“Sebastian never does anything just for fun.” Jace took Clary’s hand and pulled her toward him. “But I do.”

“Jace: 'I don't like keeping her in the dark.'Sebastian: 'We'll tell her in a week. What difference does a week make?'Jace: 'Two weeks ago you were dead.'Sebastian: 'Well, I wasn't suggesting twoweeks. That would be insane.”

“But Jace", Clary said. "Valentine taught him more than just fighting. He taught him languages, and how to play the piano""That was Jocelyn's influence." Sebastian said her name unwillingly, as if he hated the sound of it. "She thought Valentine ought to be able to talk about books, art, music...not just killing things. He passed that on to Jace."A wrought iron blue gate rose to their left. Sebastian ducked under it and beckoned Clary to follow him. She didn't have to duck but went after him, her hands stuffed into her pockets. "What about you?" she asked.He held up his hands. They were unmistakably her mother's hands - dexterous, long-fingered, meant for holding a brush or a pen. "I learned to play the instruments of war, " he said, "and paint in blood. I am not like Jace.”

“I don’t like keeping her in the dark,” Jace said.“We’ll tell her in a week. What difference does a week make?”Jace gave him a look. “Two weeks ago you were dead.”“Well, I wasn’t suggesting two weeks,” said Sebastian. “That would be insane.”

“Sebastian just smiled. “I could hear your heart beating,” he said softly. “When you were watching me with Valentine. Did it bother you?”“That you seem to be dating my dad?” Jace shrugged. "You’re a little young for him, to be honest.”“What?” For the first time since Jace had met him, Sebastian seemed flabbergasted.”

“I knew, in the silence that followed, that anything could happen here. It might be too late: again, I might have missed my chance. But I would at least know I tried, that I took my heart and extended my hand, whatever the outcome."Okay," he said. He took a breath. "What would you do, if you could do anything?"I took a step toward him, closing the space between us. "This," I said. And then I kissed him.”