ʙʟᴀᴄᴋᴛʜᴏʀɴs ➸ sʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ ʜᴜɴᴛᴇʀs

➝ xiii.

"Maryse, Hey! it's good to see you." Jace greeted as he hugged his guardian,"How's everyone in Idris? Where's Max?" he continued.

"No Max, Just mom with her hair on fire." She added as Maryse chuckled softly then walked Jace, with Clary following her.

Maryse then turned to Natalie as Angel walked into the room then looked at the two of them,"Ah, Natalie Ashdown and Angel Goldwell. Very nice to meet you, I'm Maryse Lightwood," Maryse said as Natalie and Angle smiled at her slightly.

"Uh- you too." Angel smiled as she shook her hand along woth Natalie.

"I love how Shadowhunters share. Hidden brother in a secret country and a private portal." Clary said as Alec entered the room making Natalie quickly look coldly at the ground.

"Mother, welcome back. We didn't expect you." The raven haired boy said as he kissed his mom on the cheek.

"You should be prepared whether you expect me or not." Maryse replied in a stern tone.

"I am," Alec said.

"We are." He corrected as he looked at Jace.

"We'll talk about the institute later. Right now, we have a bigger problem. The seelies have stopped communicating with the clave and won't explain why. My guess is that they're still upset that we asked them to send scouts to look for Valentine but no one in their realm will talk." Maryse informed the group as she walked around all of them, while giving them each an intense stare.

"I have seelie friends." Izzy spoke up.

"Yes, I know about your friends. Isabelle we stay separate from the downworld for good reasons. The wrong move, the wrong word. Do you think there's such a thing as harmless rebellion? Who knows what offends these creatures? Maybe you told him- them something they shouldn't know. Maybe you trod on one of their ridiculous customs without knowing it." Maryse scolded Izzy.

"Wait, I don't understand, you're laying all this on Izzy for having a friend in the downworld?" Jace asked in disbelief.

"When someone upsets the natural order, everything falls apart." Maryse said as she went near Jace whom was standing beside Natalie and Angel.

"Natural order? What are you saying?" Clary asked.

"I can help. I know how to talk to seelies." Izzy informed her mother.

"She's right, she could visit Meliorn and see what he knows. I'd go with her if you want." Alec suggested.

"I'd rather Jace goes along this time." Maryse said as she put her hand on Jace's shoulder then furrowed his eyebrows.

"Alec, you stay with the girls. I want them under control, they've caused enough trouble already." Maryse shot making the three girls look coldly at her.

"Maybe that's because I wasn't even Shadow hunter until a few days ago," Clary shot back.

"And what an exciting few days it has been." Maryse states with humor in her voice as Clary just stared at the woman in disbelief,"The clave counts on us, Lightwoods to maintain order here."

"You don't need to tell me that. The mission is important to the clave, I prefer to be the one who goes with Isabelle." Alec said as Maryse let out a bitter laugh making Natalie look at her, furrowed her eyebrows.

"You are also eager to do what you prefer. It's time to face the truth. Life is not about what you want to do, it's is about what must be done. I have given you your assignments, now carry them out. You. and you. with me. now." Maryse ordered as she pointed at Jace and Isabelle and walked away. Jace looked at Angel and Clary before following after Maryse with Isabelle, looking miserable.

Natalie and Angel walked back to their rooms, leaving Clary and Alec, as Natalie took a shower and changed out of her sweaty clothes.

She put on a black t-shirt and some black jeans along with a pair of combat boots.

Natalie was on her way to the heart of the institute when she saw Jace and Alec talking. She turned around to walk away before they could see her but unluckily for her Jace called her name out and gestured for her to go over to them. The girl sighed as she went over to the two,"Yes?"

"Please just do me one favor, swear to me that you wont take your eyes off of Clary?" Jace asked the two.

Jace was about to answer but Jace let out a small laugh."I can't believe I even asked you guys that, you won't let me down." Jace said before giving Alec a bro hug and smiling at Natalie then walked away. Natalie was about to follow but was stopped by Alec grabbing her arm.

"Nat, wait." The elder Lightwood said

"No thanks, I don't want to argue with you again and over again, okay." Natalie replied as she turned to walk away but she was once again was stopped by Alec as he grabbed her arm.

"Please, just let me explain."

"Ok, go ahead." Natalie shrugged as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"At Magnus' place when we summoned the demon and uh- those images showed up, I uh- broke the bond after you left and lost Clary's memories. I just- We nearly got Jace seriously hurt and. . I didn't want you to find out that I didn't hate you. . that way- I just-" Alec said softly as Natalie's face softened.

"Alec, I just don't understand. I really thought you hated me. ." Natalie whispered softly as Alec looked down at the floor.

Natalie pulled him into a hug which made Alec jump a bit before he immediately hugged back.

They pulled away and smiled at each other,"What was that for?" Alec asked.

"I don't know . . Just felt like you needed it," she responded.

"I like you a lot, Natalie- as a friend," Alec said making Natalie look at the ground before she smiled and walked away, down the hallway.

Natalie thought the reason Alec couldn't stare into her eyes because he was embarrassed that he loved Jace, but she was wrong.

He couldn't look her in the eyes because he didn't love Jace at all, just as a brother, of course. He was lying, he wasn't necessarily lying but he wasn't telling the truth either and ot killed him inside that he couldn't tell her the truth.

Isabelle then walked towards her brother, it was silent between the two siblings as they stared down at the Ashdown girl before Izzy decided to speak up,"So when are you planning on telling her the truth?"

"What truth? What are you talking about?" Alec asked trying to avoid the subject as he averted his gaze away from his sister.

Izzy stayed quiet for a few seconds before speaking up again,"Let me rephrase that, so when are you planning on telling Natalie that you're in love with her?"