Sweet Little Serena (Original)

Chapter 93

Alec had asked Serena and the Downworld leaders to come to the Institute regularly for cabinet meetings. As they were working on restoring unity, they wanted Shadowhunters and Downworlders to interact more, and so hosting the meetings that Serena attended on a regular basis at the Institute was the best way to do that somewhat slowly.

As Serena had stood proudly at her husband's side, she was not unaware of the whispers of commotion throughout the assembled party, so before they dismissed the masses, Serena spoke up.

"And for those of you, who are against this, who think that you are above Downworlders and that they shouldn't be inside this Institute, remember that without the Downworlders, a lot of you would be dead. Not only were hundreds of them slaughtered when they helped stop Valentine's attack on this Institute, but hundreds more were out on the streets helping you all fight Valentine's demonic experiments. Valentine would not have been apprehended without them. So, I advise you to either get over your prejudices or come and talk to me about your problems with them."

"Dismissed!" Alec called and they began to disperse as he kissed his wife's temple and they made their way over to Jace, Clary and Izzy, who was getting on a lot better with her parabatai, much to everyone's relief.

"Look at you two. In charge for a week and you're already shaking things up," Jace smiled at them as he kissed his sister's cheek. "I think this cabinet is a good idea."

"Yeah, I'm not sure everyone agrees," Alec said.

"All the more reason to do it," Clary beamed. "How can I help?"

"Actually, you and JJ are coming with me on a mission," Serena said. "We're going to the Seelie Court."

Jace and Izzy exchanged some grim looks.

"And where is that?" Clary asked.

"The nearest entrance is in Central Park. But it's in another realm. Where the Seelie Queen lives," Izzy answered.

"And when I requested an audience, she said she wanted to meet the rest of 'Valentine's experiments,'" Serena informed.

"Wow. Charming nickname," Clary commented.

"You think the Seelie Queen is responsible for Kaelie's attacks?" Clary questioned.

"That's what I want you to find out," Alec answered.

"That would make sense. Those murders weren't exactly Kaelie's style," Jace added, and Serena quirked a brow at him.

"How did you know Kaelie?" Clary asked, and Serena looked at him intently as she awaited his answer.

"Bookclub."

Serena choked on her laugh as she covered her lips with her hand, Alec smiling as he pulled her to him, biting his own lips.

"What...you read?" Clary asked, incredulously.

"Yeah. Why does everyone find that so hard to believe?" Jace said and Izzy smiled as she knew full well what her parabatai was about to say.

"Well, little brother, that's because -"

Alec clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Look, we need to find out if she's complicit," Alec interrupted before groaning as Serena licked his hand, wiping it on his jacket as she grinned at him, Jace fist-bumping her.

"That shouldn't be too hard right. I mean, Seelies can't lie," Clary said.

"Technically, yes. But after hundreds of years of practice, they can expertly manipulate the truth, and the Queen's the master," Jace explained.

"Precisely why I'm going," Serena piped up. "The Seelie Queen doesn't mind me but if you so much as offend one little custom in her realm, you'll be lucky if you leave there alive," she warned.

"She's very dangerous. Her entire realm is. More than one Shadowhunter hasn't made it back," Izzy said.

"What could go wrong?" the redhead sighed sarcastically.

"I like that attitude. We'll see how long it lasts," Serena half-joked. "Dress warm. We leave in an hour."

As they all parted ways, Serena heard Clary ask, "We are so going to die, aren't we?"