"Champagne?" I leaned back in my seat as Jonathan handed me a glass, "Fancy- and illegal? I'm 18."

"It's alright- I won't tell anyone." Jonathan softly smiles at me, "It's a special occasion- you saved me, Zee."

"Oh, stop-" I tilted my head to the side lightly, "You would do the same for me."

"I would die for you." Jonathan set the bottle down, "I've spent so long dreaming of the day that we'd finally be together."

"To us-" He held up his glass.

I stood up and lightly hit my glass against his, a small smile on my lips, "To us."

I took a sip of mine, looking away from him, Jonathan eyeing me, "Something's troubling you?"

"They won't stop trying, you know?" I looked at him, "They're working on a stronger serum to break our connection-"

Jonathan's expression doesn't falter not once, "Of course they are-"

"That doesn't worry you?" I ask him.

"No one can hurt us if we get the Morning Star first." Jonathan said, "And once we have that sword, the entire world will be terrified of us."

"I don't want the world to be terrified of me." My voice got quiet, "I just- I want the world to accept us."

Jonathan sighs, "As much as I want that- It's the only way they will finally leave us at peace."

"But- the Seelie Queen said she will only give you the Morning Star sword if you bring her Lilith's head."

"Well, those were her terms." Jonathan smirks, "You up for a trip to Prague, little sister?"

"Can't wait-" I laugh lightly, taking another sip of my champagne as he walked past me, setting down his glass.

A fire message flew in, as I caught it, my eyes scanning the paper, Jonathan looking at me, "From your Shadowhunter friends?-"

"It's from Jace." My heart was filled with warmth, setting down my glass, holding the paper with both hands, a wide smile on my lips, "I- he wants to meet, he says his love for me matters more than his loyalty to the New York Institute- and to prove it, he'll help us get back the Morningstar sword-"

"No- it's a trap." Jonathan shook his head, "He just wants to come between us like he did before."

"No- Jonathan, this is amazing-" I giggled, jumping up and down lightly in slight excitement, feeling the few sips I had taken of the champagne starting to hit me already, "He no longer has the power to try and separate us- because I'm with you because I want to be with you- and this way- I could have both of you-"

Jonathan looked slightly hurt, "Well, then why do you even need him?"

"Because I love him." I slowly stopped, looking at him, my voice quieting down, "I can't live without him- he's my everything."

Jonathan didn't like this, "He wants me dead, Zee."

"Not if I tell him that I can't live without you." I suggested, "To be with me, Jace would accept that- please- he loves me more than anything in this world- our love is-"

"I love you more than anything in this world!" Jace cuts me off, "Isn't that enough?"

"I want to hear Jace out." I stared at him, "I'm going, so if you love me- come with me."

-

"My sister made me promise not to kill you unless this is an ambush." Jonathan said, his blade to Jace's neck when we arrived at the meeting spot, "Maybe- it's my lucky day."

"Come on, Jonathan- be nice." I walked past him and around, stopping in front of Jace, a soft smile on my lips, "I'm happy to see you."

"But- I know better, so-" I gestured for him to lift up his arms, before patting him down, making sure he was unarmed.

Jace obliged, "I came with no weapons, no stele."

"He's clean." I was pleased when I stepped back, looking at Jace, "Look- how do I know I can trust you? I want you with me, but you've killed Jonathan once before- and if it weren't for this rune, I'm sure you'd do it again."

Jonathan had stepped back, but his blade was still pointed toward Jace's back, "I look forward to the re-match."

"There will be no re-match." I made myself clear, "I'm not letting that happen- I want you both alive."

I looked back at Jace, my expression begging for him to give me a reason to trust him, "Come on- give me some sort of reason."

"The Clave reinstated the kill order on Jonathan- that means you too." Jace stares into my eyes, being genuine, "I can't live without you, Zee. I won't."

"And so if that means I have to give up everything on everything I love to keep you safe," Jace added, "-to keep you both safe- then, so be it."

Jonathan scoffs, "How touching, you're willing to put up with me as the third wheel."

"I would never allow him to treat you that way." I immediately said, "How do I know this isn't a trick?"

"In your heart- you either know that I'm telling the truth, or you don't." Jace stepped closer to me, "If you don't, then leave me here."

"Excellent advice. Let's go, sister." Jonathan interjects, "You're a Morgenstern; you know better than this."

"No- I believe him." My expression was soft, looking into Jace's eyes, "I want him to come with us."

-

"Cover what runes you can." I heard Jonathan say to Jace, "Where we're going, Shadowhunters aren't appreciated."

"Right- and where exactly is that?" Jace questions, "Clearly, we're in Prague."

"A soldier's more effective with details." He continued, "Did Daddy not teach you that?"

Jonathan's voice followed, "You'll be filled in on a need-to-know basis."

I walked into the room a few moments later after hearing them bicker, "Playing nice?"

"So far-" Jace replies, before turning, not saying anything else, his eyes glued to me, as well as Jonathan's.

"Like?" I spin lightly in the dress I wore, then lifted up the skirt just to show off my sheath that held my kindjals, "Dressed to kill."

Jonathan gestured, "Shall we?-"

I walked past Jace and toward him, before his voice stopped me, "Zee-"

I looked back, "Hm?"

Jace looked at me, "Maybe you'd like to tell me what the plan is for obtaining Morning Star-"

"Jonathan didn't tell you?" I looked between them, "We are going to kidnap the Seelie Queen."

-

"I've always heard how beautiful Prague is-" I walked with Jace, my hand linked with his, "Too bad we won't be here long-"

"We'll have to come back." Jace stopped, holding both of my hands, "I'll take you for a boat ride on the river-"

I softly smiled at him, leaning up to kiss him, "Sounds like a plan."

Jonathan cleared his throat quickly before we could, "We're here-"

Jace looked, "Clearly the bouncer isn't happy about it."

I sigh and pulled back from Jace, looking in that direction, "What's Kosti Lustr?"

"It means Bone Chandelier." Jonathan replied, "The Queen's favourite hangout, for Downworlders only."

"Wait here- I'll work my connections to get us inside." Jonathan stopped and looked at Jace, "I'm watching you."

When he walked away, I sigh lightly, holding one of Jace's hands in both of mind, "I'm sorry- just give him some time? Once he trusts you, he's so sweet- all he wants is love."

"And all I want is you." Jace suddenly said, moving his hand and grabbing my face, "Zee, do you remember the first time we kissed?"

"Of course I remember-" I blinked a few times, staring at him, "How could I forget? It was the moment I knew I wanted you-"

"Please, come back to me." Jace's voice sounded slightly broken, staring deeply into my eyes.

"What are you talking about, Jace?" I was confused, "My love, I'm right here-"

"I love you so much." Jace pressed his lips into mine, gently holding my face as he kissed me.

"I love you too." I softly smiled when we pulled away, "I'm so glad you're here with us-"

Jace's expression slightly dropped at my words, as I kissed his cheek, before heading over to Jonathan, "I have to go help Jonathan sweet talk us inside-"

-

"Nice chandelier." Jace pointed out when we walked into the club, lights flashing and people dancing to the loud music.

I pointed at what Jace mentioned, looking at Jonathan, "Whose bones are those?"

"Shadowhunters." Jonathan looked at me, "Stick with me, sis- you won't become part of the decor."

"Unless that Seelie sees you." Jace gestured, "The blue sigil mark means he's part of the Queen's security detail- probably best we don't buy him a drink."

"See?" I gestured to Jace, looking at Jonathan, "I told you he'd be an asset- rude of you to doubt me."

"Evening, Tsunae." Jonathan led us to the bar, ordering, "The regular, three shots."

"All right- the Queen will arrive shortly." Jonathan looked back at us, "She'll be seated at her favourite table, our opportunity arises when her head knight takes her upstairs for a rendez-vous with her new warlock lover."

"That's when she'll be vulnerable enough-" I nodded lightly, "Jace and I will take out the knight."

Jonathan nodded after me, "I grab the Queen, Zee portals the three of us away."

"The four of us." Jace corrected him, staring right at him, "Including the Queen."

"Yeah, of course." Jonathan backhandedly said, "That's what I meant."

When everyone started to squeal behind us, I looked back to see a blue substance being dropped all over the club, "What's going on? What is that?-"

"It's clearly some kind of Seelie drug." Jace advised, "Don't take it."

Jonathan quickly cuts in, "Ah, surely you're not against having a little fun?"

"No!-" Jace began to say to me, but I had already stuck my tongue out and let a blue droplet fall onto it, ready to feel the effects, slowly backing away from them.

Everything was blurry, my body completely let loose when it started to run through my veins, a wide smile on my lips as I swayed to the music.

My mind went to Jace after a few moments, noticing how he stood by himself, after taking the drug as well.

I slowly walked over to him, grabbing his hand, a small smile on my lips, "Dance with me?"

Before Jace could even reply, I pulled him onto the dance floor, my body right up against his.

My body moved with the music, dancing with him, completely relaxed and at peace.

I looked at Jace, grabbed his face with one hand, as he leaned down, his lips pressed against mine.

My arms wrapped around his neck, one hand moving into his hair as we kissed.

One hand rested on my waist, as the other slipped down my back, grabbing my thigh and hooking my leg around his waist.

I smirked into the kiss, starting to deepening the kiss when Jonathan came over to us, breaking us apart, running his stele over our Iratze runes, "Sorry to interrupt the fun, but Her Highness is here."

Jace looked in the direction he was looking in, "It's time to get what we came for."

Jonathan nodded once, "Yes, it is."

-

"That's us." Jonathan signals when he noticed the Seelie Queen get up with her guard, walking ahead of us.

"Not to question your brother's strategy, but- it might be nice to have something before I take out a Seelie-" Jace began to say, but stopped when I placed a dagger into his hand.

I gave him a soft smile, "He made me promise not to arm you until the last second."

Jace walked ahead of me, Jonathan walking back towards me when I noticed the guards surrounding Jace, "Jonathan? Why are they going after Jace? What did you do-"

"Because he's a traitor." Jonathan said to me, "He's been using a Seelie ring to foil our plan."

My heart dropped, "No-"

I watched Jace drop his dagger, Jonathan's words sounding in my ear, "This is our chance to get to the Queen; to get our family sword!"

"Jonathan-" I kept my stare on Jace.

"Who do you trust?" Jonathan questioned my loyalty, "Me or Jace?"

I don't reply.

"Zee, stick to the plan!" Jonathan said to me, as Jace began fighting them off with no weapons.

I looked at Jonathan, "I can't let him die!"

"I swear to you, he is against us, not with us!" Jonathan was begging me to leave Jace be.

"I love him." I made myself clear, before pulling out one of my kindjals and tossing it, "Jace!"

Jace caught it, as I pulled out my second one and joined him, helping him fight off the guards.

Jonathan headed for the Queen, as Jace and I fought off the guards, covering each other.

"Zee, we've gotta go!" Jonathan shouted, having the Seelie Queen under his arm when we had wiped out the guards, "Now!"

I turned on Jace, putting my blade to his neck, "Jonathan says you're wearing a Seelie ring-"

I pulled his hand up, ripping the ring off his finger, my heart shattering at the sight of it.

"I trusted you!" I shouted at Jace, tears starting to form in my eyes, "Are you trying to take me away from my brother? What was your motive-"

"Hey, hey- listen to me!" Jace grabbed my wrists, staring into my eyes, "I'm trying to save you!"

"This isn't who you are, Zee!" Jace tried to persuade me, "Please- come home with me."

"This is who I am." My jaw was clenched, "You try something like this again, and I swear to the Angel- I will not be as generous as I am being right now-"

My fist came in contact with his jaw, knocking him to the ground, before pulling out my stele and drawing the portal rune, activating it, then throwing Jace through the portal.

authors note:

i literally cut out every single time she said big brother, it made me want to kms

ANYWAYS

okay i kinda liked this chapter, but it also kinda sucked? idkkkk

but omg this book is so close to an end, it makes me sad

but, thank you for 55k !

go read redamancy

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