“I’d rather have you in my life even as a brother than not at all—”

“If you’re being punished,” Clary said, “then so am I. Because all those things you felt, Ifelt them too, but we can’t—we have to stop feeling this way, because it’s our onlychance.”Jace’s hands were tight at his sides. “Our only chance for what?”“To be together at all. Because otherwise we can’t ever be around each other, not evenjust in the same room, and I can’t stand that. I’d rather have you in my life even as abrother than not at all”

“And you don't care that I'm your brother," he said. "I know how you felt about Jace, even when you thought he was your brother. You can't lie to me.""Jace is better than you.""No one's better than me.”

“So, technically," Simon said, "even though Jace isn't actually related to you, you have kissed your brother.”

“You’re in my bones and my blood and my heart,” he said. “I’d have to tear myself open to let you go.”

“You should see his older brother,” said Jem. “Makes Gabriel look sweeter than gingerbread. Hates Will even more thanGabriel, too, if that’s possible.”

“I dont know," said Simon, "it doesn't sound so bad to me. I'd rather have someone mess around inside my head than chop it off.""Then you're a bigger idiot than you look.”