Not Just a Mundane//An Alec Lightwood Story

- 12 -

The next day, Izzy and I were lounging in my room. She rummaged through my wardrobe while I sat against the headboard of my bed, clutching a pillow to my chest.

"Izzy," I laughed, my cheeks warming. "What are you doing?"

"What? You need a new wardrobe. This is downright sad," she said, plopping down at the foot of the bed.

I sighed, glancing at my limited selection. "You try shopping with a mother who's a police officer and the most modest person you'd ever meet."

"I'm taking you shopping," she declared confidently.

Before I could respond, I noticed Alec rushing past our doorway, with Clary and Jace hot on his heels.

"What the—?" I muttered, jumping up and sprinting after them.

We barreled into the Ops Center, and I fell in step beside Clary. I shot her a questioning look, but she ignored me, her focus solely on Alec.

"Where are you going?" Clary asked, her voice laced with concern.

"To put this somewhere safe. Where no one can be tempted to use it," Alec replied, gripping something tightly in his hand.

" We should use it." Jace says, grabbing Alec's arm.

" Use what? If someone would tell me?" I wonder, looking between the three of them.

"It's my necklace. It's a portal shard. Valentine spoke to me," Clary explained, her expression grave.

"Wait, are you serious?" I blurted, my heart racing.

"Alec, we should use it to get to Valentine," Jace urged, grabbing Alec's arm.

"If I were Valentine, I'd make you think you could rescue Jocelyn. Then I'd lure Clary to me and leverage her life for the Cup," Alec retorted, squatting down to run his stele over a rune on the floor. It popped open to reveal a hidden storage container.

"I like Jace's idea. We saved Simon from the vampires that way," Clary chimed in, her enthusiasm evident.

"Yeah, vampires. Bored, decadent, self-involved vampires," Alec shot back, running his stele over another rune to open the container.

"Lovely description," I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes.

"Valentine is a real threat. He can't be handled by four-and-a-half Shadowhunters," Alec said firmly, placing the necklace inside the container and standing up to close it.

"Who's the fourth?" Clary challenged, crossing her arms defiantly.

"Your trust in me is lacking, bestie," I scoffed, feigning hurt.

"Well, make it five," Clary insisted, her determination shining through.

" Whatever, leave it there," Alec ordered, starting to walk away. I quickly fell in step beside him, leaving Clary and Izzy behind.

We headed toward his room, and he collapsed onto his bed while I stood in front of him, arms crossed.

"Well, that was harsh," I remarked, raising an eyebrow.

"I had to. I have to protect the Institute. Any chance Valentine has to get in here, I have to stop," he explained, a mix of frustration and resolve in his voice.

"I get it. The necklace was dangerous," I replied, nodding in understanding.

"Exactly. Finally, someone agrees with me," he exclaimed, sitting up on the bed.

"Alec, your mother's here," someone called from the open doorway.

"Your mother?" I asked, tensing at the thought.