Jacin Clay is one of the main characters in The Lunar Chronicles.
History
Jacin was formerly one of the palace guards of the Luna royal family. He worked for Sybil Mira and Princess Winter. Garrison Clay, Jacin's dad was very good friends with Evret Hayle, Winter's father. Jacin grew up with Winter and they became best friends later on.
Recent events
In Cinder, Jacin appeared briefly as one of Queen Levana's guards. Upon the queen's orders to take Linh Cinder captive to return her to Luna, he grasped Cinder's wrists and pinned them behind her. When Kai tried to stop this by grabbing Cinder's elbow and tugging her to him, Jacin did not loosen his grip and he pulled Cinder again, plastering her against him. Through his chest against her head, he then used bioelectricity humming inside him to control her, resulting in steady and growing warmth building in Cinder's spine that could've caused a meltdown.
When Cinder tried to convince Kai not to bargain for her life, the queen ordered Cinder to be silenced. Jacin clamped a hand over her mouth, pulling her hard against his chest. When the queen shattered the glass in her hand, sending crystal cascading to the floor, everyone jumped and screamed, but Jacin stayed calm and appeared immune to the outburst of the queen. Every time Cinder collapsed and slumped against him, he would jerk her back upright. Jacin only pulled away when the queen flexed her fingers, causing Cinder to almost topple forward. Through bioelectricity manipulation the queen then made Cinder snatch Jacin's gun from his holster and lift it to her head.
After Cinder tried to kill the queen and escape the palace, Jacin was the first person to run after her. He reached the stairs and froze when he saw Cinder sprawled on her side on one of the steps. When the queen arrived, she ordered Jacin to kill Cinder. He descended a single step toward Cinder, holding the gun that Cinder had dropped, but was stopped by Kai who threatened the queen to never agree to any alliance with Luna if she killed Cinder.
In Cress, it was revealed that despite Jacin being one of the queen's guards, he is only loyal to his princess. Cinder thought that meant her, but his princess later was discovered to be Winter. Winter later confirmed this to Scarlet when she stated she had only ever had two friends: a girl who turned to ashes (Princess Selene) and Jacin. In fact, she became very upset when Scarlet mentioned that he could be dead.
When told of a device that could possibly alleviate a Lunar of the madness that comes with not using their gift for a long time, Jacin seemed excited, believing this device could save his princess Winter. It was hinted that Jacin desired to be a doctor as opposed to a Lunar guard, possibly revealing a softer side to his rather stoic and cold nature.
At the end of Cress, it is questionable whether or not he truly betrayed Cinder and the others, as even Levana was suspicious of his true intentions. In Winter it is confirmed that he indeed did betray Cinder, but only so that he could go home to his princess, Winter, to protect her from Levana, knowing that Levana despised her stepdaughter.
Characteristics
Appearance
Jacin was described to be "equally handsome to the other guards, with long blond hair and serious ice-blue eyes." Winter described him with "blond hair and beautiful eyes and the rising sun in his smile." He wore his hair in a low ponytail and was described as having "sharp features." In a blog post, Meyer described him as having "white-blond" hair and "blue-grey" eyes.
Personality
Jacin is considered to be very cold and obedient in the first three books, shown by his obedience to Levana, as well as his betrayal of Cinder. However in Winter a softer side of him is shown when he is in contact with Princess Winter. He is very protective of the ones he loves, and will do anything for them. He betrayed Cinder to get home to Winter, faked Winter's death to spare his parent's lives' as well as Winter's after Levana orders him to kill Winter. Jacin can be very sweet at times, like when he helps Winter through her hallucinations, and holds her, comforting her until she is better. He is also very sarcastic, though he tones it down around Winter.
Relationships
Jacin is not shown to be close to very many in the series'. He has not particular love for or loyalty to Cinder, nor to any of the other characters, save for a few.
Cress
Jacin saves her life in Winter after she is found by Winter, and then hidden by her. He keeps her in his rooms' to avoid detection. Though initially it is dubious whether this is because Winter asked him to, or he actually wanted to, in the end he does do whatever it takes to take care of Cress. He even tells her that her safety will come second to only Winter's for him.
Cinder
He shows no particular love nor loyalty towards Cinder in general, though they do create a somewhat amicable relationship in Cress when she vouches for him. In the first two books, he was Levana's guard and does whatever it takes to capture Cinder on Levana's orders'; however, in the fourth book, he does decide to side with Cinder, though more because defeating Levana saves Winter's life, since Levana declared that she wanted Jacin to kill Winter, rather than because he is loyal to Cinder.
Winter
Jacin is in love with Winter. In Cress at the end, he betrays Cinder and the crew, though later on he tells Winter that it is because he wanted to get home to her, to protect her. It is stated in Winter that Evret, Winter's father, and Jacin's father were both best friends in the Guard, and that Jacin and Winter are childhood friends. He says when she was eight and he was ten they kissed, and then again when Winter was thirteen. Jacin is also one of the only ones that is actually able to stop Winter from having one of her hallucinations and make them go away. He is deeply devoted to Winter, as well as in love with her. When Levana threatens to kill his family if he doesn't kill Winter, he risks their lives' to fake her death and help her escape. In the end when Winter suffers from mental damage from using her abilities after so long of not using them, he stays by her bedside until she awakens and then, even when she doesn't remember him, he promises to stay with her.
Fanarts
- See also: Images of Jacin
