Chapter 169

Zira held Arias in her arms with his head away from the scene before her. She stroked his back to keep him calm as he clung to Mister Giggles with one arm and the other around her neck.

“Don’t worry, Bugga. I’m here. It’s going to be OK,” she whispered to him.

Clary stood on the other side of the table with Zed hovering above her. Vines twisted around his body like snakes, holding him still. Zira could see his wolf on the surface as his golden eyes observed her. She shook her head, for she knew what he was going to try to do.

“Listen to your sister, boy,” Clary said with a voice devoid of warmth. She kept her eyes trained on Zira. “The moment you try to shift, those vines will snap you into pieces.”

The vines moved Zed closer to the ground as if they were getting weak. “Clary, wait.” A pair of shimmering eyes moved from out of the darkness and revealed Ezekiel. “You didn’t say anything about me killing anyone. That’s not my MO.”

“Are you defying me, my