Janus was surprised he even remembered that time. He’d been blind with pain back then, before Sebastian made him stop thinking of Clary so often. Sebastian had said he was pathetic and useless and feeling. So he’d made it stop.

“I wish I could resist killer parties,” said Lily, “but I can’t. This is a fully plausible scenario.”

Her voice was almost absentminded. Her eyes were searching Janus’s face.

“Sebastian killed you and showed Raphael what was left. Raphael said you were stupid, and it served you right. Six hours later he led every vampire he could, and some of the werewolves, out of the talks. He set the building on fire as he went. I had to pull Sebastian out from the burning rubble. Next we heard, Raphael was with Livia Blackthorn and the resistance.”

“He’s alive?” Lily’s voice was sharp. “In your stupid, messed-up world. Raphael’s alive?”

The words burst out of her mouth. “Take me to him.”

Even though Janus had been expecting it, the words were shocking, so shocking that the truth fell from his own mouth without him meaning to say it. “There isn’t any hope for that world. Even the sun has been blotted out.”

His head ached as soon as he spoke. The pain felt like Sebastian being displeased with him, even now.

“Then bring him here,” said Lily. “Please. Go back and bring him here.”

Her hands were no longer shoving at him, but clinging to him, almost pleading.

“If I did,” Janus ground out, “what would you do for me?”

He saw her mind working, behind her watchful black eyes. She wasn’t stupid, this vampire girl.

“Depends,” she snapped. “What are you going to ask me for?”

“Let’s be clear,” Janus said. “You’d do anything for this.”

The vampire girl’s sharp face softened. She liked Jace, Janus realized. She trusted him. Some part of her still thought Janus was her friend. She was underestimating him, not on guard as she should be. She didn’t really think he would hurt her.

“I guess so,” she said. “I guess I would.” She leaned back against the alley wall. “Would it help if I told you that you were still hot?”

“Probably not,” Janus said.

“Don’t repeat that to the other Jace,” said Lily. “He shouldn’t be encouraged. You know, I think some people might find you more hot. Little less of a pretty boy, little more rugged thing going on. It’s a trade-off.”

“Most things are,” Janus agreed.

“I’m not hitting on you, by the way, I’m just making observations here.”

Janus shrugged. “Wouldn’t do any good if you were.”

“Still a one-woman man, huh?”

“Still,” Janus said very quietly.