"We have a mole in the Institute" Jace growls, having pulled us into the training room

"Moles? What's so about about...oh, a mole...like a spy" I enunciate and Izzy, Clary and Jace look at me strangely, "What? It's been a long ass day, okay?"

"Anyway...we were attacked by a Shax demon when we went to see Ragnor Fell" Clary fills Izzy in

"The attack couldn't have been coincidence" Jace adds, "Valentine must be tracking us."

"You don't think someone from the Institute told Valentine where you're going" Izzy gapes

"There's no other explanation" Clary insists

"No one here would betray us like that. This is our family."

"Not everyone's family yet" Jace snarls, his eyes glued to someone behind us. Following his eyes, I realise who he's looking at.

Lydia.

"I swear, if Lydia's the leak, I'm gonna-"

"Slow down, we don't know if she did anything yet" Clary cautions

"And wrongfully accusing someone of a crime is dangerous" Izzy chimes in, "Trust me, I've been through it."

"Lydia was right there when we were talking about Ragnor Fell" Jace grimaces, "If she's not gonna admit what she did, I'm gonna make her admit it."

"Jace, stop!" I snap, "You are way too worked up to talk to anyone right now and you can't just go accusing her of something like this, you'll destroy the already fragile relationship you have with Alec! Not to mention, Lydia wasn't the only one there. I was, Clary was, Hodge was..."

"Hodge would never betray us like this" Jace hurls

"And us?" I gesture to Clary and I, "We're new here, Valentine's daughters..."

"That's ridiculous"

"How do you know? You know us just about as much as you know Lydia" I point out

"I trust you."

"That's great but you cannot accuse her of this. And you especially can't question her. I'll do it."

"No, I'll do it" Clary offers, "Believe me, I think the less you have to see of Lydia right now, the better."

Before I can respond, my phone chimes and I see a text from Magnus, asking me to meet him, that it was important and to come before the wedding...

"I'm gonna take you up on that" I nod, "Magnus just texted me, says it's important. It could be about Mom."

"Of course, go!" Clary urges me, "I can handle Lydia."

"I know you can" I smile, patting her shoulder

"You'll be back in time for the wedding, right?" Izzy stresses, "It starts in less than 3 hours"

"Yeah" I whisper, pushing the tears back, "Yeah, I'll be back"

Then I'm running out of the room, wondering just what could be so important I'd have to hear it before Alec's wedding as I finally let the long held back tears fall freely and unnoticed

********

get your tissues ready!

Also, the wedding chapter is one more away! What do you think I'm gonna do? Bring Alemi together or break them apart for a while longer?

Happy Reading! xx