Chapter 301

[Cordelia]

"Yours?" I ask cautiously. "You and Sydney...?"

The air was heavy with silence as we all waited for Jude to explain. "I was lonely and she was willing," There is no shame in his expression or embarrassment as he discusses his relationship with a girl who was a younger copy of his lost love. "Seeing her with Jasper made me think of...well it doesn't matter."

Atlas looks down at his shoes for a moment. If anyone knows what it feels like to cling to Sydney because he is reminded of Angelica, it is him.

"I had planned to sneak her out too, but when I realized she was deceiving me and leading us straight to Magnus, I let her think I was dead.

"Oh Jude," I find myself empathizing with this man who has created so much chaos in the life of my family.

"Don't pity me," he places a hand on my shoulder, "Please. I knew I couldn't trust her, and yet part of me kept hoping that she'd make a better choice." He takes another look at the article, his lips downturned.

"But how do you even