(A/N: I KNOW THIS IS A VERY SHORT CHAPTER, BUT I FELT LIKE IT ENDED AS IT SHOULD. NEXT CHAPTER MAY BE LONGER. :) )

LATE NIGHT VISITS

The sun hadn't yet risen, but Will Herondale couldn't sleep. There was something important he needed - no, wanted - to do. Wandering the corridors of the London Institute, he subconsciously found himself lingering outside Tessa's chambers. What was he doing here? He had no business disturbing her at this time of night. Still, his heart hammered with nerves. Raising his fist, he knocked gently on the door, his eyes closed against the pain of what he was doing. When nobody answered, he let out a sigh of relief that surprised him. He turned away, ready to go back to his own room, when a creak sounded and he snapped his head around to see Tessa's head poking around the door, her eyes bleary from sleep.

"Will?"

"I'm sorry," he said softly. "I didn't mean to wake you."

She nodded idly then suddenly scowled. "Well, you did." A yawn escaped her, and she pulled the door fully open. "You might as well come inside."

Will shoved his cold hands into his pockets, shoulders hunched awkwardly, and walked inside, where a faint smell of rosemary teased his senses.

Her bed was unmade and a candle remained lit on the nightstand. He turned to her and felt his cheeks heat. "I feel awful. I'll leave you to sleep. I shouldn't be here."

"Nonsense. Sit." She gestured to the end of her bed. Will's lips twitched with a smile but instead headed for one of the two chairs by the window. Tessa gave no such surprise, merely blinked at his decision and took her place in the one next to him.

"So what brings you here?" she asked. A note of wariness in her usually careful voice.

Will ran his hand down his face, feeling very tired and yet completely awake, aware of every nerve ending, every fibre of his being itching to hunt, to burn off whatever was keeping him from rest.

When he finally looked again at the girl he most admired, she had such a soft expression, like pity but something less, maybe sympathy.

"I understand," she whispered. "It must be incredibly confusing, having these guests in our home."

Despite how true she was, he shook his head. "No. I mean, yes, but that isn't why I'm here. I needed to see you. You see, I know this may seem forward, but I can't help but notice… You're-" He closed his eyes briefly,

"Will," At her voice, he reopened them. The silence overtook him, gripped him by the throat. Her eyes were so grey, so utterly beautiful in their indifference. "You needn't worry."

Did she know what he was thinking? It was surely childish, to feel this way, to be so passionately jealous. He'd never had this before - not for many years, anyway; and when he'd seen how Jace had been talking to her, keeping her company, it had nearly destroyed him.

"You don't think I'm being silly?" he muttered, hating himself.

She leant forward and touched his knee. The warmth from her skin seeped through his trousers so intensely, he almost lost focus. "I don't. Like I said, you have nothing to worry about." He loved seeing her lips turn up into a smile meant just for him. "I haven't lost my mind. They're from a different world, and I belong here."

His spirits fell. Tessa was talking about something else. Maybe she noticed the change in his mood because she stood up and held out her hand. He took it in his own, hers small and so compact. She led him to her bed. Will widened his eyes in horror.

She laughed. "Calm down. I'm not a harlot. Just lie down."

Knowing he must have turned as red as a sunset, he did as she said, getting underneath the covers as carefully as he could, unsure what she was doing. This wasn't the way, but recently they'd become so casual with each other he supposed this shouldn't have surprised him. Tessa got into bed on his other side and before he could think more of her motives, she blew out the candle and they were plunged into solid darkness.

"Good night, Will," he heard her say beside him. All of a sudden a weight lifted from his soul, flying away and waving down at him, signalling that everything was good in the world now and that yes, he could relax. So he closed his eyes and fell into comfortable sleep.