in the end ~ d. malfoy

Chapter Fifty-Six

August 2016

AS SOON AS SHE CAN FIND HER THE NEXT MORNING, Maya wraps Izzy in a bear hug so tight it almost knocks the Shadowhunter to the floor.

"God, I missed you." Izzy mutters, later, as they lie on her bed, her dark hair fanning out over the pillows like a halo around her.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for the trial, " Maya props herself up using an elbow, "I tried to come, but Magnus locked me in, and—"

"You don't need to explain yourself, " Izzy rolls her eyes, "They would have crucified you if you came. If we'd lost the case, you would've ended up in the Gard along with me."

"Would that be so bad, though?" Maya raises a playful eyebrow, "It'd be just like that girls trip we had planned — only with less debauchery and more eternal doom."

"Ever the charmer, aren't you?" Izzy cracks a smile at her.

"I'm not used to all this death and chaos, " Maya shrugs, "Lightening the mood helps." She gives Izzy a knowing look, "I'm really proud of you for how you handled the trial. Mouthing off to the Clave takes guts."

"It was the right thing to do, " Izzy swallows, softly, and Maya sees a hint of anxiety in her eyes, "Even if it almost cost me everything."

"Izzy, you saved someone's life." Maya grabs her face, looking her best friend directly in the eyes, "Lydia withdrew the charges because she genuinely believed in what you had to say. The Cup's in her hands now. You're safe."

"I know . . " Izzy sighs, "I know. But almost being exiled . . . it made me think. I feel like there's something coming for us . . . something big."

"Bigger than getting our throats slit by Valentine because we didn't fall in line?" Maya raises an eyebrow.

"Ah, yes, the proverbial sword hanging over our heads, " Izzy rolls her eyes, "How could I forget?"

"Siblings, " Maya scoffs, "Who would've thought?"

"God, " Izzy visibly cringes with revulsion, "Even thinking about it is icky. And the fact that they kissed without even knowing—"

"Stop. Just stop." Maya holds out a hand in protest, shuddering, "It's too early for incest."

"Ugh." Izzy gags, "Am I going to have to pull out a family tree at every first date?"

"Looks like it." Maya groans, faceplanting into a pillow. Her words come out muffled, "How's your older brother doing?"

"Preparing himself for his husbandly duties." Izzy falls back onto the bed, sighing in distaste, "This feels so wrong. He shouldn't have to sacrifice his happiness just because Mom and Dad decided to go and join the Circle."

"I know." Maya sighs, sitting up against the headboard, "But we can't change his mind. If he wants to be the lamb to the slaughter, so be it."

"What happened between you two?" Izzy narrows her eyes at Maya, "You've avoided him like the plague ever since the City of Bones."

Maya swallows, a familiar wound reopening as she thinks back to her earlier conversation with Alec, "It's nothing of importance." She sighs, swallowing down the hurt that threatens to choke her, "Look, as much as we all hate what's happening, I think voicing our opinions is just going to make things worse."

Izzy gives her an incredulous look, "You want to support him?"

"What other choice do we have?" Maya laughs, the sound hollow to her own ears, "Look, if Alec doesn't want to go through with it, it's up to him to stop the wedding. The only thing we can do is be there for reassurance."