“Hodge says he's on his way and he hopes you can both manage to cling to your flickering sparks of life until he gets here," she told Simon and Jace. "Or something like that.""I wish he'd hurry," Jace said crossly. He was sitting up in bed against a pair of fluffed white pillows, still wearing his filthy clothes."Why? Does it hurt?" Clary asked."No. I have a high pain threshold. In fact, it's less of a threshold and more of a large and tastefully decorated foyer. But I do get easily bored." He squinted at her. "Do you remember back at the hotel when you promised that if we lived, you'd get dressed up in a nurse's outfit and give me a sponge bath?""Actually, I think you misheard," Clary said. "It was Simon who promised you the sponge bath."Jace looked involuntarily over at Simon, who smiled at him widely. "As soon as I'm back on my feet, handsome.”

“Do you remember back at the hotel when you promised that if we lived, you’d get dressed up in a nurse’s outfit and give me a sponge bath?" asked Jace."It was Simon who promised you the sponge bath.""As soon as I’m back on my feet, handsome," said Simon."I knew we should have left you a rat.”

“You look happy," he said to Clary. He swiveled his gaze to Jace. "And a good thing for you that she does."Jace raised an eyebrow. "Is this the part where you tell me that if I hurt her, you'll kill me?""No," said Simon, "If you hurt Clary, she's quite capable of killing you herself. Possibly with a variety of weapons."Jace looked pleased by the thought.”

“I have a high pain threshold. In fact, it's more of a large and tastfully decorated foyer than a threshold. But I do get easily bored”

“I'll walk you back, Jace said. "As for Simon, he can manage his own way back in the dark-can't you Simon?""Of course he can, Alec said indignantly, as if eager to make up for his earlier slighting of Simon. "He's a vampire-and," he added, "I just realized that you were probably joking. Never mind me.”

“Yes," Jace said, "I regret having disobeyed you."No! Clary thought, but her heart sank. Was he giving up, did he think it was the only way to save her and Simon?Valentine's face softened. "Jonathan-""Especially," Jace said, "since I plan to do it again. Right now.”