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livinglifebehindthemask · 8 months

Text

Lessons in Soulbonding

Pairing: Malec

Rating: E

Artist: @gintoki976

Beta: @quickbright

Word Count: 12k

This fic was created for the Mini Bang 2023 presented by the @malecdiscordserver

Prologue

How does one go from being a single middle-aged, well not quite but might as well be, literature professor to being the soulmate of a model turned nightclub owner. It sounds like the plot of some movie Alec would look at the poster and then turn away from. That was fantasy, he lived in the real world, but now fantasy had become reality.

It had been exactly two days since he’d met Magnus Bane. Magnus was gorgeous, witty, playful, and young. Really young in comparison to Alec who was pushing 37. Magnus hadn’t even had a quarter life crisis yet. They were barely a decade apart. It was only a twelve year difference, but twelve years seemed like an insurmountable number.

So far the only thing they had in common, besides being soulmates, was their love for trash reality tv. Magnus was a night owl who loved to party at his new club in Brooklyn. Alec was a morning bird that preferred to spend his evenings at home with his two cats, Church and Raz. Okay, they did have one other thing in common, cats. Magnus had a lovely little fluff ball he called Chairman Meow for whom he liked to throw parties. And Alec thought he was a crazy cat parent.

Alec leaned back at his desk in the small office. He couldn’t even focus, not that he needed to try that hard. Spring semester had just finished and summer was not far off, but it gave him a sense of normalcy. His old boring life when all he cared about were his cats and which book to read next.

His new soulmate was breathtakingly beautiful. He lit up the room when he entered. He was young and carefree, everything Alec wasn’t. Alec was too old, too jaded, and too set in his ways.

Everyone wanted to be soul bonded. There were movies and romance novels that described the joy and passion of finding your soulmate, to be bound to them for the rest of your life. While soulbonding had been around for centuries, only a small fraction of the population ever found their soulmate. Around puberty the initials of their soulmate would appear on their skin, usually where their soulmate would first touch them.

When Alec was fourteen he woke up one morning to find the initials MB on his right shoulder. Teenage Alec had been excited at the prospect of meeting his soulmate. He had imagined what the man would look like. Would he be tall, dark, and handsome? Would he have a childlike wonder in his eyes? What color of hair or eyes would he have? He had spent so much time fantasizing about his future that he nearly forgot the statistics. Only 1 out of 100 individuals would find their soulmate. Not to mention the small number of soulmates that didn’t get along. It was rare, but it still happened.

Being a closeted gay teen in a small Midwest town didn't help either. No one in his small town had those initials, which was fine with him. He had grown up in that bigoted town and wanted out as soon as he could manage it. That was why he applied to colleges in all the big cities. New York, Chicago, LA, and even Cincinnati. He just knew his soulmate would be out there waiting for him.

When he finally got to college, the first year had been a race to find his soulmate. Not many people had only two names. Some even had multiple middle names, while Alec’s soulmate had just a first and last name. He finally found two men his freshman year with an M first name and B last name, but it turned out Michael was straight and Mathias had two middle names. Subsequent years were a bust.

Berkeley didn’t provide him with his soulmate but he was sure moving across the country for his master's program in NYC would. Again he looked throughout the campus only to come up short. There had been a couple more candidates but were either bonded or soulmates with different initials.

In the time he had been looking for his soulmate his best friend found his soulmate, a fiery redheaded artist that Alec had hated on the spot. It took nearly six months before he could admit, only in his mind, that Clary was good for Jace. Nowadays they are much closer. Even his little sister had found her soulmate in a little nerd of a kid.

As the years went on Alec slowly stopped caring. Now he was edging 40. He dressed like the typical professor with his tweed jackets, plain button up shirts, and camel colored sweaters. He even wore horn-rimmed glasses. Alec had been a literature professor at NYU for the past six years ever since he’d finished his PhD.

He had given up on finding his soulmate and was content with being a lovable uncle to his three nieces and two nephews and the godfather to his best friend's two kids. While he thought he was truly finished with this soulmate nonsense he didn't take into account that fate had other plans OR that his life was just about to begin.

Chapter One

Two days prior…

It had been a long and grueling semester. Another class of students had graduated and come the fall they would have another group coming in. Usually Alec would take a small staycation at home for two weeks before summer classes, hanging out with his two cats. He would drink his wine and marathon the Real Housewives of New York. It would be a time to catch up on sleep and just relax. So when one of his colleagues had asked him if he wanted to go and get a few drinks he uncharacteristically said yes.

Now, Alec was a bit…well, a lot of an introvert. He preferred staying at home with his cats or going to his sister's place in Chelsea to visit his family. So it surprised even Alec that he had agreed to go to one the newest and hippest clubs in Brooklyn. One of his colleagues knew the owner so they would be VIP. Everything about the idea should have sent him running home, but something made him <i>want</i> to go. Like a moth to flame.

The only problem was that he didn't have a thing to wear to a hip club or any club for that matter. He had a decent pair of jeans and black loafers, but it was the shirt that was causing him the most problems. Clothes were not his forte. He had been wearing the same type of clothes for nearly a decade, only trading them out for new ones when holes appeared. But he couldn’t wear one of his sweaters as it would be too hot in the club. He did have a polo shirt that someone had given him for his birthday the year before, but it made him look like a frat brother circa 2008. His button ups were also less than spectacular. Dear lord, he would have to do what he never wanted to do. Call Izzy.

Isabelle Lightwood had been the middle and only girl of the Lightwood clan. She was about 17 months younger than Alec. It had been just them for nearly ten years before the last son, Max, had been born. She had been scouted at an early age for modeling and spent ten years in the industry before pivoting to being a fashion editor for some of the best magazines. She knew her way around a store or two. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

She answered on the second ring with a cheery voice. "Hey big bro."

"Hey Izzy. How are you?" She sighed.

"Dealing with a moody preteen who thinks her uncool parents are trying to ruin her life." Izzy had married Simon Lewis when they were both only 20.

Simon's small band had been playing at an event when they locked eyes on each other. Izzy had always wondered who belonged to the SLL on her left forearm. When their eyes met across the dancefloor they had started walking toward each other. The way Izzy described it was as if she was only half a person until she met Simon. While walking over to talk to her, Simon had tripped over some of the cords to his amplifier and wound up falling face first into Izzy. She had caught his forearm as he touched her forearm and his head bumped her stomach. And that was that.

Simon's band had never really gotten that big and when Izzy got pregnant with their first child, Lizzie, the aforementioned preteen, he had settled down into a 9-5 job that he had absolutely hated.

"Sounds like fun. All I have to worry about is if Raz is going to steal Church’s food when he’s not looking."

"If only I could have stuck with cats and not kids." She chuckled. "But enough about me. How are you doing, big bro? It’s been a while. School out for summer yet?"

"Actually, yes. Just ended today. I have a few more papers to grade, but pretty much done…that is kinda why I was calling…I got invited to a party at a club." There was silence before Izzy spoke.

"Remember that teal shirt I got you for Christmas like four years ago? Wear that." Alec didn't even ask how she knew what he was going to ask because it was Izzy. She knew everything. "And either some black slacks or black jeans."

"I have a pair of dark blue jeans I never wear."

"Black would be better, but that will do. Also, Alec, try to have fun for once in your life. You never know what could happen when you try." She was right, but Alec had never tried.

=-=-=-=-

He showed up at the club, Pandemonium, at around ten p.m.. His colleague, Lydia, had told him that the club didn't get really busy until about midnight or one a.m. so they would start out when the club opened and end just before midnight. Alec decided that he would arrive at ten and leave by eleven.

The outside of the building was not spectacular. Just a brick face with a neon sign that read Pandemonium with devil horns flashing once in a while over the E. The bouncer let him in after he said he was with a group of professors. Once inside he could tell that what money was not spent on the outside had been used on the inside.

Along the walls were tables and plush couches. A few people were already hanging out there. Off to one side was a bar with two bartenders making a few drinks. They were very hot men in tight white shirts with muscles you could see through the fabric. Three girls that looked like they might barely be able to enter the club were seated near them giggling to each other. Alec remembered being smitten with hot guys. But each relationship had ended before it had even begun.

Across from the bar on the opposite side of the room was the VIP session. It was made up of three stories of tables and equally plush couches. Alec wondered who would choose white for the couches. Didn’t that stain easily?

On the main floor of the VIP section he could see John Monteverde, Lydia's husband and professor of Chemistry. Alec liked both John and Lydia. Lydia was a professor of psychology and while psychology and literature were not in the same field being from a small college you got to know everyone, and she was also his neighbor, being right next door to his office. Off to the side he saw Ragnor Fell, the Head of the History department and the man that knew the owner of the club. One look at the older man, alright he was probably only ten years older than Alec, and he wouldn’t strike you as a man that liked clubs or anyone that ran them.

Walking over to them, through the sparsely populated dance floor, Alec couldn’t help but feel like he was being watched. It was an odd feeling, like hair standing up on the back of his neck. Alec tried to shake it off. It was probably just some of the other patrons of the club looking at him. He didn’t exactly belong here anyway.

Chapter Two

Magnus never arrived at his club before midnight. Why wait around for the fun to begin? He would just lounge at home, maybe get the party started with a couple drinks before dressing to kill. But tonight was different. He felt different. His skin felt tight around his bones. He felt jumpy and any attempt to relax made him instantly jump back up. Maybe it was because he had just recently broken up with his on-and-off girlfriend of seven years.

Camille Belcourt was as pretty as she was cruel. They had met when Magnus was just 17. Both of them had been modeling in the same fashion show. At 20 Camille had seemed so mature but looks can be deceiving. Magnus always seemed to find himself going back to her but not now. His new club had just opened up the month prior and, being only 24 himself, he intended to forget about Camille and move on. Still that didn't explain why he arrived just as the club was opening up.

When he entered he felt like something was…not right. Walking around he checked everything just to make sure. The music started up without a hitch and the first customers arrived. The bar was fully stocked and he even had a drink with his bartenders.

Ragnor and his group of roughly 50 professors would be coming in soon to celebrate the end of the semester. Maybe that was why he felt off? Ragnor was not one for clubbing, but when one of his colleagues had asked where they could have a party he knew who to call. Magnus would do anything for Ragnor. The man was the reason why Magnus was able to leave his poor town in Indonesia. Ragnor was like the father Magnus never had. Still, older people out celebrating at such an early hour, it was…cute. He might feel pity for them but he still cheered them on.

After checking everything twice, again, he couldn't find the problem. Drinks were plenty, music was great, bathrooms were stocked with condoms and small sachets of lubricant. His money was locked up tight and he had balanced the books the day before, so why did he feel on edge?

By ten he had moved up to his office to look over the security cameras. Still nothing. Maybe he was just tired, he had been working a lot lately. He needed another drink and maybe some company. Looking out over the whole of the dance floor from his one way mirror he noticed a single, dark haired man walk in. The dark haired man was tall and lithe, at least from this far. The lights danced across the shirt and Magnus instantly recognized style and brand. A little out of date but still beautiful. The man stopped and looked around. He looked like a fish out of water. Probably being pulled out by friends that wanted to make him have fun and he was right— the man headed for the table of professors. Ah, an educated man.

Magnus found himself rubbing the skin just under his watch where the initials of his soulmate resided. Magnus was a romantic but he was also a pragmatist. If he went looking for his soulmate he might never meet them. Better to enjoy life and then when your soulmate comes around you wouldn't have any fomo. Still he found himself forgetting the letters more often than not. This had been the first time he had thought of them since the night he broke up with Camille.

Pushing the band up he looked at the tiny letters. His soulmate must have the worst handwriting in the world. The letters looked like chicken scratch but they were still endearing to him. AGL. How many times had young little Magnus stared at those letters before he covered them up? How many times had he wished his soulmate would take him away from his horrible life? How many times did he wish for his soulmate to appear just to push it away and live life?

But why did he think of them now? He looked back up to see that tall, dark, and brainy had made his way to the professors’ table and the people there were welcoming him, though he still had a stiff posture. Yup, he didn't want to be here at all. Maybe Magnus could help that. He still needed to see Ragnor, and maybe he could double check that this teacher was not his soulmate. Magnus chuckled to himself. Yeah, a professor and a hedonist, what worse pairing could there be?

~*~*~*~*~*~

Magnus danced down the stairs to the beat of the music. It was still early so only a few people were on the dance floor. The party didn’t really get started until midnight when the floor would be packed with writhing bodies all looking for release. Magnus had joined them a couple times, but with the club still being so new he had to make sure the ship was running smoothly. Maybe after he started to make a decent profit he would join in the merriment more often.

The lights danced across his face as he walked towards the group of professors. One of his waitstaff was just finishing up bringing them their drinks. From his position now he could not see the fish out of water, but Magnus knew he was still there. Probably nursing a drink for a while before he would inevitably excuse himself to run back home. Introverts were so cute, Magnus thought as he rolled his eyes.

“And here is our mysterious benefactor.” Magnus picked up Ragnor’s posh voice instantly. He remembered so well when the Englishman had walked into the tiny little one room schoolhouse in the remote countryside to teach a small group of Indonesian children English. That has been over twenty years ago and yet the man had still not aged, he had always looked old.

“Ragnor, darling.” Magnus said, putting his arms around the man. He still smelled like tobacco and old books. It reminded him of a simpler time. “I am so glad you are here, you and all of your lovely friends.” He was sure that not all of the people there were friends, but a friend of a friend was just as good.

“And how are you, my dear boy.” Ragnor was just a few inches taller than Magnus so Magnus had to look up into those emerald green eyes.

“I am good, Paman. Now why don’t you introduce me to your friends.” He knew this would annoy his friend, but Ragnor did it anyway. Mostly history, english, and psychology professors in the group. There were a couple science teachers and one math teacher. All brainiacs.

Magnus had been good at school, but it was not where he wanted to land. He loved fashion and makeup and expressing oneself through their appearance. Ragnor had not been happy when Magnus had told him. In fact that man had been furious. After everything he had done for Magnus. But after he calmed down they had talked and Ragnor accepted Magnus' decision.

Magnus was great with names, faces not so much. Sometimes it was hard putting a name with a face that didn't have some special feature. Most of these professors were dressed nicely but not like his usual clientele.

"This is Lydia Branwell. She is part of the psychology department." Lydia was sitting with the tall, dark, and handsome man from before, well across the booth table and next to another man. Magnus leaned in to shake her hand. He had to place his other hand on a chair to balance himself, but misjudged where it was and ended up touching tall-dark-and-handsome’s shoulder. A light shock went through his body, like static shock, but all over. Before Magnus could remove his hand the man was twisting and grabbing his wrist. The pad of tall-dark-and-handsome's thumb pressed into Magnus’ inner wrist. If the shock before had been a little odd this touch was like coming home.

Feelings of love, comfort, and safety ran over him. Home.

Chapter Three

Alec hadn't meant to grab the man’s wrist. He didn’t touch others freely, but the small shock from just a hand on his shoulder made him think something was wrong. Of course this man wouldn’t try to hurt him here, in front of everyone, but Alec acted before his brain could process. Which was very unusual for him. They stood there staring at each other for the longest time. Everything else seemed to vanish. His co-workers sounded like they were miles away.

He felt warmth envelop him from head to toe. It was like curling up in a thick blanket on a cold winter's night. It was like coming home to peace and security. It was like…oh fuck.

Alec’s brain had finally started to work again. This was not good. Not good at all. Alec let go of the other man's wrist like it had burned him. He had given up on ever experiencing this moment a long time ago, yet every instinct told him that he needed this man more than he needed air to breathe. This man was the answer to all his lonely nights. But Alec was rational and rational thought told him he needed to get the hell out of there. ASAP.

He stood up and pushed past the man, noting the smell of sandalwood, musk, and bourbon. It was the most intoxicating scent he had ever smelled. It made him want to go back, stick his nose into the other man’s neck, and just breathe him in. But Alec’s body had already made up its mind. He was hurrying out as fast as his feet could carry him.

It took Magnus exactly three seconds before he was running after the man. The first touch had been like getting hit by static electricity, but when tall-dark-and-handsome had touched his skin the feelings had only intensified.

Yes, he had always wanted to meet his soulmate, everyone did. He just didn’t know it was going to be here, in a club and that his soulmate would be a tall, dark, and smart man. When the man got up and brushed past him Magnus was still reeling. This moment had finally happened. Then his mind kicked itself into high gear. He was not letting his soulmate get away. Not when they were this close.

Alec had almost reached the back entrance to the club. The orange-red light of the exit sign had been the first thing he’d seen when he darted out of the booth. He had to get home. He needed to get home.

His whole body was buzzing with something just under the skin. His breath was coming in heavy pants, sweat ran down the back of his neck, and his skin felt too tight. As Alec reached to punch the door open, a hand on his shoulder had him reeling around.

They were staring at each other once again. The air was thick with the smell of sandalwood and Alec felt his knees want to buckle. This man was unbelievably gorgeous even in the red light of the exit sign. Alec found his eyes drifting down to those perfectly plump and shiny lips. It had been a while since he’d had a date, let alone a kiss. He had been fine with it at the time. Content with his life, but now…

Suddenly Alec was grabbing the man by his lapels and pulling him in for a kiss. He tasted…cherry? No, strawberry. The man was wearing lip gloss of some kind. But even as Alec had the thought, all other thoughts left as the other man’s tongue slid against his. Alec was falling in love.

Magnus had not been expecting a kiss, but hell, he didn’t mind. He had read somewhere that the meeting of two souls could create an intense reaction and this was truly intense. Tall-dark-and-handsome had pulled him in for a kiss. There was a scrape of stubble across his cheek and he found himself hoping for stubble burn. A reminder that this was not a dream.

Magnus pushed the man back against the door, intensifying the kiss and running his hand through short dark locks. His pulse was racing, sending every ounce of blood straight to his groin. If only they were not in a small hallway that led to the back exit. Okay, he was going to let that joke slide by.

Magnus' leg slid between the other man’s thighs and he felt an echoing bulge. Tall-dark-and-handsome was just as turned on as he was. With that last thought Magnus’ brain shut down and focused only on kissing and getting his soulmate off.

The kiss was almost all consuming. Alec had never felt like this before. It was all so fast and so very much unlike him. The man, well, his soulmate pressed against him and Alec could feel the hint of a bulge. Then suddenly there was a rush of cool air and Alec was falling. For a minute he thought his legs had finally given out, but no. He was falling backwards.

A hand gripped his wrist while the other gripped his hand. It kept him from falling head first onto the cold alleyway. He was able to get his feet under him and get back inside the club.

They were both panting when the door finally closed behind them. Now that they were not pawing at each other Alec felt…very uncomfortable. He had just kissed a man he had just met and STILL didn't know the name of! And to make matters worse he had nearly fallen because of all that kissing.

"Uh…thanks for…catching me." Even in his awkwardness Alec was still a gentleman with good manners.

"Not at all. I couldn't let my soulmate get hurt. Name's Magnus, by the way." The raven haired man stuck out his hand to shake as if they had not just been making out like teenagers in the back of a parked car.

Alec slowly put his hand out to shake Magnus'. Magnus of course, his name had been said but Alec had only been half listening.

Soulmate. The word finally made it from his ears to his brain. Oh shit he had just been making out with his soulmate and fuck his soulmate was so young. What was he? Twenty, maybe twenty-two if he was lucky. They had an over ten years age difference. How the fuck could they be soulmates?

"Uh…tall-dark-and-handsome, you alright?" Wait what? Did the ma- Magnus just call him tall, dark, and handsome?

A flush crossed Alec’s face as he answered. "Iii-I'm Alec." Great now he was a stuttering teenager.

Now that they had quit clawing at each other they could hear the music that pounded in the background. Where did they go from here?

“Let’s go up to my office.” Magnus said, stepping back and unlocking a door to their right. Where had that come from? Magnus was already through it when Alec finally followed.

Chapter Four

The door led to a set of stairs which they used to get up to Magnus' office. Alec was glad not to have to see his colleagues again. He didn’t know how to explain what sent him running from the table. They would probably figure it out sooner or later. Preferably later and not with Alec around.

The man in front of him asked if he wanted a drink or a seat, but Alec was still trying to wrap his head around this whole…situation.

“I hope you don’t mind if I have one.” Magnus walked over to a small bar cart and started to make a drink. The golden eyed man knew they had to take this slow, but he was too giddy. He finally had his soulmate, a breathtakingly gorgeous man with the beginnings of gray at the temples of his dark brown hair. Magnus licked his lips hoping to taste the man. Alec. Short for Alexander? Maybe.

Turning back to Alec, Magnus smiled slightly. The man looked like a lost puppy. Magnus would give anything to go and push the man down on the couch and kiss every last inch of his body. Okay, calm down. You didn’t know him an hour ago and now you are ready to climb him like a jungle gym.

“How old are you?” This was the first time Alec was asking any questions. It might seem odd but Magnus understood.

“Twenty-four. And you?” Magnus popped his hip to the side, looking sultry, but tall-dark-and-handsome was not even noticing it. Pity.

“Thirty-six.” Alec was not going to mention that he would be thirty-seven in September. God, twelve years. Alec ran his hand over his face as he tried to process. For years he had been trying to find his soulmate only for the man to be two years younger than his little brother.

“Alexander?” Alec’s head shot up at the name. No one but his parents ever called him that. He had been Alec for as long as he could remember.

“Alec.”

“Okay, Alec. Are you sure you don’t want to take a seat?” The man before him was being nice and Alec should try to be just as cordial.

“No. I’m fine.” So much for being cordial.

“Alright.” Magnus moved to sit on the arm of the couch and took a drink. “Well I am sure you have a lot of thoughts going through that pretty little brain of yours. I know I do.” Magnus smirked behind his drink. “I never knew my soulmate would be a professor. Kind of exciting really. I liked school but never saw myself going into academia. I know Ragnor was sad I didn’t, but why hide all this.” Magnus motioned to himself with his arms. “In tweed jackets, camel colored cardigans, and turtlenecks. Still I am excited that we’ve finally met. Ooo, I need your phone.”

Getting up from his perch and setting his glass down he walked up to Alec and held out his hand expectantly. It took Alec a moment to understand what Magnus wanted before he slowly pulled his phone out of his pocket. Magnus grabbed it and put his number in tall-dark-and-handsome’s phone then shot himself a text.

“There we go.” Magnus handed the phone back to Alec.

Alec looked back at his phone as he finally processed what Magnus had said. Shouldn’t he be more upset that this kid just called his wardrobe dull? Not that he was wrong. Alec knew his style was old fashioned but it suited him. His soulmate, he was probably never going to get over calling this man his soulmate, was dressed in what Alec could only describe as club clothes. A navy blazer, that now Alec could look more closely at, he realized there was no shirt underneath. Oh God! Magnus was practically naked. Oh God! He sounded like his father.

“I knew there had to be a reason.” Alec finally noticed that Magnus was talking. “And here he is.” Magnus said, grabbing his drink back up and winking at Alec. “My soulmate. Wow, I didn’t think I would meet you this soon, but better sooner than later.” Magnus turned his back and walked over the window where he could see the rest of the club starting to fill up.

“I was standing here when I saw you walk in. I could tell you were handsome, but I didn’t know this was the beginning of forever.” Forever, dear lord. Any plans that Alec had about his future were moot. “Now we will need to tell our families, naturally. A bonding ceremony will take a bit to plan, but it will be the talk of the town.” Magnus' voice was low as if he was speaking to himself. “We can do it right here! Where we met.”

Magnus was planning out their bonding ceremony as if both of them had agreed to this. Alec hadn’t agreed to being Magnus' soulmate, let alone having a bonding ceremony. Magnus sounded like he had been planning this since he was child. But hadn’t Alec done the exact same thing? Didn’t he have scores of notebooks filled out with what he wanted included in his bonding ceremony? All he had ever wanted was to meet the man that MB belonged to. Now he had and he was not ready.

“I can’t do a honeymoon for another couple months. Opening up this club has taken most of my time.” Magnus still had his back to Alec, oblivious to his soulmate’s full blown panic attack.

“I…I can’t. I have to go.” Alec said, before zeroing in on the door to the office. Flinging it open he barely remembered flying down the stairs and out the same back door he had wanted to take not an hour ago. Thankfully, this time, Magnus didn’t follow him.

Chapter Five

Alec awoke to the sound of a text. He was still too tired to get up so he just stuck his hand out of the covers to see who it was. It was probably Izzy, wondering how his night had gone. Boy was she in for a shock. Blinking a few times he read the name and almost dropped the phone.

Magnus 🌶💋: Morning, darling. Sleep well?

Lord did he really put that as his contact name? Alec sat up and checked and sure enough a pepper and a kiss emoji. Maybe he was lucky the younger man didn't put an eggplant emoji.

Magnus 🌶💋: Darling?

Alec put his phone on silent and rolled over in bed. He still couldn't come to grips with his own reality. Just yesterday he was ready for a regular, boring old summer and now… now he had a soulmate a decade his junior. Maybe that was why he never found him. Magnus was so much younger. All those years spent trying to find his soulmate while the man was running around on a playground somewhere.

Alec turned back over and looked at his phone again. There was another text asking if he was alright, something that warmed his heart, but his brain was not having it. He is 24! He is a child! You teach others his age! It was not like Magnus was in high school or anything like that.

He must have been thinking for a while because the phone lit up with a call. Magnus 🌶💋. Panic welled up in his chest and he quickly put the phone upside down back on his side table. He couldn’t deal with this right now. He was not supposed to have a soulmate. He was supposed to be single for the rest of his days. That was the plan and now some hot, sexy, beautiful….

“Dear God.” He groaned and fell back onto his pillow. Magnus was everything Alec was not. Pulling the covers up over his face he felt like being a petulant child and staying in bed. He wanted to go back to sleep and wake up back in his reality, not in this soap opera. That lasted all of about 20 minutes before Raz started clawing at the door wanting food. Leaving his phone in the bedroom he went and fed his cats.

Church had been given to Alec by a neighbor when he had to move out of state several years ago. He was an eight year old Himalayan mix with beige fluff. Raz, on the other hand, was a gray tabby and only two years old. She was so spunky and playful while Church was a grumpy old man in cat form. As he watched his cats he suddenly felt lonely.

He had not felt like this since college while he tried to find his soulmate. Now that he had one his body chemistry was changing. Soulmates were drawn to each other. They needed physical closeness to truly feel at home. Running his hand over his beard he scratched his head. Was he being an asshole while he ignored his soulmate? Surely Magnus was feeling the same way, but the problem was Magnus had their lives all planned out. Alec had given up.

After he fed the cats and got a cup of coffee he went back to his bedroom. Flipping the phone over he saw several more texts and two more calls. Sighing he opened the messages and typed in, I am alright. I just need time. I will call you later. But even as he sent the message he didn’t know when later would be.

Sipping his coffee he scrolled through instagram not really seeing what was posted, just needing something mundane to do. Something to get his mind off of the present. Somehow, he still was not sure how or why he did it but he found himself on Pandemonium’s insta. In the bio it said owner Magnus Bane @purrfectlymagnus. He clicked on it before he could stop himself. The account was not private, which he was glad for. Maybe?

Alec scrolled through the pictures. There were several of Magnus with a white fluffy cat who he called Chairman Meow. There was even one with the cat behind a huge cake that said Happy 5th Birthday, Chairman. The cat looked like it would rather be sleeping. Alec looked over at his cats. Church had run off to probably sleep off his breakfast while Raz was licking both of the bowls clean.

Well, at least we have something in common. One thing they had in common. Alec didn’t party or go to the most exclusive restaurants. He kept scrolling until he found a Throwback Thursday post. Magnus had his arms around a dark skinned woman; they were both in high fashion outfits that made absolutely not sense to Alec. The caption read: “To the time when @imblue_catarina and I were in the same show. She was better than me, though. Just don’t tell her that.” Below one the comments was from the woman in the picture calling Magnus a liar. Alec clicked on her name, but her account was private.

Going back to Magnus he looked through more photos. Ones of Magnus with friends or his cat. A few posts about trashy reality tv shows, the very same ones that Alec liked to watch just to have background noise. Still they didn’t have much else in common. Setting his phone down he sipped his coffee and looked out the window.

They liked cats and the same tv shows. But in everything else they were complete opposites and twelve years apart. Of the posts he had looked at was one of Magnus celebrating his 24th birthday at a strip club. Magnus was wild and free. Alec was boring and conventional.

Sitting back in his chair Alec didn’t know what to do, but he knew he had to do something. He was an adult and while he had given up on a soulmate or even just a partner he had to do something about this for Magnus. The kid didn’t deserve to be left on read.

Chapter 6

Alec leaned back at his desk in the small office at his university. He couldn’t even focus, not that he needed to try that hard. Spring semester had just finished and summer was not far off. He had thought that coming to work, and going on as he normally would, would help him decide what to do with Magnus, but surprise, it didn’t. There was still a small stack of papers that needed to be graded and entered. He had only one more day before all grades were due but his mind was not in it and he refused to just give them a pass.

There was a knock at his door. Slowly opening it Lydia stuck her head in. She had tried to call Alec but, like he was doing with Magnus, he ignored her.

“Hey. I am glad to see you got home safely. Ragnor told me not to worry.” Oh god now he had to face the shame of having run out on the party. What did everyone say about him after he left? Alec was always so stoic yet he went running out of the club like a ghost was after him. And they didn’t know he’d found his soulmate. They would probably all be happy for him.

“Yeah.” Was all he could muster to say to her.

“Are you…alright?” She stepped a bit more into the room but stayed in the doorway.

“Yes and no. It’s a long story.”

“Well I am here if you need me. Well if you need me later. I was just grabbing my tablet from the office. Forgot it on Friday.”

“Maybe I will take you up on that offer after I know what I am doing.” Lydia just smiled at him and bid him good day. After the door closed Alec groaned and rolled his eyes at himself. He could have been more civil, but it seemed like that emotion had left him for someone else.

“What the fuck do I do?” Leaning over his desk and hand in his hair, probably making it stick out at all angles. He needed to talk through his emotions and fears, but to do so, for a very private man, was incredibly tough.

Alec was silent for what seemed like hours, his mind both racing and freezing. He was not used to being out of control, to have his life messed with. Finally he buckled down and did what he knew needed to be done.

-=-=-=-=-

<3 Alec <3: Is there somewhere we can meet that is both public and private?

The moment Magnus' phone lit up with those words he was jumping up and screaming yes, arm fist pumping the air. Quickly he typed out the directions to a small coffee/ice cream stand in Central Park. Once he received Alec’s confirmation he went running from the living room to his closet to pick out his outfit.

Ever since Alec had left the club on Friday night Magnus had felt like a part of him was missing. He didn’t feel whole or even comfortable in his skin. He was able to brush it off until he had tried texting Alec. When tall-dark-and-handsome didn’t answer, that was when the panic set in.

He had worried that maybe Alec had never made it home. What if…Alec already had a boyfriend or even a girlfriend? Was Alec bisexual like himself, gay, straight, or even still in the closet? It was not unheard of for one soulmate to choose their partner from before over a newly met soulmate. Granted Magnus had not given Alec much time to talk. He couldn’t even remember everything he’d said since he was riding the highest of highs but he was sure that whatever he said had scared his soulmate off.

It had been a tense half an hour before he got the text saying Alec was fine but needed time. Magnus had relaxed at those words. He needed time. Duh. Alec had just met his soulmate and he needed time. While Magnus could understand that, it didn’t make the time apart any easier.

He had waited all day for Alec to text or call, hoping it wouldn't take too long, but as the minutes turned into hours he had to accept the fact that Alec needed even more time. So he tried to fill his time with trash tv but seemed to gravitate to the sad romantic movies instead. He cried his eyes out to the Notebook and A Walk to Remember before he finally fell asleep from pure exhaustion.

It didn’t help that Ragnor wanted to know what had happened. He was Magnus’ closest thing to a father but Magnus pushed him away. Old feelings of abandonment surfaced. He thought he was over and done with those feelings. He thought he had left his time at the orphanage long behind him when he went to England. But it seemed he was not over his past.

He remembered when he had first met Ragnor and how happy he’d been that someone cared, even a little, for the odd boy with honey brown eyes. Ragnor didn’t care that Magnus’ father had been a foreigner that got his mom pregnant then ran away. Magnus was known as the bastard that killed his mother, but Ragnor didn’t see it that way. When his mother had died in childbirth her family had taken Magnus to the orphanage. He was at least happy they had done that instead of killing him.

While life in England had been fun and exciting he never really had anything that was solely his. When he chose to become a model and travel around the world he thought that would be the something he was missing. Then Camille happened and again he thought that was the something he was missing. But it wasn’t. He was missing his soulmate, his other half.

Magnus finally decided on a casual purple top and dark skinny jeans. He threw on his Chucks, grabbed his leather jacket, keys, and wallet before heading out the door. Of course he told Chairman he would be back, but the cat probably didn’t even hear him. Down in the parking garage he put on his helmet and revved his bike. Since he had not really fixed his hair he would wear the protection.

Chapter 7

Alec was waiting by the cart with an ice tea in his hand. It was too warm for coffee but he didn’t feel like ice cream. Looking at his watch he wondered how much longer Magnus would be. Really it had only been half an hour since he got the text telling him he would see the man in about half an hour.

Everything in Alec screamed to leave and hide at home, but that was not fair to Magnus. He deserved to know why Alec had run and why he was not sure this would work out. If Alec could give him anything he would give him that.

Taking another sip he finally saw Magnus, leather jacket and hair pushed back from his face. He looked…younger with no makeup on. God, why did he have to be so young.

“Hey, Alec.” Magnus smiled at him, but didn’t come in for a hug or even a handshake like he was waiting for Alec to initiate it first.

“Hey. How are you doing?” Alec was never good at small talk.

“Good. Let me get something and then we can talk.” Magnus ended up getting a cone with strawberry and vanilla swirl on top.

They walked for a bit just trying to get used to each other's company. It was like a balm to frazzled nerves. Odd but kind of nice.

“I am sorry.” Alec said after Magnus was halfway done with his ice cream. “For running out on you the other night.”

“No worries. I understand. I was talking too much.” Magnus tried to shrug it off, but had remembered what he had been talking about when Alec suddenly said he had to go and left. He had been talking about their future. Stupid really, but when you have grown up imaging your life differently you tend to dream about your soulmate. But in the dreams his soulmate had been just as happy. “I am sorry about what I said. I understand it was all too much and I am sure your partner was not happy when they heard.”

“Partner? What partner?”

“Boyfriend or girlfriend. Or are you mar…” At that moment Alec had let out a sharp laugh that made some ducks honk and move farther away from the two of them on the pond.

“Sorry, no. I don’t have a boyfriend and I’ve never had a girlfriend. I am…I’m gay.” Relief flooded Magnus' body. “I didn’t run from you because of a partner…I ran because…” Alec sighed. “You were not in the plans.”

“Plans?” Magnus asked and Alec motioned them to a bench. He quickly finished his cone, which was not the best idea, and had a bit of a brain freeze. Thankfully Alec waited until Magnus was not in so much pain before he continued.

“I’m thirty-six, Magnus. I have been looking for my soulmate for a long time.” Alec said, looking into his drink as if he was replaying his past over again. “After I finished my PHD and still had not found him I decided that I was done waiting. It hurt too much to keep searching and failing to find my soulmate. So I gave up. I made myself believe I was fine with no partner and being the brainy uncle to my brother and sister’s kids. I got a second cat and was like, this is it. This is me.” Alec paused. Magnus wanted to say something. He had been waiting and looking too, not for as long, but he had never given up that his soulmate was out there and they would meet one day.

“Then Friday…every carefully laid plan I had made for my life just crumbled. I didn’t know how to move forward. I finally had the soulmate I had always wanted, yet at the same time, I had told myself for years that I didn’t want a soulmate. That…I didn’t deserve a soulmate.”

“Didn’t deserve a soulmate? Just because you could not find me?” Magnus asked. It made sense, they were twelve years apart. While Alec was in college running around trying to find his soulmate Magnus was still in Indonesia. When Alec was finishing his schooling Magnus had just started his modeling career. But it still didn’t help the words from hurting. Magnus felt a burn in the back of his eyes. “Do you still not want a soulmate?”

“I don’t know, Magnus. I could not find you and now that I have given up you are here. I am a mixture of emotions. I don’t know anything anymore. I wanted to run, but you deserve better than that.” Finally Alec looked up and their eyes met. Wow how had he never noticed those beautiful golden eyes. They were unlike any color he had ever seen before. “Your eyes…” Magnus looked away, trying to make sure that not one single tear fell. “They're beautiful.”

Okay what?! Magnus’ head whipped back around. “What?” That was not something he was expecting Alec to say.

“Well, they are. I just didn’t notice until now.” Magnus felt his cheeks heat up a bit.

“Thanks.” After that they were silent for a bit. They watched as people came and went. A couple of little boys with their dad, begging him to play catch. A mother and her stroller. A young couple holding hands.

“I was born in Jakarta, Indonesia.” Magnus started. “My father was long gone by then. They said he was a foreigner. My mother died in childbirth with me and her family didn’t want the disgrace of a bastard child so they gave me over to an orphanage.”

“I’m sorry.” Magnus shrugged.

“I never knew my family so I feel no attachment.”

“But you were a child. No one should be made to feel like that.” Magnus looked back at Alec. It felt good to have someone other than Ragnor know the tale. “My parents and I were never very close.” Alec said. “They were a midwest power couple that liked the prestige of being a perfect family. I haven’t talked to my dad since I came out when I was 23 and after I graduated with my degree. He wanted to disown me but my mom stopped him. My mom and I do not have the best of relationships but I know she is trying. We have been in contact more since they divorced.” Wow they both had screwed up families.

“I don’t remember how old I was, but I do remember when I first met Ragnor Fell. It was late April and he came to teach the children of the orphanage English. I took to him and he took to me. It was a couple more years before he became my guardian and took me to England, where he was teaching at the time. I call him Paman which means Uncle. He never formally adopted me, just sponsored me so I could go to school in England.” Sometimes Magnus wished he had but it didn’t make Ragnor any less special to him.

“But he is like your father.” Alec said and Magnus nodded.

“He is all I have.” They were quiet again for a moment before Alec spoke.

“I don’t…I don’t know how to be a good boyfriend. I have not dated since I was 29. I don’t know if I can be what you need me to be.”

“How do you know? We barely know each other.” Magnus protested. “If you want to give us a chance, I would be very happy. But don’t discount us because we are different. Haven’t you heard? Opposites attract.” Alec chuckled at that. “Give us a chance.”

“Okay.” Alec nodded. “I will.”

Chapter 8

Their first official date was set for the following Wednesday. They had texted back and forth since Sunday. Alec finished up his work and then spent the next couple days worrying. It had been ages since he had gone out on a date. He was not even sure he remembered how to date. Martin had been his last shot at something meaningful, but they were just not meant to be.

Martin had been a dance instructor and two years Alec’s junior. He had the correct initials, Martin Barns, but the initials on Martin’s waist were not Alec’s. Still they tried to make it work, because they were both lonely. As looks went Martin was not exactly GQ man of the year, but neither was Alec. He had sandy brown hair, crooked teeth and a thin frame. Martin was more carefree than Alec, but it seemed like a perfect balance, at least at first. As time went on Martin wanted more and more of Alec’s time until Alec felt smothered. They broke up not two months after becoming a couple.

After that Alec had wiped his hands of the whole idea of partners and soulmates. If he couldn’t find his soulmate, then he didn’t need one. It was also around that time that Max got married and had his first kid. Alexis was the spitting image of her dad and the happiest baby. Alec took a semester off of school to visit Max and his family in Chicago. That change had helped him to solidify his position. He would be content with what his life was.

But now he’d found his soulmate and while he couldn’t change overnight, he did want to try and make this work. Magnus deserved that much, they both did. Still he was on edge as he got out of the taxi in front of a nice restaurant. It was not one that required a coat and tie but that didn’t seem to be his soulmate’s type of place either.

Walking in he told the hostess that he was meeting someone and gave Magnus’ name. The woman nodded and showed him the way to the table, telling him his friend was already there. That was a surprise. Alec was well over ten minutes early and Magnus was already here?

As a man from another table sat down Alec could finally see Magnus. The man was drop dead gorgeous. His black hair was styled to perfection atop his head. He wore a magenta shirt with a black sequined jacket over it. When their eyes met Alec felt a jolt go through his body, much like their first connection.

“Sorry if I’m late.” Even though it wasn’t even 7 o’clock yet.

“Fashionably late.” Magnus purred and Alec felt like melting into a pile of goo at his feet. Magnus’ voice did things to him. “But I suppose I was fashionably early.”

They opened the menus and looked through the selection. Alec wasn’t sure what he wanted, aside from Magnus. He felt his face flush at the thought and buried his face in the menu until the waiter came to take their drink orders. Alec was not one for alcohol, not since his junior year in undergrad. You can only drink so much tequila before everything you’d ingested for the past week would come spilling out.

Magnus ordered red wine and Alec joined him in that. They sat in relative silence while their drinks were being poured. Only after their food orders had been taken did Alec try to break the ice.

“Is fish your favorite?” He asked, since Magnus had ordered the salmon.

“Not really. I mean, I do like fish, but I would say my favorite food is rather mundane.” Magnus chuckled. “I love fruit, especially mangos and blueberries.”

“Oh? I love blueberry pie and crumble, but I have never been too fond of the fruit on its own.”

“It can be an acquired taste.”

“I prefer strawberries myself.”

“Chocolate covered strawberries?” Magnus’ little wink made Alec feel hot all over. He had this sudden urge to reach over the table to pull Magnus in for a never ending kiss.

“Yyyeah. Them, too.” Alec stuttered. Another smile across Magnus’ face let him know that Magnus knew just how much he was affecting Alec.

“I tried to go vegetarian once.” Magnus said, thankfully changing the subject before Alec made a fool of himself. “But I like fish and steak too much. So I just cut down on it when I can.”

“I love steak, chicken, and pork.” Magnus scrunched his nose up at the last one. “You don’t like pork?”

“Not really. When I lived in Indonesia the home next to mine had pigs and they got into everything and they smelled.”

“Ah, I see.” Alec nodded. “So no pork, what about chicken?”

“It’s fine.”

“But also not your favorite?” Magnus nodded. They talked a bit more about their food choices and had even moved into music when their food arrived.

“I am not going to say I don’t like them, but…their music is not my taste.” Magnus comments on Alec’s favorite group, The Nephilims.

“What do you mean?!” Alec asked with a smile. “They are the best alternative rock group to come out of Brooklyn in ages.”

“Yes, but a lot of their songs are…sad and lonely.” Oh. Yeah, they were.

“So you stay away from them or any alternative rock?”

“I like upbeat parties, techno, trap, and dance mixes. And some kpop. It’s my secret obsession, but you didn’t hear that from me.” They both chuckled. Finally they were getting comfortable with each other. Finally they were making progress.

-=-=-=-=-=-

After dinner, and a brief argument about who was going to pay, they stood outside the restaurant watching the cars go by. Now that they had become somewhat comfortable with each other Alec found himself gravitating closer to Magnus.

Turning his face toward Alec, Magnus asked if he would like to come over and share a drink. The tension seemed to get worse after Magnus asked.

“I don’t know…if it’s a good idea.” The sad look that briefly passed over Magnus’ face made Alec want to take the words back.

“I understand. It’s no-” Magnus didn’t even get to finish his sentence as Alec pulled him into a deep and passionate kiss. What had been simmering at dinner was igniting.

Magnus thread his hands through Alec's hair, not caring that they were in the middle of the sidewalk. His soulmate was kissing him and he never wanted to stop. Unfortunately, they did have to stop kissing so they didn’t die of asphyxiation.

“I…I don’t know where…” Alec was stuttering again.

“I shall ask you again, want to come back to my place?” Finally Alec agreed.

Chapter 9

They barely made it into Magnus’ apartment before they were pulling clothes off each other. The taxi ride home had been excruciatingly long. Keeping his hands to himself had been hard but somehow Alec did.

They almost tripped over someone’s shoes and they both laughed.

“Bedroom or couch?” Magnus asked. They hadn’t been able to talk about what exactly they would be doing. All they knew was it involved less clothes and more touching.

“I…I haven't been intimate with anyone for a long time.” Alec found himself admitting, feeling ashamed. Magnus pressed his finger to Alec’s lips.

“Don’t be embarrassed. I don’t mind taking the lead, but I need to know what your boundaries are.”

“Stand here and talk out the details?” Magnus laughed a hearty laugh.

“Neither do I but I prefer clear guidelines.” Alec bit his lip, not sure how far to take this, but knowing he needed something more than just kisses.

“Maybe not all the way.” God he sounded like a teenager about to lose his virginity on prom night.

“Alright. Are you okay with condoms? We probably should get tested.”

“Yeah. But can we do something before my dick decides to settle down?”

“You are only in your thirties. You are fine, but I will gladly help you.” Magnus pushed Alec back against the wall and knelt down. He pulled out his wallet and produced a condom.

“Expecting something?” Alec asked with a blush.

“More like prepared.” Magnus tore the wrapper and pulled the condom out. He placed it on the tip of Alec’s dick and with one quick motion used his mouth to roll it all the way down.

“FUCK!” Bubbled out of Alec’s mouth. Magnus just pulled back to the tip before going back in. The pace he set was both too much and not enough. Alec felt like he was on the edge from the moment Magnus’ mouth had engulfed his dick.

“Magnus, fuck… please!” What was he pleading for? More? Faster? Alec’s fingers slid into Magnus’ raven hair, pulling the strands from the perfect coif and pushing it out of place. His hips started to move on their own even as he tried to hold back. He didn’t want to hurt Magnus, but he did love the feeling of hitting the back of the man’s throat.

“Magnus…” He panted, letting his eyes close as Magnus’ hands ran up his thighs to his ass and pulled him forward. Fuck, did his soulmate want him to fuck his throat? His hips seemed to understand and snapped forward hard, causing Magnus to moan around him. It wasn’t long before the thrusts and Magnus’ own vibrations over his dick were too much and he fell over, coming inside Magnus’ mouth.

Magnus pulled off, panting, and leaning against Alec’s thigh for a moment before he was able to gather himself enough to stand up and help Alec with the condom.

“When I said…maybe not all the way…” Alec was panting trying to stand on shaking legs. “I might have spoken too soon.” Magnus chuckled.

“One step at a time, big boy.”

They ended up sticking to their agreement not to go all the way. While they both wanted to, it wasn’t the right time. Instead Magnus took Alec back to his bedroom and showed him his collection of “toys”. Magnus even put a few to good use as he fucked himself while Alec watched.

If Magnus had been breathtaking at dinner, he was something else now. Alec’s gaze ran over Magnus’ body as he pushed a purple toy in and out of himself. Magnus’ back was arched and his neck stretched to show off his throat. What did Alec do to deserve such a god?

Once Alec was hard again Magnus switched from a dildo to a vibrator. He still needed something inside him as they kissed and pressed their bodies closer. Their cocks rubbed against each other smearing precome all over their stomachs.

The morning after was devoid of any awkwardness. It was as if everything had shifted into place. They were completely comfortable around each other. That, in and of itself, was magical. They moved in sync as they made breakfast; snuggled on the couch, trading kisses and stories.

Unfortunately, before too long, Alec had to leave. He had two fur babies that would not be happy they had to wait until nearly noon for food.

“You could bring them over here. So they don’t get lonely.” Magnus said as Alec had put on his clothes from the day before.

“Are you sure your cat won’t mind?” Alec countered.

“Well…he will have to get used to them sometime, right?” They hadn’t talked about the next steps in their relationship, but they were both pretty sure that they would be moving in together sooner rather than later.

“Maybe a play date?” Alec suggested.

“Tomorrow?” Magnus asked hopefully.

“Tomorrow.” Alec agreed.

Epilogue - Three months later

Magnus growled as his liner skipped, again. Alec walked over to him, passing the bed where a kitten pile had developed on Magnus’ discarded clothes. Alec knew Magnus was nervous. This was the first time he was going to meet his soulmate’s family. It would be nerve wracking for anyone.

“You look stunning.” Alec said, leaning down to kiss Magnus’ cheek.

“One side is thicker than the other.”

“Magnus, relax. Everything is going to be just fine. Izzy is very excited to meet you, having heard of you from the modeling world.” Alec tried to pump his soulmate up.

Magnus met Alec’s eyes in the mirror. “What if they don’t want me in the family?” It hit Alec like a ton of bricks. Magnus had already been shunned from his biological family and now here was another chance at rejection.

Alec knelt down next to Magnus. “They won’t. My siblings are much more open minded than my parents. Izzy knew I was gay before I even told her. Max wanted to cut all ties with our father when he tried to disown me. They will love you, because I love you, but also because you are loveable.” Magnus smiled as his eyes watered. “The only one we have to worry about is my mother. I don’t think she will be cruel, but she can be stone faced. But if she doesn’t accept you, then I won’t accept her.”

-=-=-=-=-

“Alec!” Izzy nearly threw herself at her big brother as she opened the door. Alec caught her in his arms and Magnus just stood in awe. They could pass for twins. They were both tall and thin with dark hair. Her eyes turned to Magnus and she let go of her brother. “And you must be Magnus.”

“Yes.” They shook hands as two little kids peered out.

“Uncle Alec!” The cousins say in unison. Alexis had a head of curly dark hair while her cousin, Luke, had short brown hair. They were the only cousins close enough in age. Alexis was four years younger than Izzy and Simon’s middle daughter, Abby. But Luke and Alexis were only a year apart.

“Lexi, Luke.” Alec said, scooping the two little ones up into his arms. “I want you to meet someone.” Suddenly all eyes were on him and Magnus had not even gotten in the door. “This is my soulmate, Magnus.”

“Hi.” Alexis waved at him, but being five and more inquisitive Luke asked.

“Soulmate? Like mommy and daddy?”

“That is right dear.” Izzy said, taking her song from Alec’s arms and motioning them in. “Uncle Alec now as a soulmate.”

“Uncle Magnus?” Luke asked, looking from his mom to his uncle.

“If that is alright with Magnus.” Alec sat Alexis down and looked at Magnus. Uncle wow that was quick.

“Yeah. I would like that.” Magnus nodded.

“Uncle Mans.” Little four year old tried saying. Magnus smiled.

Luke took Magnus by the hand and introduced him to the rest of the family. First off was his two older sisters that were on the couch not inches apart but on their phones.

“Abby, Lizzie. Uncle Magnus.” Luke introduced Magnus, with Alec stepping in to tell the nine and eleven year old, respectively, that Magnus was his soulmate. Abby was shy, like her father and only smiled, but Lizzie was the clone of her mother.

“Nice fit. Armani?”

“Yes.” Magnus nodded looking down at his dusty green jacket.

“Last fall’s collection, correct?”

“Yes. You know your styles well.”

“Thanks. Mom takes me to work with her a lot.”

“Soon enough she will know more clothes then I will.” Izzy commented. “But I am still so proud of my little fashionista.”

“Mom.” The preteen whined and hid behind her phone.

Next was Max and his wife, Erica. Max was nearly the same height as Alec, but had a mess of curls much like his daughter. A family of giants.

“Max, good to see you.” The brothers hugged and then Alec leaned down to gently side hug Erica as she was holding the youngest member of the Lightwood clan, two year old Peter.

“It's good to see you too, Alec.” Erica tilted her head at Magnus and sighed. Taking something out of her pocket she gave it to her husband. “You win.”

“You win?” Alec asked, echoing Magnus’ own thoughts. Had they made a bet about them? Or about him? Magnus suddenly felt very uncomfortable.

“Your brother bet me that your soulmate would be shorter than you. I said he would be the same height or taller.” Alec laughed and that broke any tension Magnus had felt. His soulmate pulled Magnus closer to him.

“He is shorter by maybe an inch or two.” Magnus made a show of laying his head on Alec’s shoulder.

“Yes, but what I lack in height I make up for in style.”

The last person on the list to meet was Maryse Lightwood, the matriarch of the family. After Max had left home there was nothing else holding the family together. Robert had been cheating on her for years and Maryse had just looked the other way. Once the divorce was final Maryse moved closer to her youngest child. She had enjoyed being a grandmother more than she had being a mother. There were no external pressures, just love.

“Mother. I want you to meet Magnus, my soulmate.” Alec said, one arm around Magnus’ back. Alec was not sure what his mother would do. They didn’t talk that often and only for short amounts of time. She was trying, he knew that.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Lightwood.” Magnus held out his hand like he had for Max and his wife and waited. It didn’t exactly take that long for Maryse to react, but to the soulmates it was an eternity.

Maryse sat her glass of wine down on a side table and leaned in, putting her arms around Magnus and hugged him tight, much to Alec’s shock.

“Thank you for making my son happy.” She whispered into Magnus' ear. Pulling back she had a bright smile on her face. “And welcome to the family.”

“Mom! Can you help me wrangle the kids?” Izzy called out to her mom. The younger ones were underfoot while the older ones were on their phones.

“If you will excuse me.” She grabbed her glass and headed for the kitchen. “Now, who is getting into trouble in here?”

Alec’s mouth was still slightly agape, his mind not comprehending what had just happened. “I think Mom might have had too much wine.”

Magnus just smiled, keeping what she had said a little secret to himself for now. He had been welcomed into the Lightwood family by every single member. It was like a dream come true.

#shmb2023 #shadowhunters #malec #au non magic #fanfiction

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solarisrasa · 8 months

Text

Heart's Balm, Soul's Harbor

At twelve years old, Alexander Lightwood received a gift he neither wanted nor asked for: The Warlock Magnus Bane and his daemon.

With his own daemon unsettled and Magus Bane's status as High Warlock and enemy of the Clave, Alec makes a choice to free the man, only to realize too late that his daemon cannot be freed with him.

Rating: M

Word Count: 19k

Warnings: metaphysical assault, kidnapping, minor descriptions of violence/blood

Ship: Malec

Huge thank you to my beta @forensicsisabelle who even jumped on this morning to edit the last bit, since I am perpetually running late <3 You've been a gem and kept my comma's straightened out!

Art by the absolutely amazing @cam-ryt who has been very lovely even though we're both very busy!

This fic was created for the Shadowhunters Mini Bang 2023: Presented by the @malecdiscordserver

Find it in the collection here

When Alexander Lightwood was twelve years old, he gained a terrible secret, he stole something sacred from another.

Well, not quite stole it, exactly. He kept it, without consent or permission, yes, but it was all to keep the other safe.

But that's the wrong place to start. To start, it was Alec's birthday, and he was turning twelve, and there were gifts...

The morning came crisp and clear and Alec was already dreading it. Birthdays were meant to be exciting, as Izzy always reminded him, time to celebrate and have cake. She was always thrilled for her birthday, but she was the younger of them, and their parent's didn't do the same things.

Also, Izzy liked parties and people. Alec would prefer just his friends, Jace and Izzy and maybe a few of the boys he sometimes had lessons with, but that never worked out. His parents were determined to prove their eldest was growing into a strong Shadowhunter and someone who could one day lead the institute. Alec's birthday was as much about showing off their own abilities as leaders as Izzy's birthdays were about celebrating her. Jace's birthday was a quiet thing the last two years, though there was still a display of weapons, and his twelfth birthday would be just as big as Alec's, but he was allowed time to adjust to people. Not that he needed it, Jace would be the darling of the evening, and Alec much preferred that. Mostly.

This year he was old enough to take missions. His party, accordingly, was a political affair. Families with children in his age group or slightly older were invited, as he would patrol with their kids and someday, if his mother was right, lead them.

The dread only intensified when his daemon, Ranimirus, curled closer to him. A male daemon was rare for a male Shadowhunter, and Rani stayed quiet most of the time to keep their secret. Even his parent's didn't know. Izzy, with her curiosity, had guessed, though Alec had never confirmed it and was careful to keep Rani away from her daemon. Jace just knew, but that was okay. Jace had kept every one of Alec's secrets, and his own daemon, Kaie, was Rani's favored friend. Rani, a cozy puffball that was curled in against Alec's throat, made a face like he expected to be reprimanded and promptly changed into a sparrow.

Alec closed his eyes. "You didn't settle."

"No," came the little bird voice, sad and frustrated.

"It's alright. It's probably my fault," Alec said, holding his hands out for his daemon to land in, nuzzling against the little bird who chirped reproachfully at his self-deprecation.

"Lots us people's daemons don't settle until they’re a little older," Rani told him, even though they both knew that his parents were going to be disappointed. They said that a settled daemon by hunting age was a sign of a good, strong leader.

"We could pretend," Alec nearly whispered.

Rani fluttered into the air, changing to a magpie and croaking out a sound of distress. He was right, Alec was never good at holding his emotions fully in check on his birthday, though he did well enough that only Rani's unsettled form gave him away. It would hurt Rani to try and hold back the natural shifts that reflected Alec's changing moods, deep as they ran.

"I suppose starting the day by disappointing them isn't that unusual," he said, watching Rani's form shrink until he was a tiny hummingbird, colors all muted brown.

"Do you remember, before?" Rani asked him, his tone gone strange. It was the same voice he used when he was asking Alec questions only a daemon could know to ask, one's that dug at Alec's heart and made him think.

He closed his eyes, recalling the feeling of his mother's hugs and laughter, his father's large hand steadying him instead of pushing him. It was warm and safe to be with them and there was a hazy recollection of a cake with candles, his mother singing. There were four candles on the cake.

"No," he lied. Rani dropped onto his shoulder, a moth now, barely bigger than his thumbnail.

Late into the evening, with Alec and Jace sitting on the back steps, both sweaty and tired after their weapons display for the party, a man drew near with his mother.

"Jace, go find some water for the two of you," Maryse commanded, with a slight smile for her adopted son. Jace's gaze darted between the three of them, Kaie shuffling uneasily on his shoulder. She was a gorgeous falcon who rarely changed anymore, and Alec felt the pang of knowing Jace would outstrip him in this too.

"Jace," Maryse repeated, smile drying up.

"Going, going." Jace held up his hands and shot Alec an eye roll at their mother's antics before dashing inside.

Alec knew, as well as Jace did, that his mother wanted him alone. Her wolf daemon, Soledad, paced a neat perimeter behind him as soon as Jace left.

She sat primly on the step beside him, tugging her skirt into place, and the man with her, half-familiar to Alec, came to stand looming over them. His daemon was a magpie with greedy black eyes that hopped along behind him as he walked. It looked much crueler than Rani's own magpie form that morning, and its beak was held open strangely.

"This is John, Alec. He's come from Idris to celebrate your birthday and he has a gift for you."

The man, John (undoubtedly another Johnathan, for there were many among Shadowhunters), gave him a distasteful look but dipped his head in greeting just the same.

"Thank you for making the journey, your presence is gift enough," Alec recited, aware of what his mother expected of him. "Any further gift you bring is appreciated and welcomed."

John's distaste lightened some, an appraising light entering his eyes instead, and Alec hated that more. With a practiced motion, he drew his stele through the air just behind his daemon and a large cage shimmered into place, unglamoured now. The magpie daemon was holding a rope connected to the cage, clearly pulling it along. Now that it was visible the bird’s mouth hanging open didn’t seem so odd. Alec forced himself to look at the cage, pushing down the shocked flush of heat, anger and shame, that rose in his chest.

Curled together in the bottom of the cage, limbs pressed uncomfortably against the bars, were a man and his daemon. They were both unconscious and the man was covered in an ill-fitting, thin plain brown shirt and pants. His daemon was some kind of large cat, its thick fur was marbled black and brown, and Alec thought it was almost as beautiful as the man. He immediately stopped looking at them, schooling his expression into something neutral as best he could. Rani was beside him, a small brown cat himself with fur tufted in a display of discomfort that Alec quickly stepped in front of to hide.

"Is that-?" Maryse started, and Alec watched his mother closely. She sounded shocked, and though her expression was one of mild interest, he thought there was some frightened thing in her eyes.

John grinned, a wide display of his teeth that drew a soft hiss from Rani. "It is. Magnus Bane, the High Warlock. My men caught him and his daemon two days ago, and I thought he was a fitting gift for your heir. After all, the Lightwoods have a long history with Bane."

Maryse leaned down, like she wanted a better look, but Alec didn't miss the strange, regretful look in her eyes. He didn't want to know. He wished John had never been invited, he wished he could have a quiet birthday again, with cake and candles and his family smiling. He wished-

Rani's claws caught his pant leg before the thought could fully form, his little cat body trembling and his eyes wide.

Alec would think it again, many times.

He wished he never had another birthday.

When everyone was asleep, the guests mostly gone except those close enough to his parents to have stayed late talking and eventually sleeping, Alec and Jace snuck to the room where his mother had bid John to put the caged warlock. The cage only held his daemon now, the cat was curled tightly, but when the door opened a pair of golden eyes flashed in the sliver of witchlight from Jace's cupped palms. The cat came to its feet all at once, mouth open and teeth showing with a hiss.

"Raziel," Jace swore as Alec stumbled back into him, Rani and Kaie as falcons quietly flapping in alarm overhead. The cat's teeth were huge.

"Hush Cahya," a rough voice said in the dark to the right of the cage, a hand coming into the witchlight with ruined nail polish glittering as it reached for the daemon, tugging to a stop just out of range. A manacle, silvery and hard to look at, gleamed in the light, and the daemon, Cahya, twisted so its long tail slid through the bars and touched the hand.

"Come to see the captured monster?" the voice continued as Jace let the witchlight fill the room.

It was the warlock, Magnus, who sat on a bare cot with his feet chained to the wall, allowing him enough motion to kneel or lay on the bed but not enough to properly stand. He had dark hair, and Alec was struck again by his pretty features, though he looked exhausted and bitter.

"Alec can come see you if he wants to, you're-" Jace started, with his usual heat. He was offended at something, though Alec had no idea what this captured man could've done.

"Jace," Alec said, voice soft. Behind them on the floor, Rani bumped Kaie gently. Both Jace and his daemon understood immediately. Alec needed a moment.

Jace handed him the witchlight and turned to guard the door, Kaie fluttering up to his shoulder as he went.

Magnus watched this with a small frown, and Alec noted his eyes were like his daemon's, yellow-gold with slit pupils that thinned in the light. He waited until he was sure Jace was outside before he spoke again. "This is Rani."

Rani changed into a small black and white monkey and waved one little hand. "Hello."

If Magnus thought the daemon's distinctly male voice was strange, he didn't show it, only looked suspiciously between them.

"Is it okay with the two of you, if Rani checks to see if, if your daemon is hurt?" Alec asked, hands held out from his body, the witchlight sitting in his open palm.

"I am not injured," a smoky female voice said. "I am only weak because the bars are filled with your angel metals, and I do not have the flesh of nephilim in my teeth."

Alec didn't flinch at that, though Rani backed away from the cage a little. He wouldn't blame them for being angry. He didn't understand how his parents could've accepted this in the first place, why they had allowed John to give him a person. Even if the downworld was nearly at war with the Clave, even if his mother and father had been a touch too close to Valentine before he died, this was...this was wrong.

He took a deep, shuddering breath, "Okay. Rani won't go near you. Are you alright, Magnus?"

Magnus gave him a long look, the bitter, wary twist to his mouth softening some. "Oh, grand, thanks, very nice cell here. Tell whoever set it up I hope they choke." He sounded very sweet at the end there and Alec's lip twitched a little, though his heart was still hammering. Cat eyes focused on him, "You know my name. Who are you?"

Alec sighed, "Alec. I'm-" He remembered John's words, the Lightwood's had a history with Magnus Bane. He remembered his mother's uncharacteristic regret, her fear. The feeling of something deeply wrong settled in deeper.

"I'm Alec Lightwood. A man gifted you to me for my twelfth birthday. I don't know why, but I-" There was a rapid knock, Jace signaling him they needed to go. Rani darted to him, running up his leg and settling on his shoulder as Magnus stared at him, mouth slightly open and something dark and angry in his eyes.

Alec hurried toward the door, looking back long enough to make a promise to Cahya and Magnus, "I will get you out."

"We can't," Jace hissed, back in his room. Alec was sitting on the end of Jace's bed, Rani curled around his shoulders as a mink.

"It's dangerous," Kaie added, her voice soft, pained. She hopped closer to Alec on the bed, never touching, but close. "We've seen those cuffs before. They're keeping his magic contained. It's almost impossible to remove them without the right key."

Alec bit his lip, he knew his eyes were already rimmed red. He was trying very hard not to snap at either of them, he knew they were just as frightened as he was, even if Jace was trying to hide it. They knew, more than anyone, what Shadowhunters might do to a captive warlock. Valentine had kept Jace, had taught him and raised him and tortured him. They knew.

"What if we find the key?" Rani's voice came, muffled against his throat, but clear enough.

"They won't stop hunting him," Jace pointed out.

Alec curled tighter in on himself where he sat, and Jace sighed, falling to sit beside him. They were kids, though only barely by Nephilim standards, and they didn't know what to do.

"What about..." Kaie started and then fluttered her wings, to whisper quietly between them, "What about Ragnor?"

The warlock who had been a teacher, who lived at the edge of Idris and who was known for killing Shadowhunters on the spot if they approached without warning. The Clave left him alone, partially because too many of their number remembered him as a teacher, a friendly face, and partially because it was said his friends could set Idris aflame.

Jace looked thoughtful, and Alec rubbed his hands together slowly, thinking over the suggestion. If they could see Ragnor, he could help and more than that, if the rumors were true he might even come get Magnus himself, and they wouldn't be in any trouble. Except, Alec didn't like the idea of putting someone else in danger.

"Tomorrow," Jace started. "Tomorrow we can ask Maryse, tell her we want to go into Brocelin together, to work on our connection. Ragnor's is reachable if we follow the edge of the forest, and no one will bother sticking around to watch us out there."

Kaie clicked her beak. "The wolf packs have been forced deep into the forest, so there's barely any danger."

Alec let out a breath slowly, pressing his hands together harder even as Jace nudged him with his shoulder. Rani pressed his soft nose tight to Alec's throat in response to the dizzy feeling that was making Alec's extremities tingle.

"If we ask tomorrow, hopefully she lets us go soon. I don't think it's a good idea to let Magnus stay here too long." Alec looked at Jace as he spoke and found his best friend looked as grim as he felt at the prospect.

Izzy woke them, her cloud of dark hair a messy tangle as she jumped on them both where they'd fallen asleep on Alec's bed. Chilo nearly blended in with the dark strands where he was laying over her shoulders. He made a displeased flicking motion with his forked tongue as her rambunctious bouncing dislodged him and he changed into a sparrow just in time to avoid smacking into Jace's face.

"Iz!" Jace said, rolling away from her as she laughed, ignoring Alec grumbling in annoyance.

"C'mon, c'mon! Mom wants everyone down for breakfast!" she said, poking repeatedly at Alec's arm until he was moving fast enough for her. Jace was spared the prodding because he rolled to his feet and quickly fled, Kaie soaring after him.

"I'm going, Iz," Alec said, swatting half-heartedly at his little sister's sharp fingered hands.

"Dad wants to talk to you about your presents, he said. I don't know why, they were all boring. You got soooo many books, and not even ones about swords or anything!" She flopped back on his bed with a huff and Chilo landed on her chest as a ferret, wiggling everywhere.

"We need to comb our hair!" he told her, and Izzy giggled as Alec tried to keep the worry off his face. His father wanting to talk about gifts wasn't good. His stomach felt tight, and he had to swallow before he could speak to Izzy.

"See? You're in here annoying me, and you're not even ready for breakfast," he said, hoping she wouldn't notice how tight his voice sounded.

"You take longer," she said, sticking her tongue out at him for good measure and then running away.

Rani hummed in worry, still a furry scarf at Alec's throat.

"I know. We need to though, we can't be weird about it or it could be bad for helping Magnus." He raised a hand and brushed against Rani's copper fur, the same shade it was the night before. He felt a flare of hope, but then Rani was shifting under his hands. He turned into a lizard the length of Alec's palm and climbed into his hair, settling comfortably.

The hope Rani had settled crumbled again, and Alec tried to forget it as he dressed. There was more to worry about.

His father was waiting for him in the hallway where Magnus was being kept. He was staring off into the distance while his coyote daemon paced around his legs. Both of them seemed unsettled and Alec braced himself.

"Dad?"

Robert blinked, and both he and Tristana turned toward Alec like he was unexpected, even though they'd asked for him.

"Alec. Good. There's something we need to do with your gift from John," his father said, like they weren't talking about a person.

Alec gritted his teeth and felt Rani's little body twist in his hair, no doubt trying to hold himself in check. He managed to nod and his father reached for the door, only to hesitate with his fingers inches from the door.

"It won't hurt them," Robert assured him, and the sick feeling in Alec's stomach lessened a little.

"It's just a way to make sure they won't run away." Robert nodded once, not looking at Alec, and opened the door.

Magnus was sitting on the cot, his back against the wall. The circles under his eyes looked deeper and more like bruises in the overhead spill of diffused witchlight than they had the night before. In the cage, Cahya was only a pair of hateful eyes watching them over her paws, her long tail tucked close to her body.

"I don't know if John told you who-" his father started, not bothering to greet Magnus or his daemon in any way. Tristana stayed in the doorway behind Alec, blocking him in.

Alec swallowed his fear, forcing himself to meet Magnus' eyes.

"Magnus Bane. The High Warlock. He said he thought he was a fitting gift for the Lightwood heir." Alec's voice was flat, and he knew his expression was as empty as he could manage. The tiny light in Magnus' eyes dimmed, and Alec very, very carefully didn't look at his father as Rani turned into a miniscule snake and sunk little fangs into Alec's scalp, both of them working to stay grounded.

Robert stepped in front of Cahya's cage, and Magnus broke eye contact with Alec, staring at his father instead, his face cool.

"Robert. Good to know you're as pathetic as ever, other men giving your son gifts well above his worth." Magnus made a show of stretching. "Maryse was always the one of you with any real talents, sad that your heir-" He raked Alec with a look of disdain that Alec pointedly didn't react to, "-seems to have taken after you."

Alec loved his father. Once, when he was much smaller, he had dreamed of being like his father with his kind smile and his gentle hands. Then he had begun to grow and understand. His father was weak, the smile was empty, and what Alec had thought was gentle was Robert's inability to commit himself, a fluttering and uncertain way of touching everything. The only times his father showed strength was with Maryse beside him, and even that was more a muted support of her. Magnus couldn't know the way his words twisted in Alec's chest, and if he did, well...Alec supposed he might have earned them.

He could have tried harder to get Magnus out the night before. If he was really good the way he wanted to be, he would have taken Jace's original advice, before they'd snuck in to see Magnus, he would have gone in with a sword and damn anyone in the way. He swallowed against what had felt like smart caution in the dark but seemed more like cowardice in the light.

Robert didn't respond to Magnus, he was opening a small cupboard built into the wall just out of reach of Cahya's cage.

"John was testing us. He's done quite well, politically, but your mother and I are in a better position with the new consul. The unrest in the Downworld and the tightening of Idris' borders means that those of us who can do what must be done are gaining value. I don't know how John caught Bane, though I plan to find out-" Alec had to swallow fear and he saw the way Cahya's lips pulled back at the threat, "-but I know that he didn't seriously believe we could hold him. Magnus Bane is the High Warlock for a reason. He's terribly dangerous, and giving him as a gift to you is ridiculous."

Robert brought down a bowl and a bottle with thick grey something in it, holding it so Magnus couldn't see it.

"Giving him to Jace might've made some sense, but it's well known that you aren't as strong as your brother." He unstopped the bottle and poured it into the bowl. "Magnus would have you in his palm within a week. But, John has never understood that Lightwoods stick together. You might be too weak alone, but I can help."

Alec's muscles were locked so tight he was surprised he hadn't fallen over. His father had always made it apparent he preferred Jace, but never had he so plainly called Alec weak and lesser. Doing it here, in front of a captured man, was probably his father's idea of making a point, of motivating Alec to work harder. Worse, whatever they were in there for was going to make it harder to free Magnus.

"Give me your hand."

Alec did, unable to think around the hurt and confusion and fear.

Robert slashed his palm, adding his blood to the bowl. Alec watched it drip in and distantly remembered his lessons, the way that Nephilim saw blood magic. His father taking his blood like this was a terrible taboo and a worse violation.

Rani fluttered in his hair, a swallow suddenly.

"Perfect." Robert's hand closed around his daemon and Alec's vision went strange, he swore he heard Magnus crying out, but couldn't focus. It felt like someone had shoved something cold and awful down his throat and squeezed his heart. Then there was a tugging and some part of him twisted over itself and he was falling.

Alec landed on his side on the floor, and Rani fell next to him, both of them shuddering and gasping as Rani changed into the smallest moth he could and pressed against Alec's pulse. There was the sound of something growling and hissing and chains and yelling, but he couldn't make out words. He sucked in another breath and his stomach lurched and then he was rolling on instinct, vomiting on the floor. He stared at it, trying to get his breath back and understand what his father had just done to him.

He looked up, feeling the way that spit and vomit were on his face and tears were running messily down his cheeks.

His father wasn't looking at him. Instead he was working on whatever was in the bowl together. He looked toward Magnus and found the warlock already looking at him, his face twisted in disgust. It didn't seem like disgust at Alec, rather for him.

"I'm sorry," his father said, and Alec's head snapped back to him. He was filling a large syringe, one of the types without a needle, from the bowl. The liquid was thick and pink, probably from the blood in it, and it was hard to reconcile it, the shuddery terror still coursing through Alec, the captive in the room, all of it, with one of his mother's plain white bowls, the same kind Alec ate cereal out of most mornings.

Robert turned to the cage, and Magnus and Alec both moved. Alec tried to crawl forward, his head swimming, and Magnus lurched to the end of his chains.

"Wait-" Alec moaned, dragging himself upright. He tried to get to his feet, but it was too much too fast and blackness rushed in over the sight of his father reaching for the caged daemon.

Ragnor had let them in only after a wall of flame that rolled over both him and Jace. It hadn't hurt them, only left a terrible taste in their mouths and left Alec feeling especially off balance, though that was easier to do since his father's hand had closed around Rani two days ago. Jace slung an arm around his shoulders and pulled him toward the door a scowling green warlock was holding open impatiently.

"Well, neither of you are here to kill me, capture me, torture me, or bore me, so out with it," Ragnor, because that was the only person the green man with horns could possibly be, barked at them. He dropped into a chair, a cup of tea and saucer finding their way into his hands as part of the movement in a way that Alec honestly couldn't say was magic. His daemon was nowhere to be seen.

"We're here about Magnus Bane," Jace said.

The teacup clicked harshly against the saucer, and Ragnor set both aside, magic misting visibly over his hands. "What's the Clave want with the High Warlock?"

Jace opened his mouth to reply, hand still resting on the hilt of his blade, and Alec decided now was the time to step in.

"We're not here because the Clave sent us. No one else knows we've come to see you." Ragnor's eyebrows raised, and there was a spark of meanness in his eyes that Alec didn't acknowledge. "A man captured Magnus Bane and his daemon-"

"Ridiculous." Ragnor cut him off, relaxing back in his chair. "Magnus? Maybe. Magnus and Cahya? No. Cahya's got every bit of sense between them, and she would never allow it."

Alec and Jace shared a look, uncomfortable with correcting Ragnor, but aware they needed to make him believe them.

"I don't know much about them, but a few days ago was my birthday, and another Shadowhunter I'd never met brought me a gift. He said it was because of my family's history with Magnus Bane. He gave Magnus and Cahya to me. I've seen them. We spoke to Magnus, we snuck into the room my mother put them in to check on them that night." Alec swallowed. He didn't want to explain what had happened with his father, he hadn't even told Jace about it yet.

Ragnor's green skin went very pale as he sat forward again, his eyes sharp. "You're absolutely certain Magnus wasn't casting an illusion? Warlocks and their daemons can travel very far from each other. He could be pretending that Cahya is with him."

Alec shook his head slowly, and Kaie spoke up from where she was perched on Jace's shoulder. "There was definitely a daemon in that room."

"She spoke to Rani," Alec said, gesturing to his sleeve where Rani clung as a sugar-glider. "Magnus was also wearing magic-sealing shackles, so he wouldn't be able to cast any spell, he can't even hide his mark. Please." Alec licked his lips and took a step closer to Ragnor.

"Please. We have to get him out."

Ragnor looked at him for a long moment, then to Jace. His expression was grave when he nodded. "Of course we do. He's a major leader of the downworld...and my best friend, fool that I am."

Jace cleared his throat, his hand no longer on the hilt of his weapon. "If we free him, Maryse and Robert aren't going to just write it off. They're going to want to get him back, preferably before anyone realizes he's gone, and if they can't do that..."

Alec swallowed hard. "It would be a huge embarrassment to them. They wouldn't stop hunting him, to prove themselves again. My father is convinced Magnus was given to me as a test. He did something with my blood and...more, to keep them bound."

He didn't know what the potion, because that's what it had to be, his father had made actually did, but he figured it was worth mentioning, if they were going to succeed in freeing Magnus. Ragnor didn't seem so concerned about it though, as he gestured for them to sit, finally.

"We'll have to plan to get Magnus out of his chains. You'll need his help. The best way to ensure that he isn't forced to spend the next decade running from the Clave, and the most helpful thing for the Downworld as well, is to fake his death. You understand, of course, that if we do this neither of you can breathe a word, not under duress, not ever?" He stared at each of them in turn.

Kaie made a soft sound, shuffling, and Jace nodded. Alec pressed a fist to his heart, a Shadowhunter gesture of promise. "Not even with a hand on the sword."

Ragnor sat back again, watching them without a word for long enough that Jace started to fidget.

"I'm trusting you with much. If your intentions were anything less than pure, the flames you crossed would've killed you. You will have to pass through them again when you leave."

Alec didn't have any doubt as he nodded, and beside him he felt Jace do the same. They had agreed, ages ago, that they wanted to help. They were supposed to hold the line against the darkness, not kill anyone who didn't fit their worldview, not police the Downworld. Jace, especially, wanted to earn redemption that Alec didn't think he needed, after being raised by Valentine. The man was dead, but his ideology was rampant in the Clave, re-skinned and made palatable as "for the greater good" and "for their own good."

Maybe, Alec thought, as the three of them began to plan, this was the first step for Jace and him toward something bigger.

Cahya was limp at the foot of his bed. Her breathing was labored, her body curled tight and trembling, and Alec was pressed against his headboard, watching her as he tried to get himself under control before someone came looking for them.

His hands were shaking. Pressed close to his heart, Rani was a tiny moth, wings fluttering lightly against him and their bond thrumming with worry.

Magnus was free. Enough blood, a man literally burst into pieces and strewn around the room, another glamoured to look like the warlock and locked into one of the shackles, and it was a believable failed escape attempt. They—Magnus, Alec, and Jace—had agreed that Jace was the more believable option. Even now he was reporting to Robert and Maryse what had happened, how he'd been passing by with Alec and heard a commotion, how they had watched Magnus obliterate his guards, and how Jace had managed to slip in fast enough to stab Cahya, how the daemon had burst into golden sparks and the warlock had died instantly.

The real complication was explaining why Alec's daemon was a clouded leopard.

It was the part that had failed.

Magnus had agreed to go only after Cahya had whispered with him frantically when they discovered she couldn't leave the boundary of the Lightwood estate. His dark eyes had been murderous, and Alec had easily promised to keep her safe.

The door burst open, pulling him out of his reverie, and Cahya came to her feet, long teeth exposed in threat.

His mother stared, Soledad growling from her side, but Cahya was not Rani, who had learned to yield to the older daemon, and she didn't back down. Maryse's eyes darted from the daemon to Alec, and he couldn't read her at all. She was a stranger to him, more than ever before.

"What. is. that?" she asked, each word a blade.

Alec forced himself to set a hand on Cahya's back and hush her the same way he would've calmed Rani. His tongue felt too big in his mouth, and his fingers clenched in her fur against the wrongness of doing it. He forced down the feeling. He had to keep her safe.

"It's-"

Jace's angry voice came from behind her. "Alec!" Then his brother was pushing past her and Soledad, Kaie pointedly landing next to Cahya and pushing her beak through the fur of Cahya's face, a gesture she'd done to Rani a hundred times when Alec was stressed. It was bizarre to see it and not feel the comfort of it. Against his chest, Rani struggled to hold the smaller form.

"I told her you were in shock, that Rani had taken on the form because you've never seen a daemon die," Jace whispered to him quickly, hugging him tightly, and Alec was glad. He knew that his parents would never respect him, with the way they were painting this: Jace a hero and Alec a disappointment who couldn't control his emotions. Again.

"Sorry mother." Alec didn't dare make eye contact, speaking to Maryse's chin so she might not see the lie. "Rani won't change."

Maryse made a sound, not the disappointed or disgusted one he expected, but not pleased either. Soledad calmed and spoke softly, "Are you alright, Ranimirus?"

Alec felt dizzy with gratitude for his past self. Rani had hardly spoken, even to other daemons except Kaie, had barely tolerated touches from others, and that meant the Cahya's single nod wasn't strange, that Soledad did not try to touch her the way Kaie was. He knew that many parents and children, even among Shadowhunters, allowed their daemons to show some affection. Chilo was often carried by the scruff by Soledad or Tristana when Izzy was called to dinner or her bath, but Rani and Kaie had never allowed that approach.

Jace and Kaie had been too scarred by their time with Valentine, who would hurt Kaie to punish Jace, and Alec...well. He and Rani were naturally withdrawn and they had secrets.

"Alec?" his mother asked, her voice even.

"We'll be fine, Mother. I'm sorry about my present," he said. He carefully stroked his hand over Cahya's spine to hide the way her fur was raised.

"It is...regretful. Magnus Bane was-" She cut herself off, and Alec looked at her face, finally. She did not look at all as he expected. There was genuine regret in the twist of her mouth, and he'd swear it looked like there was moisture in her eyes, but still she smoothed a hand over her skirt.

"It was not your fault," she said. "No one could've held Magnus Bane for long, if he didn't want them too. I have informed the Clave, and they are calling a session. John never told them he captured Bane, and I'm sure that they'll be looking to your father and I for explanations now."

"What do you think will happen?" Alec asked, trying to keep to some sort of normalcy. He always asked after these things, his parent's talking to him after Clave meetings, preparing him for leadership. Jace groaned and slumped against him carefully, uncertain where Rani was hiding.

"I can't say, but I believe this may be the match that will ignite the Downworld. Magnus was much loved, and the Clave needs to come down hard on them. I expect that Idris will be fully sealed off and the Institutes called to war. If that's the case, your father and I will be needed to command, but you children will stay here to finish training." She smoothed her skirt again. "I will make what case I can if that's what it comes to, since Max is so young."

Alec's ears were ringing as he nodded. Maryse spared another look at Cahya and left them, Soledad following closely.

When they were gone, Alec snatched his hand away from Cahya, who turned to him as Kaie squalled and hopped away from her.

"I'm sorry. I-" Alec curled his hand against his chest, where Rani was.

"Peace, little Nephilim," Cahya said in her warm voice. "I am not angry with you. I know that you have both done what you can. If Idris is sealed, Magnus will not be able to come for me."

Alec slowly shook his head. "We may have started the war."

Jace sighed heavily, "Guess that means we'll have to end it too."

There was silence between them as the words hung in the air.

Part II: Eleven years later

Izzy spun a blade casually, her careful eye watching the way it moved through the air. Chilo was a glitter of danger curled close to her throat, his eyes half lidded despite the slow flickers of his tongue that told Alec he was paying perfect attention.

Beside her Jace was methodically sharpening his arming sword, his main blade already gleaming and deadly on the table in front of him. Kaie, a tiny glittering coat of adamas links catching the light as she moved, was sitting on the rafter over his head.

Around them the New York Institute turned.

Alec's Institute.

The Clave had declared full scale war with the Downworld on the eve of his thirteenth birthday, though Idris' borders had been sealed since the day Magnus Bane was reported dead. His parent's had been sent to New York and Los Angeles, a Lightwood on either coast to coordinate as was fitting their status. Their children were confined to Idris until they were eighteen, even though most Shadowhunters took missions much sooner than that. It was all presented as some great reward for killing Magnus, but Alec knew it for what it was.

They were being punished for pushing the Clave into all out war before they were ready, for inciting the Downworld. His family separated. He and Jace had to prove themselves time and again to earn the right to take the parabatai oath, and Izzy outclassed all the others in their age group in science and weapon smithing and still didn't have an official rank.

And Max.

Aldertree had sworn that Max was an accident, that no one could have known the Brocelin wolves were so close to the boundary line. That Max was only separated from his class for a moment. Aldertree had come to them with bloody clothes and Max's pendant with the flames of the Lightwood crest and spun the story.

A message had reached Alec through hidden means, meant for the rebel leader known only as "The Raven" which Alec had chosen in quiet conference with Rani and Cahya in the early days. Naturally it had created a small issue for any Nephilim with a Raven daemon when the name had come to light, but that had been resolved easily. The message had told Alec, who had told Jace and Izzy, that Max was fine. He had been purposely dragged into Brocelin and the wolves there had stopped the adult Shadowhunter from hurting him, but in the fighting Max had been scratched. He was settled with a pack in New York and was safe. The letter asked that his family be informed, if the Raven believed they were trustworthy. It was signed with a cat eye symbol.

That was six years ago.

Now Alec was officially in control of the New York Institute. His parent's marriage hadn't survived Max's alleged death.

At his side, Cahya matched his pace as he left his siblings to make another circuit of the ops room, checking in with his people and ensuring Underhill had nothing new to report. He was in charge of both normal security and the person through which Alec's spymaster reported, though Marna had little cause to check in recently. His daemon was a great Pyrenees named Fergal with a glowing white coat that Alec had watched snap a man's spine the first time Underhill had been in the field with him.

Underhill nodded at him and Cahya as they passed but didn't signal that they needed to speak, and Alec decided to take a detour into his office. They were as ready as they could be, just waiting for more reports to come in before they made their stance official. Alec had been working toward this moment for years, his siblings, his daemon, and Cahya with him every step of the way.

By the end of the week, the New York Institute was going to defect, and they wouldn't be alone. His staff was at least two-thirds members of the rebellion or sympathizers, and he was ready.

He was just nervous.

As soon as they were clear of the Clave's eyes, as soon as they officially declared for the downworld and cut their core off from Idris' reach, they were going to invite the leaders of the downworld in. Most didn't know who, exactly, had filled the High Warlock position, but Alec was certain that if he personally sent the invite, Magnus would be the one to come, not his figurehead.

After all, one of the reasons Magnus had played dead for so long was making herself comfortable on Alec's office rug.

Alec scrawled a locking and silencing rune on the door to his office and turned on the device Izzy had gifted him to sweep for electronic surveillance outside of the Institute camera's. His office was personally warded against magical ones, and Cahya was able to sense those anyway.

Once he was certain no one would be able to disturb them or see them, he sank to the floor beside Cahya, and Rani came out of her fur, a tiny moth that shifted into a cat as soon as he touched Alec, purring and rubbing against him. They could rarely do this, unable to risk being caught or Rani accidentally settling. They had managed thus far to hold off the settling, which Izzy teased was why Alec was single, he'd just never really grown up. Still, they could both feel the pressure of it when they touched, the way that Rani's body wanted to become what he was meant to be, and Alec's soul ached with it.

"Soon," Rani said, kneading Alec's arm with his paws, and Alec cuddled him close to his chest.

Cahya set her big head on Alec's knee, a comfort now instead of the twisting wrongness it would've been for anyone else. They had to touch often to sell the lie, and in battle it was important to communicate with quick touches since they didn't actually have any bond to tell them where the other was. In the first years, they had nearly been caught because one of them would start running and the other wouldn't notice right away. Now they moved together as naturally as Alec ever had with Rani.

Alec loved Cahya. Rani did too. They would miss her like a limb, but she wasn't theirs.

Rani pressed his tiny nose into Alec's body, hiding his face against him and speaking, "What are we going to do after? I don't think I'm a leopard, and we can't never settle. How do we figure it out? How do we make plans without you, Cahya?"

Cahya laughed, her honey warm laugh rumbling against Alec's knee.

"No, I don't believe you are a leopard, little Rani. You and Alec will have to see what you become. I'm looking forward to knowing, though I have my guesses."

Alec rolled his eyes at her, burying his fingers in Rani's fur to pet him with a shaking hand.

"We'll miss you," he told her softly.

She shuffled closer to him, her eyes warm. "I won't go forever. You and Jace would be hopeless without me."

Rani laughed. "Izzy can handle them awhile."

"Yes," she acquiesced, "A while. Then Magnus and I will come help."

Once she'd hardly spoken to them, hardly said Magnus' name. She used to sit at Alec's window and watch the gate, her long tail swaying in a slow sweep. Then Alec had nearly been killed, a training incident covering a clear attempt on his life. He'd been bleeding badly, clinging to consciousness with Jace frantically healing him. He'd tried to stop them, certain in his delirious bloodloss that if he died Cahya would be free. After all, she could go anywhere with him and nowhere alone, it made sense.

She'd laid pressed close to him to hide Rani for days afterward, not letting anyone but Jace, Izzy, and Max close to him. She'd told him stories about Magnus then, about getting banned from Peru, about starting cults as a joke, about makeup and traveling and magic.

When he'd healed, she spoke more, and once, after the world was quiet in the very early morning, told him she would rather live captive as she was than let him die.

"Do you think he'll like Alec?" Rani asked her, while Alec was thinking about the past.

Cahya made a pleased sound. "Oh yes. He'll have to learn, granted. He doesn't yet know how Alec has kept me safe, how much you've sacrificed, but yes. He'll learn fast how mushy you are."

Alec said, "Hey!" even as Rani nearly rolled out of his lap laughing.

"Face it, you're a sap. Ask Jace if you don't believe me!" Cahya told him, and Alec groaned, accepting the blow to his dignity.

Eleven years ago

Magnus portalled to Catarina’s, not trusting the safety of his own home after his capture. Cat was on her feet in a second, a scatter of papers falling around her as she moved toward him, no magic in her hands; she recognized his magic anywhere.

Her hands were on him, grasping his shoulders and pulling him into a tight, quick hug. As soon as she released him, she was slapping at his arm with a frown that did nothing to hide her relief.

“Where the hell have you been, you little troublemaking idiot?”

Magnus tried for his usual devil-may-care flare; it hadn’t failed him, even when manacled in the Lightwood’s home. He could feel the way the grin pulled wrong though, undoubtedly an obvious tell for Catarina.

“Oh you know, out causing trouble for Shadowhunters.”

Catarina gave him a long look, “And, how, tell me, did you cause problems for them?”

Magnus shrugged, heading for her tan couch, “I made a daring escape from Idris with a trail of bodies in my wake, naturally.”

Catarina settled on the couch beside him, giving him a pointed look, “Magnus.”

He sighed heavily and decided to let her in. He always needed her, especially when he’d gotten himself into situations like this one. Especially when there was an ache where Cahya was supposed to be, his very soul still bound in Idris.

“I was put into a cage and made into a rather distasteful birthday gift for the Lightwood heir.”

Catarina gave a single slow nod, her eyes glittering with anger despite the measured way she moved and spoke, a nurse too used to dire proclamations for outburst. It settled Magnus, prone to dramatics as he so often was, to see her patiently waiting for him to continue.

“The party seemed dreadful too, poor thing. He was the one, well him and his brother, who orchestrated my escape. Sad to think they might grow into the sort of men who would’ve captured me in the first place.” Magnus tipped his head back, the weight of her gaze still on him. “Maybe I can see if they want to come away when I go back.”

The couch sunk under him slightly as Catarina leaned fully into his space, her blue face coming into his line of sight.

“Why would you go back?”

He could see in the tightness around her eyes and the downturn of her mouth that she had guessed why, but didn’t want to believe it.

“Cahya is still their unfortunate guest. Some magic Robert Lightwood used, some terrible binding spell that used the feathers of his son’s daemon, taken by force, kept her there. I couldn’t bring her further than the edge of the Lightwood’s’ manor grounds.” Magnus could remember perfectly the desperation in Cahya’s voice when he’d sprinted past her at the boundary line. The anger he was keeping banked at the thought of her still trapped with the nephilim flared at the memory and he forced himself to breathe through it. It wasn’t time yet for fire and ruin.

“You can’t go back,” Catarina told him, drawing him back to the moment with her as she sat back.

“Without you, you mean?” It was a familiar tease, her and Ragnor refusing to let him run into trouble alone.

“No. At all.” Catarina summoned a piece of heavy paper, Ragnor’s stationary, and held it out to him.

“Ragnor sent it just before you arrived. Idris has sealed their borders, it’s impossible to get in without a full scale assault.” She watched him reading carefully. “If you say go, I’ll be there with you, of course, and more the fool for it. The Downworld isn’t ready though. Idris is too well protected, the stolen magic they made the wards from is strong.”

Magnus read the damning message and closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose and trying to center himself. Ragnor was on the very edge of the ward when it was activated and had since relocated to his home in England, but he’d seen enough. If Magnus wanted to march in and get Cahya back, it would be suicide.

They had to have sealed the place just after he cleared Idris’ portal tracking range, so barely a day after he left.

“Cahya’s on her own, for now,” Catarina said, squeezing his arm gently.

“No.” Magnus thought of the nephilim, of the Lightwood boy laying on the floor after his father’s assault, of his brother murdering Magnus’ captors without hesitation, of being in a cage with Maryse Lightwood’s troubled face looking in. “She’s not.”

The first time it happened was nearly a year later.

Magnus was listening to three pack alpha’s try to civilly divvy up a safe house after being forced to relocate due to an uptick in Shadowhunter activity in New Jersey when he felt it. Like someone had poured ice water straight into his chest, at first. A hand closing around his throat even as an ache started deep within him, some barely known place inside suddenly exposed to harsh light.

He’d gasped, slumping in his chair, his hips twisting as he went limp despite the sprawled position not supporting his body well. The wolves had all frozen, eyes flashing in worry and the sharp sense of a predator in danger.

Someone was touching his daemon.

Were they hurting her? Was she being used for something awful? Were they trying to-

It ended and he could breathe properly again. He wanted to sit and gather himself, but edgy, uncertain werewolves made poor company, so he straightened up and offered them a serene smile, ready to redirect their attention.

Eventually Magnus got used to it. Enjoyed it, sometimes, even.

After the first few times it stopped feeling so terrible and strange, the initial rush of cold still came but less like ice water and more like a cool balm, the ache had calmed and was now only a sad reminder of how much he missed Cahya. Strangest of all, the feeling of a hand around his throat had morphed into a sensation like someone was gently touching him, a light and welcome feeling.

It happened with more frequency as time went on, sometimes he’d pass entire days with the feeling, like someone was keeping a hand on Cahya constantly.

Present day

Magnus could feel a nervous energy thrumming through New York. If The Raven was to be believed, it was because of the coming change.

He sat, glamored as always, watching over his club as the day faded, hyper aware of the waning hour. Ten minutes to midnight. Ten minutes to rebellion. The Shadowhunters were declaring themselves at the turning of the day, what would be shortly after sunrise in Idris, when any active fighters would be ending their night.

Magnus reached for the leylines around the city. He could feel the burning thrum of them as his warlocks tangled their magic with the power of the Earth. The Raven had sent him the notice of the New York Institute’s planned rebellion as a warning and courtesy. They had asked nothing of the Downworld, but Magnus believed in action and he had sent out both the warning of coming turmoil and a request. The warlocks knew only that Clave action was expected, and Magnus had asked them to be ready to raise a ward over the entire city if necessary.

He wondered, as he often did, where in the mess Alec Lightwood would be. He knew that the man who had once been a boy helping Magnus run was head of the Institute, that he would know Cahya’s whereabouts. Magnus could only hope Alec was not going to be one of the Shadowhunters killed in tonight's upheaval. In his heart he dared to hope that maybe he would even be one of the rebels, but he had no way of knowing. Shadowhunter’s stayed well clear of Downworlders, except to kill them and the Institute Head was practically a ghost, even among Magnus’ clever watchers.

The pulse of Pandemonium's music around him and the ebb and flow of the wards settled him. He waited.

At precisely midnight he felt the telling rush of coolness and comfort that meant hands were on his daemon. In the same breath a bright wash of angelic power flared in his awareness, the leylines rippling despite having no direct connection to it.

The core was severed from Idris. It was beginning.

He settled further back in his seat, magical awareness flaring out from him as he prepared to keep the watch for the night. Max Lightwood nodded at him across the dancefloor, his wolves would be prowling the night, keeping the mundanes safe from demons while the Shadowhunter’s worked. The vampires at their backs to help and to carry news with their speed.

Tonight, Magnus thought, New York was taking back its power.��

Sunrise came with a messenger.

Pandemonium had closed to mundanes in the wee hours, but Magnus had the doors open for his people and the news they carried.

The wards had been raised when Clave special forces were engaged. According to The Raven, the Institute was able to close their standing portals but couldn’t stop them from trying to come in from outside. Magnus had sent back the assertion that none of Idris’ forces would set foot in New York.

Raphael had arrived with word that vampires could smell Nephilim blood for half a mile around the institute, and when he went to see, the front steps were wet with the stuff.

Now, a blonde man with a great white dog at his side and runes scrawled over his visible skin was standing just inside the entrance. He brought his hands up in front of his chest, wrists crossed, thumbs touching, the sign of The Raven.

Magnus waved him nearer, watching those who remained in Pandemonium as they tracked him across the floor. Max Lightwood melted out of the shadows nearest Magnus, his Jack Russell daemon, Amada, sitting calmly at his feet. Magnus did not send him away, even as he waved others back. Max had a right to know.

The blonde man stopped a respectable distance from the raised part of the floor where Magnus sat, patient. He stood calm, settled and ready to report, and Magnus got the impression he was a man used to following orders and waiting for instruction.

“Closer,” Magnus told him, watching as his eyes flicked over Magnus and to Max. There was no recognition there, so not someone who’d known Max as a child.

He climbed the stairs, his daemon keeping stride.

“I greet you, High Warlock.” He dipped his head, and when Magnus said nothing, continued. “Commander Lightwood requests the presence of the leaders of New York to coordinate our next actions and swears to uphold truce within the city.”

Magnus raised an eyebrow, aware of Max practically vibrating beside him at the mention of his family.

“Commander Lightwood is not the person who I would speak to.”

The blonde’s lips curled a bit before he schooled his expression, but the flash of a smile made Magnus curious.

“The Raven, then, asks you to come. In one hour. He also asks that a message be carried to-” Here he glanced again at Max, and Magnus made an impatient gesture. Still uncertain, the man leaned closer, his words a whisper, “Magnus Bane, he’s asked to come as soon as he can.”

Magnus felt the breath rush out of him. To know that he lived, The Raven could only be one of two people, and with the way his messenger spoke, it was clear who it must be. The invite to him specifically… He swallowed the hope that burned bright.

“Very well. Tell your commander I will come. As for the other, no promises.”

With a relieved nod, the man went to leave, only for Max to come forward.

“Please. Can I come back with you? Only me.”

Magnus watched as the two looked at each other, the blonde deeply suspicious and Max desperate. He spoke up.

“This is Max Lightwood. He only wants to see his brother.”

A spark of recognition, and the blonde smiled, relaxing some, though Magnus noted his daemon didn’t loosen at all. “They’ll be happy to see you. I’m Andrew and you can come with me.”

Max gave Magnus a quick smile and then the two were leaving.

Magnus closed his eyes, he had a meeting to get ready for.

The Morning After

Alec watched the infirmary staff moving smoothly between beds, looking over those who were hurt badly enough in the fighting to still be bedridden. Most were well on the mend, runic healing and rest working double time. The dead numbered too many, though fewer than Alec had expected and mostly from the Claves forces.

The front steps would need to be replaced from the amount of blood that had coated them as his people had fought to keep their home safe.

It was worth it. The Downworld had come together outside, the warlocks’ wards kept Idris from sending more reinforcements, and Alec had checked this morning to see the night demon activity had all been more or less handled while they’d been out of commission.

He pushed off the wall where he was leaning, ignoring the glare one of the medics gave him as they moved past him. Helen and her little fox daemon could give him looks all they liked, he wasn’t going to spend anymore time in a bed of his own. There was too much for him to do.

He’d no sooner had the thought than a familiar shadow swooped over him. Kaie landed on Cahya’s head, ignoring her growl. Jace’s hand landed on Alec’s shoulder a moment later.

“If you’re going to stand around in here, you might as well let them treat you. I can tell you’re still hurting.”

Alec grunted and shrugged his hand off. “I was only stopping by to check how we’re doing. I’m fine, nothing my iratze isn’t already taking care of. Obviously.”

Jace gave him a long look, assessing. They both knew if he was truly hurt badly enough to need care that Rani would be in danger of revealing them. The few times it had happened, including when Alec had tried to die to free Cahya, Rani had lost control of their form, shifting too fast to stay hidden. A side effect, they all assumed, of Alec’s iron will resisting the settling. Still, Jace was twice as bad about accepting care, and Alec wasn’t about to listen to him.

Before he could say anything else, Underhill stuck his head in and upon seeing them both nodded sharply.

“Commander Lightwood. My message was delivered and a commitment from the High Warlock returned. She’ll be here for a meeting.”

Alec kept his expression carefully controlled at the pronoun, uncertain who he’d be dealing with if Magnus didn’t show.

“There’s someone else that accompanied me who wants to meet with you. Both of you, and Isabelle, in a non-official capacity. I have him waiting in your office.” Underhill looked like he was biting back a smile this time and Alec raised an eyebrow.

“Who?” Jace cut in, his wariness clear as Kaie fluttered to his shoulder.

Underhill did smile this time. “A young Alpha, Max Lightwood.”

Alec felt his heart leap into his throat at the thought of his little brother and he could see his own eagerness mirrored in Jace, feel it in the way their heartbeats fell into sync again.

“I’ll go find Isabelle and send her along,” Underhill reassured them, clearly reading their impatience to see Max.

Jace followed so close he was practically stepping on Alec’s heels when he let them into his office. Cahya hung back and gave a small nod to the door, letting Alec know she would stand guard for them. It relaxed him enough to focus on the room, knowing only Izzy and Chilo would be allowed to pass.

Standing with his hands clasped behind his back in a familiar pose, sandy brown hair long enough to curl at the nape of his neck, and taller than Alec expected, was Max. He turned to face them at Jace’s wordless exclamation and looked shocked as Jace closed the distance between them to pull him into a tight hug, Kaie excitedly hopping around Amada who let out a happy bark.

As soon as Jace let him go, Alec stepped in, less abrupt but no less intense in how he hugged Max. They’d all missed him and the years in between did little to stop the wetness that gathered in Alec’s eyes as he embraced his little brother.

“I thought you weren’t going to be a tree like this asshole.” Jace said, grinning at Max.

He shrugged but his eyes weren’t dry either and his own smile looked almost painfully wide. “Werewolf thing, maybe?” He looked at them both, like he couldn’t believe it. At his feet Amada and were whispering quickly to each other, catching up faster than their people.

“Where’s Rani?” Max asked, when the silence had dragged on, and Alec realized he hadn’t said a word yet.

“In the hallway.” It was the truth, Rani was buried in Cahya’s fur, as always. “Angel, but we’ve missed you, Max. You’re safe?”

Max rolled his eyes in tandem with Jace’s slight huff. “Yes, Alec, I’m old enough to take care of myself, and besides, Downworlders look out for each other, doubly so the wolves. I have my own pack now! It’s small but we’re happy. We live together in Brooklyn.”

Alec sighed and smiled again. “I’m glad. You’ll have to tell us about-”

Izzy burst through the door, cutting him off as she flew across the room to wrap Max in her arms, Chilo rising from her shoulders to taste the air around their little brother.

“Max! You’re all grown up!” Izzy stepped back with a teary laugh. “How’s life on the other side?”

“He’s an Alpha now, Iz,” Jace said, watching Max glare at him for stealing his thunder.

“And a bartender,” he hurried to say. “I work for the High Warlock, and normally I’d be too young still, but Mag is cool about it since I don’t try to drink and I let myself be glamored to look a little older.”

“A bartender?” Alec asked, remembering the limited times he’d even seen the outside of a club, mundane or otherwise. It didn’t seem like the safest profession, but then again, Max was a werewolf.

“Oh! If you’re friends with the High Warlock, you can say hi. She’s waiting for Alec right now,” Izzy said, not looking away from Max. It was something Alec could relate to. He felt like leaving Max now, he might never see him again, but duty was calling him.

“She…is?” Max sounded a little uncertain but then he nodded. “You’ll like her, even if she is a little…dramatic.”

Alec resisted the urge to sigh, the ache of his shoulders and his ribs was a enough reminder how done with anything dramatic he was.

“I’m sorry, I should meet her. You can stay though, please.” Alec gestured to the space, giving up his office for his siblings was easy. He wanted the Downworld leaders to see a little of his Institute anyway, and he had a table set in the multi-purpose room that had once been the worship hall.

Max grinned, “Try not to drool. She’s probably still dressed for holding court.”

Jace whistled and Alec made a face, answering without thought as he was comfortable with just his siblings. “She won’t distract me that way.”

Max opened his mouth in surprise, and Alec could feel the way Izzy tensed, even if Chilo hadn’t hissed in alarm. Jace was still grinning, but Kaie had gone very still. Max just laughed and Amada’s bright laughter joined his.

“She’ll be disappointed.”

The tension between them evaporated, and Jace reached to pull Max closer, laughing as Izzy teased Max about his clear appreciation for the High Warlock’s looks. Alec wanted to stay with them a little longer, but this was important for so many reasons.

He called a quick, “I’ll be back when I can,” and stepped back into the hallway. Cahya was waiting for him, though she seemed agitated.

They started down a hall to the ops floor where Underhill most likely had the High Warlock waiting in an atrium.

“The High Warlock is here. Max seems to know her.”

Cahya just nodded and Alec took a deep breath. “I promise, I will do what I can to have her arrange a meeting with Magnus.”

Cahya paused and Alec looked at her. “If she knows Magnus, she’ll know immediately that I’m his. His magic is part of me too.”

“I can’t leave you behind,” Alec said, throat tightening at the idea that their secret might be out. He was only barely ready to accept that Cahya would be leaving with Magnus, let alone a stranger who might think it necessary to try and take her. If they could even bypass the binding spell.

“Of course not. Have her meet us in your room instead, it’s private and might give us a chance to explain.” Cahya nudged him lightly with her soft nose.

“You want me to invite her to my bedroom?”

“You were the one who gave up your office.”

Alec could almost hear Rani laughing from his hiding spot and gave in with a groan. “Fine. I’ll send a message to Aline. She’ll make fun of me, but she’s not going to make as many assumptions as some of the others.”

Cahya looked pleased as she led him toward his room, her tail flicking in the air behind her.

The High Warlock looked amused when Aline let her in. She had tanned skin and hair that curled softly around her face in a red a few shades deeper than the long dress she wore. It was silky, high slitted, and caught the light when she moved, and Alec could agree with Max, though the effort was wasted on him.

“Thank you for accepting my invite. I apologize for the odd choice of space, but my office is occupied and there were some… concerns about the content of our conversation. In regards to that, I must express my gratitude for your early arrival, since it will give us time to discuss a somewhat delicate issue.” Alec put every ounce of diplomacy into his words, leaving a respectful distance between them and pointedly gesturing toward the pair of chairs that would keep the bed out of their sight lines.

She smiled at him and inclined her head gracefully, sitting with a flare of her dress that revealed more of her leg. Alec wondered if he should tell her it was lost on him.

“Thank you for having me in what I’m assuming is your bedroom? I am happy with the direction you have taken this Institute and appreciate that there is something you need to speak with me, personally, about. So, what is it?” She leaned back, with a casual twist of her wrist a drink appeared, shimmering and gold in the glass.

Cahya chose that moment to make herself known, padding around the chairs and purposely brushing along Alec’s legs, only to freeze completely at the sight of the woman.

“Wha-” Alec started, unnerved by the stillness that held Cahya in place.

“Cahya,” the woman breathed, and then her glamour melted away.

Magnus Bane, still in the dress which was suddenly much more interesting to Alec, slid out of the chair, his drink falling to the floor as he nearly crawled toward his daemon.

Alec swallowed hard, nudging Cahya lightly with his knee when she didn’t move to close the small distance between them. She started to tremble, her whole self vibrating, her fur bristling, and Alec made a sound of worry that was mirrored by Magnus.

“Rani,” he called, hoping it would help if his daemon wasn’t in danger of being crushed when the two did come together.

Rani fluttered out of Cahya’s fur, pressing himself against Alec’s cheek and watching just as tense as Alec.

Finally, Cahya lunged forward with a soft mewling sound, knocking Magnus back and pressing her full weight against him. They both were making sounds, quietly speaking in a language that Alec didn’t understand, and Cahya was rubbing her face against Magnus’ chest and chin, heedless of how she was pulling the dress off his shoulders.

Alec decided to give them a moment and retreated to sit on his bed instead, where he could only see parts of them.

Rani changed into a large rabbit that Alec gratefully cuddled against his chest, stroking through Rani’s fur in a calming pattern. They stayed, enjoying the feeling of being close to one another, until Cahya’s low voice called to them.

Alec reluctantly set Rani down, watching him flicker between forms too fast to identify all of them. It made his stomach clench, and the ache that lived in him pulsed. He’d long thought of that tender spot as the consequence for not allowing his daemon to settle and every time his emotions overwhelmed Rani’s form like this, he only became more certain of that.

Magnus’ golden cat eyes tracked him as he stepped back around the chairs, keeping his movements deliberate and slow. It was probably a rush of disorienting feelings to be reunited with Cahya after so many years apart, and Alec might have been the leader of a rebellious Institute, but he was still a Shadowhunter. Magnus’ long history with his family was something Alec was intimately familiar with and something he was terribly ashamed of. It wasn’t just the birthday gift incident. His parents had personally hunted Magnus, killed his friends, helped torture the Whitlaws and those they tried to protect. He was hyperaware, as he slowly sat back down in the chair he had first occupied, of the gulf of blood and stolen souls between them.

Rani, panting with the effort of holding one form, slowly crawled closer as a long-eared mouse. Cahya made a low chuffing sound and Rani flinched like he never had from her before, his form flickering again until it stopped, leaving a small skunk pressed shakily against Alec’s ankle.

“Rani-” Cahya started, her voice low and pained. Alec hated to see her hurt for them, but he couldn’t stop the wave of guilt nor could he fully look away from Magnus.

Tears streaked golden makeup down Magnus’ cheeks. His expression was torn open, and his fingers were curled tight enough in Cahya’s fur it looked painful. In return Cahya’s claws had clearly drawn blood from his bare shoulder in her need to be closer, his dress sluggishly darkened where it was soaking in. He was still staring at Alec, an unhappy twist to his lips.

“You kept her,” Magnus said, his voice raw and scraped thin. Alec wanted to close his eyes against the words, the accusation in them. He didn’t. Magnus deserved more than that.

“I had too.” He swallowed hard, holding himself still as Rani shoved his little body into the leg of Alec’s pants with violent trembles. “I didn’t know how to free her, and it wasn’t safe to ask.”

Magnus’ expression twisted into one of anger. “You had my daemon, you touched her and kept her against her will for more than a decade because you were afraid to ask for help? Because only a warlock could help you, and you knew any of my people would have killed you for the slight so you just… did nothing? I thought you would grow into someone better from the child I met. I thought you were The Raven, but you’re only another disappointment with a pretty face, I see.”

Alec’s ears were ringing and he had to press his hands tightly together, his bones nearly creaking. Magnus was clearly overwhelmed. He was angry and twisted up from getting Cahya back, and he didn’t know Alec, not really. The hope that Alec had carefully tried to smother, that he would get to know Magnus, the man whose soul companion had been nearly as dear to Alec as his own daemon, that he might get to still see Cahya, guttered in his chest and went cold.

Another weight pressed against his legs, and he watched in shock as Cahya pressed her face against his shins, her body stretched between the two of them. Magnus’ breath audibly stuttered, and Alec looked to him to see a mirror of shock.

“You are angry, my abang. You’ve earned that anger, but Alec has not. He wasn’t afraid for his own safety, he was worried for ours.” Cahya’s long tail twitched as she spoke, nosing at Rani’s hidden form as she did. “If the Clave knew you lived, if breaking the binding between Alec and I failed, if the warlock who we tried to hire wasn’t capable, what then? We were confined to Alicante for so long. When we finally made it out of the city, when we took over New York, we agreed that we would wait for this moment.”

Rani, calmed by Cahya’s proximity and firm tone, slid out of his hiding place and changed into a snow leopard, larger than her, to rub their faces together.

“You agreed?” Magnus asked, wiping at his tears and obviously trying to rein himself in. He sounded more confused now, less angry.

“Of course,” Cahya said, her words muffled in Rani’s fur.

“If she thought it was safe sooner, I would have done anything to get her back to you. It took us ages to figure out how far away from me she could go, how to work together like she was mine, so no one would know. I-” Alec took a deep breath, knowing there was no real way to make up for any of it, but especially this. “I’m sorry I touched her. I had to. In battle we couldn’t feel each other, and we had to make it real in front of the Clave.”

“And I enjoyed it,” Cahya said, matter-of-fact.

Magnus tipped his head forward, frowning. “I came to enjoy it as well. It should have always felt like a violation, but it stopped being that a long time ago. I am…sorry I lashed out at you. This is…”

“A lot,” Alec said, nodding.

“So much,” Magnus agreed, beginning to smile.

“If I’m not banned for my outburst, could we possibly pick this up after the meetings we are both expected at in the next ten minutes?” Magnus nodded at the clock hanging over Alec’s dresser.

“Shit,” Alec said, pushing to his feet and looking between their daemons.

“You’re not going to be seated next to me. The others might already be here. How do you want to do this?” Alec asked, thinking how he would hate to be separated from his daemon in Magnus’ shoes, even by a few feet.

“Over the years, I’ve convinced people, with a little glamor and the help of unsuspecting birds in the park, that ‘Maggie’s’ daemon is a magpie. I don’t want to announce who I really am yet. Things are already unstable enough and, although I am fabulous, I would like more time to understand what’s happened to Cahya since we parted.” Magnus ran a hand down Cahya’s spine, his expression broken open and wondering.

Alec felt Rani’s large, furry head nudge against him, and a moment later his daemon was a magpie instead. His feathers were blinding snow white against an oil-slick sheen of prismatic black. He preened a little under Alec’s attention and hopped a step closer to Magnus.

“Fair’s fair,” Rani said in his soft voice, and Alec swallowed hard at the implication.

Cahya touched Rani constantly, but she was another daemon. It didn’t register to Alec’s senses, except that Rani felt comfortable with her. Magnus was altogether different.

Rani took another hop and Magnus stared at him, eyes wide in surprise. Alec swallowed his worry. Rani would be perfectly safe, no one would know that he was Alec's during the meeting and Magnus wasn't going to hurt him. They might not know each other, but Alec had spent years with the literal representation of Magnus' innermost soul. He knew what he needed to; he could trust Magnus with this.

Magnus' gaze darted between Rani and Alec, his fingers kneading into Cahya's fur loosening as Rani plucked at the hem of his dress delicately.

"Are you certain?" Magnus asked, one hand slowly leaving Cahya to hover just in front of Rani.

Alec took a deep breath, steeling himself for the feeling of another's hand on his daemon as Rani stretched toward Magnus' hand, his wings trembling. He'd been a bird then too, when Robert had grabbed him and torn from him the final ingredient in the spell that bound Cahya.

"I am," Alec said.

Magnus' hand dropped to meet Rani, burgundy nails like tiny clawed points running between the fine feathers on the top of Rani's dark head. Alec couldn't make himself blink, staring at where golden brown skin met black feathers even as he swayed, breath leaving him in a rush. It felt warm. Nothing like the cold, unwelcome violation of his father's grasp, just a warm trickle through him, stealing his words and calming his thoughts. It was half-familiar, undoubtedly from his experience with Cahya.

Rani hummed, pressing into the light touch, and Magnus relaxed, quietly petting him as Alec watched, breathing slow and trancelike, until Cahya's rolling laugh broke the spell.

"You're late," she informed them both, and Alec jerked, swearing as he realized she was right.

Alec was exhausted by the time the meeting was over. Meeting was a light way of phrasing the only barely non-hostile beginnings, as leaders of various groups from New York's Downworld had arrived at the Institute, upset by the lack of neutral ground in some cases and understanding of Alec's position in others. They'd just weathered a major offensive, he couldn't leave the reach of his people just yet, but with "Maggie" on his side and Max chiming in that this was the "big brother" he talked about, things had smoothed over well enough. Agreements had been made to formalize a peace treaty, with a new location decided on by the majority. That it was an event hall that had most recently hosted a senior prom seemed to delight and amuse Magnus a great deal.

Still, it had taken him longer than he wanted to explain how he had come to be the Raven and what the plan for his people in New York was now that they had broken from the Clave. He had to table questions that had come flying from every group about what the next steps were, unable to fully commit a plan of action without coordinating his people and getting word from the spies still in Idris.

When he'd revealed he was waiting on inside information, most had been content to let his lack of concrete plan go, happy enough with the long-term goal of dismantling the current Clave.

Raphael Santiago had pressed him a little harder, but backed off quickly enough when he pointed out that they were not the only Institute that had gone rogue last night and he needed to have a full check-in with the other four. That had served to remind the group that given the ability to wait until more pieces were in place, Alec wouldn't have called them together. It was a sign of his desire to build connection and ensure that everyone had a say in the next move, as well as the need of his people to have allies should the Clave retaliate further that he had requested a meeting so quickly.

After, he stood by the door, thanking those that had come and seeing them out, hoping his sincerity was showing through his weariness. When only Max, "Maggie", and Raphael remained, he let himself sag a little. At his feet Cahya was laying with her paws folded under her chin, feigning the same tiredness.

Rani was quietly settled on "Maggie's" shoulder, looking for all the world like he belonged there perfectly. He'd spent most of the meeting perched on the arm of a chair, but as Alec grew more tired, had moved closer to Magnus.

Jace and Izzy joined them as it became clear that no one else was leaving anytime soon. Izzy gave him a soft smile and headed for Max, while Jace leaned against the wall beside him. Kaie was on his shoulder, staring at Rani with slitted eyes.

"So. How did the pre-meeting meeting go?" Jace asked, voice low.

Alec wanted to laugh, especially as Kaie's feathers puffed up when Rani caw-ed in her direction. He had no idea how to explain, Jace would be the best to understand, his and Alec's linked souls the closest comparison there was to the relationship between Alec and Cahya's person.

"Well. Very well. Maggie and I need to talk a bit more though." Alec couldn't stop the tired smirk from curling his lips and Jace caught on immediately.

"No." He swiveled to stare at the pretty woman who was currently scowling playfully at Raphael. "No way. That's him?"

Alec nodded. "Yeah. He dropped the glamour when we spoke and he saw Cahya."

Jace started to grin, Kaie shuffling uneasily. Alec was tempted to nudge him hard enough to unseat her, if only to stop whatever Jace had to say.

"Was he still in the dress?"

Alec rolled his eyes. "Yes. Was a little too preoccupied with reuniting with his daemon after a decade to bother changing his clothes."

Jace sobered a bit, but he still waggled his eyebrows at Alec. Kaie's sharp eyes turned to Alec, "If Cahya is his, who-?"

She trailed off, her eyes widening at the same time Jace's mouth popped open. Alec sighed and nodded, holding up his hand to stop any more questions as he watched Raphael step away from Magnus.

"Later," Alec said firmly, and Jace nodded.

Raphael shook his hand with his usual formal grace. "Until next time, Lightwood."

Alec offered him a smile that was a little warmer than the other leaders had gotten. Raphael had been one of the few who knew he was the Raven, since Alec had helped him remove Camille. Raphael left without another word.

"Maggie" approached him next, rocking on her heels as she stopped in front of him and Jace.

"Is there any way we could continue our earlier conversation?" she asked, smiling a little.

Jace clapped Alec's shoulder. "Take him to the roof. Iz, Max and I can catch up and run interference. Anyone needs anything, we'll take care of it for a bit and get Max up to speed on all our drama."

Alec sighed in relief, nodding at them both. "The roof will work great. Just remember"—he caught Jace as he started to walk away—"Max is a leader too, there are areas he's not allowed to go anymore. He's got more responsibility than just our little brother."

Jace's face pinched, unhappy with the reminder, but he nodded once and Alec let him go.

Magnus let the glamour drop as soon as they were alone on the roof. Alec had led him through a series of quiet hallways in the residential wing of the Institute and up a secluded stairway until they were in the open air.

A couple of deck chairs and a large waterproof crate were set up in the flat open space. Alec easily opened the crate and pulled out a large cushion and pile of blankets. Cahya, clearly familiar with the space, started dragging the cushion into place. Rani, obviously exhausted as he had not left Magnus’ shoulder yet, swayed to press his head against Magnus’ cheek.

The flush of familiar comfort that rushed through Magnus brought his attention back to Alec, who was settling onto the cushion, his hand rubbing over Cahya’s head unconsciously as he did.

Magnus swallowed and came to join him, pausing to snap himself into a more comfortable outfit. He still chose a red dress of softer fabric that ruched comfortably at his thighs with a pair of creamy chocolate leggings so he could fold himself down next to Alec without issue.

When they were both comfortable, the silence stretched. Neither of them knew what to say, it seemed.

When Cahya yawned, curling between them lazily and easily pressing against them both, Magnus realized he should give Rani back. It was strange, how comfortable he felt with another person's daemon settled close, touching him with every shift of the little bird body.

He reached toward Alec, making a bridge with his arm as he set his hand lightly on Alec's shoulder. Rani was tired and this would give him the excuse to go to his person. Alec looked at his hand, then at Rani, his face softening in understanding.

"Before you fall asleep on me, pretty bird," Magnus said, smiling as Rani bobbed his head and took a step. He almost started when he felt Rani change shape, his light magpie shifting to a ferret and quickly bounding over his arm to curl around Alec's shoulders. He blinked at Magnus slowly.

"I could use a nap," Rani said, his voice soft and slow. Magnus resisted the urge to coo at the daemon, even as Cahya huffed, "You could both use a nap.” She looked at Magnus, fondly exasperated “They hardly slept before the battle, and they certainly haven't slept since."

Magnus gave Alec a playful chiding look. "That's not the most effective leadership decision."

Alec, however, tensed and Magnus wanted to take it back. "I'm only teasing, Alexander. You've done admirably."

He dipped his head and as they sat in silence again, slowly relaxing. His breathing slowed and Rani went loose around his shoulders until Magnus was certain that Alec was starting to drift off.

"Alec?"

"Sorry. I was just...thinking. It's been so crazy, I've hardly had time to look into the curse recently and there wasn't anything in Idris. I don't know how to let Cahya go with you. I swear I wouldn't stop her if I knew how it worked, I'm sorry. You can stay as long as you want, we'll figure something out. I would let you take Rani, to be sure that I was trying, but I'm not a warlock. He can't go far from me or I- We'll-" Alec swallowed, looking distraught as his thick brows pulled together, and he trailed off.

"I wouldn't be so dramatic, Alexander," Magnus said, lightly. "You've already let me borrow sweet Rani more than enough, more than I would have asked for. I'm very used to being away from Cahya. We spent plenty of time apart before any Lightwood shenanigans and we'll be just fine visiting each other until we solve this curse."

Alec frowned. "You're sure? I wouldn't keep her from you."

Magnus offered him a smile, running his fingers through the fur between Cahya's ears and listening to her purring in contentment.

"I'm certain for that precise reason." Magnus laughed a little, leaning forward conspiratorially and delighting in the way Alec leaned toward him. "She's a perfect excuse to visit you."

Alec blinked in surprise, a pleased little smile starting to curl his lips. "Yeah?"

Magnus grinned outright then. "Yes. You're fascinating to me, you know. And I feel you've unlocked something in me, more than simply returning my daemon to me."

There was color growing in Alec's cheeks and he looked down, tipping his head to press a cheek into sleeping Rani's soft fur. Magnus took the moment to properly look at them. Alec was obviously tired, worn a bit thin from his endeavors as The Raven, but still so strong and so sweet. He was lovely, his hair a bit messy from the breeze on the roof, his lips soft looking and he looked more relaxed than Magnus had seen him today. Rani was a sleek grey and his ferret form was-

Magnus blinked. Right, he'd noticed before but been in too much of a haze finally being back in touch with Cahya. Alec was twelve when Magnus had been his birthday present, nearly of the age when daemons settled. Now he was well into adulthood, twenty-three and a leader and yet, Rani still changed shape.

"Alexander." Magnus hesitated and Alec looked at him again, clearly reading the change in his tone.

"I know, you're only playing at flirting, Magnus, it's alright, I didn't expect-" Alec started, his chin tipping up and Magnus couldn't let that misconception go. He held a finger over Alec's lips, watching him quiet with a confused little expression.

"You see?" Cahya purred and, yes, Magnus did see.

"I am absolutely offended you think I would do that. I am genuinely interested in you, you beautiful creature. Now let me be serious about something else for a moment, then I can go back to correcting your ridiculous assumption that you shouldn't expect me to be very invested in taking you out for a drink." Magnus gave him a pointed look, enjoying the way that Alec's cheeks flared with color at the direct words.

"I-I would...yes," Alec managed, starting to grin. "Yes to the drink. And letting you be serious."

Cahya chuffed at them both and resumed her low purr, undoubtedly helping them to stay relaxed as Magnus broached the topic that worried him most.

"Rani still changes."

Alec made a soft sound of discontent. "He has to. What if he settled as something too big and I couldn't hide him? No one has two daemons, and saying he was a pet would mean letting people touch him, besides their daemons would know immediately. He never settled, we wouldn't let it happen."

"Alec, no one can stop their daemon from settling by sheer force of will. It's impossible." Magnus let his magic curl visible from his right palm and lifted it slightly, so Alec would see it. "I believe it might have to do with the curse that your father put on Cahya, may I?"

The wisps of blue magic were easily reaching toward Alec, recognizing him from his long acquaintance with Magnus' soul, and Magnus was gratified to see a kind of wonderment in Alec's gaze as he nodded, watching the magic as it washed over Rani. The daemon woke, blinking muzzily at the light of Magnus' powers and easily uncurling, nearly falling from Alec's shoulders as he obviously enjoyed the touch of it.

Daemons were magic, in a way, the sort that was powerful and ancient and beyond understanding, no matter how hard the Spiral Labyrinth attempted to uncover their secrets. Still, Magnus had never seen one bask in magic the way Rani was, his little head tipped back and happy trills leaving him as Alec ended up having to cradle him. A tender look had taken over Alec's face as he watched, and it really set in for Magnus.

Here was a Shadowhunter who had spent years barely getting to see his own daemon, afraid of being caught or interacting with them too much, because he was keeping the daemon of a warlock safe. Here was a man who had done what so many said was impossible and ousted the Clave from Magnus' city, who had opened his doors and worked to bring his people and the downworld together.

Even if Magnus wasn't so drawn to him, even if Magnus hadn't found him immediately beautiful, he would want to help Alec and Rani.

He forced himself to re-focus on what his magic was telling him, the threads he could feel that wove between Cahya and Rani and on to Alec. The bond between daemon and person had been frayed and rewoven with a new thread among them.

With a push of his power, Magnus brought the visual to bear for Alec to see as well.

"Here." He lightly touched the glimmer of brilliant blue among the silver of Alec's bond to Rani. There were thin strands of gold from Alec's end as well, but Magnus knew a parabatai link when he saw one.

"What is this?" Alec asked, staring in awe, the light from the bond dancing in his eyes. Rani, too, was watching the threads with wide eyes, inherently aware of what he was seeing.

"It's us. That's the tie between us, the parts of you that reach out and become...me," Rani said, his voice small and filled with wonder.

"It is," Magnus confirmed. "The silver is all you,. The blue however, is the answer to why your daemon never settled." Magnus let the very tip of his finger touch the thread of his own soul, watching Alec shudder and feeling the echo in his bones. "This is me. This is a piece of my bond with Cahya, cut from me and wound into yours. It's more than enough to keep her tethered to you. You said yourself, you aren't a warlock, you cannot go far from your daemon."

"She's not mine," Alec choked, horrified.

"A piece of her is. This is what your father did, he tied her to you just enough that she cannot be far from you, though further than your true daemon. The magic that makes daemons what they are is so tangled here. This sort of spell should never have been made, nor used. It especially was not meant to be used on a child with an unsettled daemon. Cahya is hundreds of years old, Alexander, she has been settled for longer than mortals live." Magnus sighed heavily. "I can only assume that your father didn't know the risk of what he was doing. There was every chance this would have killed you, or broken the bond between you and your own daemon completely."

Cahya made a hissing sound, and Rani huddled close to Alec, looking alarmed. Alec tucked Rani closer still and nodded once, sharp.

"He probably thought it was worth the risk," Alec said, simply and unaffected, moving on before Magnus could say anything to that. "Can it be fixed? Or do I need to make arrangements so you can be with her?"

"Arrangements? Alec, what are you-?"

"I can't live with you, full time, I have too much to do here, but Cahya and I know how far from me she can go, so maybe I could get an apartment closer to you so she can be with you, or-" Alec was staring off at the sky now, clearly ready to make plans and leave behind the strange vulnerability.

Magnus let the visible bond fade as he tried to stop himself making faces at Alec.

"I'm sure that we can find a way to undo the curse before it ever comes to that. I'm more concerned about helping your Rani settle. That's the first and most important thing. Once he's settled it will be much safer to try separating my bond from yours."

"How do I do that?" Rani asked.

Magnus had no answer for that, nor, it seemed, did Cahya or Alec.

Leaving his daemon was harder than Magnus wanted to show. He re-glamoured himself, after pressing his face into Cahya's fur the way he hadn't since Camille left him in shreds, decades ago. Alec offered to walk him out, but he declined with a flippant excuse about not wanting to start rumors about Alec and Maggie, though in truth he was hoping Alec would take the opportunity to go to sleep. He also didn't want to have to try and casually tell them good-bye at the door again.

Watching Rani turn back into a moth and disappear into Cahya's fur had bothered him more than he thought it would, but he'd still taken his leave.

The next day found Magnus restless.

Nothing was distracting him, not Chairman Meow who he kept wondering how Cahya would react to, not his apothecary when he remembered her easily helping him with potions. He wanted to go back to her. He wanted to see Alexander again.

A treacherous thought cropped up.

Alec had already offered to live with him or near him. He could say they needed to be together until Rani settled and they could separate Cahya. He could be weak about this, beg Alec to make it a priority and delegate what he could of the budding rebellion.

He could be selfish.

Magnus cleared his throat, snapping away the potion that was already a hopeless endeavor. He needed to think of something else. Anything else.

His phone rang and he snatched it, not looking at who was calling.

"You've reached the High Warlock. This will be very expensive if you're rude." Maggie’s voice, just a register above his own, came easily.

“I’ll try not to run up my bill,” Alec greeted him, his tone warm and teasing. “Hello, Magnus.”

Magnus grinned. “Alexander. Think of an Angel, after all. What can I do for you?”

“I wanted to see how you were doing. I know this isn’t easy for you and I’m sorry.”

The same feeling that he’d always associated with Alec touching Cahya bloomed in his chest, warmer than ever, and he fell into his favorite chair with a dramatic little twirl, just because. “I’m just fine. I miss her, and I would love to spend more time in your darling company, but I can handle waiting.”

There was a long silence, and Magnus found himself tugging his earlobe, worried that he might have given Alec the wrong impression, somehow.

“What if you didn’t have to?”

“Have to what, Alec?” Magnus asked, hopeful.

“Honestly, without having to deal with Clave paperwork, the Institute can spare me for a couple hours this evening. We were well prepared and our losses were far from what I accounted for when we cut the core from Idris, so we’re in great shape, all things considered. The Clave isn’t going to move on us again so quickly, especially not with the Downworld supporting us.” He took an audible breath and Magnus pressed the phone tighter to his ear. “Were you serious about that drink?”

A giddy, bubbly feeling that was all too familiar welled up, and Magnus sighed happily. The first flush of interest returned was wonderful. “I was. Tonight, then? I know a few places we might go.”

“Actually…I was thinking I could come to yours? That way you can be with Cahya properly, too. Also-” Alec sounded a little embarrassed, and Magnus thought he could hear another voice that sounded suspiciously like Jace in the background, “- also, I want to see you not Maggie, or even the High Warlock.”

“That would be lovely, Alec. I will send you my address so we can both pretend it isn’t in a file somewhere. Does five work for you? We can have an early dinner and a drink, and I can even return you to your Shadowhunters before prime demon hours.” Magnus hoped that Alec could hear how much this meant to him.

“Can we say six?” Alec asked as Jace shouted, “He doesn’t have to be returned!”

“Six. It’s a date,” Magnus promised and he could hear Alec smile. He could also hear Kaie squalling and the familiar sound of Cahya hissing. “Go, save your parabatai from our girl.”

“I’ll see you tonight. Bye, Magnus.”

The call ended and Magnus took a moment to lean back in his chair, head tipped back. They had a date tonight. He’d see Cahya again, and maybe get to see Alec and Rani relax again.

“Oh!” He popped back up, going to find Chairman Meow. “Come, Chairman, we need to look our best for our guests.”

After a dinner of food from his favorite Ethiopian place, that Alec had grinned over and fed bites of to Rani, they were relaxing in the living room.

Magnus’ table was covered in cocktails that Alec was systematically sipping his way through and making faces that ranged from “disgusted” to “confused, but not bad” in an attempt to find one he liked best.

Rani and Cahya were curled at their feet, a pair of leopards, though Rani was a larger snow leopard still. It was such a picture of a good, calm evening that Magnus’ face hurt from smiling.

Alec picked up a tiny glass, barely the size of a thimble, and tipped it into his mouth before Magnus could warn him. The face he made was one of shock and then immediately after a tightly twisted mouth as the sour, astringent liquor hit.

Magnus couldn’t help the way he started laughing, especially as Rani jumped to his feet, fur bristling in alarm as Alec coughed.

“That’s…wow,” Alec managed, setting the thimble glass down like it was a bomb.

“It’s really meant to be drunk with this.“ Magnus held up a shot glass of sweet liqueur. “I think we can certainly rule it out though.”

He took a sip of the sticky sweet shot, turning to Alec to ask what he wanted to try next only to be surprised by how close Alec was suddenly, leaning into his space.

“I want to try it.”

Magnus swallowed and set the shot glass down, watching Alec’s eyes dart to his mouth, still wet from the drink. “Alright.”

A warm palm cupped his neck and Alec’s intent gaze searched his face. Magnus knew that he couldn’t have done this before, and decided to help him. He pushed into Alec’s touch, brushing their lips together lightly and then sighing softly against Alec as he deepened the kiss.

Alec’s hands were burning as they cupped his chin, like he was precious, and Magnus let one of his own hands lift to tangle in Alec’s hair. With a light swipe of Alec’s tongue, Magnus opened to him, tasting a strange blend of their drinks, the lingering sour in Alec’s mouth.

With a low sound, one of Alec’s hands dropped to Magnus' waist, pulling them closer together. He was twisted on the couch to face Magnus, but it didn’t matter as he tipped further toward Magnus.

A pleased rumbling sound finally broke them apart, and Magnus turned to look at their daemons as Alec pressed his forehead to Magnus’ temple, gathering himself.

The sound was coming from Rani, who had his eyes closed, his fur was black with a pattern only visible where the light hit him and he had shifted from another leopard to a jaguar. With her head laying on his shoulder, Cahya slowly blinked up at Magnus, equally content though her own purr was much softer.

Magnus felt Alec pull back to look at their daemons as well and tore his own gaze from them to watch Alec. There was a tenderness in his expression, his lips parted and upturned as he gently reached down and very deliberately ran his fingers through Cahya’s fur before continuing to scratch Rani’s own large head.

In hundreds of years, Magnus had only rarely let his long-term partners touch Cahya, and even then it was never with the casual ease that Alec did. None of them had ever felt right, but this did. It always had.

Rani was pressing into Alec’s touch happily and Magnus swallowed before leaning forward as well, his shoulder pressed closed to Alec’s. He buried his fingers in Rani’s fur along his side, feeling the thick soft pelt and the way that Alec’s breathing hitched beside him.

“See?” Cahya asked, though Magnus wasn’t sure who she was directing the questions to.

“I said he’d learn how mushy you are,” she said, giving Alec an amused look as Magnus shifted to lay his hand in her fur instead.

“You also said he wouldn’t like me at first.” Alec told her, fondness heavy in his voice.

Magnus scoffed, “What’s not to like?”

The morning light woke Magnus, his face scrunching against the brightness as it slanted across his face. From the general direction of his hip came a grumble that did not sound at all like-

“ ‘at time ‘st?” a groggy Alexander Lightwood asked, blinking and struggling to sit up from where he was slumped against Magnus, his face having been obviously pillowed against Magnus’ hip.

Magnus smiled, a sleepy and delighted thing that he couldn’t stop if he’d wanted to.

“It’s just about eight,” Cahya answered, and yawned immediately; her fangs on full display. Rani mimicked the action, still a jaguar with his own impressive set of incisors. It was much cuter than it should have been.

“Crap,” Alec said, drawing Magnus’ attention back.

“We stayed up later than I expected.” Magnus shifted around until he could stretch back, wincing at the feeling of his slept-in clothes and undoubtedly messy makeup. “You’re a fascinating person with very interesting opinions on important martial writings and I am a scintillating conversationalist, anyone you’re late getting back to will surely understand.”

Alec rolled his eyes, but there was fondness in the action, and Magnus considered it a win. He snapped himself into a fresh outfit, fitted jewel blue pants and a black shirt with a loose drape, nothing too dramatic this morning. His face felt better with a wave of his hand to clean up and adjust the coloring of his makeup, softening it to a more suitable day look.

When he was done, Alec was just looking at him, lips parted.

“What?”

Alec blinked and Cahya made a chuffing noise in the back of her throat, nudging Rani’s shoulder as he grumbled back.

“You’re amazing,” Alec said, no trace of flattery to it, and Magnus felt his cheeks flush with pleased color. With a crooked little grin, Alec continued, “Even if you’ve heard too many conspiracies about Sun Tzu.”

Magnus gasped in mock offense. “Just because I think that the intention of his writings was angling more toward sounding like a good advisor, à la Macheivelli, does not mean I believe in conspiracy.”

“Magnus,” Cahya said, patiently.

“Okay. Maybe a few ‘conspiracies,’ but I was right about the most recent one! Though, it’s only a conspiracy in the very original sense.” He finally pushed up from the couch, watching as Alec did the same, twisting this way and that to stretch.

“What was it?”

“That you were the Raven.”

Alec stilled, blinking at Magnus. “You mean when I sent Underhill with the message?”

Magnus turned away from him a moment, trying not to feel embarrassed about his assumption. He’d only met Alec once, a child who had said little to him, been horribly violated by his father, and then helped him plan an escape.

“Not…exactly,” Magnus hedged.

“When?” Alec asked, curious.

“How long after you learned he was Commander in New York?” Cahya’s warm voice asked, making Magnus turn back around, tugging at his earlobe a bit.

“Oh, about a month, maybe? I’d been in touch with the Raven off and on and knew they must have been in Idris, but then they started to address problems more locally relevant, and I thought it was someone who’d been moved here. I found out you were here not much later and well…I don’t think anyone else would’ve realized, but I drew some lines.”

Magnus could remember the immediate hope, when he learned Alec was so close. The hope that Cahya would be returned to him and that Alec had grown into as good a man as he had the potential to be.

“Magnus…” Alec shook his head, cheeks a little flushed. “Well. I’m glad you didn’t think I was an awful person, if you thought I might be the Raven that whole time.”

Magnus stepped closer to him, running a hand down his arm reassuringly. “I hoped. I wanted it to be you. Lucky me, that I usually get what I want.”

Alec’s smile went soft and wide, his heart so obviously on his sleeve that Magnus had to swallow against an answering surge of warmth. They barely knew each other, and yet-

Cahya leaned into Alec’s touches as naturally as his own. Rani felt just as comfortable when he was on Magnus’ shoulder as his own daemon might’ve. Alec’s siblings seemed supportive of them already, and Magnus couldn’t deny the feeling like something was unfurling in his chest. Some bloom he’d neglected for so long he was surprised to find the bulb of it even still existed, let alone had the potential to flourish under Alec’s sweet gaze.

“We should, uh-” Alec started, gesturing vaguely toward Magnus’ front door and tugging on his shirt with the other hand, clearly meaning to leave before he was any later to the Institute.

“Yes. Of course.” Magnus sighed. “I don’t suppose my company would be welcome?”

Alec frowned, his eyebrows drawing together until a determined glint entered his eye. He stepped fully into Magnus’ space, cupping his cheek and leaning close, before pausing just a moment, like he wanted to be sure. Magnus melted into the touch and was happy to find Alec’s lips pressed against his, soft and closed and just as lovely as their kisses traded during the night before.

When Alec pulled back he offered an apologetic smile. “I’m going to have a lot on my plate. Your company, and your counsel, would be very welcome, but not until this afternoon.”

“Ooh, we could have a lunch meeting. I’m just so charming I have to stick around after, of course.” Magnus could summon something for them, it would give him a perfect excuse to sit and chat with Alexander uninterrupted again and learn a little about what foods he liked.

“Of course.” Alec said, his tone lilting into nearly a tease, and Magnus was delighted.

“You’d better be on your way. If we’re going to meet later, I need to look Maggie’s best.” He made a shooing motion and Alec laughed.

“Alright. Rani?”

Rani shook himself off, standing up and stretching his long body lazily before taking a breath and going perfectly still.

“You’ll need to hide again,” Alec said.

Rani took another breath, his face scrunching. “I can’t.”

The words fell between them, and Magnus watched as realization dawned on Alec, Cahya’s tail wiggling the way it did when she was terribly pleased with herself.

“You’ve settled.” Alec breathed at the same moment Magnus pointed at Cahya and said, “You knew!”

Rani pressed his long body against Alec’s knees, twisting around them to glare at Cahya.

“I didn’t know,” she said, sounding smug. “I thought it was likely. Something in you, Rani, just seemed to slot into place. Good. This is much simpler.”

“How?” Alec sounded like he was used to her proclamations like this.

“Magnus does not need an excuse to have breakfast and lunch with us. Also, Maggie has no reason to make an appearance.” She sniffed.

Magnus stared at her, and then at Alec as he started laughing, Rani’s soft laughter joining in.

“You don’t like Maggie?”

“Chop, chop,” Rani choked out, still laughing.

Cahya only stood with a swish of her tail and headed toward the door. “You’ve a resurrection to plan. Chop, chop.”

Alec grinned at him and Magnus resigned himself to this being his life now. They still needed to release Cahya from the binding spell after all. Something he realized, he was very much fine with taking a while.

“So,” Alec said, taking Magnus’ hand in his after fondly flicking one of Cahya’s ears on his way. “Where should we get breakfast and draft your Magnus Bane returns from the dead speech?”

Magnus laughed, stumbling closer as Rani nudged behind his knees. “Anywhere you want, Alexander.”

#shmb2023 #Malec #Shadowhunters #fanfiction #Malec Fanfiction #Malec Daemon fic #Magnus Bane #alec lightwood #my writing

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