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Grace was leaning on a wall in the Institute’s ballroom, looking at all the smiling faces of the London Enclave. It was the annual Christmas party organized by the Herondales, it had been in this exact party that just a year ago that her adoptive mother, Tatiana Blackthorn, had interrupted the party to kidnap Alexander Lightwood.
Now she watched as Alex pretended to dance with Ari Bridgestock while Anna Lightwood watched with a small smile on her face.
She heard footsteps walking her way and turned to see Alastair Carstairs. They had become friendly acquaintances since Alastair had volunteered to give her proper Shadowhunter training.
“Hello, Alastair.”
“Hello, Grace,” Alastair leaned on the wall beside Grace.
“I thought you’d be with Thomas all night.”
“Ah, that was the plan, but Eugenia insisted that Tom dance at least one song with her,” he pointed to the dancefloor smiling, “so I thought I’d check up on you.”
Grace turned to face him, frowning, “you don’t need to check up on me, I’m fine.”
“Yet you haven’t left this spot in the wall since you arrived more than an hour ago,” Alastair wasn’t wrong about that.
“I know I’m not the most welcomed person here.” she admitted, crossing her arms.
“I know that feeling, trust me.” Alastair had already confided in her what had happened between him and the Merry Thieves during the Academy.
“How did you do it? How do you face them when everyone knows all the pain you caused them?” she was looking straight at James and Cordelia, who were also on the dancefloor.
“I think you first need to forgive yourself, you need to stop thinking of yourself as irredeemable.”
Grace sighed, “that’s easier said than done.”
“I know, but forgiving myself and allowing myself to open up to them helped me realize that they can also forgive me and want to get to know the real me. We are more than the hurt we inflicted in the past.”
“I fear Kit might be the only one that wants to know me.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.”
The song that the band was playing was coming to an end, Alastair extended his hand to Grace, “come on, let’s show them that you are not afraid of them.”
Grace smiled and followed Alastair to the dancefloor, “thank you.”
“That’s what friends are for.”