“We shouldn’t,” protested Isabelle. “The Clave has a plan.”“The Clave has the collective intelligence of a pineapple,” said Jace.Alec blinked up at them. “Jace is right.”Isabelle turned on her brother. “What do you know? You weren’t even paying attention.”“I was,” Alec said, injured. “I said Jace was right.”“Yeah, but there’s like a 90% chance of me being right most of the time, so that’s not proof you were listening,” said Jace. “That’s just a good guess.”

“And the Clave wants to meet Clarissa. You know that, Jace.""The Clave can screw itself.""Jace," Maryse said, sounding genuinely parental for a change. "Language.""The Clave wants a lot of things," Jace amended. "It shouldn't necessarily get them all.”

“Jace's eyes sparkled, but he said calmly, "Not at all. the Silent Brothers can help her retrieve her memories.""You hate the Silent Brothers," protested Isabelle."I don't hate them," said Jace candidly."I'm afraid of them. It's not the same thing.""I thought you said they were libarians," said Clary."They are librarians."Simon whistled. "Those must be some killer late fees.”

“What did Isabelle want?" Jace asked.Alec hesitated. "Isabelle says the Queen of the Seelie Court has requested an audience with us.""Sure," said Magnus. "And Madonna wants me as a backup dancer on her next world tour."Alec looked puzzled. "Who's Madonna?""Who's the Queen of the Seelie Court?" said Clary."She is the Queen of Faerie," said Magnus. "Well, the local one, anyway."Jace put his head in his hands. "Tell Isabelle no.""But she thinks it's a good idea," Alec protested."Then tell her no twice.”

“She shrugged. "All right. Are you going to come back? Do you want any soup?""No," said Jace."Do you think Hodge will want any soup?"No one wants any soup.""I want some soup," Simon said."No, you don't," said Jace. "You just want to sleep with Isabelle."Simon was appalled. "That is not true.""How flattering," Isabelle murmured into the soup, but she was smirking.”

“And as for the Lightwoods," Simon said, "it's not that I like them that much. I mean, I like Isabelle, and I sort of like Alec and Jace, too. But there's this girl. And Jace is her brother."When Samuel replied, he sounded, for the first time genuinely amused. "Isn't there always a girl.”