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Chapter Text

In the Los Angeles Institute, things work a little differently. For starters, it was run by a 17-year-old named Julian Blackthorn who was also in charge of raising and taking care of his other five brothers while maintaining everything in order. And in the last couple of days, everything had gone way out of hand very fast.  Let's start with the fact that he was in love with his Parabatai Emma Carstairs, who was now currently dating his older brother Mark, and to topple everything Parabatis weren't allowed to be in love and the reason was still clueless to him. Why was it Illegal to be in love with your Parabatai?

The second fact was that they were adding a new member to the household, Kit Rook, or as it turns out Kit Herondale. He has been shut out in his new room with no intention of getting out, he was dealing with the death of his father as well as being discovered as a Shadowhunter.  The twins, Tiberius and Livia were keeping tabs on him. They seemed to be mesmerized by the idea of another Shadowhunter their same age, not to mention keeping him from running away. Another two installments to the group were Cristina Rosales, Emma's new best friend, and her ex-something Diego Rosales. Who they appear to have a rocky relationship with a betrayal in their history. 

It was the day after the battle with Malcolm Fade, the rogue Warlock who betrayed them in order to bring someone back from the dead, and as far as they knew failed and died. So to check on them were Clary Fairchild and Jace Herondale, who also wanted to meet Kit. They were all in the kitchen eating breakfast when a knock on the front door appear.

"It can't be the centurions? Can it?" asked Dru

"It's too early, besides I don't think they got the message that quickly. Not a day has passed yet," answered Ty

Meanwhile, they all got up to stare at the front way while Julian opened the door. They were pleasantly surprised to see Magnus, Alec, Izzi, and Simon on the porch with two little kids, one being Max and the other one Rafe. As they all greeted each other Julian ushered them into the kitchen where they could all be seated. 

"What are you guys doing here?" asked Clary delighted. 

"Well, this morning Magnus got a package with a book, we thought it was a prank obviously but we checked for with every spell but they appear to be legit. So we called Izzy and we brought them here," Answered Alec 

They were bewildered why did a book cause such a commotion, "What is the book about?" asked Julian but more for everyone. 

"It's about you guys, but specifically you and Emma," responded Magnus

Emma's cheek pinked, "Why would somebody do that?" 

"That is what we don't know," piped up Simon who was enjoying this way too much. 

"There was a note that explain it," said Izzy reaching inside the box to grab it. Then proceeded to read it out loud.

"I hope this get's to the right person at the right time. There will be some occurrences in the future that will change the course of your life. Some situations may be uncomfortable or weird, but they are important in the near future. It is in my best interest to help you and I hope you believe me.

Sincerely yours,"

 They pondered it for a few minutes they all seemed to agree that it will be a great idea to see what the future holds for them. 

"We should move to the library, more comfortable and private," suggested Julian as they followed him. 

Once they settled Alec said proudly, "By the way, this Rafael our second son," 

As congratulations were said, Emma spoke, "So that is what you were doing in Buenos Aires," which earned a smirk from Magnus. 

"What do we do now?" questioned Kit, it was the first time he talked to them since he arrived. And it was not unnoticed by the rest. 

"We start reading, of course, but won't the centurions notice we are here?" Ty replied. 

Magnus winked, "I came prepared," and started conjuring a spell  

Chapter Text

What the spell did was freeze time for the people outside of the library but not for them. So as far as they knew they could read freely without any inconvenience and it was like they didn't waste a day after all.

“So, who wants to read?” Alec invited anyone to grab the book.

Simon was the first one to offer, so he picked it up and started reading.

A knock on the door yanked her out of her reverie. She started up; the room was dim, but she could make out bright red hair, Clary’s curious face peering around the door’s edge. “Emma? Are you awake? Are you on the floor?”

Some people chuckled while others had their eyebrows raised in question.

“Is there somewhere we can talk?” Clary said. She was still so small, Emma thought, it was sometimes hard to remember that she was in her twenties. Her hair was caught back in braids, making her seem even younger.

“On the roof,” Emma decided. “I’ll show you.”

“So this hasn't happened yet?” asked Julian

And both shake their heads.

“Emma shook her head. “I’m—I’m dating Mark.”

“Mark?” Clary looked as if Emma had handed her a two-headed lizard. “Mark Blackthorn?”

“What?!” Izzy and Clary exclaimed. Emma was blushing as well as Mark who avoided everyone's gaze.

“No, not him.” Clary pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her chin on her knees. “That’s just the thing,” she said. “I—I mean, who I pictured you with, it doesn’t make any sense”

“Of course it doesn't make sense,” thought bitterly Emma. But all she said out loud was,” Where is this convention going?” and Clary shrugged even though she has a clue.

“Clary, what are you not telling me?”

There was a long silence. Clary looked out toward the dark water. Finally, she spoke. “Jace asked me to marry him.”

Simon stopped reading as well as the others to look at the couple ready to congratulate them till they saw Jace's head shake saying a silent no. So he continued reading.

“Oh!” Emma had already begun opening her arms to hug the other girl when she caught sight of Clary’s expression. She froze. “What’s wrong?”

After a long silence…

“What?!” the whole room blurted.

“Why didn't you say anything,”  Jace said hurt.

“Because I didn't want this type of reaction and how can you say to the people that mean the most to you that you won't be there,” Clary explained worriedly, “I know what I saw but we still won't know if it's true,  we are reading a book that it's in the future.”

“Is this about your mission? Do you think something’s going to happen to you?”

“No—no, nothing like that,” Clary said. “It’s hard to explain. It’s a knowledge that it will happen, but not exactly when, or how.”

“Everyone’s afraid of dying,” Emma said.

“Everyone isn’t,” said Clary, “and I’m not, but I am afraid of leaving Jace. I’m afraid of what it would do to him. And I think being married would make it worse. It alters things, being married. It’s a promise to stay with someone else. But I couldn’t promise to stay for very long—” She looked down. “I realize it sounds ridiculous. But I know what I know.”

“It isn't ridiculous,” said Mark as someone who thought they would never see his family again. Without any warning or goodbye if they ever took him again.

“Have you told him?” Emma asked.

“I haven’t told anyone but you.” Clary turned and looked at Emma anxiously. “I’m asking you for a favor. A huge one.” She took a deep breath. “If I do die, I want you to tell them—Jace and the others—that I knew. I knew I was going to die and I wasn’t scared. And tell Jace this is why I said no.”

“I—but why me?”

“There isn’t anyone else I know I could tell this to without them freaking out or thinking I was having a breakdown and needed a therapist—well, in Simon’s case, that’s what he’d say.” Clary’s eyes were suspiciously bright as she said her parabatai’s name. “And I trust you, Emma”

“Thank you, Clary,” Emma said brightly and hugged her. “I promised we would stop whatever dream you have."

Clary smiled warmly as she backed away next to Jace who was still shaken from what he heard. He knew these dreams too well he remembered how sometimes how they helped them but now… he couldn't think of it right now, but hopefully it won't happen.

Chapter Text

“So who wants to go next?” asked Simon 
“Me, me,” Livvy said excitedly. Not like a child, just nosy. So she began: 

“Sorry,” Emma said, as the car righted itself. They’d been driving around for several hours as Sterling hurtled all over the city, and her hands were starting to ache from gripping the wheel.
Cristina sighed. “Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?”

“Oh no!” said both friends at the same time as they realized what moment they meant. 
The room seemed intrigued. 
“So, this happened already?” asked Kit. 
Emma nodded biting her lip worriedly about everyone finding out the truth of her love for Julian. She seemed to get closer to Cristina as she would protect her from what's to come. Tina herself looked worriedly for her friend. 
The people on the table seemed to grasp at the distress on the girl's faces but continued clearly intrigued.

Emma shifted. She was wearing her gear jacket, and it was hot in the car. She felt as if all her skin was itching. “I’m really, really sorry, Tina,” she said. “I didn’t think—I shouldn’t have asked you to cover up for me when I went to the convergence. It wasn’t fair.”
Cristina was silent for a moment. “I would have done it,” she said. “If you’d told me what it was about.”
Emma’s throat felt tight. “I’m not used to trusting people. But I should have trusted you. When you leave, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m going to miss you so much.”
Cristina smiled at her. “Come to the D.F.,” she said. “See how we do things there. You can take your travel year in my city.” She paused. “I forgive you, by the way.”
A small weight lifted from Emma’s chest. “I’d love to go to Mexico,” she said. “And Julian would—”
She broke off. Of course, most people with parabatai accompanied them on their travel year. But the thought of Julian hurt, a sharp quick pain like a needle stick.

Julian looked up at her for the first time in days. He was definitely not going to get his hopes up. Emma sighed.
Picking up the vibes Izzy asked,” Are you guys fighting?”
Julian said no while Emma hummed not giving anything away.

“Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?” Cristina asked.
“No,” Emma said.
“Fine. Then turn left onto Entrada,” Cristina said.
“It’s like having supernatural GPS,” Emma observed. She could see Cristina scowling at the map across her knees in the passenger seat.
“And, of course, there are the enormous bunny rabbits,” Cristina said.
“What?” Emma snapped back to the present.
“I’ve been talking at you for the last three minutes! Where is your mind, Emma?”
“I slept with Julian,” Emma said.
Cristina shrieked. 

Livvy sputtered the last words in utter shock and then whispered to Ty the meaning of that phrase, still hearing everyone gasp. 
As Emma predicted everyone made a sudden riot. A variation of “What?!” was heard all around them. Julian was blushing furiously not meeting anyone's eyes. 
“Shadowhunters, of course,” Magnus sighed resigned. 
“You know you can't be together, it is illegal,” Alec said firmly. 
“We know,” spit out Julian venomous. 
Emma leaned closer to Tina with the unbearable feeling of the truth coming out and how she would get out of this mess.

Mark felt bad for pretending to be with Emma when she is in fact in love with his brother, he would have to talk to her even though he didn't know why she chose him. 

“I thought you weren’t going to tell me what was wrong!” Cristina said.
“I changed my mind.”
“Why?” They were whipping around corners lined with palm trees, stucco houses set back from the streets. Emma knew she was driving too fast; she didn’t care.
“I mean—I was in the ocean, and he pulled me out, and things got out of hand—”
“No,” Cristina said. “Not why did you do it. Why did you change your mind about telling me?”
“Because I’m a horrible liar,” Emma said. “You would have guessed.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” Cristina took a deep breath. “I suppose I should ask the real question. Do you love him?”
Emma didn’t say anything. 

“She doesn't, so it's fine,” Julian let out strained. Everyone in the room looked confused and Emma bit her lip in some form of restraint. 
But either way, she said, “How can you say that?”
“It's the truth, isn't it?” he replied mockingly

Most people knew how complicated this situation was, being in love with someone who you can't have because they seem so out of reach or in this case forbidden. 

Cristina exhaled slowly. “You do love him.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“It’s all over your face,” Cristina said. “I know what that looks like.” She sounded sad.
“Don’t pity me, Tina,” Emma said. “Please don’t.”
“I’m just frightened for you. The Law is very clear, and the punishments are so severe.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter,” said Emma, her voice tinged with bitterness. “He doesn’t love me. And being unrequitedly in love with your parabatai isn’t illegal, so don’t worry.”
“He what?” Cristina said, sounding shocked.
“He doesn’t love me,” said Emma. “He was very clear about that.”
Cristina opened her mouth and then closed it again.
“I guess it’s flattering that you’re surprised,” Emma said.

“If you are then why the hell are you dating my brother,” Julian spoke again. 

"You don't understand Julian, you don't know everything," Emma replied without meaning to. 

"Then explain, because as far as I know, you told me it didn't matter then you turned around and cut me off to be with Mark." Julian taunted aggressively.

"It's illegal for a reason and there's all you need to know," Emma cut in ending this drama. Magnus looked at her suspectingly, he knew she knew about the curse.  

“I don’t know what to say.” Cristina put her hand over her heart. “There are the things you would normally say in this situation. If it was anyone else but Julian I’d be telling you how lucky he was to have someone as brave and smart as you are in love with him. I would be scheming with you about how we could make such a silly boy realize such an obvious thing. But it is Julian, and it is illegal, and you must not do anything more, Emma. Promise me.”
“He doesn’t want me that way,” Emma said. “So it doesn’t matter. I just—” She broke off. She didn’t know what else to say or how to say it. There was never going to be another Julian for her.

This time Julian did shut up, all this time thinking that it didn't even matter to Emma to find out exactly what he wanted. It's true that he didn't understand her reasons but hopefully, he will know soon. Emma let a sigh be heard and the people looked from uncomfortable to pitiful. 

"I can't believe you never told me," said Livvy turning the page, "Well it doesn't matter, so who wants to read next?"

Chapter Text

"Me," said Emma trying to change the mood of the room after what they've read and discovered. 

She looked down on the page, chuckled, and began reading. 

“Kit,” said a voice above him—Tiberius’s voice. “Stop thrashing.” Ty shook his dark hair out of his face. He was kneeling over Kit—sitting on his solar plexus, pretty much, which made it hard to breathe—dressed all in black the way Shadowhunters did when they went out to fight. Only his hands and face were bare, very white in the darkness.
“Were you running away?” he said.
“I was going for a walk,” said Kit.
“No, you’re lying,” said Ty, eyeing Kit’s duffel bag. “You were running away”

Kit huffed in exasperation, Ty looked perplexed on why he would run away but he was glad he was the one who caught him. The rest of the room was worried for Kit who had just lost his father and they knew how strange this situation for Kit was, becoming a Shadowhunter and feeling completely alone. 

Kit had looked at him and forgotten the knife and thought, Beautiful.
Beautiful like all the Shadowhunters were beautiful, like moonlight shearing off the edges of broken glass: lovely and deadly. Beautiful things, cruel things, cruel in that way that only people who absolutely believed in the rightness of their cause could be cruel.

Kit blushed crimson while most of the people gave him puzzled looks. He got defensive and said, "What? I'm not blind," which made Magnus laugh out loud. "This is why I always like the Herondales." 

“I need you,” Ty said. “You might be surprised to hear that”

A lightbulb went off in Kit’s head. “You want a—wait, you’ve been sleeping outside my room because you want a sort of Watson for your Sherlock Holmes?”
Ty’s eyes lit up. They still moved restlessly around Kit as if he were reading him, examining him, never quite meeting Kit’s own, but that didn’t dim their glow. “You know about them?”

"I am nobody's Watson," pouted Kit while some people chuckled at the bizarre scene. Ty's eyes were blazing in excitement. 

“Don’t think of them as crimes. Think of them as mysteries. Besides, what else are you going to do? Run away? And go where?”
“I don’t care—”
“You do, though,” said Ty. “You want to live. Just like everyone else does. You don’t want to be trapped, is all.” He cocked his head to the side.

Wow, thought Kit. He knows just what to say. In response, he just groaned at the scenario. 

“How’d you know I was going to run away tonight?”
“Because you were getting used to it here,” said Ty. “You were getting used to us. But the Centurions, you don’t like them. Livvy noticed it first. And after what Zara said today about you going to the Academy—you must feel like you’re not going to have any choices about what you do, after this.”
It was true, surprisingly so. Kit couldn’t find the words to explain how he’d felt at the dinner table. As if becoming a Shadowhunter meant being shoved into a machine that would chew him up and spit out a Centurion.

Since no one knew any Centurions yet they couldn't comment on the behavior but seeing the distress on both boys they got a pretty good idea of what type of person they were. Again some people smiled at Kit's imagination. 

“Actually, there’s a mystery going on right now.”
Kit was intrigued despite himself. “What is it?”
“I think they’re not here for the reason they claim they are. I think they’re up to something,” Ty said. “And they’re definitely lying to us.”
“Who’s lying?”
Ty’s eyes sparkled. “The Centurions, of course. ”

"Of course they are," Julian said irritated. Haven't they had enough problems?

Emma stop reading with a slight smug on her face and passed the book to Alec who had asked her to read the next chapter. 

Chapter Text

Alec began reading without preamble. 

“What have you got there?”
“Updates from my father,” Zara said. “He was disappointed about the outcome of the last Council, obviously. The decision to let that half-breed Mark Blackthorn remain among decent Nephilim would offend anyone.”
Manuel picked up her glass of wine. Red lights glinted in its depths. “Still, we must look to the future,” he said. “Getting rid of Mark wasn’t the point of our journey here, after all. He’s a minor annoyance, like his siblings.”

The whole room gasp and looked quite angered with this Zara chick.

"Who even is this?" Emma said annoyed. 

"Zara Dearborn, daughter of Horace. He is the leader of the cohort." Explained Alec with disdain. 

"They believe that Shadowhunters are superior to everyone else." continued Magnus with a bored expression. 

“True. The first step is the Registry,” Zara said. She patted the papers, making them rustle. “My father says the Cohort is strong in Idris, and they believe the Los Angeles Institute is ripe for the plucking. The incident with Malcolm sowed considerable doubt in the West Coast’s ability to make judgments. And the fact that the High Warlock of Los Angeles and the head of the local vampire clan both turned out to be enmeshed in dark magic—”

"That's horrible!" most people shouted. 

"They can't possibly approve that," said Simon in anger. This was getting too real, and unbelievable too close to world history. 

Kit’s stomach lurched. This was close enough to mundane history to make him taste bile in the back of his throat.

The same Kit thought the same, he hated those people. Those people represented what he thought all Shadowhunters were. 

“And if they’re not inclined to be registered, then they can be convinced easily enough with a little pain,” said Manuel.
Zara frowned. “I think you enjoy the torture, Manu.”

"They disgust me," said Clary

He leaned forward, elbows on the table, his face open and handsome and charming. “I think you do too, Zara. I’ve seen you admiring my work.” He flexed his fingers. “You just don’t want to admit it in front of Perfect Diego.”
“Seriously? They call him that too?” Kit muttered under his breath.

Some people laughed at Kit's comment.

“What about Emma Carstairs?”
Zara began gathering up the pages of her father’s letter. She didn’t look at Manuel. “What about her?”

"Oh no, what now?" Emma said annoyed. As Alec looked down on the page and gave Emma an apologetic look. 

“Vanessa Ashdown says she’s a boy-crazy slut,” said Zara, and the ugly words seemed to echo off the rock walls. Kit thought of Emma with her sword, Emma saving his life, Emma hugging Cristina and looking at Julian like he hung the moon, and he wondered if he could get away with stomping on Zara’s foot the next time he saw her.

They all gasped except Emma who looked bored. "Wow, as if Vanessa is a saint," Emma retorted and gave a smile to Kit who apparently defended her in some way.

“And I haven’t been particularly impressed by her in person. She’s quite, quite ordinary.”
“I’m sure she is,” said Manuel as Zara rose to her feet, papers in hand. “I still don’t understand what you see in Diego.”
“You wouldn’t. It’s a family alliance.”
“An arranged marriage? How mundane and medieval.”

"What?!" they all said.

"Diego's engaged?" said Cristina in a small voice. She felt stupid taking him back when he was already in a relationship. 

"I'm so sorry Tina," said Emma rubbing her shoulder. "But it's not like she loves her, right? It's all an arrangement." 

"It doesn't matter, he still lied to me again," said Cristina hurt.

"So what did we learn from this chapter?" said Jace changing the subject.

"Well, the cohort has plans to take the council and register downworlders and also take control of this institute," Izzy answered taking the book from his brother to continue reading. 

Chapter Text

Izzy began reading, surprise was written all over her face. 

“Julian Blackthorn,” said the Queen of the Seelie Court. “Wake now and come with me, for I have something to show you.”

"Ug I hate her," said with resentment Clary and Emma at the same time, and they high five and smiled. 

"Why are we in faerie?" wondered Julian, making all wonder the same thing. 

“Malcolm Fade! I am here, with Blackthorn blood!”
“But Malcolm’s dead,” Julian murmured, staring at the bowl. “He died.”
“It is a weakness of your kind, to regard death as so final,” said the Queen with glee, “especially when it comes to warlocks.”

"Malcolm's alive?!" all Shadowhunter said at the same time. 

"Oh no, uncle Arthur," said Julian sullenly. 

“Don’t worry, darling,” said Malcolm. “I’ve brought you what you need.”
“No!” Julian cried, but it was as he had feared: He could not halt the events unfolding before him. Malcolm snatched up the blade from beside Annabel and sliced open Arthur’s throat.”

They covered the kid's ears and at the same time grimaced at the image in their heads. 

Malcolm looked stricken. “Do not weep,” he said. “My darling, my Annabel.” He reached for her. Annabel stepped toward him, her face lifting to his. He bent down as if to kiss her just as she swept her arm up, driving the knife she held into his body.
Malcolm stared at her in disbelief. Then he cried out. It was a cry of more than pain—a howl of utter, despairing betrayal and heartbreak. A howl that seemed to rip through the universe, tearing apart the stars.

"What?!" they all looked thunderstruck. 

"Why would she kill him?" asked Ty 

"Maybe because she didn't want to be restricted," guessed Alec

They all wondered the very same thing. 

“What kind of bargain?” he said, and his voice was as steady as a rock.
She shook her head. Her red hair rayed out around her gaunt and hollowed face. “I would have all of your group there when the bargain is made, Shadowhunter.”

"I don't trust her," Emma said

"We don't have to trust her, but maybe she can help us," Julian reasoned. 

“What do you want from us?”
“I want you to find Annabel Blackthorn for me,” she said, “and retrieve the Black Volume." 

"Why would she need the black volume for?" asked Jace.

"The Black Volume isn't just for necromancy, It has very powerful spells and very powerful dark magic," answered Magnus truthfully.

“True,” said Emma. “But what do you care if he’s made the Unseelie Lands off-limits to Shadowhunters?”
The Queen looked at her with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I do not,” she said. “But the King has taken one of my people. A member of my Court, very dear to me. He holds that person captive in his land. I want them back.”
Her voice was cold.

They all looked bemused at each other, who was so important to the queen?

“Times change and so do alliances,” said the Queen. “The King is now a greater threat to me and mine than the Nephilim. And I will prove my loyalty.” She leaned her head back, and her crown shimmered. “I offer the end of the Cold Peace,” she said, “and the return of your sister, Alessa, to you.”

"The end of the cold peace..." Cristina wondered out loud.

"Could that be possible?" asked Mark.

"If everything goes right I don't know how it cannot," said Alec. 

“You make it sound so simple,” Julian said. “If you do not plan on putting Kieran on the throne, why drag him in here?”
“I have another use for him,” said the Queen. “I require an envoy. One whose identity they know.” She turned to Kieran. “You will be my messenger to the Clave. You will swear loyalty to one of these Shadowhunters, here. Because of that, and because you are the Shadow King’s son, when you speak to the Council, they will know you are speaking from me, and that they will not be tricked again as they were with the liar Meliorn."

"Kieran is with us?" Mark said feeling a pit in his stomach. 

None of them said anything, some weren't aware of the situation and some just didn't want to rub salt in a wound. 

Everyone looked surprised, none more than Cristina. Kieran tossed his dark hair back and looked up at her, a challenge in his eyes. “I swear fealty to you, Lady of Roses.”
“Kieran Kingmaker,” said Mark, looking at Kieran and Cristina with an absolutely unreadable look in his eyes. Emma couldn’t blame him. He must be constantly waiting for Kieran to remember what he had forgotten. She knew he would be dreading the pain the memories would bring them both.
“I am not doing this because of Adaon or the Cold Peace,” said Kieran.

“I am doing it because I want my father dead.”
“Reassuring,” muttered Julian, as Kieran rose to his feet.

 "He pledges fidelity to me?" Cristina asked baffled. 

"So, he doesn't remember anything?" said Mark at the same time. 

After a moment of silence in taking in the situation and what they just promised. 

"Awkward," blurted out Kit after the silence which he broke and made people laugh. 

The book was passed out to Julian who was intrigued to read the next chapter. 

Chapter Text

Julian started reading and his eyes widened in surprise. 

“Tell me,” he said. “You said there was something I needed to know. And I stopped you.” He paused. “Tell me now.”
She folded her arms on his chest, resting her chin on them. 
“I was never dating Mark,” she said. “That was all a lie. I asked him to pretend to be dating me, and he had said he owed me his life before, so he agreed. It was never real.”

After he read the first part he asked in a small voice. "Is this true?" he ignored the other's surprised faces and stare right at her. 

After a moment she nodded sadly and he let a loud sigh. Julian was befuddled he couldn't add more so he continued reading. 

“Why would you do that?” he said carefully. “Why would Mark agree to hurt me?”
“He didn’t know it was hurting you,” Emma said. “He never knew there was anything between us—not until we went to Faerie. He found out then, and he told me we had to end it. That’s why I stopped things in London. Mark didn’t mind. We didn’t feel that way about each other.”
“So Mark didn’t know,” he said. “Why did you do it, then?” He held up a hand. “Never mind. I know the answer: to stop me loving you. To break us up. I even know why you picked Mark.”
“I wish it could have been anyone else—”
“No one else would have made me hate you,” he said flatly. “Nobody else would have made me give you up.”

"It was pretty shitty going for his brother," Jace commented offhandedly. Emma gave him a bored expression but they moved on. 

“It’s not,” she said, “a stupid Law.”
He blinked. His hair was dry now. “Whatever you know, Emma,” he said in a low voice, “it’s time to tell me.”
So she did. Leaving nothing out, she told him what Malcolm had said to her about the parabatai curse, how he was showing her mercy, killing her, when otherwise she and Julian would watch each other die. What Jem had confirmed for her: the terrible fate of parabatai who fell in love; the death and destruction they would bring down around them. How she knew that neither of them could ever become mundanes or Downworlders to break the bond: how being Shadowhunters was part of their souls and their selves, how the exile from their families would destroy them.

There was an eerie silence that left everybody startled and slightly terrified for the couple in question.  Julian felt like he had just been punched at, he understood her motives now but what would they do now?

"I was wondering if you knew?" Magnus mused. 

"You knew? of the curse?" Alec curiously.

"Only stories, the Nephilim try to cover it up so they made the law and not actually tell people what happens." 

No one added anything else it was all too much. 

He held a hand up. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this?”
She looked at him miserably. “Because of what Jem said. That finding out that what we had was forbidden for good reason would just make it worse. Believe me, knowing what I know hasn’t made me love you any less.”
“So you decided to make me hate you.”
“I tried,” she whispered. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

"Tessa said it was easier for you to hate me," added Emma regretfully. 

Magnus gave a short snort, "as if it worked for her," shaking his head amused. 

Jules was just reeling with the knowledge that she loves him and he wasn't making it up, he knew that this new information was awful but he was glad it wasn't one-sided. 

“Julian,” she said. “Tell me.”
“When we were going into Faerie,” he said in a low voice, “the phouka told me that if I entered the Lands, I would meet someone who knew how to break the parabatai bond.” He shook his head. “The wording was correct—I met someone who did know how to break it. The Seelie Queen, to be precise. And she told me she knew it could be done, but not how.” “Jules—Julian—”
“And there’s more,” he said. “She told me there would be a cost.”
“Breaking the bond involves using the Black Volume to dig out the root of all parabatai ceremonies,” said Julian. “It would break our bond, yes. But it would also destroy every parabatai bond in the world. They’d all be snapped. There’d be no more parabatai.”

There was another round of gasps that filled the library. 

"You aren't thinking about it, are you?" Jace said almost angrily. 

"No, of course not!" Julian defended himself, "That's not me yet so I don't know, we will have to know more," he added for the rest who were wavering from this whole conversation, in a gesture he offered the book for them to read next and Magnus picked it up.