“I'll just have them change the entry in the demonology textbook from 'almost extinct' to 'not extinct enough for Alec. He prefers his monsters really, really extinct.' Will that make you happy?”

“Just because you said dragon demons were extinct—""I said mostly extinct."Alec jabbed a finger toward him."Mostly extinct," he said, his voice trembling with rage, "is NOTEXTINCT ENOUGH.""I see," said Jace. "I'll just have them change the entry in the demonology textbook from 'almost extinct' to 'not extinct enough for Alec. He prefers his monsters really, really extinct.' Will that make you happy?”

“Simon grinned. "You've never heard of Dungeons and Dragons?""I've heard of dungeons," Jace said. "Also dragons. Although they're mostly extinct.”

“Green-eyed monsters,” said Magnus, and grinned. He deposited Chairman Meow on the ground, and the cat moved over to Alec, and rubbed against his leg. “The Chairman likes you.”“Is that good?”“I never date anyone my cat doesn’t like,” Magnus said easily, and stood up. “So let’s say Friday night?”A great wave of relief came over Alec. “Really? You want to go out with me?”Magnus shook his head. “You have to stop playing hard to get, Alexander. It makes things difficult.” He grinned.”

“Sweet pea?'" Alec said."I was just trying it out."Alec shook his head. "No."Magnus shrugged. "I'll keep at it.”

“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.”

“Mother." Alec's voice as he interrupted his mother was firm, implacable, and notunkind. "Father. There's something I have to tell you." He smiled at them. "I'm seeing someone."Robert Lightwood looked at his son with some exasperation. "Alec," he said."This is hardly the time.""Yes, it is. This is important. You see, I'm not just seeing anyone." Wordsseemed to be pouring out of Alec in a torrent, while his parents looked on inconfusion. Isabelle and Magnus were staring at him with expressions of nearly identical astonishment. "I'm seeing a Downworlder. In fact, I'm seeing a war—"Magnus's fingers moved, quick as a flash of light, in Alec's direction. There was a faint shimmer in the air around Alec — his eyes rolled up — and he dropped to the floor, felled like a tree.”