Our Fate II ➰Shadowhunters➰ [Jace]

➰Chapter Forty-six➰

➰Chapter Forty-six➰

"By the Angel... Is she going to be okay?" Leah asked, staring at her unconscious sister in horror.

"So you didn't see the attacker at all? No description? Nothing?" Jace questioned Simon, much to Leah's distaste. They both seemed to be pretty upset about Clary, and it hit Leah the wrong way to hear Jace's questioning of the vampire who was probably just as worried about Clary as she was.

"Hey, can't we do that later?" Leah suggested.

Simon replied, though. "It was hard to see and I had to choose. Either go after them or help Clary. Would you have done it differently?"

Jace remained silent, making Leah frown. "I hope that silence means 'no'."

"You better get going."

"No. I'm not going anywhere until she wakes up," Simon stated.

"Under the circumstances, there's a lockout order on all Downworlders," Jace insisted.

Leah rolled her eyes. "Isn't there an exception to that rule? I mean... Simon saved her, Jace. He deserves to be here when she wakes up."

"I wish that were possible, but the Institute is on high alert. There are new rules—"

"I don't care about your rules. I care about Clary. I'm not leaving," Simon declared once again, impressing Leah by how apprehensive he was acting.

"It's not a request, Mr. Lewis," Inquisitor Herondale said, walking into the room out of nowhere.

"Look, I'm not a criminal, I'm her boyfriend—"

"Simon. Please don't make this worse," Jace said.

"Worse? Worse for whom?" Leah asked, feeling increasingly annoyed by Jace's lack of compassion.

"It's protocol, Leah. Nothing personal," Jace replied emotionlessly.

"Wait, you can't—"

Leah sighed, knowing that if they pushed it further, it wouldn't end well for Simon. She had to take care of him, especially now that Clary wouldn't be able to stick up for her best friend. "Simon... I promise, I'll let you know as soon as something changes, okay? Please... I can't have her wake up to her best friend being in prison."

Simon gave her a pained look and shook his head. "No. I'm not leaving."

"You will leave this Institute, or I'll have you escorted to a cell," The Inquisitor threatened.

"I'm. Not. Leaving," Simon stated.

"Very well," The Inquisitor's henchmen then took Simon under their custody and dragged him out of the room, while Leah tried to stop them.

"Wait. No! Simon has got nothing to do with this—" Leah watched as he disappeared into the hallway and then turned to Jace, as angrily as ever. "Are you really going to let them do that?"

"Simon has been helpful in the past. He's an ally. Don't you think throwing him in jail is a little excessive?" Jace asked his grandmother.

"A Downworlder cannot challenge our authority. Not in times like these."

"You know what the downfall of a great empire is?" Leah asked, stepping towards the Inquisitor, narrowing her eyes with all the anger she felt at her. "Believing they're gods. Believing they're so above everyone else."

Before the Inquisitor could reply, they all received an emergency alert from the Institute, letting them know another body had been located. Leah sighed, while Jace shook his head. "Another body found."