A/N: Love ya guys… Welcome to the second book of The Destined Change Series: the book after Meant To Be?

If you guys are here then you must really have enjoyed the first book.

This is the book following season 2.

I've been gone so long, I have so many people to thank for following or favouriting Meant To Be!

Here are several of them…

mrs. morgan 35… sorinaa… BlueUnicorn16… blackthorngirl85… shelby3323… xrayahsunshinex… love2366luca… sons-of-anarchy-rocks… Pupyluv247…VioletRose16… blossom85… hidoineko… maggiefranco95… Mrs. Emmett Cullen's Wife… follychone… Luckygirl1013… MyFandoms7… LMarie99… Ramona171717… Waverley Grace… AelitaOfTheWolves… thatnellegirl27… KatQueenOfHearts… TINY0228… Alexandra moonlight… … 9… Melissa Cullen since 1994… SkyKat0310… msdamonsalvatore… Anniejohn… BubblesChels… TrippinOffTheWall…nateara22…SuperManIsActuallyClarkKent… lolasskicker… mrs Tall Blonde and Dead

Jace Wayland

Have you ever gone through that moment in your life where everything stops because something is missing?

Not something you can touch, see, smell or hear.

Something you can feel deep within your bones; tugging and moving every single molecule within your body, urging you to realise something was different.

Something had changed.

And that something was wrong.

No?

Well, I guess you're about to see my moment.

"Allie has gone missing…!"

"Everyone's on high alert cause an alarm was triggered…"

"It's code silver…"

"The princess has gone missing…"

MISSING!? How could she possibly be missing!"

"Look, Jace," Izzy said soothing, "We don't know. That's the only thing mom told us. She didn't inform us of anything else."

That didn't placate me, "How could she even go missing with most of the Clave in the same bloody building as her?!"

Alec growled out in annoyance, "We don't know Jace. Stop asking questions we don't know the answer to!"

I ignored him and hurtled on with my questions, "Doesn't she have guards? Where were they when she went missing? Don't they have a tracker on her or something? Why isn't anything being done?"

"Oh-kay. Jace. Shut up." Alec hissed causing me to finally close my mouth. "Magnus did all he could to track her but something is blocking his signal. The Clave has already sent out batches of shadowhunters to find her but she's not in any of the known places we know about or the ones Clary has told them to search. So don't say that we're not doing anything!"

Izzy sighed sadly, "It's as if she's just disappeared off the face of the Earth. It's worse, cause the cup is missing, I think" she said as an afterthought before hastily continuing, refusing to linger on all the bad news hitting us in the face at once, "…and the current head of the Institute was attacked."

Clary, being the caring person she is decided to interrupt the conversation, "How's Lydia?"

We all looked at her strangely before Alec decided to indulge her and replied, "Better. Magnus is doing what he can to help her, but it's bad. And the Cup is definitely missing." he said as an afterthought.

I inhaled deeply before informing her, "So is Hodge."

"Maybe he was attacked, too," Izzy said hopefully as she clicked away on the computer in front of us.

Clary ruined that hope by giving us her own opinion, "Maybe he's the one who attacked her."

Izzy quickly defended our missing mentor, "Hodge? No way. We've known him our entire lives. He would never do that to us."

Our gazes turned towards the monitor as the CCTV footage of the institute was fast-forwarded. Izzy stopped the video to just before Lydia was attacked. I leant forward, hoping to see a distinct image of who attacked her as Izzy played the footage at normal speed.

Is that?

No.

Hodge! That son of a bitch. We trusted him.

I seethed silently as I watched Hodge grab the cup. "I led him right to the Cup."

"We treated him like family." Alec spoke with an incredulous voice, "How could he do this to us?"

Izzy sped up the video and clicked on another square on the screen. This time we were following Lissa. I watched as she turned around as Clary ran up to her. They hugged before beginning a conversation.

"You were with her last before she was kidnapped!" Alec growled out to the petite girl beside him.

Clary glared at him and argued, "I didn't realise I was the last one with her!" she waved her hand around angrily, "I figured she was with other people after our conversation" she then pointed at Alec, "And before you ask, no I'm not a spy for Valentine."

I sighed, I hope they don't start arguing again.

Alec surprised me by nodding his head in acceptance and turning to watch the footage again. Lissa seemed to be near enough her room now. She had a beautiful smile on her face.

I guess if everything was finally perfect in my life, I'd smile that way too.

She finally made up with Clary. Izzy is free from the Clave. Alec doesn't have to marry someone he doesn't love. Our bond has been restored.

Everything is as it should be.

Why did Hodge and my stupid father have to ruin everything!?

I watched as she greeted shadowhunter after shadowhunter on her way to her room. Why didn't anyone say with her? She turned the corner onto an empty corridor. She had glided to at least half-way down the corridor before I noticed signs of movement. A shadow broke away from the darkness and made his way quickly behind her. Hodge… I watched as he lifted the cup from his side, swiftly bringing it down to her head, causing her to collapse.

Clary covered her mouth in shock as Izzy gasped out, "He used the object she was protecting to knock her out?! How dare he!"

I continued to watch as Hodge picked up my parabatai bridal style. How dare he even touch her! After what he did, he dares lay his dirty hands on my unfortunate parabatai. My old mentor looked from side to side before quickly limping into the shadows once more and disappearing.

"Where did he go?" Clary questioned.

Izzy then worked her magic once more and showed us, Hodge, in Jocelyn's room, "There he is and to answer your earlier question brother dearest… That's how."

Izzy sped forward to Hodge putting on a strange ring, Clary the question we were all asking, "What is that ring?"

"Looks like he's talking to someone," Izzy observed.

He was working with Valentine all along that traitor! "And I can bet who it is," I growled out.

"Valentine." Clary voiced my thoughts out loud.

Alec nodded his head slowly, that's his 'I think I have an idea' face. He must have worked something out! "Well, that explains how he deactivated the Punishment rune, but it doesn't explain where he got the ring."

"You think someone smuggled it past the wards?" Clary asked curiously.

"Maybe," I replied curtly. I continued as I shared a look with Alec, "Hodge wasn't the only ex-Circle member around here."

Izzy sound around in her chair angrily to look at me, "Look, I know I don't always see eye to eye with my parents, but I know they're not traitors."

I spoke up incredulously as I nodded towards the surveillance video, "Really? Isn't that what you just said about Hodge? It'd have to be someone we trusted, but if there was an intruder inside the Institute, we would have found them by now."

Clary gasped lightly beside Alec before speaking up, "What about the Forsaken attack?"

"No. We killed that thing, and I didn't see a ring." Alec dismissed the idea immediately.

Izzy however pondered more on the idea and her fingers were once again whizzing across the keyboard, "He didn't have one during the autopsy, but… maybe there's something in the footage." Izzy fast-forwarded the video as we watched the Forsaken on the screen.

"Go to the other camera," Alec commanded.

I spoke up to stop the video, "There." Izzy zoomed in on Hodge's hands before playing the video. We watched as Hodge grabbed the ring from the Forsaken.

"So, it wasn't a random attack," Clary spoke up angrily.

"He was just the delivery boy." I spat out.

Alec then decided to explain the nasty situation we already knew we were in, "If he gives that Cup and the Heir to Valentine, he'll create an army of Shadowhunters. Without the Heir, the shadowhunters can't be made but he has both now… or soon enough at least. With that kind of power behind him, he'll kill thousands."

Izzy shook her head sadly, "He'll kill thousands just creating the army. Most mundanes won't survive that."

Clary determinedly said, "We won't let that happen."

"I'm gonna make sure of it," I vowed out loud.

And I promise that I'll find you, Lissa.

After this, I promise that we won't ever be separated again…

I strode away to get ready for our my new mission.

I grabbed a seraph blade from the rack and watched as it lit up with an ethereal glow. Alec was behind me, preparing the rest of the weapons we needed.

I heard footsteps enter the room as I headed back to Alec. I handed him his bow as Clary interrupted us.

What is she still dong in her dress from the wedding? I shook my head of my thoughts, Focus. You need to rescue Lissa not focus on trivial matters such as Clary's dress.

"Jace, what are you doing?"

Isn't it obvious what I'm doing?

"Every second we waste here, Hodge gets closer to Valentine."

Clary stammered out her response "Wha- Hey, we're a team, all right?" She put her hands on the table and leant on them as Alec went to grab more weapons, "I know you're mad right now, but Hodge could be dangerous."

I looked up at her, "Two of us, one of him. Check the math, but I'm pretty sure he's outnumbered.'

"What is with you?" she hissed angrily at me as I looked away from her. "Would you just talk to me for a second?"

"Lydia…" I snapped at her. "Hodge…" and I looked down mournfully as I said the next name, "Lissa…" I stopped talking for a second to gather myself, "All this is happening because I didn't stop Valentine."

Clary tried to make me look at her in the eye again, "Jace, you cannot let emotions cloud your judgment. Your words, remember?" Why is she using my words against me! I hate when people do that… I took a deep breath as I shared a look with Alec, "When I first wanted to find my mom, I didn't care about anyone else. But you were the one that taught me that it's about a world that's bigger than us."

I looked at her with an annoyed looked, "That's why you need to wake her up. She was his prisoner… and his wife. If anyone can stop him, she can."

"Jace, listen to me…"

Errrr. I don't want to listen anymore. "You can do this." I cut her off.

"Maybe I can. But it's not about me, it's you I'm worried about," she argued back.

"Well, I'm worried about Allie right now…" Alec murmured on the side.

Me too. That's why I'm trying to leave as soon as possible but she won't let me!

I grabbed my weapons as Alec went to do the same, "You cannot let Valentine's evil poison you!"

"He's my father," I told her softly.

"Actually… he's our father."

Ewww. You don't need to remind me. Ugh. I'm a sick man! I kissed my own sister!

I shook my head at her ignorance, "You don't get it." I started to walk out of the room as I heard her sigh from behind me, giving up on trying. Lissa wouldn't have given up. She'd have pestered me or given me her puppy dog eyes until I had given in.

Alec followed soon after, "Jace…" I turned around to give him my attention, "How are we gonna find Hodge? He didn't leave anything we can track. I might be able to ask Magnus for help."

Good question but I've already thought about what we gotta do.

I took my phone out and dialled a number before shaking my head,"You need to stop thinking with your stele, Alec. There's more than one way to track."

Luke soon answered the phone, "This is my fault." I heard him sigh heavily over the phone, "He took my niece and he just walked right past me as if nothing was wrong Jace!"

"Look if you had known then you would have stopped him." I placated him.

Luke responded, "Yeah, if I'd have known…"

I interrupted him, "Can you get your pack to hunt Hodge down and then come meet us?"

"Yeah, I'll be right there," Luke replied before hanging up the phone.

I turned to Alec, "You ready to hunt him down."

"Anything for Allie" Alec replied. I nodded in agreement, "For Lissa." and we ran out of the institute to start hunting our mentor down.

I must have been in some kind of skateboarding park. I saw the back of Hodge's blonde head as he was hiding from the werewolves that found him.

I crept upon him as he turned away from the fleeing werewolf.

He was going to turn towards me but I hurried forward, grabbing his arm and spinning him around. I pushed him back towards the pillar he was hiding behind and held him there, "Where is it? Where is she?"

"Jace… I'm afraid you're too late. Valentine already has the Cup." he gave me a shallow smirk, "and the girl too…"

Hodge pushed me away from him but in retaliation, I punched his stomach before going to punch his face. He caught my fist and pushed his other hand in my stomach. He swung me in the direction of the pillar but I just used the momentum to run up the wall before kicking off into a flip so I landed behind him. I kicked him back towards the pillar.

I began to prowl toward him as I yelled, "How could you?"

Hodge panted as he pushed his back off the wall.

We began circling each other, "It was the only way to earn my freedom" he held his hand out and pointed towards me with a glare, "I'd been caged long enough."

"Caged?" I walked towards him, "You were our teacher. We treated you like family. We loved you!"

"Family?" he said in an incredulous voice, "Family? The Lightwoods cut a deal, Jace, to have me punished for crimes that they themselves committed." he pointed to his brain in a shaky manner, "Don't you see? I was their prisoner! And besides…" he said with a dark smirk, "…let's be real for a moment. You can't win." he chuckled darkly, "I taught you everything you know."

With a quick slashing motion across his body, he brought out his weapon of choice. The chakram.

In return, I spun my double-sided blade into existence.

"Not everything, Hodge." he nodded in mock acceptance.

I attacked first.

Soon enough it was a blur of movement from my blade and his chakram. Yells and groans were exchanged as we hit each other with our weapons.

I disarmed one of his chakram as he made me drop my blade. He went for my head so I ducked and punched his stomach, causing him to double over. He went for my arm but I blocked him and punched his face. I punched his face again and then head-butted him. I whacked his face and he rolled down one of the ramps. I flipped over the ramp after him as he backflipped away from the seraph blade that I pulled out from my pocket. We exchanged more blows until eventually, I punched him to the ground. He lay with one arm outstretched, holding his remain chakram.

I don't regret what I did next.

I cut his hand off.

Hodge writhed in pain on the floor as I went to deliver the final blow.

Before I could do that, someone tackled me to the ground.

Alec.

He held me to the ground as I struggled to free myself, "It's over!"

"It's not over. He's a traitor. He deserves to pay." I argued vehemently.

Alec shook his head in disappointment and irritation, "You nearly killed him!"

"Maybe I should've killed him!" I argued back, "He sided with Valentine, Alec." giving him a dark look, "The Clave let him go once before and look where that got us."

Alec continued to try and make me see reason, "What are you gonna do? You're gonna kill every ex-Circle member, even our parents?"

"Robert and Maryse aren't my parents." he tightened his grip on me.

"You said it yourself. They raised you. They are your parents!" he released me before patting my chest in reassurance, "Just calm down."

Luke spoke to Hodge behind us, "There's a dungeon in Idris with your name written all over it."

Alec walked over to Hodge and used his stele to help heal the traitor's wound.

I heard flesh sizzling despite my ex-mentor's screams of agony.

I turned to the side, only to see said man's hand that held a ring. I yanked the ring off and threw the hand away. I walked away from everyone else and put the ring on. I turned back towards the others as I heard a shimmer from behind me.

"It's good to see you, Jonathan." I spun around at my father's voice. "I've been expecting you." he smiled knowingly before continuing, "I figured you'd find Starkweather. I've trained you well."

I shook my head in denial, "You don't know me."

"I raised you." Don't remind me. "We're not so different, you and I."

I let my head drop in shame as the news hit me. It couldn't possibly be true. Right? "Hodge had it coming. You kill innocent people. I'd never do that."

He smiled at me, "Not yet." he paused for dramatic effect, "But it's all a matter of time. The Clave has failed us. They've failed all of humanity, but… you knew that as well as I did. Every day, the demons get stronger, and soon… there won't be enough Shadowhunters to fight back. The Cup can change that."

"The Cup destroys more than it creates. Our job is to protect the mundanes, not to kill them."

"Well, losses are acceptable when the alternative is extinction." he smiled at me as if he was going to tell me a secret. "Plus, I have the Heir with me. In her hands, she can create as many Shadowhunters as she wants." I growled at the reminder that he held Lissa captive. "But come with me." he whispered in a conspiring way, "Together we can use the Mortal Cup to save the world."

I smiled maliciously at him, "Oh, I am coming for you. We have unfinished business."I pulled the ring off and his image disappeared.

Luke was on the phone with someone for a while. I saw movement from the corner of my eye and I watched as Alec walked towards the werewolf on the phone.

They were talking away from Hodge and I.

Probably talking about me, to be honest.

They had their backs turned from Hodge and I, giving me a perfect opportunity to slip away from them with the prisoner in tow.

I was in an empty warehouse with the traitor, when my phone began to ring. I kept my eye on him as I took my phone from pocket. I briefly glanced at the name, to see who it was, found that it was Alec answered the phone with a sigh.

"Where the hell are you?" Alec immediately asked.

It's a bit obvious where I'm going, Alec.

"I'm going after Valentine. Go help Clary."

Alec scoffed, "You're acting crazy. All right? Whatever Valentine's telling you, it's not true."

"That's just it, Alec. It is true. He's my father. He taught me how to fight. Not to be weak."

"You can't let him control you like this. This isn't you!"

I interrupted him, "It is me. It's always been me. He raised me to be a killer. Now I'm gonna make him regret it. Go help Clary. She needs you."

I can imagine the face he's making right now. Probably shocked and angry. "No. No. No, no. You don't have to do this. All right?" he was stuttering now, "You're not a…" I hung up before he could begin changing my mind.

I turned my gaze towards my prisoner. He shuddered as he held my glare. "Where's Valentine?"

He trembled before saying, "Why don't you ask him yourself? I saw you take the ring."

Does he think I'm an idiot? "And walk into a trap? I don't think so."

I chuckled softly.

He really has no idea who he's dealing with…

I grabbed his stump that used to be his hand, causing him to scream in agony.

"Tell me what I need to know…" I wiped my hand that was drenched with his blood on his coat, "…or you're gonna lose the other hand… one finger at a time."

He gave me a glare as he panted in exhaustion. "You're just like your father."

"Then you know how slow your death will be if you don't answer my questions." I threatened. He was breathing heavily in an attempt to catch his breath. I wouldn't give him that luxury, "Where's Valentine and Lissa?"

"Jace?" I heard a voice ask from behind me.

I spun around and saw my beloved parabatai. How is she here? I whispered, "Lissa?", hoping not to break the sight in front of me, otherwise, I may lose her again. This time for forever.

She seemed to nod in confusion before then rushing into my arms.

I sobbed in relief as I felt her warm body against me.

She's here. She's really here.

"Jace. I'm here…" she cooed softly into my ear.

"But how?"

"I was sleeping in my cell when I must have astral projected myself here."

"Cell? That bastard is keeping you in a cell…" I vented.

"Shhhh. Shhhh. It's okay sweetie. I'm gonna be okay. I'll be okay as long as you are safe. You can't go down this path Jace. No matter what happens, promise me you won't stray from your destiny."

"Destiny? What destiny? That man raised me to kill. That's my destiny."

"You are meant for so much more Jace…" she promised.

She gave me a light kiss on the cheek.

"I'm being pulled back Jace. I am gonna miss you," she said softly.

I grew desperate, "Please don't go!"

"I trust you, Jace. You'll save me. I know you will." she said with a confident smile before she began to fade away.

I had managed to 'convince' Hodge to tell me where he last saw Valentine.

That's where we are now.

At the docks.

The sun had risen once again and light burned down on me as I pushed Hodge in front of me.

I yanked his hair backwards and his spine curved to accommodate his change in position.

"Where is he?" I questioned as he groaned in pain.

"He was here," he replied quietly.

That wasn't good enough. "WHERE ISHE?!" I yelled in annoyance. I'm running out of time and I need to find Lissa.

"I don't know, he was here!" he cried through his gritted teeth.

I pushed him against one of the cargo holds. I don't even care what happens to him. He's not worth it.

I grabbed the ring from my pocket and put it on my finger. I looked around, waiting for my father to appear in front of me.

"Ah, Jonathan. To what do I owe this surprise?" his apparition asked.

"I've reconsidered your offer," I growled out in frustration.

He was smiling mockingly at me again, "First you want to kill me, then you want to join me. Seems a bit convenient, don't you think?"

"Do you want to meet me or not?"

"Yes. But on my terms, not yours. 'Cause I've taught you better than this. Always strike where your opponent is vulnerable." My mouth twitched in irritation as the familiar words washed over me. "See, fighting you directly could prove… difficult. But your friends…" my eyes twitched at the mention of my loved ones. "Well, your friends are a different matter. Especially that pretty parabatai of yours…" with a malicious laugh his image disappeared.

I stepped towards where he used to be. He can't go after them. They've already gone through enough. And Lissa can't go through anything else. I promised to protect her.

I grabbed my phone from my pocket and immediately called Clary. I walked around the compound as I waited for her to answer.

"Pick up. Come on, pick up." but I was only greeted with the voicemail.

"You've reached Clary's phone. I'm not here, but you know the deal."

"Damn it. Where are you?" I questioned.

"…Leave one at the beep." her voicemail concluded.

"Clary, call me as soon as you get this," I said before hanging up and attempting to contact her again.

After like the fifteenth call she finally answered.

"Jace? Are you okay?" she asked kindly. This isn't the time.

"Where are you?" I questioned curtly as I hurried through the streets - hopefully in the direction where she was.

She then revealed her location, "At Camille's apartment, Upper East Side. Alucard building, 13th floor."

I guess being blunt would be the best choice for the moment, "You're in danger." I heard her gasp in shock, causing me to roll my eyes slightly, you've been in danger the whole time, this shouldn't be a surprise. "Valentine's probably already on the way. You need to leave, now."

But being the stubborn person she is, "We are so close to finding the Book of the White. I'm not leaving without it." Errr. I hate when she's like this.

"Clary, you need to leave!" I argued as I stopped walking.

"You said yourself, we have to stay on mission."

Like I said, I hate when people use my own words against me.

"You need to leave now."

"I can't," she said before hanging up. "Clary. Clary!" I hate when people hang up on me. "Damn it."

I ran through the streets.

I need to get there in time. I need to help them. They're my family. What if Lissa's there with Valentine. What would I do? What if he makes me choose between them Would I choose Lissa over the others or would I pick the others? This could be life or death.

Life for Lissa over the death of the others or vice versa.

He wouldn't make me choose, would he? Of course, he would. That's how he is. Evil.

There it is.

Alucard building, Upper East Side.

I need to get on to the thirteenth floor.

Lift or stairs?

Lift would surely be quicker?

I quickly entered the elevator and clicked the button indicating the thirteenth floor.

I tapped my foot in irritation as I listened to the elevator music, Stayin' Alive. What kind of elevator music is this? (A/N: Anyone know this reference?)

I soon arrived on the 13th floor.

I faintly heard Simon valiantly yell, "Stay away from her!" as I ran to the room they were in.

Who is he holding at sword point? Lissa…?

I heard Izzy shout, "Simon!" as I reached the room.

I came across Simon on the floor beside Lissa. They were both being held at sword point.

Valentine seemed to go to stab Simon but I quickly screamed, "STOP!" grabbing everyone's attention as I pointed my seraph blade at Valentine. Holy Angel. I hope no one gets killed because of me.

"Jace…" I heard Lissa whisper in relief.

She's safe.

"This time you're not getting away," I vowed.

Shadowhunters that I didn't recognise - they were probably the ones that Valentine had Lissa make - picked Izzy and Simon off the floor and held seraph blades to their necks. Clary was in front of her father gazing at us in fear as Lissa remained on the floor with said man's seraph blade aimed at her neck.

"Finally ready to kill your own father?" he asked sarcastically.

"You abandoned me." I gruffly said.

"I was protecting you. You weren't ready then, but you've grown. You've become the warrior I've trained you to be."

"You trained me well." I grudgingly agreed with a nod.

"And yet, I still have so much to teach you. I brought you here for a reason. Look, fight me, and watch your friends die." Alec and Magnus were pushed into the room with blades at their necks.

They're alive at least…

Valentine took steps towards me as he said, "See, you are strong, but they make you weak."

I looked around at all my loved ones. Alec, the brother I always wanted. Izzy, the sister that always annoyed me. Clary, my actual sister that I once loved. Ugh. Doesn't get any better. Even Simon, the mundane turned vampire who's always gonna be a pest to me, a trustworthy pest though. Finally, Lissa… The one person in the world that I can always count on the most. What do I do?

Clary interrupted my thoughts, "Let us go. You can have the book. We won't be able to stop you without it. But we get Lily back." Valentine turned back to look at his daughter.

"Ah, Clarissa." he sighed happily before stepping towards her. Don't stop any closer otherwise, you'll step on Lissa. At least when he was talking to me, she wasn't held at sword point. "So like your mother. Willing to do anything for those that you love. I'm touched, but… the book was never part of my plan. I want you to wake up your mother. I know that you'll both join me eventually." Clary hugged the Book of the White to her chest, "It's fated."

Valentine turned back around to face me, "You ready?"

I looked at them all again. I can't put their lives in any more danger. I then turned my gaze on Lissa's face as she was gazing at the others. I need to keep her safe. I put my seraph blade down as I continued to gaze at Lissa's face, urging myself to remember every curve and edge. I won't see her for a while…

I stepped towards my father as I said, "If I go with you… promise me you won't hurt them." I looked down towards my parabatai, "And that you would let Lissa go…"

"You have my word on the first condition." he said with a smirk before continuing smoothly, "I'm sorry to say I need the little princess for something else…"

"This is insane," Clary argued as Valentine yanked Lissa from the ground.

"I'm sorry, Clary," I said softly.

"Jace… what are you doing? You can't be serious!" Clary's eyes began to fill with tears as her voice began to break and she started to stutter, "Valentine is wrong. You're not like him. I'm not. You're not!"

I shook my head in response, "You don't know that, Clary. You don't know that."

"Let them go," Valentine ordered and everyone was released bar the princess in our company.

Back up. Didn't he say earlier he wasn't releasing Lissa? What's he up to? "Wait. Lissa. Why aren't you releasing her as well?" I growled out in vexation.

"I need your parabatai for several things, one of which is the obvious, I can't use the Mortal Cup without her. The other reasons are for your well being…"

I spat back my rebuttal, "My well being?" Why would I need her near me? It's safer for her to be away from me. "I would prefer it if she was safe and away from the both of us."

"No. I need the cup's guardian and you need your parabatai." he smirked at the two of us before saying, "She needs to be with her future husband…"

"Husband?" I echoed incredulously, noticing that Lissa had the same response. What the hell is he talking about? Lissa vocalised my thoughts, "What are you talking about?"

"The marriage contract. Your arranged marriage, Hodge told me you received the news already. At least now you don't have to find your husband-to-be. He's right here. In front of you. Go on… Reunite. You could do it later if you like, a more private place perhaps?" he said coyly.

I fumed at his words. He can't possibly be telling the truth!

Alec spoke up from behind us, "How did you know about the contract?"

"I was there when it was written, boy! I signed it after all…" he then laughed cruelly. He loves causing everyone pain and confusion doesn't he? He loves causing mayhem. "Go on. From childhood friends to parabatai to lost friends and back to best friends. This is just another leap for your relationship… Now, why don't you show my dear daughter that your future is sealed?"

Next thing I knew, my arms were full of Lissa.

Why did he have to throw her at me? What do I do now?!

She was limp in my arms. Soon enough I began to feel tears soak through my shirt. The stress of the situation must have just caught on her. Either that or she's crying because she has to marry me. Or worse, she hates me now because of that fact.

I hugged Lissa tighter to my chest before cooing softly in her ear, "Shhh. It's gonna be okay Lissa. I'm gonna take care of you. I promise." I don't know if she noticed or not but she started crying even harder at my words. She must really hate me now… I started stroking her hair as a way to comfort her.

"Give your future bride a kiss Jonathan. Seal the deal, so to speak. Show your darling little sister that you are moving on…" Lissa froze in my arms so I stopped my comforting efforts.

Why did he have to do this? Why am I having to marry my best friend? It's not the worst outcome in the world but we don't love each other. If we loved each other then it'll be so much better.

Well, I do love her.

I do.

Ugh, already signs of our impending nuptials…

What I meant was that I've always loved her, but I'm not in love with her.

And I'm pretty sure she feels the same.

I looked down at the girl in my arms. She doesn't deserve this. Slowly, I put my hands up and positioned them on either side of her face. I pushed her face up lightly to make her look me in the eyes.

I need to know if she hates me. I need to see her eyes to know how she feels.

Is this okay? I mentally asked her.

She shook her head and more tears began to cascade down her face.

It's gonna be okay. I silently said.

If I follow Valentine's orders will she hate me even more than I know she does now… but if I don't do this then he may just force us to kiss.

No.

I have to do this.

For both of our sakes.

I carefully leant down, all the while looking her in the eyes before gently placing my lips on hers.

She remained frozen beneath me. But oddly enough, her lips were still warm. The caress of her lips were softer than I thought they'd be. I don't know why she did what she did next. Maybe it was because she felt threatened by Valentine… Or maybe she liked this? Thinking back to her reaction about our future marriage made me remove that thought from my head. She began to tentatively respond to my kiss. My hands moved so one was in her hair and the other was on her waist. My tongue gently licked her bottom lip. Vanilla. Who would have thought… Suddenly, she started crying harder. What's happened now? Ohh. Maybe she's ashamed of the fact that she's responding to my kiss. I should stop soon. Surely, Valentine is happy now.

I did that soon after.

I placed my forehead on hers before bringing my hands on either side of her face once again, this time to wipe away her fallen tears.

I gave her a shaky smile.

It'll be okay.

Valentine's cheer soon broke the moment, "I knew you two would be a good match when I saw the two of you together…" This was wrong. We're best friends and nothing more. I loved another girl less than a week ago. But why did it feel so right?

I quickly pulled Lissa tighter towards me before letting her go and pointing my seraph blade at Izzy and my hand at Alec as they began to approach us. Out of her own volition, the angel that I kissed moments ago wrapped her tiny arms around my figure with her hands tightly clenching my jacket.

I would say that this was cute if I actually used the word and if we weren't in this situation.

"Get back," I warned Alec but he ignored me, "…get back. Alec, I mean it." I cautioned as they continued to walk forward.

My head was still in a daze from the kiss I received from the shadowhunter in my arms.

I didn't even realise that Valentine had opened another portal or that his minions were already leaving. All I saw was my friends' looks of betrayal and utter despair.

"Jace. Lily…" Clary brokenly said.

I ignored her and kept my focus on other things.

It'll be okay. As long as I keep Lissa safe, then everything is okay.

I was startled as Valentine grabbed my sword arm.

I turned my attention towards him as he began to pull me towards the portal. With my other hand, I removed the hands Lissa used to clutch onto my jacket with a death grip, grabbing her left hand before tugging her away from everything we ever knew.

It was as if everything was going in slow motion.

I watched as they began to surge forward. Clary's voice a mantra in my mind, "Jace…" "Lils…"

The last thing I saw before we stepped through was Alec holding Clary from jumping through the portal after us.

"Join me… and my son… And his future bride…" Valentine said with a smirk as he raised the mortal cup above his head. I stepped forward with Lissa, who was quivering in fear, in my arms.

How did everything end up like this?

"Pledge me your loyalty! Together… we can preserve our race and rid the world of the demons who plague it. You are the chosen ones. The new breed of Shadowhunters!"

Hey guys,

Thank you guys for being so patient.

Here is the edited version of the first chapter of

Cursed Love

!