“What's all this about yanking poor Magnus and Alec back from their vacation?" Isabelle demanded. "They have opera tickets!”

“What do you need the phone for, Alec?” “We just need it,” Alec said impatiently. “Izzy-”“If you‘re texting Magnus to say ‘I think ur kewl,’ I‘m going to kill you.”“Who‘s Magnus?” Max inquired.“He‘s a warlock,” said Alec.“A sexy, sexy warlock,” Isabelle told Max, ignoring Alec’s look of total fury.”

“Fine." Magnus stood up. "But," he added, pausing by Alec's chair and leaning in close to him, "you are not trivial."Alec flushed. "If you say so," he said."I say so," said Magnus, and he turned to follow Isabelle out of the room.”

“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."Alec frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?""Oh, just that some of Isabelle's ideas are world-beaters and some are total disasters. Remember that idea she had about using abandoned subway tunnels to get around under the city? Talk about giant rats—""Let's not," said Simon. "I'd rather not talk about rats at all, in fact.”

“Jace?" She offered him the glass. "I am a man," he told her. "And men do not consume pink beverages. Get the gone, woman and bring me something brown.""Brown?" Isabelle made a face. "Brown is a manly colour," said Jace and yanked on a stray lock of Isabelle's hair with his free hand. "In fact, look-Alec is wearing it."Alec looked mournfully down at his sweater. "It was black," he said. "But then it faded.""You could dress it up with a sequined headband," Magnus suggested.”

“Who's Magnus?" Max inquired"He's a warlock," said Alec"A sexy, sexy warlock," Isabelle told Max."But warlocks are bad," protested Max"Exactly".”