The Return | Alec Ligtwood - Book 2

I make you stronger

I walked slowly along the pier with a solemn expression engraved on my face to the multitude of dead bodies lying on the ground. I jumped over one arm looking for the look of Jace who was doing exactly the same thing on the other side and soon met his serious look.

Honestly, I did not know what to think at this stage but one thing was certain this was not what I wanted to follow.

I spotted a girl lying against one of the wooden plates letting me kneel to her height just to be joined soon by Jace. We were totally stoic before the body before us until the improbable happened.

"Jace? Ally? ''

We were simultaneously pivoting on our heels definitely on our guard just to widen our eyes in panic at the sight of Clary crossing the bridge with a quick step.

I straightened up giving a wide look at one of the guards just to frown as he seemed totally unaware of what was going on. My gaze returned to Jace and I supposed I was Clary now face to face.

"How did you get here?" Jace asked at once, obviously not thinking about the strangeness of this apparition.

Clary gave a quick glance over her shoulder before turning to Jace. "I created a portal. Come on, we don't have much time. "

"No, I can't." Objected instantly Jace letting me pick my step into the now clearly suspicious emergency of something.

'' Wh- ''

"Where's Alec ?" I asked as soon as I was at their heights collecting a brief glance from Clary as Jace frowned.

"He stayed at the institute." Clary responded quickly, seeming somewhat disconcerted by my question making me all the more suspicious as opposed to Jace.

The latter grabbed the redhead by the arm in an attempt to make her understand the situation only I could not help but take a step back with as light negative shake of my head. '' You have to get out of here.''

Soon a grunt sounds behind me at the same time as several heavy and fast steps forcing me to quickly turn around just to send a strong kick in the guardian's stomach in a reflex.

"Jace! "I cried instantly in a defensive posture before shrinking slightly towards Clary as Jace seized the guard's sword before knocking him out cold.

'' My dear Clarissa. '' Suddenly Valentin's now familiar voice makes me swivel quickly on my heels in an urgent feeling of oppression just as Jace hastened to join us in keeping us from moving back with his sword lift in the defensive. '' You're really very tough. ''

My heart beat fiercely against my chest at the gravity of the situation and despite my reluctance to face Clary's appearance, I could not help but want to protect her.

"Don't come near !" Jace ordered dryly in a warning.

This only defied Valentin as the latter soon waved his Seraphin's sword on guard, letting me look at the back of Jace's blond skull in fear.

However, the latter seemed far from worried as he loaded forcefully on Valentin before entering an impressive force fight.

The sound of the clashing swords resounded around us at each fatal blow they avoided each other when suddenly Jace blocked Valentin's sword to the ground.

My glance is immediately on my surroundings in a combative reactivity and I took the first object that could serve me as a weapon as Jace and Valentin was confronting the gaze.

Finally, Jace regained the upper hand with a groan of rage before suddenly pushing his blade into Valentin's abdomen with a macabre power.

I was staying marble at the scene since the adrenaline rushing through my veins blurred my emotions and I soon tightened my grip on the pipes in my hands as Valentin gave a last sick smile to Jace before the latter coldly removed his blade from his body. He took a step back as Valentin fell heavily to the ground with a hollow sound as Jace backed again in shock.