𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋 ━━ ISABELLE LIGHTWOOD

36

KADE ENTERED THE institute, his eyes falling on Magnus who was warding up the place with Robert and Alec who were watching him. He walked up to them, noticing Alec's injured arm, "what happened?"

"There's been an attack," Alec informed, "a forsaken got past the wards."

"How the fu—" he cut himself off when Robert raised his brows at his language, "— how could that happen?"

"We don't know," Robert sighed, "Hodge was also injured."

"Damn, is he okay?" His voice held anything but concern. They knew how much he couldn't care less about the older man. Robert nodded, "fortunately. He'll be fine." He turned to Magnus, "are the wards solid now? Nothing will get through?"

"Even my magic has limits," Magnus responded, "the wards won’t hold of that Forsaken attack. But my protections will slow them down."

"Extra time is priceless," Robert nodded to which Magnus smile, "no, say that after you get my bill."

"Lydia will take care of that," Robert brushed him off, walking away as he left Kade, Magnus and Alec behind. The warlock looked at Alec's wound, speaking directly to him, "a Forsaken wound often needs a little warlock TLC. May I? Uh, free of charge."

"It’s okay," Alec muttered, "I’m fine."

"If anything were to happen to you—" Magnus was cut off by Alec, "Magnus. I’m good. All right? I gotta—"

"—Go?" The warlock interrupted with a question, nodding to himself, "of course. You’re a busy man. And I should find this Lydia person. Payment upfront is just smart business. Where might I find her?"

"I haven’t seen her. But if I do, I’ll send her your way," with that, Alec walked off and Kade turned to Magnus, "was it just me or does he seem a little..." He trailed off, unable to find the right words.

"Off?" Magnus piped in, holding the same confused look as his friend, "he does, doesn't he? More than usual, that is. Did something happen?"

"I don't know, maybe he's shaken up cause of the attack and all that shit," Kade mumbled, a frown at his own face at Alec's behaviour, "or maybe it's something else."

"Find out and let me know then," Magnus said to the Hawthorne guy who nodded just as his eyes landed on  a familiar seelie who walked inside the institute. "Oh you've gotta be kidding me," he muttered, displeased at the sight, "what the fuck is it doing here?"

"Jealous?" Magnus smirked, his eyes going to the seelie as well, "oh yes, you definitely are. Let me guess, Isabelle's side-chick?"

"No, Magnus." Kade rolled his eyes, "he's just a friend of hers," he narrowed his eyes when he saw Isabelle rushing towards the seelie and hugged him, "a rather close one."

"I can see that," the warlock mused, unable to stop himself from laughing, "first time I'm seeing you jealous. I've got to admit, it's the funniest thing ever."

"I'm sure it is," Kade clenched his jaw at the sight in front of him, "if you'll excuse me."

"Of course," Magnus muttered, amusement filling him as Kade walked towards the commotion to find out what was going on.

"Your fire message clearly stated you never wanted to see me again," Kade heard Meliorn say to Isabelle who shot him a regretful look, "my family—" she was cut off by the seelie, "— despises Downworlders? That’s common knowledge."

"That’s not true." Isabelle sighed, "And even if it were, I’m not like that."

"I'm not here to talk about that," Meliorn's eyes drifted to Kade who came to stand beside Isabelle, "good to see you again, Kade."

"Can't say the same about you," Kade spoke, tilting his head to the side as he eyed the seelie with curiosity, "why are you here?"

Meliorn was about to reply when Lydia approached them, "Isabelle, Kade, step aside." She stared directly at the seelie, "Meliorn, the Clave has ordered that you be placed under arrest."

"What?" Meliorn asked at the same time Isabelle did, "what for?"

"Soliciting state secrets from a Shadowhunter on behalf of Valentine Morgenstern. Guards."  Lydia nodded to the guards who held Meliorn's hands behind his back and took him away.

Isabelle turned and glared at Lydia, "have you lost your mind?"

"Me?" Lydia raised her brows, "you’re lucky you weren’t arrested along with him."

"What are you talking about?" Kade asked furrowing his brows at Lydia who replied, "It’s our understanding that your long-standing friendship with the Seelie, Meliorn, may have led to the disclosure of state secrets."

"What? No!" Isabelle defended, "Meliorn told me how to get into the Hotel DuMort so that we could save a mundane."

"And you told him nothing in return?" Lydia asked and this time it was Kade who couldn't help but ask, "what are you insinuating?"

"Nothing," Lydia was quick to say, "nobody is blaming her for the attack. Meliorn and the Seelies were likely working with Valentine all along."

Kade contemplated that thought. Maybe the seelie were really working with Valentine after all. They thought he was the winning side and decided to join hands with him. That was a possibility.

"Valentine has been murdering Downworlders and draining their bodies for months. He probably killed those Seelie scouts and used their blood—" Isabelle was cut off by Lydia, "— do you have proof?"

"Do you?" Isabelle asked back earning a sigh from Lydia, "I have orders, that’s all. I never wanted any of this."

"I don’t believe you for a second." Isabelle gritted her teeth at her before walking away, dragging Kade along with her.