𝑶𝑭 𝑩𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑫 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑩𝑬𝑻𝑹𝑨𝒀𝑨𝑳

ᎠᏘᎽ ᎧF ᏘTᎧᏁᏋMᏋᏁT

"Really? And what's your type? Blond Shadowhunter that you sometimes beat up when he pisses you off?" Alyssa said coldly. Maia drew her head back as if she'd been hit, looking at her friend, confused by her behavior.

"What are you talking about?"

"The night Simon sang at the bar when Jace came to remove the chip from you. You just couldn't resist, could you?"

Maia now knew what she was talking about and licked her lips nervously. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Please don't try to play dumb, Maia. I'd hate to get upset and hurt you. I could smell you on him, Maia. I also saw his memory of what happened."

"Ok, look, Alyssa, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me or why I did what I did. I don't normally do that, especially when I knew he was taken. I just...I don't know. I don't even like him like that."

"I hope not. You should be glad we're friends, Maia. Otherwise, I would have hit first and then maybe asked questions later or not at all. Just because I don't get territorial most times doesn't mean I'm not. Be careful, Maia.

If there's ever a next time, and you should hope there isn't, I won't be talking to you like this. In fact, you wouldn't be talking either because your tongue would be ripped out, and so would your spine."

Maia shuddered at the threat, seeing in the other she-wolf's eyes that she wasn't bluffing or joking. She was serious.

"Am I clear?" Maia nodded nervously. "Good. I'll see you around." Maia let out a breath of relief after Alyssa walked away.

The Institute - Ops Center

Alyssa, Izzy, and Alec were standing around a table in the ops center waiting on Clary, Antonio, and Jace while also discussing something else.

"No," Alyssa said, shaking her head at Izzy.

"Lyssa, come on."

"No, Iz. I'm not going to change the way I dress just because the Clave made me co-head of the Institute. It's not happening."

"Lyssa, Izzy may have a point. You have to..." Alec tried to say.

"Have to? Where in the Codex does it say: 'heads of institutes are supposed to wear official dresses or outfits that they can't move or fight easily in everyday life'? I'll tell you where it says that: nowhere."

"You don't have to wear it every day, just some days." Izzy tried to persuade.

"The last time I wore something like what you're suggesting was for my farce of trial, and if I remember correctly, I could hardly move as I'd like to in that dress and those heels. So no. Now, enough about this. We have an issue on our hands that's more important than my choice of clothing as co-head of institute."

Just then, the aforementioned three, whom they'd been waiting for, walked over to them. Jace stood between his parabatai and fiancée/wife while Clary and Antonio stood by Izzy.

"Any word from Magnus or Luke?" Clary asked.

"No," Alec answered with a sigh. "With Valentine free, the Downworld Cabinet has been holding secluded meetings at the Seelie Court."

"Where, no doubt, the queen is going on and on about how the Clave are liars and don't really care for them. Not that she's wrong, but when you hear the same thing over and over, it gets pretty old and boring, considering it's pretty much old news." Alyssa said, rolling her eyes as she spoke.

"That's not good." Jace said.

"You think anything good happens in the Seelie Court?" Clary said, side-eyeing Jace.