Author's Note: Firstly I want to thank you for all the kind reviews for chapter one. Trust me, I am enjoying writing this as much as you enjoy reading it…probably more. There are at least ten chapters to this story dancing away in my head, so I won't be stopping it anytime soon. I hope you continue to enjoy it! Again, The Mortal Instruments series and characters belong to Cassandra Clare. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter Two

Searching

"We always long for the forbidden things, and desire what is denied us." ~ Francois Rabelais

Jace followed Isabelle and Alec through the marble corridor, past the broken picture window, and down a spiraling flight of steps. He hadn't listened to a word of the explanation his adoptive sister had given on the way to the study, he was too deeply buried in his own torrential thoughts to notice anything else. What had he done? In less than one afternoon, he'd managed to completely alienate the two most important people in his entire world, and ruined the possibility of ever having any semblance of a normal relationship with either of them. Not, Jace thought, that either relationship had been particularly normal before today.

When the three teenagers entered the study, they found every available seat already taken. Robert and Marys Lightwood sat on a plush red sofa identical to the one that held the adult Penhallows. Several other Shadowhunters that Jace knew by sight rather than name were perched on hard chairs not unlike the one Alec had knocked over upstairs. In the corner of the room, lounging in a plush recliner, was Sebastian Verloc. The dark haired boy was Aline's cousin, and his presence left Jace with a taste like ashes in his mouth. Where the adults all wore thin, drawn expressions of concern, Sebastian's face was open and relaxed, self-assured. He reminded Jace of himself, and Jace hated him for it.

A few of the nameless Shadowhunters glanced impassively at Jace, but he was used to such appraisals. As Madeline had predicted to Clary, about half of the Nephilim believed he'd known he was Valentine's son all along, and the other half believed he was in league with him now. He ignored their glances and addressed the Lightwoods. "What has happened?"

"It's Aline," Mrs. Penhallow answered, instead. "She ran off to the stables to ride, but we checked with the servants, and she never arrived. It is not a safe time for anyone in Idris to be alone after dark, particularly one as trusting and naïve as Aline." She glared at Jace as she said this, and he took that as confirmation that she knew exactly what had happened to send her daughter rushing off alone. A strike of remorse hit him in the stomach, but he kept it from showing on his face. If something happened to Aline, it would be his fault. He mentally added her name to the list of people whose lives he'd screwed up. The list was growing ridiculously long.

Jace listened quietly while Mr. Penhallow divided the room into groups and gave them specific areas to search for his daughter. Isabelle was ordered to stay at the estate with Max, in case Aline came back on her own. She was angry, assuming that they were trying to protect her. Jace would have happily switched assignments with Isabelle, though. He was grouped together with Alec and Sebastian. He expected that they composed probably the most uncomfortable search party in known history.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, though. Alec was his best friend, his parabatai, despite what had happened between them upstairs. Maybe it wouldn't have to be awkward with him. Jace had made a concerted effort to not look at Alec since they'd arrived in the study, but he glanced up at him now. Alec was staring right back at him, his cheeks flushed, and an unknown emotion—remorse, or maybe disgust—swimming in the depths of his ocean eyes. Alright, so maybe awkward didn't even begin to scratch the surface of how uncomfortable this was going to be.

The boys were assigned to search in the western forest that bordered the city of Alicante. It was an unlikely place for Aline to have gone, but Jace assumed that was intentional. The Penhallows would—unsurprisingly—not want Jace anywhere nearer to her than absolutely necessary. There had been rumors of wild game animals in these woods before, maybe they were hoping he'd be eaten by a bear. Considering all that had happened today, he could imagine worse fates. Being bear food would probably hurt a lot less than ripping your own heart out.

They were only a few feet outside the front door of the estate when Jace began contemplating how pleasurable it would be to watch a bear devour Sebastian. "So, Clary—your sister—is she okay? She left in a bit of a huff."

A bit of a huff? Sebastian was the very definition of a prat. "We had a small disagreement, but she'll be fine," Jace lied smoothly, and felt Alec stiffen behind him.

"Is she still here, then? In Alicante?" Sebastian pressed.

"No. She went back to New York." I hope, he amended silently.

"That's a shame. I was looking forward to getting to know her. She seems," he paused as if searching for a fitting word, "fiery."

Alec snorted. "That is an appropriate description."

Jace whirled around to glare at him, and the chuckle died in Alec's throat.

"So why exactly are we searching the western border, anyway?" Jace turned back to Sebastian, eager to draw the discussion away from Clary. "Is there any reason at all for Aline to go there?"

"None that I can think of, especially on foot. Then again, Aline has never been accused of being particularly reasonable." Sebastian turned to look at Jace and smirked. "I wonder what could have possibly set her off this time?"

Jace ignored the insinuation. "So how are we supposed to walk there and back before nightfall ourselves, since everyone is so insistent we arrive back before dark?"

"We don't," Sebastian laughed. "We're headed to the stables first. My steed is penned there, and there are two horses for you to ride as well. You do know how to ride, I assume."

Alec blushed scarlet. "We know how to ride."

The rest of the walk to the stables was uneventful. Sebastian seemed comfortable with silence, and Jace and Alec seemed unsure of anything to say. Their horses were already prepared for them when the boys arrived, and they were mounted and on their way in a few short minutes. Jace allowed Sebastian to take the lead position, content, for once, to follow. The trip to the western border did nothing to ease Jace's melancholy mood. Horses had been something he'd always associated with his father, and he hadn't been near one since he moved to New York. Being atop a horse and surrounded by the beauty and scents of Idris, well, Valentine might as well have been running along beside him for how strongly Jace could feel his presence. And if the council was right, Valentine might be somewhere very close. The thought both excited and sickened him.

They did not find Valentine, however. Nor did they find Aline. To Jace's shock and dismay, it was a very different girl that they happened across just before the plains gave way to the trees.

"Clary?" he called to her from across the field.

She whipped around to face him, and even from a distance he could see that her eyes were still rimmed with red and puffy from crying, and he could see that she was still beautiful. His heart galloped faster than the hooves of the stallion he rode. He dug his heels into the horse's sides, easily passing Sebastian, and leaving Alec trailing far behind. When he rode up next to Clary, he jumped swiftly down to confront her.

"Clary," he called, wanting to grab her shoulders and shake them. She stood staring at him defiantly, but didn't speak. "Clary, what the hell are you doing here?"

"Dancing a jig. Converting to Scientology. Hiding the 'do not remove' tag that I pulled from my mattress. What I'm doing here is none of your business, Jace. You made it very clear that you want no part of it," she said heatedly.

"I thought you were going back to New York! I said—"

"You say a lot of things, Jace." Her voice was steely. "That doesn't mean that I listen to any of them."

Sebastian, who had ridden up next to them, laughed from atop his horse. "Commendable attitude. But it isn't safe for you to be alone out here, Clary. You should allow your brother to escort you back into the city."

Clary darted a quick glance in Jace's direction, her eyes lingering on him for only an instant, but it was long enough for him to see the pain etched there. "I'm not going anywhere with him," she spat.

Jace flinched, but said nothing.

If Sebastian was taken aback by the venom in her voice, he didn't let on. "Alright then, perhaps you'd allow Mr. Lightwood or me to do the honor? These really aren't safe times for anyone to be alone. Especially in the woods."

"I'm not in the woods," Clary insisted. "And I'm not alone. I'm meeting someone here."

"Who are you meeting? You don't know anyone from Alicante," Jace asked, unable to help himself. He was shaken up by the way Sebastian was watching Clary. He felt a sudden irrational longing—the first time he had ever felt it—for Simon to be there with him. As much as he disliked the Vampire, he felt sure Simon would disapprove of Sebastian as wholly as he did.

"You don't know everything, Jace," Clary replied. She looked at Sebastian, still atop his horse, then turned her attention back to where Jace and Alec were standing.

"Can I trust him?" she asked, gesturing to Sebastian.

"No," Jace said quickly at the same time that Alec said "I don't know."

An impish smile formed on Sebastian's lips. "Nice to know I'm so highly thought of."

"Sorry," Clary looked sheepishly at the boy, and Jace could have sworn she actually blushed. It was all he could do not to rush Sebastian and cut off his head with a Seraph blade. "Its only that this is a…sensitive matter. I hate to bring you into it, seeing that I hardly know you."

"I understand," Sebastian said kindly, and for a moment, Jace could even believe that he did. "Do you need a moment alone with your brother?"

Clary flushed a brighter shade of ruby and shook her head quickly. "Its nothing like…nothing like that," she finished lamely. "But it would be nice if I could speak with Jace and Alec alone for a moment?" her voice lilted at the end, making a question out of her statement.

Sebastian smiled warmly at her. "I'll just go into the forest and check out a few of the major trails then, and then I'll return in, say, ten minutes?"

Clary beamed at him. "I really appreciate that."

Sebastian bowed his head to her like a cowboy in an old mundie western movie, and took off on horseback into the trees. Jace wanted to throw up.

"So what is this about?" Jace demanded without preamble. "What insane notion has you alone out by the border of the city when you should be safely in New York?"

Clary snorted. "Yes, Jace. Because I've clearly been oh so safe in New York lately. What, with the Ravener demons and the mom-napping, the Forsaken warriors, and the evil-overlord-who-happens-to-be-my-father sending demon hordes after me, not to mention the sword fights and werewolf brawls. You're right, New York is like a warm snuggly blanket of lollipops and safety. I should absolutely go back there right now. And in case you've forgotten dear brother, I seemed to handle myself pretty well against all of those things."

How well he knew she had. She'd been incredible; so brave, so smart. Without her talent and quick thinking, they would have all died on that cursed ship. That was exactly why he couldn't risk her presence in Alicante. It was a feverish ache to know that he could never have her, that she could never be his, but he'd accepted that, albeit grudgingly. It was a wholly other sort of agony to imagine a world where she didn't exist, to think of what might happen to her if the Clave used her as a tool, and she got hurt. Or worse.

"Clary, we've been over this—"

"Well, well. I hate to interrupt what appears to be a heartwarming family reunion, but this tree here keeps poking me in the ass, and I'm really quite fond of these pants. It'd be a shame of they were ruined." The voice issuing from the forest was impossible not to recognize.

"Magnus?" Alec hissed, and took a step forward until he was level with Jace.

The warlock emerged from the trees, and for a moment Jace thought he'd been wrong, thought that perhaps it wasn't Magnus after all. His black hair blew softly around his face, devoid of its usual spikes and sparkles. His clothing, too, was missing its usual vibrancy. He was clad all in black leather, without even a hint of color or glitter at all. He looked shockingly…normal.

"Magnus?" Alec repeated. "Magnus, what are you doing here?"

"I'm helping a friend," he replied stiffly, and then turned to smile at Clary. From the pocket of his very tight leather pants, he pulled out a purple velvet pouch and placed it in her waiting hands. "That should be everything, Clary. But if you need anything else, you know how to reach me."

Clary nodded and tucked the pouch away into the inside pocket of her green coat.

Alec's voice sounded strained, almost panicked. "But, you can't be here Magnus, it isn't allowed!"

"Don't get your panties in a wad, Shadowhunter, I have permission."

Jace must have looked skeptical because Magnus smiled and addressed him directly. "I do, Scout's honor. I got the golden ticket on account of my assistance to the Nephilim helping to thwart Valentine's dastardly scheme, and to be a witness of all that happened that day."

Jace glowered at him, but Magnus winked. They had discussed Jace's desire to keep the Clave out of the loop regarding Clary's role in what happened on that ship, and Downworlder or not, Jace felt like he could trust the old warlock to keep his word.

"All the same," Magnus went on, "I'm staying outside the city until I'm called in to give my official testimony. Invitation or not, I think everyone would feel more comfortable with a little distance between me and the mighty Clave." Magnus turned to look at Alec, and the amused look on his face slid away like melting icecream. His eyes darted quickly back and forth between Jace's neck and Alec's face. "I doubt the Glass City has seen the likes of me before," his voice had grown cold and hollow. "But really, I suppose they haven't seen the likes of any of us. What an ensemble we make: the gay high warlock who is in love with a gay Nephilim who is in love with his," Magnus faked a cough, "straight parabatai, who just so happens to be in love with his sister. Honestly. Jerry Springer couldn't make this shit up."

A thick, shocked silence fell around them for a moment, before Magnus spoke up again. His voice sounded ancient, and infinitely sad. His dark eyes locked on the deep blue of Alec's and held his gaze as he spoke. "But it looks like someone, at least, is finding their happy ending." With that he turned and stalked back into the woods, without another word, and without a single glance back at the three Shadowhunters.

They stood there, refusing to make eye contact with each other. Finally, Clary couldn't take the awkward silence any longer. "What exactly just happened there? What was Magnus even talking about?"

Jace looked up at Clary skeptically. "I thought he made himself pretty clear."

"Right," Clary flushed. "Up to a point. I was with him up to the bit about Jerry Springer, but after that…happy endings? What was that all about?"

Alec blanched but Jace shrugged nonchalantly. "Who knows? He's a Warlock. They thrive on being obscure. Obscurity is the new rainbow pleather."

Clary lips spread into a thin smile that didn't reach her eyes. "He seemed so sad," she observed, sounding sad herself.

The boys were saved having to answer by the sound of approaching hooves. Sebastian had returned. The moment he appeared from the trees, Clary smiled up at him. "I'd appreciate it if you would give me a ride back into the city."

Sebastian returned her tight smile with a wide, genuine one of his own. "It will be my pleasure," he said formally, then reached down and grabbed Clary's hand, pulling her effortlessly up behind him. "Hold on tight," he instructed, and Jace watched as her slender, dainty arms encircled Sebastian's waist. With a smug smile Sebastian looked down at Jace and Alec. "I checked the main trails, but perhaps you should check the pathways farther in. You know the way back?"

The parabatai nodded in unison.

"Then I'm sure I will see you both at the estate." Without another word or glance from either Sebastian or Clary, they rode off into the sunset, back to the heart of Idris.

"Well," Alec said, looking down at his boots, "I guess I should have expected Magnus to figure it out immediately."

"Figure what out?" Jace asked offhandedly, while he stepped into the stirrup and lifted his body over the saddle.

Alec looked up sharply to meet Jace's eyes. "What happened earlier, with us," he choked.

"Right," said Jace. "Well, I hope it won't stand in the way of your reconciliation."

"Reconciliation?" Alec spat. "Magnus and I aren't…it isn't like that between us anymore. I told you that already." He mounted his own horse and rode up next to Jace.

"Right. But that was just because you thought you were in love with me. Now that you know better—"

"Now that WHAT?" Alec shouted. "By the Angel, Jace. You're still trying to tell me how I feel? I thought I did a pretty good job of showing you exactly how I felt earlier, and you sure as hell weren't arguing with me then!"

"That was—I mean," Jace's cheeks flushed and he looked away. "That was a mistake, Alec. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

"You're sorry? Don't say that to me, Jace, don't you dare say that. You're sorry? Why? Because I'm a guy, or because I'm not your sister?"

Jace dug his heels lightly against the sides of the chestnut horse, and he began trotting slowly towards the tree line. "Neither," he answered, without looking back to see if Alec was following him. "It's not that easy, Alec. I'm not—what happened, we were both upset. You know I have no problem with you and Magnus, but I'm not—what I mean to say is, I like girls."

Alec snorted. "Yeah, I know you like girls. But when you were writhing on the floor begging me not to stop," he shook his head, as if trying to clear away the memory, "It seemed to me that you liked that, too."

"What was that?" Jace hissed, and ordered the horse to stop.

"When I was kissing you?" Alec stopped beside him.

"No, in the trees. Didn't you hear that?"

"Okay, now that was a really pathetic attempt to change the subject, Jace," Alec said bitterly. "I expected better tactics from you."

"I'm not trying to change—well, yes, I am trying to change the subject, but I really did hear something."

"Sure you did," disbelief colored Alec's voice.

"Shut up," Jace said, and felt the blood rush to his cheeks when he remembered the last time he'd given Alec that order.

Alec looked up with heat in his eyes, as if he were reliving the same memory. He startled when a loud cracking sound broke the relative silence. It wasn't possible to discern exactly where the noise had come from, but it had obviously originated from somewhere in the woods.

"Told you so," Jace said, and smoothly dismounted.

"What are you doing?" Alec asked.

"I'm going to check out the mysterious noise in the dark forest. There will probably be a demon or an escaped lunatic with a chainsaw; standard horror movie stuff. The sexy blond is usually the first to get hacked into pieces, but the sexy blond usually doesn't have one of these," Jace said, and pulled out a Seraph blade. "Also, they are usually just eye candy, whereas I fulfill both the roles of delicious eye candy and bad ass demon slayer."

"I meant what were you doing going on foot?" Alec said tonelessly, ignoring Jace's attempts at humor.

"The trees are too close together to allow for horses off the path, and it has been a long time since I trained to fight on horseback. I feel better on my own two feet."

"What about the horses?" Alec asked, jumping down to the ground.

"We can tie them up here and come back for them."

After the horses were secured to two separate trees, the Shadowhunters pulled out their witchlight rune stones and strode into the forest.

They hadn't traveled more than a few feet along the path when another loud crack issued from within the woods. Jace took off at a run, leaving behind the worn trail and charting one of his own through the dense groundcover. Alec sped after him, easily keeping pace with his supernatural speed.

The thought crossed Jace's mind that he was going to feel moronic if they charged in blades flashing after a deer or a farmer, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He had too much pent up energy, his blood was pulsing too hot and electric in his veins. He had to do something to work off the tension. His mind raced back to what he had done with his closest friend back at the estate, and his blood ran even hotter. Something other than that, he thought desperately.

He caught an acrid, unmistakable scent in the air then, growing stronger with every stride he took. Demon. And it had to be close from the smell of it. Jace looked over his shoulder at Alec, who nodded his head once to show that he understood. Both boys slowed their pace until they were silently stalking from tree to tree. Less than one hundred feet away from where Jace had first scented the demon, he spotted it. It was a Drevak demon, like the one that had attacked the werewolf girl Maia at Luke's house. It was odd that it would be out here in the middle of nowhere, and odder still that it would be alone.

Jace rode a wave of disappointment. He was glad to have a battle ahead of him—a demon slaying was just the type of release he was after. But a single Drevak would be easy for two well trained Nephilim to dispatch, far too easy. There wouldn't be nearly enough excitement, not nearly enough danger to satisfy the searing ache in Jace's bones. Grinning, he turned to whisper to Alec. "Stand guard," he smirked. "This one's mine."

Alec shook his head from side to side, but didn't follow Jace any further into the clearing. Jace stopped walking silently, deciding that the element of surprise would only make the slaying more boring. Better that the demon was prepared. The demon dropped the bloody carcass of some unknown animal to the ground to look at Jace. What was left of its ravaged body hinted at canine origins. Someone's hunting dog? Or were there werewolves prowling in Idris now, too? He would have to puzzle that mystery out later, because the Drevak was coming at him quickly, it's bloody spiny teeth gleaming eerily from the glow of Jace's Seraph blade and the witchlight he had activated.

The demon had come within ten yards of Jace before it whipped around quickly and took off running into the forest. Jace raised and eyebrow and took off after it, pleased and surprised that this particular demon was making it more of a challenge than he had expected. He was completely taken off guard when the second Drevak jumped out from behind a tree and knocked him to the ground on top of his Seraph blade, cutting his shoulder. He stood up to face the demon. It was his left shoulder—his dominant arm—that had been injured. He briefly considered calling Alec for help, but decided against it.

Fighting the demon with his right arm would make it all the more interesting. He smiled and lunged toward it, Seraph blade glowing in the darkness.

Within minutes Jace had vanquished the Drevak back to whatever dimension it hailed from. He was bloody where he'd been cut by his own blade, and sweaty from the physical exertion of fighting. He felt fantastic and pleased with himself that he managed to defeat the demon so handily with his non-dominant arm. Alec, however, seemed less pleased when he ran into the clearing and caught sight of Jace.

"God, Jace! Why do you do that?"

"Do what?" Jace groaned, eyeing his bloodied shoulder wearily.

"Act so…so damned recklessly! Do you want to die? Is that what this is about? I thought after everything that had happened with Clary, that you'd be past that by now."

Jace hissed. "This has nothing to do with Clary. I wasn't trying to die, Alec. If that was what I was after, there are plenty of ways I would choose over death by Drevak. It would be embarrassing to get taken down by one of those things. I'd rather get killed in a hit and run moped accident."

Alec threw his hands in the air. "And why must you make everything into a joke? This isn't funny, this is real life or death stuff happening. If we're right, and Valentine sent these demons, people are going to die, Jace. We almost did die the last time we faced him, or have your forgotten that? Are you so busy pretending not to care about anyone or anything that you can't see what's staring you in the face. Stop screwing around with the people you love, because there's a good chance some of us might not live long enough to hear your apology."

Jace blinked in surprise at the outburst. The old Alec had never been so blunt with him, but since that night on Valentine's ship, his friend had been more demanding and bold. This afternoon had proved that beyond the shadow of a doubt. Jace steadied himself with his uninjured arm and rose to his feet. He tried unsuccessfully to hide the wince of pain from where his shoulder stretched and bled. Why did it have to be his left shoulder? If it had been his right arm, he would have been able to draw his own iratze, but as it was…he bit his lip and looked guiltily up at Alec, fighting to hide the little hitch in his breathing and the speed of his pulse as he thought of the last Mark he had administered.

"Could you give me a hand here?" he asked, lowering his gaze to stare at his own boots. He didn't want to admit—even to himself—that he wasn't sure he was strong enough to look into Alec's sapphire eyes and find them filled with heat. What had happened earlier had been a mistake, he knew that. It couldn't happen again, he wouldn't let it happen again. If he could only keep from looking at Alec, keep himself from seeing the longing written across his features, he could be strong enough. He would be strong enough. It was a good plan, and it might have even worked, if only Alec's voice hadn't been so husky and saturated with primal want when he replied.

"Of course," Alec exhaled, and closed the distance between them, walking slowly to where the blond stood leaning against the trunk of a massive oak tree. "It isn't poisoned, is it? He didn't get you with claws or teeth?"

Jace shook his head, he was still looking down, but since Alec had moved directly in front of him, that view was no longer safe either. The finely sculpted muscles of Alec's chest and stomach were glistening with sweat and tiny rivulets of blood where they were visible through the tears in his shirt where branches had slashed fabric and skin as he ran through the woods. Jace's entire being reacted to the sight of Alec's body. His own body remembered all too clearly the feel of that skin against his own, the salty elixir of sweat and lust that would be so easy to reach out and reclaim. With great effort he pried his eyes away from Alec's body and up to his face. It was the stupidest thing he could have done.

Alec was looking at Jace with pure, unbridled longing. His eyes were wide, and so dark they were nearly black. His mouth was slightly open, and the way he caught his own bottom lip between his teeth made the gasping of his breath sound like stuttered whistles. He held his arms crossed tightly against his chest, as if he were physically fighting not to reach out and touch the blond. Jace realized with relief and disappointment that Alec never would touch him again. Not after Jace's spiel about what a mistake it had been. Alec had been strong enough to feel this way for years and never make the first move, and he was proud. He wouldn't risk that kind of rejection again.

They would go back to being friends. It was the right thing, Jace reminded himself silently. The best thing for both of them. He was still mentally extolling the virtues of not touching Alec at the same time that he reached out, hooking his hand into the boy's pocket, and pulled him forward forcefully. Both boys moaned when their bodies slammed together. Alec in surprise and pleasure, and Jace in pain from where Alec's weight had crushed his injured shoulder against the rough bark of the tree.

"Oh, God," Alec exhaled, not breaking their eye contact. "Your shoulder."

"Leave it," Jace breathed, barely recognizing the tones of his own voice, so blended with pain and pleasure and need. He slid his hand from where it clutched at Alec's pocket around underneath his torn shirt to place his palm against the dark haired boy's lower back. Before Alec had time to react, Jace pulled him harder against his own body and covered his mouth with a searing kiss.

Alec needed no more encouragement than that. The hesitancy Jace had sensed in the other boy melted away like the black of a used up Mark. One of Alec's strong hands wove its way behind Jace's head and into his damp hair. It was not gentle. He closed his fist around the locks, pulling as if he were angry, as if he wanted to hurt him. Jace whimpered and let his head fall heavily against the tree. Alec wasted no time in taking advantage of Jace's newly exposed neck. He lunged for the hollow beneath his jaw, licking and sucking and nibbling. His mouth was gentler than his hands, but only just.

"Alec," Jace moaned, not sure if he meant to encourage him or fend him off.

His intention didn't matter. The sound of his name so passionately on Jace's lips sent a racking shudder through Alec. He cried out and bucked against Jace, pressing him harder into the tree.

Beads of sweat were forming on the creased forehead below Jace's blond hair. The agonizing pain and pleasure of it all had him on sensory overload. Much more of this potent sensation and Jace thought he was likely to pass out.

"Alec," he tried again, "Alec, my shoulder." He felt the immediate loss of Alec's body heat as the blue-eyed boy stepped away from him, and drew his stele out. With shaky hands, Alec silently traced over the iratze on Jace's left arm, then covered the newly darkened rune with his mouth, gently teasing it with his teeth. The searing burn of it was incredible, and Jace cried out Alec's name, then opened his heavily lidded eyes to drink in his face.

"If you keep making the healing runes like this, I'm not going to be able to even look at a stele without—"

"Without what?" Alec whispered, pressing his hips back against Jace's.

Jace responded by sliding his hands back up Alec's torn shirt, gliding his fingers along the corded muscles of his back, and gripping his shoulder blades tightly. Using his grasp as leverage, he pulled the other boy against him, feeling the scratches of the tree bark against his own back, and not caring in the least.

Alec's searching lips left Jace's again, and swiftly went to work on the skin below his ear. Jace sighed and tilted his head to allow the other boy better access to continue the beautiful torture. He shivered when he felt the unmistakable pull of teeth on his earlobe, and Alec chuckled softly at the reaction. The exhale of the laugh brushed along the sensitive skin of Jace's ear, and another little spasm racked his spine. He jerked his hips sideways, creating a friction where their bodies touched that brought strangled groans from both boys, effectively cutting off Alec's laughter.

The dark haired boy restarted the slow manipulation of Jace's earlobe, and moved his hands down from the blond hair to tickle the curve of his neck and rest lightly atop his shoulders. He pulled his body back ever so slightly until the contact between them was only the lightest pressure. Jace raced his hands desperately down the other boy's back to grab his ass and pull him back to him, but Alec shook his head.

"No," Alec blew a hot breath in his ear, and pulled his body back again. "Turn around."

Jace pushed himself away from Alec, pressing tightly back against the tree. His voice held a desperate, panicked edge. "I don't think…I mean I'm not—"

"Shh," Alec put a finger against the other boy's lips to silence him, exactly as Jace had done to him that afternoon. "I know." He used his hands on Jace's shoulders to twist, encouraging him to turn.

"I…"

"Trust me," Alec moaned, and from the weight of his voice, Jace wasn't sure if it was a question or a demand.

He nodded.

"Then turn around."

Jace repositioned himself slowly, timidly, so that he was facing the tree. He brought both arms up to rest against his forehead—like a small child playing hide and seek—to protect his face from the punishing bark.

He flinched when he felt Alec step up behind him and press the heated lines of his body against his back. Alec slid either hand softly from the blades of his shoulders to his sides, tickling down his ribcage through the fabric of his shirt. It felt incredible, but Jace longed for the feel of skin on skin, wanted to feel Alec's flesh rather than his own clothing. He was about to voice that demand when he felt strong hands glide below his shirt, and up underneath it. He moaned and closed his eyes, content to luxuriate in the sensation.

Alec trailed one arm back down and wrapped it firmly around Jace's waist, locking their bodies together and assuring that he was in control of both of their movements. His other arm kept trailing up, teasing him with softly brushing fingertips. When he reached the hardened nub of a nipple, Alec used a fingernail to lightly scrape the sensitive skin. Jace jerked wildly in his grasp, and Alec held on more tightly to him, grinding himself against the other boy.

Jace cried out and felt his bones turn to liquid. It was all he could do to remain standing. Alec placed his lips back on Jace's neck, ticking and teasing just beneath his hairline. Jace gave another twisting jerk of his hips as he pressed back against the other boy, drawing a little keening noise from where Alec's lips caressed his skin.

Jace smiled. He'd liked the sound that Alec had made, liked that he had been the one to pry it from him. It made him feel powerful. He wanted to hear it again. He arched his back slowly, rubbing his ass unhurriedly against where Alec pressed firmly into him, and gave another little sideways jerk. This time, Alec's moan was louder, more desperate. Jace smiled again.

Alec's hand, the one that had been caressing Jace's chest beneath his shirt, began an agonizingly slow descent downward. It made little spirals of sensation along his ribcage, his stomach, and the tops of his hipbones where they peeked out from his low-slung jeans. Jace hissed when he felt both of Alec's thumbs slide beneath the denim.

Alec paused then, still but for the heaving breaths racking his chest. Jace thought he was giving him a chance to object, a chance to say no. A silent promise to stop if this wasn't what Jace wanted. But Jace did want this, and he had absolutely no intention of letting Alec stop now.

Slowly, so slowly that Jace would have had plenty of time to stop him, Alec unhooked his right hand from Jace's pants and slid it down the front of the fabric. When Jace felt Alec's strong hand grasp him through the denim of his jeans, he whimpered and gave himself over completely to the pleasure of it. Everything else was lost. There was no forest around them, no tree holding him up, no ground beneath his feet, and no Clave waiting for them back in the city. There was only the feel of the boy holding him. Only the tide of sensation.

It was then, when Jace had let down every guard, that the second Drevak demon found them.