaunt and sickly, she'd regained her former slender figure. Even so she knew it was not the same as the full figured woman who was inspecting her. She felt lacking in comparison, with her slender hips and small chest.
"No need to share clothes," Kesi smirked and raised one hand. "I'll make you your own."
She snapped her fingers and Clary felt an odd sensation wash over her skin like a bucket of icey water. She watched in alarm as her robe disappeared, curling off of her like dark smoke. In its place she found herself suddenly in a tight black dress that shimmered with silver accents as it caught the light. The hem hugged her upper thighs, exposing more leg than she would have normally been comfortable with. Black, slightly heeled boots made of velvet wrapped her legs just above the knee. The warlock had even given her silver bracelets of varying sizes and patterns. Her hair was suddenly dried, falling loose around her shoulders in soft curls. For a moment, all she could do was stare down at herself as the warlock tapped her lip in thought and snapped again. A black leather jacket with shortened sleeves appeared suddenly to cover the strapless top of her dress and Kesi smiled.
"There. All better." She grinned proudly. "You look like a bad ass."
"This is a little..." Much? Short? Not something she would have chosen herself? Clary didn't really know how to put it but Kesi waved it away.
"You look hot," she laughed. "Go with it. Jonathan will love it. And speaking of the devil..."
Clary turned as the devil in question walked from the hallway adjusting the cuff of an expensive looking black coat. He'd forgone his usual leather fighting gear for black slacks and a dark grey button up shirt that shone like silk. The first few buttons had been left undone, flashing his collarbones as he moved into the room. He wore his favorite silver bracelet, etched with latin she couldn't translate. He looked wealthy and handsome and for a moment Clary couldn't keep herself from staring. At least until his attention raised from his coat to her and he froze in place. His black eyes trailed hungrily up the outfit Kesi had made for her before they settled on her face and the heat in them made her blush and look away.
"Told you," Kesi whispered beside her and grinned at him. "Ready to have some fun Mr. Morning Star?"
He was still starring at Clary, but nodded once with a smirk. When he moved up beside her she could barely make herself look at him. The intensity of his attention was a little much and she felt all the more exposed in her current outfit. Seeing her embarrassment, Jonathan leaned down to kiss her cheek as his arm slipped around her back.
"You look beautiful," he whispered into her ear grinning when it made her blush deepen. She let herself lean against him and fingered the open collar of his silk shirt.
"So do you," she replied softly. Beside them Kesi sighed.
"We're all blessed with hotness, now let's go! I want to see the fairies dance."
The warlock raised her hands and with a few quick gestures she had opened a portal against the blank wall before them. She turned to face them both with a grin before she stepped backwards through the portal and disappeared. Jonathan smiled down at Clary, taking her hand. Without a word he followed after Kesi, pulling Clary along after him.
She wasn't sure what she had expected. Clary's few experiences at the fairy court had not been altogether pleasant. She remembered the first time she'd seen a woman braiding colorful ribbons through the exposed ribs of her companion. She wasn't exactly looking forward to more of those gruesome sights, so she was pleasantly surprised to find herself in an wide, open field surrounded by trees. With no moon to light the darkness, the fairies had lit torches along the outer edges of the clearing. Great, roaring bonfires littered the field within, and everywhere she looked were laughing dancing fae. Some had skin in varying colors of the rainbow, some had horns. A shadow passed above them as Jonathan led her toward one of the bonfires and Clary looked up in time to watch a man with giant colorful wings like a bird soar passed to land beside a giggling group of scantily dressed women. There were long tables piled with every kind of food imaginable interspersed between the fires, but Clary knew better than to eat any of it. Music drifted through the enormous clearing, though she didn't see any band. The steady beat of drums pounded through a lilting melody like something in a pagan ritual. She found herself suddenly tightening her grip in Jonathan's hand.
"Are you sure this is safe?"
He chuckled and squeezed her hand lightly. "Most fun things are a little dangerous." At her doubtful look he laughed. "Don't worry, I'm going to find the queen and let her know we're here. I need to chat with her anyway. Stick with Kesi until I get back. Try not to wander off."
So it isn't safe, Clary thought as she watched the warlock in question dance her way around the fire and into the arms of a tall man with blue tinged skin and scales that disappeared into multicolored hair. She was laughing as he twirled her.
"If I get eaten by something, I'm blaming you." Clary released his hand as they approached the bonfire. Jonathan scoffed.
"If you get eaten, I'll burn down this entire forest and skin the Seelie queen alive." She would have told him that wasn't exactly comforting, but he kissed her hair. "Stop worrying. I won't let anyone hurt you. Now go enjoy yourself. I shouldn't be long."
She watched him walk toward the center of the clearing where a strange sort of raised dias seemed to have grown out of the ground. By the number of lounging fairies laughing and drinking around it, she assumed that was where the Queen was waiting. A shriek of laughter drew her attention away before she could think too much about what Jonathan and the queen might have to talk about.
Kesi was standing between two fae men, the blue skinned one and another that looked as if he'd been dipped in silver frost. She had a hand on the blue man's naked chest and was leaning back against the other with a wide smile. Clary sighed to herself and moved to a large log that had been smoothed across its top to form a bench. A tiny pink and green pixie flitted in front of her as she sat, chased by a mundane looking woman in flowing robes made of sheer red material. There were other mundanes scattered throughout the crowd, Clary realized, but whether they were here voluntarily or tricked into the merriment, she had no idea. It was probably best not to think about it.
"Drink this." Clary turned to find Kesi holding out a silver cup that smelled of delicate flowers. She eyed the rose colored contents skeptically as the two fairy men joined to stand around them.
"No thanks, I'd rather not be trapped here forever."
The blue man chuckled under his breath. The man that looked like silver ice simply watched her curiously. Kesi rolled her eyes and took a swig.
"It's safe. The mundane's here have been invited to join in the revels. Well, at least most of them have."
"This is not a night for trickery," the blue man said with an easy smile. "This is a celebration." He sank down on the log beside Clary and took the cup from Kesi to offer it to her. "Revel with us. The night is already too dark for somber attitudes."
"I'm not somber," Clary snapped but he raised his eyebrows and smirked at the sharpness of her tone. Kesi was being offered another cup by the frosted fairy, giggling as he whispered something into her ear. Clearly she was wasting no time jumping into the supposed revels.
"My mistake," the blue man said with that easy smile. Clary imagined he could have tricked plenty of mundane's into far worse than fairy wine with it. He was handsome, despite the strangness of his skin, his hair a rich, light brown and his eyes an odd, pastel yellow. "My name is Jael. Who might you be, clearly not somber girl?"
"Clary," she replied as she finally took the cup and eyed it warily. It smelled wonderful, but so did many poisons. The brightest colored flowers were often the most deadly.
For just a moment he paused, his smile freezing in place as he looked at her. He covered it quickly with a soft laugh, but she hadn't missed the recognition in his strange yellow eyes.
"Our Lady has spoken of you, Clarissa Fairchild. The Morning Star claims you as his queen. We hear you will help liberate the Fae from your father's abuses."
"Morgenstern," Kesi corrected with a giggle. There was a sharpness to her tone Clary didn't entirely understand. Almost sarcastic. "Don't let the Morning Star hear you call her anything else."
"My mistake," Jael said softly, watching Clary with a little more interest than she would have liked. The silver frosted man holding Kesi around the waist was also watching her like some strange, new animal. She knew that the Seelie queen whispered about their budding alliance, but she wasn't expecting to be a source of interest. She'd rather leave that to Jonathan. Let him be gawked at. Clary would rather stay in the shadows. Looking back down into her cup she held it up between them.
"Is this poison?" She didn't bother being polite about it. The fairies couldn't lie, so she might as well use that to her advantage. Jael shook his head, smiling in amusement.
"It is not."
"If I drink it, will I be trapped here?"
"No. It is safe for you to enjoy." He winked. "You might even find it helps you relax."
Clary took a breath, decided he was annoyingly right, and downed the contents of the cup in two gulps. It tasted sweet with the slightest bite at the end, like spiced wine. She was about to comment on how good it was when her cup refilled itself right before her eyes. At her puzzled look at Jael, he chuckled.
"Tonight, the cups are never empty."
"Well that just sounds dangerous."
"Perhaps for those who abuse it." Jael shrugged. "You are far too wary for one who willingly joins in a fairy revel."
Clary laughed. "I'd say I'm just the right amount of wary. You're people are not exactly known for their good will toward human guests."
Kesi giggled with her frosted companion as he murmured something into her hair, but Jael was focused entirely on Clary. He placed a hand against his bare chest and flashed her his charming smile again.
"You wound me Clarissa Morgenstern. I have never taken a mundane to our lands unwillingly."
"Uh huh," she smirked and took another drink of the spiced wine. "And how many of them knew what they were signing up for when you asked?"
He didn't answer, but his smile said it all. The fae couldn't lie, but that didn't mean they couldn't trick. She was willing to bet he had tricked quite a few.
More fairies had joined around their bonfire now. Some laughed, some twirled around the edges of the dancing flames. A few shot her curious glances or whispered between one another, but she did her best to ignore it. Kesi was dancing with her pretty, silver friend, laughing cheerfully as he twirled her wildly around. She seemed so at ease amid this strange festival of magic and creatures. Clary almost envied her.
"Your friend is enjoying herself." Jael mirrored her thoughts and braced himself back against the log. Clary wondered briefly if he was preening under the attention of the other fae, or doing it for her benefit. She was doing her best not to pay much attention to his lack of a shirt or the nice shape of his muscular chest It was best to keep her eyes on his face, though the amusement dancing in his yellow, crystalline eyes said he knew it made her a bit uncomfortable.
"She does that," Clary watched the silver man lift Kesi off her feet by her waist and spin her around the fire with the rest of the dancers. "She seems to be good at the whole hedonistic merriment thing."
"Hedonistic?" Jael let out a short laugh. "Well then she should join the others giving in to such delights."
Clary gave him a curious look and he tilted his head away from the fire and motioned at a couple entwined in the grass only a few yards away. They groped at each other, half naked in the grass. When Clary blushed he chuckled softly. Now that she was paying attention, she realized the couple weren't the only ones fooling around in full view of others. There were others scattered across the clearing, happily tumbling around the grass, or pressed against trees. Some small groups were even joining together, with no care for the others that might see them.
"Wow. You guys really like to party."
"Life can be bitingly short, Clarissa Morgenstern. Never waste an opportunity to enjoy it while you can."
She finished off her wine and watched it refill itself with a snort of laughter. "I'm not sure thats the sort of opportunity I'm looking for."
"Perhaps you simply haven't found your moment."
She watched him over the rim of her cup as she drank, more than sure the blue fairy was flirting with her. It wasn't unpleasant, so much as it made her wonder where Jonathan was at the moment. Best not to let things go too far.
"Will you dance with the others then?" He asked with his charming, easy smile. Oh yeah. Definitely flirting. Her thoughts went instantly to Matteo and she shook her head. She'd already learned this lesson when she nearly got the poor man killed.
"Oh no. I'm all flailing limbs and awkwardness. I'd probably just offend you."
"I doubt very much that is true." He reached out to touch one of her loose red curls and Clary went instantly still. "I could hardly be offended by one so interesting."
Her mouth bobbed a moment, panic setting in before they were interrupted by a laughing Kesi. Clary had never been happier to see the witch in her life. Whether she'd spotted the pair of them and was intervening, or simply was lost to her enjoyment, Clary didn't care. When she grabbed her hands and tugged her up to her feet, Clary didn't resist.
"I'm stealing her away now," Kesi grinned down at Jael, handing over Clary's cup. "She needs to dance at least once."
He chuckled softly and motioned that they should have their fun. As Kesi pulled Clary toward the fire she leaned in to speak softly.
"You looked like you needed rescuing."
"Thanks," Clary sighed letting herself smile. Maybe the bitch wasn't all bad.
"Good, now dance with me. This is a fairy revel, not a Greek lounging party."
"What the hell is a-" but Clary didn't get to finish. The warlock was pulling her into a spin as they rounded the bonfire. She had no idea how to dance to the pagan music that drifted through the clearing. Even in her days of clubbing with Simon, which seemed like another lifetime now, she'd been more of a sway to the beat kind of person. Luckily there didn't seem to be any specific steps. They skipped and spun around the circle to the pounding drums until Clary couldn't help but laugh. On one of the rounds about the large fire she caught sight of Jael, still sitting back on the stump and watching them. When she caught his eyes, he winked, but she only giggled. At least now she didn't have to worry about it. Kesi's silver companion joined them as well as a pair of girls in flowing gauzy dresses. One had orange skin that seemed to mimic the light of the bonfire, with tiny black horns that peeked out from her long dark hair. The other looked as if she was covered in down feathers like a baby bird. The group of them twirled and laughed as the strange tribal music thumped and rose around them.
Soon the world around them was nothing but a swirling of color and light. It was almost disorienting, but Clary couldn't deny the fun. There was a strange freedom to it. She laughed and she danced and she let go of all the apprehension she'd felt when they arrived. She didn't stop until she caught sight of a pair of dark eyes just a few feet from the log bench.
Jonathan stood with his arms crossed over his chest watching her with a slight smile. When she realized it was him, she spun free of Kesi's hands and twirled, half falling into his arms. He caught her easily, his eyebrows raising slightly at her laughter as she used his shoulders to right herself.
"I see you're having fun," he said with a smirk, glancing briefly at Kesi as she twirled passed them with her silver fairy in tow. "Both of you."
"We're celebrating aren't we?" She grinned running her hands down the front of his shirt to straighten it. "What happened to your coat?"
Jonathan sighed, glancing briefly down at himself. "The queen felt I was overly dressed for her festival."
"So she undressed you?" Clary frowned. He laughed, shaking his head and wrapped his arms around her back to give her a gentle squeeze.
"No Clary. I undressed myself."
"Hmm. Good."
Jonathan laughed, opening his mouth to speak just before Jael approached with her cup. He glanced between them with a little smile and held it out to her.
"Gimme gimme!" Clary grinned taking the cup while Jonathan looked over the blue man with a slight frown. "Watch this," she said to gain back his attention and drained the cup so they could both watch it refill itself.
Jonathan arched a brow. "Are you drunk already?"
She frowned a moment in thought. "Maybe? Jael, is this strong?"
The blue fairy simply shrugged. "Perhaps to you."
She stuck her tongue out at him before taking another sip. "You calling me a lightweight?"
Jael chuckled, waving a goodbye as he moved to join the dancers around the fire. "Enjoy yourself Clarissa Morgenstern."
Now Jonathan was watching the other man closely, so Clary wrapped an arm around the back of his neck to distract him.
"Are you making new friends?"
"Kind of," she smiled. "So don't be a fun sucker."
That made him sigh. "I can see now I was gifted with the better metabolism. You are a lightweight."
She stuck her tongue out at him for good measure and took another sip. "Guess angels aren't so much with the drinking and merriment. Probably why they're so grumpy all the time."
"I guess so," he agreed with a soft laugh. Jonathan moved to the log bench, now abandoned and sat down. He tugged her after him across his lap and she made a soft sound at the back of her throat, looking around. For just a moment she felt the familiar tightness in her chest that signaled that special panic that came with public displays of affection. She couldn't help herself. The Seelie court knew who they were. When her eyes shifted across the gathering around the fire she thought she caught the knowing smirks covered by hands, the whispered words passed between laughter. She spotted Jael as he danced around the fire with Kesi and her silver boy and the curious way he watched them. When she looked back at Jonathan he was watching her too, waiting to see how she would react. She thought about pulling away, but then she remembered their moment in the alley. Wasn't she supposed to be ignoring shame? Wasn't she supposed to be enjoying the things she could?
Don't I deserve a little happiness? Shouldn't I take the moments I'm given? She thought back to Kesi's words earlier that night, and Jael insisting that enjoyment should be savored while you had it. Her muscles relaxed and she ignored the eyes on them. Let them stare. Let them judge. Clary was finished with shame. At least she was trying her best to be. Her arm wrapped around Jonathan's shoulders, her other hand going to the unbuttoned collar of his shirt to play with silky material. A slow smile pulled its way across his mouth before he leaned in to kiss her neck. She let herself shiver at the feel of his lips, the warmth of his breath. To hell with the world and it's judgements.
Kesi appeared from the bonfire with a giggle, dropping down onto the grass before them to gasp in a breath.
"I don't know what this music is, but it's creeping into my skin." She stretched out across the grass with a lazy smile, letting her hands float up into her curls to drag them off of her neck. "It's intoxicating."
The silver fairy grinned, dropping down to kneel beside her. "Of course it is," he grinned and pulled her head across his lap. She hummed in pleasure as he stroked her hair and Clary caught sight of the small bruise on the side of her neck. She grinned indulgently while Jonathan's fingers made a slow pattern of concentric circles across the exposed flesh of her thigh.
"You get that from you silver sweetie?" She asked motioning at the hickey. Kesi looked confused a moment before her fingers moved to cover it. The fairy man holding her laughed and shook his head.
"Alas no. She had it when you arrived. I am unlucky in not being the first to enjoy her attention."
Clary stared a moment, catching the warlock's eyes just before they shifted away. With that one look she felt a pit form in her stomach. If Kesi had the hickey before they arrived at the clearing it couldn't have been from her new companion. She remembered the way Jonathan and Kesi had arrived back in the apartment earlier, the way they had been smiling at one another. Her jaw set tightly as she turned to look at him.
"Clary..." Jonathan began to speak but she didn't want to listen. She stood, dropping her cup onto the grass as she glared at him.
"You bastard," she breathed out, jerking her hand away when he reached for it.
"Clary, don't make a scene," he sighed in exasperation, as if he had any right to be irritated. Rage, so blindingly hot it made her mind race, swelled up inside her at that dismissive sound. Her hand flashed out to strike him, but he caught her wrist and stood, moving so quickly he was almost a blur. The grip he had around her wrist was tight enough to hurt. She would be worried it would bruise if she weren't considering the best way to knock him on his ass. He must have known it too because he arched an eyebrow at her, almost like a dare.
"You know I'll beat you," he spoke softly. Some around the fire were watching them in interest. Kesi was ushering her silver friend away with whispers. Clary narrowed her eyes on Jonathan.
"Not before I get a few good hits in."
"Come with me," he sighed again. "We'll talk about this."
"There's nothing to talk about asshole." She motioned toward the warlock currently slinking away in guilt. "Why don't you go join your slut instead."
He laughed at that, raising his eyebrows. "Slut? Really? That's a little judgemental, don't you think?"
"I think you should give me your ring so I can go back to the apartment. I'm done here."
When she reached to grab it with her free hand he knocked it away. "Clary, just talk to me."
"Fuck that."
"Please don't make me force you."
She scoffed, reaching for his ring again. "Seriously? Be more of a caveman why don't you."
Jonathan looked up at the sky a moment in exasperation and let out a slow breath. When he looked back down at her, his expression was the carefully blank mask she hated. He shrugged. "Fine."
She let out a startled cry when the world shifted away from her. He slung her up over one shoulder like a sack of rice and walked them away from the bonfire. The only thing she could do was slap at his back, ignoring the stares of gossiping fae as she was carried unceremoniously across the clearing toward the tree line.
"Put me down you fucking asshole!"
Jonathan ignored her, taking them into the forest and away from prying eyes. He didn't seem hindered by her violent thrashing or slapping at him. He simply walked in steady determination until the fires scattered across the clearing were a dim glow in between the trees. She cursed when he dropped her down onto her feet and pushed her back against the rough trunk of a large tree. The moment he was in front of her she shoved at his chest.
"You. Fucking. Asshole." She grit out between smacks until he caught her wrists and pinned them up above her.
"Will you stop?" He laughed as he spoke, which only served to make her more furious. He didn't take this seriously at all.
"Let go of me."
"If I do that you'll start hitting me again."
When she tried to knee him, he pressed himself up against her to trap her against the trunk, his leg moving up between her thighs.
"You deserve it," she growled back trying to bite his neck now that it was her only option. With a soft sound of irritation, Jonathan jerked back, tugging her after him. He knocked her onto the ground, straddling her legs and pinning her into the grass. She was momentarily breathless, glaring up into his shadowed face.
"I can see your very upset by this."
"Really?" She snapped back. "You're a regular fucking Sherlock Holmes."
Jonathan gave a weary sigh. "Clary-"
"Don't you Clary me! You nearly killed a man just for dancing with me. You just got all irritated because Jael gave me a drink, but you get to run around fucking whoever you want to? How the hell does that work?"
"I didn't fuck her Clary. I just...it was a spur of the moment sort of thing. Nothing really happened."
"You think that makes it better? You didn't sleep with her, so it's all just a funny story I should laugh off?"
"No I-"
Perhaps it was the fury that gave her strength, or perhaps he simply wasn't prepared for her to attack. Either way, Clary wrenched her arm free and grabbed his shoulder. She used her leg to roll him the way he'd shown her in training and in a moment he was beneath her on the grass. For once she pinned his arms to the ground and leaned down over him. Even in the shadowed forest she could see the blackness of his eyes staring back up at her in mild shock.
"You will never do it again."
"Clary-"
"Say it!" She snapped, squeezing his wrists tighter. She didn't have his strength but it was enough to make him go still on the grass beneath her. She assumed that was mostly due to his surprise.
"Right," he said slowly. "You're right. I made a mistake. I won't do it again."
What she did next shocked him so much he sucked in a sharp breath. Releasing one of his arms, she reached down between them and cupped him through his slacks. She watched his eyes widen as she squeezed and felt him shiver beneath her. She didn't know where this sudden boldness came from. Maybe it was the rose wine, or maybe she just wanted to fuck with him for a change. Jonathan was always the one in control. Now that she had taken the initiative, he didn't seem to know how to react. Even in the dark, the confused fascination was clear on his face. She rubbed him through his pants, feeling him twitch against her palm, then jerked open his fly with a couple angry motions. When her hand slipped into the front of his pants to grasp his cock, he made an almost strangled sound of surprise at the back of his throat.
"You tell me that I'm yours," she said in a clipped tone, stroking him between them slowly. "You make me promise to be faithful to you because your jealous of everyone that looks at me with interest." He watched her in silence as she stroked him. He was already hard against her palm so she grasped him tightly and tugged his cock from his pants to continue the teasing. "Well I've got news for you Jonathan Christopher Morgenstern. That means you're mine too."
Clary released his cock and sat up on her knees to tug her short dress a little higher up her thighs. When she shifted back down, she rubbed herself against his twitching member. He sucked in another sharp breath, his eyes hooded in sudden lust as he gazed up at her like she was suddenly a different person. She couldn't blame him. She didn't feel like herself at that moment, or perhaps she felt more like herself than she had been in a long time. Clary didn't know, but she certainly liked the way she'd made him utterly speechless. It was a first for them, and it made her feel powerful. As she ground herself slowly up and down his hardened cock she delighted in the way in made him groan. The anger though, still burned in her chest. When his hand moved to grip her thigh, she slapped it away and pinned it to the grass again. His eyebrows rose in surprise when she leaned down over him, their lips only a breath apart.
"Don't you dare move," she commanded in a soft, hard tone that made him shiver. "You don't get control this time. You do what I want for a change."
She kissed him, but when he leaned up to deepen it, she bit his lip and pulled out of his reach. Giving him an impish smile that rivaled one of his best, she shock her head.
"I told you," as she spoke she swirled her hips against him and pressed down into the hard, smooth flesh of his cock until she could feel his pulse through his flesh. "You don't get to call the shots this time."
Jonathan opened his hands in surrender against the ground so she let go of them and sat up straight, continuing her slow rubbing tease. She grabbed the open collar of his silk shirt and ripped it open in a single jerk. The buttons gave with a satisfying string of pops, revealing the lean expanse of muscle beneath. When they fooled around, Jonathan was always the one teasing her. Of course, she enjoyed it, but for once she was glad to have the freedom to explore his body with the same abandon he used against her.
Clary gazed down at the shadowed expanse of his flesh in appreciation. He was slender and tightened in all the right places. She placed her hand against his chest as she circled her hips against him until he groaned. Her finger explored the rippled stretch of his abdomen, sliding slowly down. His body was wire tight in an attempt not to move, so she smiled to herself as she teased him. When her nails raked up his chest and gripped his soft pale hair, he hissed in a breath and his cock jumped against her. Clary chuckled low in her throat and leaned down as she wrenched his head to the side. She could feel his heart hammering in his chest as she kissed the side of his neck and bit down hard enough to make him hiss again. His breath came out in a soft shutter as she smiled to herself.
"Don't move," she reiterated and pushed herself up to stand over him. Jonathan watched in rapt attention as she peeled her panties down her thighs and stepped out of them, tossing them into the grass beside him. As she knelt back over him and pressed her bare flesh against the hot pulse of his cock his head fell back against the ground.
"Fuck," was all he managed to say as she slid herself against him again, teasing him in slow rolls of her hips until his hands slapped down into the grass on either side of them. His fingers sank into the ground. She knew he was dying to touch her, but she wasn't done torturing him just yet.
With a soft hum of pleasure at his restraint, she bent down to kiss his chest. She could hear his breath excelerate as she busied herself with sharp nips and kisses across his pectoral. When she made it to his nipple she glanced up to see him watching her and bit down, sucking the hardened nub into her mouth.
"Damnit woman," he rasped out. "You're killing me."
"Good," she grinned and nipped at the uppermost side of his ribs. "You deserve it."
She delighted in the slight tremor in his body as he fought to remain still. It was a nice change of pace from the effortless way he normally toyed with her. For once she wasn't the one stuttering and shaking with need. Honestly she liked it more than she thought she would. She still liked it when he took control, and damn her for that weakness, but right now it was empowering to make him shiver in desire. To see the flush in his cheeks and listen to the quickness of his breath as she tormented him. A girl could get used to this.
Grabbing his hair again in a tight fist, she forced back his head to nip a path along his jaw. When she made it to his lips, she paused to smile.
"Tell me that you're mine. I want to hear you say it." There was a special little thrill in using his own words against him. Jonathan let out a ragged breath searching her eyes with his dark, heated stare.
"I'm yours Clary. Fuck am I yours."
She grinned before she kissed him, slow and playful, letting her tongue flick out against his lip. His lips parted obligingly and she deepened the kiss, moaning softly when she found his tongue. She felt him shutter beneath her as her hand traced down his chest and between them, taking hold of his cock to guide it up between her thighs. She pressed down against the tip, but didn't go further and he groaned into her mouth. She was already slick with her own arousal. It would be so easy to take him inside, but she sat up on her knees instead and teased him with the barest entrance.
"You won't touch her again Jonathan," she snapped down at him watching him shutter as she pressed the slightest bit further against the head of his cock. She felt his hips twitch with the desire to push up into her, but he managed to keep himself still with obvious effort. "Promise me."
"I won't," he grit out the words, his voice rough with need. Feeling a bit more wicked now that she knew he would play along, she let just the tip of him push inside of her, feeling the delicious stretch of her entrance before she shifted back up.
"Say it again," she commanded watching his jaw tighten and his head fall back into the grass again. He'd ripped out chunks of the earth beneath his fingers where he gripped it like a life raft.
"Never," he rasped out. "I'll never touch her again. I promise, just please stop torturing me."
The please shocked her but she smiled in her victory and finally sank down against him. He was so hard, she could feel the pulse of his heart as she made a torturously slow decent over him, taking him in inch by dizzying inch. His breath came out in a harsh exhale when their hips finally met and he was buried fully inside her. Her own breath rushed out at the fullness of the feeling, the delicious stretch of sensitive tissue engulfing him. She shivered as she slowly raised back up on her knees to do it again. It was all intentionally slow, and the strain in his features not to wrestle control from her made her grin in wicked delight. She rode him with long, steady rolls of her hips, watching him practically panting at the wonderful torment of it all. Suddenly she wanted more. It was fun to tease the demon, but she liked the feeling of his hands, so she reached down to pry them from the grass and clamp them over her thighs. He squeezed her thighs the moment she allowed it, rocking her down sharply against his cock. Clary moaned at the roughness of the motion and leaned back to brace a hand down beside his thighs.
"Harder," she breathed out, letting her eyes fall closed and he instantly obeyed. His hips snapped up against her, his cock ramming deep inside to made her core tighten and her skin flush with hot tingles of pleasure. They kept that rhythm as she moaned again. A slow, steady parting before a swift, rough thrust that made her gasp softly, her head falling back in delight. She wasn't sure how long they kept at it, only that her every nerve seemed alive with hot, pulsing desire as she rode him and let him drive into her. When she finally cried out and tightened around him Jonathan sucked down a sharp breath and followed her into climax with a soft curse. They were both breathing heavily, their skin sheened in sweat. His hair was wild from her grabbing it, so she smoothed it down with a chuckle before she kissed him. When she pulled back, he was watching her with an expression she couldn't quite translate. His smile was a lazy sort of awe as he reached up to tuck her red curls back behind her ear.
"Where the hell did that come from?" He asked a little breathlessly. It was nice to hear him winded for a change.
"You pissed me off," she replied honestly. Her body was still pulsing with the aftershocks of her orgasm. The fury was replaced by that wonderful, rolling sensation. "Don't do it again."
"If it means you'll do that again..."
Her eyes narrowed. "I'm serious Jonathan."
He laughed softly and pulled her down into a kiss that made her head feel light. When he looked back at her he smiled.
"I'm teasing," he insisted laughingly. "Kesi is off limits. You have my word."
"I goddamn better," Clary replied and nipped at his lip before he kissed her again.
It took a short while to gather themselves together and exit the woods. She had to scrub at the velvet knees of her boots to remove the grass stains, but it was a losing battle. Eventually she gave up. It wasn't as if they could hide what they'd done anyway with Jonathan's shirt hanging open. She shimmied back into her panties and straightened her short dress as best she could, raking her hands through her hair to smooth it down.
When they returned to the bonfire there were still fairies dancing around the flames, spinning in delight. Others lounged in small clustered groups chatting and laughing as they drank. Kesi was sitting on the log bench grinning at the lounging silver man while Jael told them both a joke that had them cackling. When she spotted them, her eyes shifted across them both in shock before she wiped the expression from her face and cleared her throat. Jonathan had his arm around Clary as they approached them. He was nipping playfully at the back of her neck and she was struggling not to giggle too loundly at it. Jael looked them over a moment before he looked back at Kesi in obvious curiosity, wondering what she might do. He didn't seem to care that the siblings were so obviously strolling back from a romp in the woods. Honestly it was a relief that no one seemed disgusted or horrorfied by the pair, though it did make her wonder how they could so easily dismiss it all. Only Kesi seemed to be watching them closely, and Clary was willing to bet it was jealousy she was trying to hide in her expression. When Clary and Jonathan came to a stop beside the bench she arched an eyebrow and fixed her pale eyes on Clary with a mocking smirk.
"I see you two made up."
Anger bubbled to the surface with the comment and Clary's eyes narrowed. Before she even thought it through, she turned to grab the small knife she knew Jonathan had hidden against the back of his belt and tugged it free. In the next moment, she launched herself at the warlock, grabbing her by the hair and pressing the tip of the blade up beneath her jaw. Kesi's eyes went wide and her hands moved up defensively, but she didn't fight. Not when Jonathan was right there to stop her should she attack Clary. In the moment it was nice to know she wouldn't dare it with him there.
"If you put so much as one finger on my brother again, I will cut it off." Clary growled out the words, watching the girl swallow. "Got it?"
Jael covered a soft laugh with his cup while Kesi gave a short nod.
"I got it. Jesus. Crazy just runs in your family doesn't it?"
Clary pressed the blade a little harder into the skin. "Bitch. Don't push me."
Jonathan moved up behind her in the next moment with a soft chuckle, plucking the knife from Clary's hand to return it to it sheath. He gently pulled her away from the wide eyed warlock and kissed her cheek.
"She's got it, hell cat. She'll behave herself from now on."
Clary watched the little witch a moment more before she turned to face him with an arched brow. "You both will." She insisted darkly and he smiled back at her. He lifted her hand up to kiss her knuckles.
"Yes ma'am."
"Good," she nodded. "Now where do I get more of that crazy, endless wine?"
Jael laughed, handing over his cup. "What is a revel without the appropriate bursts of drama? Drink your fill Clarissa Morgenstern, you've earned it."
She took the cup with a smirk as Jonathan led her to a place on the bench and wrapped his arm around her waist. He was laughing softly as his kissed her neck, clearly amused by the display. Kesi was pouting while her silver fairy tried to coax her back into smiles, but Clary didn't really care. This was the weirdest party she'd ever attended, but she had to admit she was getting into the spirit of things now. Let Kesi sulk. She didn't even mind when the night drew on and Jonathan teased her with murmured promises and hot kisses in front of the others. Maybe she was finally getting used to her new life. Maybe she was crazy. It didn't really matter anymore. She took her moment of enjoyment just as she should have. All in all, the night had turned out splendid.