[ Ronan's frustration meets a wall of ice. Jace is assured of his own righteousness, and thus an immovable object in this conversation. He folds his arms across his chest. ]

He's unregistered. That makes him a criminal, Ronan, whether you like it or not. If we don't bring him in, someone else will. The law is the law.

[ Those words spill with such ease from his lips that it surprises him, making him blink. They have a real resonance with him, something deeper than this conversation, deeper even than his friendship with Ronan.

He doesn't know why. His hand drops, absently, to touch a particular spot on his lower stomach. He's not even aware that it happened. ]

There's no exceptions for anyone. You know that. You wouldn't make one for anyone else.