"Champagne." I plopped down into a seat at the apartment, letting my back hit the chair. I watched Jonathan pour it into two glasses and hand me one. "That's fancy."

Jonathan smiled at me while he carefully handed me one. "Well, it is a special occasion."

"Special?" I repeated and reached for the bottle, filling it to the rim instead. "Why special?"

Jonathan let out a laugh at me filling the alcohol the rim. "You saved me, Zee."

"Don't be silly." I watched as he carefully clinked his glass against mine so that my drink doesn't spill. "You would do the same for me."

"I would die for you." Jonathan said to me. "I've spent so long dreaming of the day that we'd finally be together."

I simply smiled and sipped my champagne, taking down practically half of my glass in one gulp. Jonathan notices right away because he only takes a sip of his. "Something's troubling you— what's wrong?"

"A lot of things, don't you think?" I downed the rest of the champagne and set it down. "I abandoned my boyfriend and my friends, whom— are working on a stronger serum to break us apart."

Jonathan chuckles. "Of course they are."

"Why doesn't that concern you?" I got up and grabbed the bottle again. I poured more into my glass. "You've done everything to get me to finally align with you and now you're not threatened that we could potentially be broken apart?"

"No one can hurt us if we get the Morning Star first." Jonathan made a fair point. "And once we have that sword, the entire world will be terrified of us— and they will finally leave us in peace."

I brought my glass to my mouth and sipped my drink slowly this time. "Right, and that would be a wonderful plan if the Seelie Queen hasn't said she would only give you our family sword if you bring her Lilith's head."

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

"Only if you stop calling me that." I leaned back against the wall. "I'm barely younger than you."

"You still are." Jonathan points out and then a fire message soaring through the air catches our attention. I caught it and my eyes skimmed the words— once, twice, three times. "From your Shadowhunter friends?"

"It's from Jace." My voice was quiet as I kept rereading the note. "He wants to meet."

Jonathan's tone dropped. "What?"

"He says his love for me matters more than his loyalty to the New York Institute." I looked up at him. "And to prove it, he'll help us get back our family sword— I guess he's not mad I hit him in the head with a metal pipe."

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

"He obviously no longer has that power— I'm with you because I want to be with you, not because this rune is forcing me to." I argued. "And he can't convince me otherwise."

Jonathan sets down his glass of champagne. "Well, then why do you even need him?"

"Because I'm in love with him." I told him sincerely. "I can't live without him."

Jonathan stared. "He wants me dead, Zee."

"Not if I tell him that I need you too." I set down my glass. "You need to understand, Jace and I would do anything for each other. To be with me, Jace would accept you just fine— he loves me more than anything in this world."

"I love you more than anything in this world!" Jonathan raised his voice at me for a moment and then toned it down when my face twisted. "Isn't that enough?"

"Don't make it into a competition, Jonathan." I said to him. "I want to hear Jace out, and if you love me— you'll come with me."

-

"My sister made me promise not to kill you unless this is an ambush." Jonathan had a blade to Jace's neck within seconds at the meet up spot. "Maybe— it's my lucky day."

"Jonathan, calm down." I warned and walked into Jace's view with a small smile on my lips. "Hi, Jace. Your head okay?"

"Nothing an Iratze couldn't fix." Jace stared down at me, his expression relaxed. "I'd say my heart was more wounded than my head was."

"Ah— sorry." I gave him a halfhearted smile and then patted him down. "Stay still."

Jace held his arms out and let me pat him down. "I came with no weapons, no stele."

"He's clean." I took a step back from him and looked up at Jace. "Let's cut to the chase— I don't trust you. I don't know your motives, I don't know if what you said was even true so, help me out. Help me trust you."

"The Clave reinstated the kill order on Jonathan." Jace told me quietly and stared at me seriously. "That means you too— and I can't live without you, Zee. I won't. So, if that means I have to give up everything on everything I love to keep you safe— to keep you both safe, then so be it."

Jonathan put his blade to Jace's back instead. "How touching, you're willing to put up with me as the third wheel."

"Don't be ridiculous, Jonathan— I would never allow him to treat you that way." I narrowed my eyes at him and then returned my gaze towards Jace. "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 lowered his voice. "If you don't, then leave me here."

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

"No." I kept my stare on Jace and kept my tone firm. "He's coming with us."

-

"Cover what runes you can." I heard Jonathan say to Jace while I was in my room, fixing my hair. "Where we're going, Shadowhunters aren't appreciated."

"Right— and where exactly is that?" Jace was saying while I was stepping out to go to the living room. "Clearly, we're in Prague."

"You haven't told him, Jonathan?" I questioned, grabbing my kindjals off the table and slipping them into my thigh sheaths. "A soldier's more effective with details— otherwise, our entire plan will go off the rails."

"I-" Jonathan stammered when I walked into the room and I felt both his and Jace's eyes glued to me. "I thought we agreed he'll be filled on a need-to-know basis."

"Okay— and he needs to know what we're doing or he'll look like an idiot." I countered and turned around to face Jace. "Would you like to know what the plan is?"

"Uh— yes." Jace tore his eyes away from my dress and to my face. "What's the plan?"

I leaned back against the table and smiled at him. "We are going to kidnap the Seelie Queen."

-

"I feel like I'm in a fantasy romance novel." I said, walking arm and arm with Jace towards the club. "Prague is gorgeous— do we really have to leave so quickly?"

"We'll have to come back." Jace slowly to a stop and looked down at me. "I'll take you for a boat ride on the river."

I put a hand to my heart. "That's so romantic."

"Ahem." Jonathan cleared his throat before Jace could lean down and kiss me. "We're here."

Jace took a glance towards the door. "Clearly the bouncer isn't happy about it."

"What's Kosti Lustr?" I asked.

"It means Bone Chandelier— the Queen's favourite hangout, for Downworlders only." Jonathan answered. "Wait here, I'll work my connections to get us inside."

Right when I think he's going to leave Jace and I alone, he tosses a glance in Jace's direction and stops. "I'm watching you."

Then he walks towards the bouncer.

"I'm sorry about him." I apologized and looked up at Jace. "He's tough to crack. He just needs some time— once he trusts you, he's like a puppy. I mean, all he wants is love."

"And all I want is you." Jace suddenly grabbed my face in both of his hands. "Zee, do you remember the first time we kissed?"

I looked at him, startled. "Of course."

"Or the first time we said I love you?" Jace recalled. "Every single moment we've spent together-"

I stare at him. "Yes, of course I remember."

"Please, come back to me." Jace caressed my cheek with the pad of his thumb. "Please, please come home to me."

I grew worried. "Jace, are you okay?"

"Yes— yes, I'm fine. I just-" Jace sighed quietly and pressed his lips into mine for a few moments. Then, he leans his forehead against mine. "I love you so much."

"I love you too." I smiled at him softly and then looked over his shoulder. "Hey— I'm gonna go help Jonathan sweet talk us inside. Wait here, okay?"

Jace's eyes dulled and he pursed his lips. He nodded at me weakly and I stepped back from him, hurrying over to Jonathan.

-

"Let me guess." I ran my hands through my hair when we walked into the club, eyeing the chandelier. "Shadowhunter bones?"

"Stick with me, sis." Jonathan said over the music. "You won't become part of the decor."

"Unless that Seelie sees you." Jace slyly gestured to one of the guards. "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 while I walked towards the bar and Jonathan rolled his eyes at my words. "I told you he'd be an useful asset."

"Evening, Tsunae." Jonathan greeted the bartender when we arrived to the bar. "The regular, three shots."

The bartender nodded and turned on her heel, grabbing three shot glasses and pouring alcohol into each glass right to the rim.

"All right— the Queen will arrive shortly." Jonathan said to us in a low voice when the bartender walked away. "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." I picked up my shot. "Jace and I will take out the knight."

Jonathan nodded as I spoke. "I grab the Queen, Zee portals the three of us away."

"The four of us." Jace corrected him immediately. "Including the Queen."

"Yeah, of course." Jonathan looked at Jace blankly while I threw my head back while I took my shoot. "That's what I meant."

Then, the crowd squealed and jumped when blue droplets started to fall from the ceiling. They were leaning their heads back and sticking their tongues out to welcome whatever was being showered over them. "What is that?"

"It's clearly some kind of Seelie drug." Jace was shaking his head at me disapprovingly when I pouted. "Don't take it."

Jonathan was quick to argue. "Ah, surely you're not against having a little fun?"

I tossed my head back and stuck my tongue out. I let a blue droplet of the bitter drug fall onto my tongue and swallowed it. Jace immediately grabbed my arm but it was too late. "No!"

I looked at him with wide eyes before grabbing onto his free hand. "Come on— just a little."

"What's wrong?" Jonathan seemed to take my side. "You know, all work and no play makes Jace a dull boy."

"We are on mission." Jace seemed angry at him. "We need to stay focused."

"Are you worried about everyone?" Jonathan counters. "Or just you? Prove it."

"Come on, Jace." I tug on his hand. "A little fun won't hurt us. I want to dance with you-"

Jace swallowed hard after staring at me for a moment and leaned his head back, welcoming a drop of the drug into his mouth. He glared at Jonathan. "Happy now?"

"Ecstatic." Jonathan took his shot and I pulled Jace away from Jonathan and into the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by drugged and drunk Downworlders.

I threw my arms around his neck and started dancing to the music that was loud and vibrating through the club. The drug was quickly taking effect and I felt as light as ever— every moment I made felt like I was floating and my head felt dizzy. I could barely think, let alone speak and I felt so relaxed— more relaxed than I had in a while.

I looked up with my blurry vision and found Jace's face. He had a worried expression on his face and he kept blinking— his body was moving with mine but his mind was elsewhere.

That wouldn't do.

I moved my hands up his arms and grabbed his face into both of my hands, his eyes locking on me. I leaned up and pressed my lips against his, pulling him closer. Jace's arms tighten around me and I felt his hand dig into my hair. One hand rested on my back and moved lower, and I could taste the bitterness of the drug on his tongue.

The kiss was toxic but it was slow and passionate. I bit his lower lip and he let out a small hiss, pressing me completely against his body. My hands began to slip down to his belt until I felt myself pried away from Jace's burning touch.

Jonathan was activating our Iratze's and the effect of the drug vanished within seconds. "Sorry to interrupt the fun, but Her Highness is here."

Jace ran a hand through his messy hair and he looked in her direction. "It's time to get what we came for."

"Yes, it is." Jonathan said and then started moving between the crowd towards her slowly. "That's us."

Jace began speaking to me while we followed him. "Not to question your brother's strategy, but it might be nice to have something before I take out a Seelie-"

I cut him off by handing him a dagger. "He made me promise not to arm you until the last second."

Jace scoffed and shook his head to himself. I grabbed my kindjals out and suddenly someone was grabbing my arm and stopping me. I looked in their direction and saw Jonathan. "What are you doing?"

Jonathan stayed still and watched Jace.

It was then I noticed the guards surrounding Jace and I stiffened. "What's going on? Why are they going after Jace?"

"Because he's a traitor." Jonathan told me. "He's been using a Seelie ring to foil our plan this entire time."

My heart stopped. "No."

"This is our chance to get to the Queen; to get our family sword!" Jonathan ushered me and forced me to look at him. I cringed at the sound of Jace trying to fight off the many guards around him. "Who do you trust? Me or Jace?"

"Don't put me in that position, Jonathan." I argued. "That's not fair-"

"Zee, stick to the plan!" Jonathan huffs at me, out of frustration. "I swear to you, he is against us, not with us!"

"Jonathan, I can't let him die!" I raised my voice at him and pulled myself from his grip. I threw my kindjal towards the guards. "Jace!"

Jace grabbed the kindjal flying in the air and I threw myself into the fight without hesitation. I used my kindjal and stabbed the knights where they had no armor and went for their throats. Jace stole their spears and stabbed their partners, assisting me in taking out the entire group of guards.

When I stabbed the last one, I heard Jonathan shout for me. "Zee, we've gotta go! Now!"

I clenched my jaw and whirled around to Jace, pressing my Seelie blood dripping kindjal to his neck. "Tell me he's lying."

"What?" Jace's eyes were wide and his breathing was heavy from how we just fought side by side.

"Jonathan says you're wearing a Seelie ring— he said you've been wearing one this entire time." I reached my free hand down to his hand and ripped the glistening ring from his pointer finger. My heart dropped at the sight and my voice broke. "I trusted you— I trusted you because I love you and you've been trying to take me away from my brother this whole time?"

"Hey— listen to me!" Jace grabbed my forearms and I pressed my blade into his skin further, holding the ring up with tears filling my eyes. "I'm trying to save you!"

"Save me?" I scoffed. "After this, the only thing you're going to need to worry about is saving yourself, Jace— because I swear to the Angel, if I ever see you again, I will—"

"Listen to yourself!" Jace raised his voice at me. "This isn't who you are, Zee! The woman I fell in love with isn't dark or evil— I know you better than you know yourself. He's poisoning you— he has poisoned you. Come home with me!"

"This is who I am— and if you can't love me for what I've become, then you are nothing to me." I seethed through my teeth and glared at him. "From this day forward, if you ever try to foil our plans or try to take me away from my brother again, I will kill you, Jace. In the most brutal way possible, I will end you."

Jace looked stunned and I pulled out my stele, opening up a portal to the Institute and shoved him through with all the forced I could conjure.

authors note:

i hate on this book so much but i actually really loved this chapter ??? idk, zee being evil is giving SO much rn and i am currently loving it

I HATE THAT THE BEGINNING OF THIS BOOK IS SO SHITTY AND I ONLY LIKE THE MOST RECENT CHAPTERS OF IT— ugh, i wanna write a good jace herondale book, this is embarrassing

you'll probably catch me writing a whole other one and failing again— i am a CLOWN

ANYWAYS

thank you for 81k !!!

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