War of Hearts

Chapter 8

Val's POV

For the first time I slept in my own room by myself. When I woke up from another nightmare I sighed and rubbed the sleep from my eyes before I got up and walked into my bathroom for a much needed shower. Afterwards I threw my hair up in a messy bun, pulled on a sports bra and a loose gray t-shirt which I knotted on the side, a pair of black leggings and some red vans. I grabbed my usual leather jacket and left my room and headed down to the Ops room and walked over to Alec who was replaying the video from last night. He paused it as I reached him and pointed to the flicker of light.

"There. They said that was the Angel."

"It could have been a shooting star." Izzy told him.

"It wasn't. I was there. It was an Angel who decided to give my demon-blood with just a small amount of angel blooded self a fucking migrane." I spit out starting to massage my temples as I realized it still hadn't gone away.

"Are you saying you don't believe Clary and Jace? Or Val? I thought you'd be impressed." Alec told his sister as he wrapped an arm around my waist. I leaned into him, still massaging my temples.

"I'm not saying I don't believe them. It's just that no one's seen anAngel in hundreds of years." Izzy closed the holographic screen. "So, did you take my advice about Val?" I glanced between the siblings before I closed my eyes. The migraine was worse than my first hangover. "You did, didn't you? Okay, start talking."

"There's nothing to talk about." Alec said quickly. I heard the sound of running feet and opened my eyes to see Max.

"Hey, you guys."

"Hey buddy. How are you doing?" Alec asked his youngest sibling.

"Max! I missed you so much!" Izzy saidas she gave Max a hug. "You look so handsome. What are you doing here?"

"Hey, Maryse." I said as I pulled the youngest Lightwood in for a hug.

"Alec, Isabelle, Valkyrie. It's good to see you three." Maryse said as I pulled back from the hug and ruffled Max's hair before I leaned back into Alec's side.

"Really?" Izzy asked.

"Izzy---" Alec and I started.

"'Cause the last time you were here, you turned your back on all of us. Especially Jace."

"She made up for it when she got the order revoked, Isabelle." I told the younger girl.

"I was following orders. I had no choice." Maryse told her daughter as she sent me a grateful smile. "Max has some big news. Tell them, sweetheart."

We looked at the boy expectantly. "I passed my last trial. I'm ready for my Rune Ceremony."

"Congratulations." Alec told his brother as I smirked.

"So you finally perfected your roundhouse kick?" Izzy asked her brother.

"Yeah, and I knocked out two different instructors." Max told his sister before looking at me. "Thanks for helping me, Val."

"My pleasure, Little Lightwood. But you still have a long way to go before you knock out Jace or me." I tell him.

"Sadly, your father won't be able to attend. So, Alec, as the eldest male in the family, you will be in charge of Max's ceremonial party." Maryse told us. I caught the emotion flash before her eyes before it disappeared.

"What do you mean he won't be here?" Alec asked him.

"He's tied up with the Valentine task force in Idris." Maryse replied.