𝑶𝑭 𝑩𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑫 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑩𝑬𝑻𝑹𝑨𝒀𝑨𝑳

ᏰᏋᎦIᎠᏋ ᎦTILL ᏊᏘTᏋR

Alyssa's Apartment

It was the next morning. Alyssa was in the kitchen, finishing breakfast and talking on the phone with her father.

'Why would Amara take Maia? That doesn't make any sense. What does she have to do with this?' Alyssa said as she poured coffee into two mugs.

'Simon thinks it's because of him.'

'Why? What did he do or say to her?'

'Clary asked me to speak to the queen yesterday about her refusing to help, and so I did. She wanted me to join her court, whatever that meant, in exchange for protection, but I told her no thanks. She then said no one has ever refused her like I have, twice.' Simon recounted to Alyssa.

'That's because no one hardly ever lives to tell the tale. They all either die or they're coerced into agreeing with her, mostly the former. What possessed you and Clary to think she would listen to you? She won't even listen to me, and I'm her daughter.' Alyssa said.

'We will come back to that piece of information later, but Clary said she asked about me yesterday, and...'

'Yeah, to try and tick off Clary and Jace. Don't tell me she translated that as Amara taking a liking to you.'

Jace walked in at that moment and placed a kiss on her cheek, taking one of the mugs of coffee and taking a sip. He then grabbed a plate and dished some of the breakfast she'd made for himself and then another for her. 'I'm sorry to say this, but this isn't about her liking you, Simon. You're what we'd call a rarity, and she wants to sort of claim you. That's why she was lenient with you the first time.'

'Yeah, I'm starting to see that now.'

'Look, the point is that now the queen has taken Maia, and we're going to the Seelie Realm to get her.' Luke cut in.

'Yeah, easier said than done. But I'll join you guys when I can. Things are still hectic at the in, titute with Valentine still on the loose even though we've taken care of his son.'

'Don't worry about us, baby. We'll find Maia. I'll update you when we get something.'

'Okay, be careful, Dad. Love you.'

'Love you too.'

Alyssa hung up, then took her plate from Jace with a quiet thank you as they moved to sit at the table to eat.

"Alec called me. He said we need to get to the Institute soon." Jace said, breaking the silence.

Alyssa let out a small groan. "I'll be glad when this nightmare is finally over."

"You and me both, babe. But at least we don't have to worry about Jonathan anymore."

"Yeah, and now all we have to do is find the most dangerous man in the Shadow World, who, by the way, is no slouch in the brains department and knows how to hide and wait things out. Piece of cake." Alyssa said, a sarcastic tone to her voice. The couple ate in silence after that.

The Institute - Ops Center

Alec pulled up a holographic map of the city just as Jace, Clary, and Alyssa joined him and Izzy at the table.

"So, anything new?" Clary asked. Alec and Izzy shook their heads in the negative, causing her and Jace to sigh. "We tried tracking him together, like we did with Jonathan, but for some reason, it didn't work."

"Magnus' wards are up. Valentine must still be in the city." Jace added.

"Thank the angel for Magnus and the warlocks." Izzy said.