Nyla Herondale was a mystery, one that only a select few had the pleasure of knowing. Hidden in the shadows for months, Nyla finally steps back into her former life when the past comes knocking at the door. She'd left it all behind and never looked...
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Alec and Nyla moved with seamless precision, their swords clashing in sharp, controlled bursts as they trained, each maneuver honed and exact. Isabelle paced back and forth, throwing restless glances in their direction.
"Nyla, your dad calls Meliorn in and arrests him, then acts like it's all out of his hands," Isabelle said, her voice laced with irritation. Her gaze flicked to Alec. "You're gonna hurt yourself."
"I'm fine, Izzy," Alec replied, his tone dismissive as he blocked Nyla's strike with practised ease.
Nyla didn't miss a beat as she turned to Isabelle, her voice calm but firm. "It wasn't my dad. It was the Clave."
"Are you sure about that?" Isabelle stopped pacing, crossing her arms and giving Nyla a doubtful look.
Just then, Jace strode up to them, his expression one of concern.
"Hey. You all right?" he asked, directing the question at Alec.
"I'm fine," Alec repeated, this time more insistently.
Jace nodded, though he looked skeptical. "I just spoke to Robert and Maryse. They're being sent back to Idris."
"What?" Isabelle's eyes widened in shock.
"Yeah," Jace confirmed.
Isabelle turned to Nyla, her voice edged with accusation; "Another 'order' from your dad?"
"Why is Nyla's dad giving orders?" Jace frowned, looking from Isabelle to Nyla.
"He's in charge of the Institute," Isabelle answered, her tone clipped.
"He's what?" Jace's brows shot up in surprise.
Isabelle's frustration flared. "And now he's convinced the Clave that Mom and Dad aren't doing their job?"
Nyla's gaze hardened, and she raised her voice, cutting through the tension.
"All of you, stop! My dad's not in charge of the Institute. I am."
Jace's surprise deepened, and he shook his head slightly. "What? Since when?"
"The Clave enforced it. I didn't have a choice. Now they're sending me all these demands, saying I don't have a choice. They don't think your parents are up to the job, Izzy. It isn't us" Nyla's shoulders tensed, her voice holding a note of bitterness
Alec's expression was unreadable, but his voice was coldly matter-of-fact.
"Maybe they aren't. The Institute was under their control when the Forsaken got in," He added.
