"You talked to my father from the spirit realm," said Maddox. "And he told you about the night he died?"

Blair answered for the hundredth time. "Yes, Maddox."

"I still can't believe this," he shook his head.

Blair had taken off her heels and gathered her legs on the couch in the living room where they both were seated on together. She had told him everything from the moment she met him up until now. It was hard for her, but she didn't bother trying to convince him because something told her that she didn't need to do that with Maddox. He may take his time trying to believe she met his dead father, but he believed everything else she told him about her magic and her eccentric family.

Who was Maddox becoming to her? she wondered quietly. He was a force that drove her to reveal a huge part of her life that she had kept secret from everyone. She made friends and many people have come and gone, but Maddox was someone she didn't want leaving from her side. The only way she thought possible for him to leave was if she cut him out of her, and she didn't know if she could do that or if she wanted to.

"I was so scared," she said as she lost herself in that horrible memory of the car accident.

Maddox's liquid gold eyes met her gaze. "Scared of what?" he asked.

"Losing you," she admitted. "When I was in that car with you and your father-" she shook her head like she didn't want to think about it- "the only thing I could think about was getting you to safety," she said. "It was only a memory, but the fear was so...real."

"I know," said Maddox. "If only I pulled him out in time-"

"No, there was no way you could have," she interrupted his brewing guilt. "And your father didn't care for his life. He knew that he wouldn't survive so he pushed you out. And I was so relieved when he did."

Maddox raked his hair. "You really did see him," he stated as he looked in her eyes for the truth, which he saw and it was as clear as day. "How was he?"

Blair was surprised by his question, but she knew that this was the part where Maddox needed closure. He needed to know that it was okay for him to move on and live his life without the burden of the past. "He is well," she answered with a smile. "He is safe where he is and happy that you took care of the family." Maddox's eyes drowned with vulnerability that shattered Blair's heart into a million pieces. "It's going to be alright, Maddox."

He smiled to reassure her that he was alright, but she knew better because the saddest hearts always hid behind a smile.

Blair reached over and wrapped her arms around him. "Your father is at peace, Maddox," she whispered and ran her fingers through his hair. He sank into her embrace and tightened his arms around her.

"Thank you," he said softly.

Blair let go of him and moved to the other end of the couch. "Are you going to tell Melinda all of this?" she asked him unexpectedly.

Maddox jaw tightened. "If you don't want me to, I won't."

"Melinda is very sweet," said Blair. "She reminds me of you."

"Really?" asked Maddox.

"Same smile and easy temper," she told him. "And your auras-"

"You can see auras too?" asked Maddox hurriedly.

"Yes," she answered.

"It's not fair," he suddenly declared and she looked at him bewildered. "You have all these remarkable powers, and I'm just a mere mortal."

Blair chuckled. "We all have a little bit of magic in us," she winked.

"It must've been so much fun growing up in a house with all of your cousins," he said fondly.

"It was," she told him. "But it wasn't always fun and games when I had to go to my own home."

"Your parents didn't like that you had powers?" asked Maddox.

"My dad denied his gift and he lost his magic over the years," she explained. "When he got married and had me, he didn't expect me to inherit the Lightwood legacy."

"But you did," finished Maddox.

Blair nodded. "It was harder for them to accept me than they thought."

Maddox's eyes flickered with rage. "I would never do that to my child," he said bitterly. "If my kid had powers, I would on the moon."

Blair laughed. "Be careful what you wish for," she warned him. "When your kid starts throwing you across rooms or turns your hair pink, then you'll regret ever coming across a Lightwood."

"Can you?" he asked. "Throw people across a room or turn my hair pink."

"Different witches have different abilities," she told him. "I can see auras and feel the memories and energy around objects. Anastasia and her brother are the mind readers in the family."

"She can read minds!" exclaimed Maddox.

"More like see into your heart," corrected Blair.

"That doesn't sound any better," he remarked. "I should've been nicer to her."

Blair shook her head. "Don't worry, she likes you," that slipped out of her mouth without thinking.

Maddox's eye shined with amusement. "She does?" he asked. "And what about you, do you like me, Blair Lightwood?"

She couldn't turn away from his deep gaze that was tantalizing to her body and heart. Her magic fluttered around her and she almost lost her ability to think straight. "I don't know how to answer that."

"It's very simple," he said. "Yes or no?"

Blair could see herself falling in a hole and she needed to escape. She put a bright smile on her face. "No. You're pain in my ass, Maddox Steele," she mocked him and got off the couch. She had to get out of here before she got herself tangled in a web she was meaning to break tonight. "It's getting late. I should head home," she grabbed her purse and made her way towards the door.

"Blair," Maddox called out from behind her.

She couldn't just out right ignore him when she clearly heard his call for her. "Yes?"

"You forgot your shoes," he said.

Blair gasped when she saw her bare feet. She quickly ran back to the couch where he was sitting and panicked when she couldn't find her heels where she had put them. "I swear I put them right here," she mumbled under a harsh breath.

Maddox got off the couch. "These ones?" she looked up to his hand and found her heels hooked onto his fingers.

She held her hand out to him. "Thank you for saving my shoes," she joked. "Can I have them back now?"

"No." he astonished her.

"And why not?" she asked with disbelief.

"For a witch, you're pretty slow," he grinned when she scowled at him. "I want you to stay."

Blair gaped at him. "W-what?" she asked breathlessly.

"Stay with me, Blair?" he asked her with the heat in his eyes that she was afraid to see and feel.

"I can't," she backed away from him but the stubborn man followed. He dropped her heels and cornered her to the wall. Maddox placed his hands on her hips and made sure that she wasn't going anywhere.

"Tell me you feel what I feel?" he whispered against her ear.

Blair lost her breath and her knees slackened. She slumped against the wall and would've dropped to the floor if Maddox was holding her. "I feel..." she looked into his golden eyes, "you."

Maddox circled his hand around her nape and tilted her face back. "Stay with me?" he asked one more time.

They shared a single breath. His hand lifted to her jaw as his thumb and forefinger held onto her chin, a gentle tug released her bottom lips from her teeth making her heart take a great leap as her eyes locked with his and they just wouldn't want to move away. Her breath came out in short gasps as his lips came closer. His soft lips just brushed against hers reminding her what he did to her with just his body. He placed his lips so gently on hers making her crave more, always more. And he did too. Suddenly, he began to get hungrier, his glossy tongue explored her mouth and intertwined with hers.

"Yes. I'll stay," she answered.

Maddox swept her off her feet. She straddled his waist as he carried her to his bedroom this lonesome and silent night.