The Uneasy Heart

Chapter 10

Alec's POV

After the Forsaken attack I avoided Valkyrie. I had proposed to Lydia to try and restore the family name that my parents tarnished back when they were teenagers. I watched Magnus put up some warlock wards with my dad after getting treated from the wound from the attack.

"Are the wards solid now?" Nothing will get through?" My dad asked.

"Even my magic has limits. The wards won't hold off a Forsaken attack, but my protections will slow them down." Magnus replied.

"Extra time is always priceless." Val said as she walked up to the warlock.

"Say that after you see the bill." Magnus replied.

"Lydia and Elijah will take care of that." Dad said before he walked away.

"Where might I find these people?" Magnus asked, looking between Val and I.

"They might be in the office. Come on. We'll go find them." Val said quickly, seeming to sense the tension already.

Val's POV

"Please tell me I'm not the only one who sensed the tension the second I showed up?" I asked the High Warlock.

"Absolutely not. Last time I saw the two of you, you were able to be around each other for hours. What happened?" Magnus asked me.

"He found out his parents were once a part of the Circle." I said. "I don't think he's in the right state of mind right now."

"They never told him?"

"Never told any of them. I've known for years but since they don't have the Circle rune it's never bothered me. Hodge, on the other hand, I can see it and it just reminds me that those are the same people who killed the man who raised me until I was 11." I tell him. We stopped talking when we reached the office. "Hey 'Lijah." I said after I knocked on the door to let him know I was there. "Magnus has the bill for the extra wards." I add. "I'll see you around Magnus." I say once more before I leave.

I walk through the Institute and stop when I see Lydia lead Merliorn away with Raj behind her.

Izzy stomps away as Lucy joins me. "What happened?"

"Seems like Lydia arrested Merliorn." I tell my parabatai. "Come on." I add as I finally spot my brother. We walk into the training room and I pull my brother into a hug.

"I just spoke to Robert and Maryse. They're being sent back to Idris." Jace said.

"What?" Izzy asked while I asked, "Why?"

"Yeah."

"Another 'order' from Lydia and Elijah?" Isabelle asked, with venom laced in her words, looking at her older brother.

"Who's Lydia and Elijah?" Jace asked.

"They're in charge of the Institute." Alec said.

"They're what?"

"See what happens when you follow Clary around?" I asked my brother. "You miss important meetings and updates. But it's only temporary."

"And now they've convinced the Clave that Mom and Dad aren't doing their job." Izzy said. I'm pretty sure Lucy and I were both getting whiplash from looking around at our family.

"Maybe they aren't. The Institute was under their control when the Forsaken got in." Alec said.

"What are you talking about?" Jace asked his parabatai.

"God you paid zero attention to the rare times dad was at the Manor." I muttered.

"Mom and Dad were members of the Circle." Alec said.