𝑶𝑭 𝑩𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑫 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑩𝑬𝑻𝑹𝑨𝒀𝑨𝑳

ᎠᏘᎽ ᎧF ᏘTᎧᏁᏋMᏋᏁT

"Our rune thing?" Jace asked in an almost teasing voice, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah, you know Clary with her new rune drawings and you being able to activate your runes without a stele."

"Ah, I see. Anyway, does she know how we can solve this issue, or does she know anyone who can help?"

"No. This is something entirely new. Nothing like this or me has ever happened before, so she said she'd see if she could get some answers for me soon."

Jace could see that even though Tessa had probably assured her of getting a solution soon, she didn't have any hope of it.

"Hey, everything's gonna be okay, alright? She'll find something. In the meantime, you're not alone in this. We'll get through this together, okay?" Alyssa gave a small smile.

"Okay." Jace smiled back and captured her lips with a kiss.

The Pier - Simon's Container

Alyssa and Antonio were standing outside the container. Antonio had wanted to come and introduce himself to Simon, having been slightly impressed by him the previous day, as well as offer him a little help.

"You know, if you bounce anymore, you'll shoot off into space. Calm down, will you? Jeez, you're like an excited fan-girl about to meet her celebrity crush."

"I'm bouncing because I feel cold and want to warm up. Not all of us hardly feel the morning chill. There are those of us who are still susceptible to the cold."

"Yeah, right. It's not even that cold."

"Says the werewolf whose body temp runs higher than the average being."

"Whatever. So why did you want to introduce yourself again?"

"Because I want to be friends with him and maybe help him get better adjusted to the Shadow World, like no one's helping him do." Antonio said pointedly. Alyssa rolled her eyes.

"That's because he rejected the offer of help my brother, the clan leader, extended to him. He got all high and mighty and huffy with him, so Raph decided to leave him to his devices. He doesn't understand anything, but he also isn't willing to learn."

"Well, I'm still gonna offer. Ah, here comes the she-wolf now." Antonio said, seeing Maia walk out of the container. "I'll go in now."

"Okay, I'll join you soon. Just gotta catch up first." Antonio nodded, not noticing the anger in Alyssa's eyes as she looked at Maia.

Before Antonio could leave, Maia had already walked up to them.

"Hey, Alyssa. Haven't seen you around much lately. Not since the night Simon sang at the bar." She said to her alpha's daughter.

"Yeah, I had to deal with some stuff. Anyway, Antonio, this is Maia Roberts, my dad's beta, I think."

"Hi." Antonio greeted.

"Hi," Maia said back.

"Maia, this is Antonio Beaumont. He's a transfer from Paris and one of my best friends."

"It's nice to meet you, Maia." Antonio said, then turned to Alyssa. "I'll see you inside, yeah?" At Alyssa's nod, he excused himself and walked away towards Simon's container. Maia stared after him as he walked away.

"Stare any harder, and you'll melt him." Alyssa remarked.

"Can't blame me. He's very easy on the eyes." Maia said jokingly, not noticing the look on Alyssa's face.

"Yes, and he's off-limits." Maia turned back to look at her and, for the first time, noticed the anger in her eyes.

"Okay, first of all, you don't control him or me, and you don't get to say who he's off-limits to or not. And second, don't get your panties in a twist; I'm only looking. He's not my type."