The air in the Seelie Court was thick with magic, a heady mixture of honeysuckle and something darker—something dangerous. The golden light filtering through the trees cast an unnatural glow over the gathering of faeries surrounding you, their expressions a mix of amusement and curiosity.

You struggled against the invisible force holding you in place, your limbs refusing to obey, as if the very air had solidified around you. The Seelie Queen lounged on her throne of woven branches, watching with a knowing smile.

Jace stood at the edge of the clearing, tension radiating from every inch of him. Isabelle and Alec flanked his sides, hands hovering near their weapons, but they all knew the truth—steel and runes wouldn’t help here. Not against faerie magic.

"You know the rules, Shadowhunter," the Queen said, voice lilting, eyes sharp with mischief. "She may leave… but only if she is given a kiss from the one she truly desires."

Jace’s expression darkened. "This is a game," he bit out. "And I don’t like being a pawn."

The Queen only tilted her head. "Then leave her here. But the longer she stays, the more the magic will take hold. Soon, she won’t want to leave at all."

Panic coiled in your chest. You could already feel it creeping in—the warmth of the Seelie magic threading through your veins, the way it made you want to stay. The court was beautiful, intoxicating, and if you waited too long, you knew you’d never want to leave.

Your eyes locked onto Jace. He was the only one who could break this spell. The thought sent heat rushing through you, not just from desperation, but from something deeper, something you had tried to bury.

He hesitated. Just for a second.

Alec shifted beside him. "Jace, just do it," he muttered, but Jace’s jaw was tight, his usual arrogance dimmed by something unreadable.