Chapter Text
At a Downworlder club was not where Alec expect to find himself tonight. Sure, it was his decision to come here, but had you told him three hours ago he would have made the trek over here, he would of laughed at you. Alas, here he sat against the bar, sipping on something clear and disgusting. He’s still unsure of what it is he’s drinking, but flags down the bartender again, nonetheless. Nerves on high, he scanned around the room.
Alec was actively trying not to look like a Shadowhunter, as he had told himself earlier, as long as his runes were covered, he should go unnoticed. For the most part, his presence at the edge of the room was ignored by everyone, spare the few glances and raised eyebrows. A girl asked him if he wanted to dance twenty minutes ago, and he politely declined, staring at his feet. She wrapped her fingers, long and pale, around his wrist before trying to pull him out of his seat. When she realized he was firmly planted, she huffed and turned to leave.
When coming to Pandemonium , Alec hadn’t expecting to enjoy the club for its intended purposes. He wasn’t here to get sloppy drunk, wasn’t here to dance, and definitely wasn’t here for the silvery liquid some Seelies were dripping down people’s throats. He was more here to prove to himself he could be, that his head wouldn’t explode if he tried to do something out of line for once. To prove to Jace and Izzy that he could have fun too (even if neither of them knew he was here).
Now, as he sat with his spine straight and the burning taste of hard liquor in his mouth, he’s pretty sure his experiment failed. Alec’s ready to cut his losses, go home, and pretend none of this ever happened. Turning to look for the nearest exit, was when Alec caught sight of him.
Standing maybe 30 feet away, just at the edge of the dancefloor, was a man whose eyes were locked solely on Alec. From the distance, and in the dark, Alec couldn’t see much about him, just that he was tall, all long and lean limbs, and that the fabric of his shirt seemed to shimmer with the different colored lights dancing across it. The man’s eyes, even from the distance, burned into Alec hot and insistent, begging for his attention.
Alec turned his body back to the bar, feeling his heart race and face start to burn. He took another large gulp of his drink before turning back to the man, praying (if he was praying for him to still be there or have left, he couldn’t tell you). Sure enough, he still had the man’s attention, and when their eyes meet this time he grinned, brilliant against the darkness.
Alec wondered for a brief second if maybe he had got something wrong, maybe the laser focus was because this man recognized him, and was going to drag him back home. Maybe he had noticed the confused Shadowhunter in the corner, and wanted to mock him. But before Alec had a chance to think too hard about it, his gaze slipped down. The man’s eyes, still hot enough Alec could feel it bring a flush to his whole body, dragged all the way down, before lifting back up Alec’s body, landing back on his face. His smile this time was more wild, but endlessly sexy, and Alec could feel his heart beating in his ears.
He moved without being aware of it. Drawn in by the man in every way, he barely felt his feet even move, until suddenly he was close enough to touch. From here, he could make out the man’s dark, spiky hair that also sparkled, his caramel skin, and brilliant smile in more detail. He could also see his eyes, glowing gold-green, slit down the center like a cat’s, and somehow both eerily beautiful and wholey addicting.
“Hello, Darling,” the man purred, his voice low and heavy, “would you like to dance?” Alec nodded, head feeling numb even as his body caught fire. The man’s hands found Alec’s waist, his fingers spanning out across his lower back and spine. Alec took the invitation to step closer when pulled in, wrapping one arm around the man’s shoulder, who in turn dipped his head to keep talking to Alec.
“I’m Magnus,” he said, breath falling against Alec’s cheek and making him a little dizzy. Alec was following the careful way the man was moving against him, hoping against hope that he didn’t look ridiculous. Magnus didn’t seem to mind, if the way he still held Alec close meant anything, or the way his fingers slid over Alec’s spine, moving up and back down slowly. “What’s your name?”
Alec tried to think of something to say, something that would sound witty and impressive, and almost immediately gave up. “Darling’s fine” he said, words coming out slightly slurred.
Magnus laughed, tipping his head slightly back before leaning back into his space, the heavy sound of it sending heat down Alec’s spine. For a brief second, Alec wished Jace was here, wished he could tell him what he’s supposed to do or say to not look like an idiot. But then Magnus’ head tilts down, his lips brushing along Alec’s jaw, and he’s very glad they’re alone right now (or as alone as they can be in a crowded room of drunk downworlders).
“Well then, Darling, ” Magnus’ voice is like pure silk, and Alec can practically feel it slide against his skin. Magnus moves his mouth carefully across the line of Alec’s jaw, before moving up to his ear, and then sealing his teeth just below it. It takes everything in his power not to full body shudder, and instead Alec just presses in closer, locking his other arm around Magnus’ waist.
The music is too loud, something with a lot of bass, and it seems to beat into Alec, adding to the frenzy Magnus already brings, moving his mouth carefully and slowly across his skin. By time Magnus lifts his head back to up, Alec feels strung out and desperate, and when they finally kiss its equal parts relief and fire.
Alec has woefully little experience, if you can even count the few quick kisses he’s shared with girls as experience, considering how interested he’d been in them. Magnus on the other hand, he thinks to himself, definitely knew what he was doing. The kiss was a perfect sympathy of lips, tongue, and teeth, lighting Alec’s whole body up, feeling it in every nerve ending he didn’t know he had.
Alec could feel all of his bones turn to liquid, and at this point was only held up by sheer force of will and Magnus’ body against his. One of his hands finds its way into Magnus’ hair, twisting in the soft spikes, his other sliding down his spine and back up, slipping underneath Magnus’ shirt. He feels the way Magnus goes tense in surprise, before relaxing back against Alec, his own hands gripping tighter at Alec’s hips.
Magnus broke away first, dropping his forehead against Alec’s and breathing ragged. Alec still felt as if he was slowly being lit on fire, body curved against Magnus and arms around him. They had stopped dancing at this point, and were more slowly moving against one another, hands tracing over each other’s skin in the same pace as the music.
“Might I offer a suggestion?” Magnus eyes are like liquid gold, every part as hot and glittering as the actual metal. He stepped back, out of the loop of Alec’s arms, trailing his hands down from his shoulders, until he wound their fingers together, pulling Alec with him. Magnus led them back further into the club, back towards the high-backed booths that lined the far wall. Magnus pushed him into the seat then crawled onto his lap with all the grace of a cat. He straddled Alec’s thighs, slipping his hands under Alec’s jacket, palms flat against his shoulder, heating his skin through his shirt. Alec’s hands found their way to Magnus’ waist, loving the curve of it and how his hands fit perfectly there.
Magnus moved back down to kiss him again, expertly parting Alec’s lips beneath his own and slipping his tongue into his mouth. He shifted, just so , pressing his hips down into Alec’s, who felt his brain immediately shut off. Magnus moved his hips like sin itself, drawing a choked off noise from Alec that made his cheeks heat up. Magnus’ hand dug into Alec’s hair, pulling just enough to get Alec to follow, tilting his head back and kissing him with more intent.
Alec responded in kind, pressing up and against Magnus, hands up the back of his shirt, regardless of the environment. Magnus pulled back with a groan, pushing Alec back when he tried to follow, both of their chests raising and falling rapidly, still close enough to touch. Alec tried to calm himself down, tried to slow his breathing down before he hyperventilated. Magnus smiled slowly, softer than earlier but still every bit as sexy. His eyes were glowing, staring down at Alec, as they carefully traced all the lines in his face. Alec wasn’t used to this kind of attention, the laser focus on no one but him, and expected to find an uncomfortable itch in his skin.
Instead, he found it brought with it a sense of ease. Magnus’ presence, the spicy scent of him, took any tension out of his body, silenced the music around them, and formed a safe bubble against the world. Magnus’ hand smoothed over his hair, all parts gentle from the desperate way he pulled at it seconds ago.
“Do you want to get out of here?” Magnus’ smiled was perfectly charming, enchanting Alec enough that he desperately wanted to say yes, but still with no pressure to force him into anything. He entertained the idea for a moment, of following Magnus home, letting whatever happens, happen . Even as his pulse tripped in his chest, he knew he couldn’t say yes, that this brief taste of Magnus was all he was going to get.
Magnus, wonderful as he’s been, didn’t blink when he shook his head, instead tipping down to kiss Alec once more, chaste and gentle, before sliding off his lap. With a snap of his fingers, he summoned a piece of paper and handing it to Alec. The handwriting was elegant and looping, writing out his phone number. When Alec looked back up, Magnus was already walking away, disappearing into the crowd with a glittering wink.
Alec took his time before getting up, taking deep, centering breathes, before finally standing. Once out of the club, the cold air of the night helped clear his head and sober him. He already misses Magnus’ heat and feeling of him against him. He keeps the piece of paper, hides it at the bottom of his bedside table, and tries to forget his very brief affair with the golden eyed warlock.
-----
At exactly 7:55 am, Alec and his siblings were in the conference room, seated on one side of the long table. Alec wanted to silently nurse his coffee, and enjoy the few minutes he had before his parents were due in. He still wasn’t sure what this meeting was supposed to be about, just knew that his parents had been very insistent that none of them be late. Izzy and Jace sat on either side of him, Jace drinking a bottle of water and looking at Alec out of the corner of his eyes. Izzy was less subtle, with her body turned towards him fully in her seat, resting her chin on her hand and staring at him, grinning impishly.
She made it long enough for Alec to drink half his coffee in one gulp before she couldn’t hold herself back any longer. “So, big brother, where were you last night? Do anything fun ?” Alec rolled his eyes back at her, planning on ignoring her pestering.
Until Jace leaned into his space too, mirroring Izzy’s position resting his face in his hand, “Yeah, Alec, you got in pretty late last night, that’s not usually like you.” Alec groaned, sinking further into his seat, taking his drink with him. Both of his siblings batted their eyelashes, grinning and waiting for him to answer. He brought the mug up to his face, if to do nothing else than hide him from his siblings.
Izzy reached out one hand to run through his hair, cooing at him, and opened her mouth to pester him more, before the door opened, and his parents came into the room. Izzy and Jace both leaned back in their seats, leaving Alec momentarily alone, as his parents walked around the table. His mom knocked her knuckles against his shoulder, silently reprimanding him for slouching in his seat.
“The three of you, be on your best behavior, Warlock Bane will here any minute,” She said as she came to stand beside them, posture straight and rigid.
“Warlock Bane?” Jace said, suddenly looking a lot more excited for the day, “we’re going to meet him?”
Warlock Bane had been working for their family for years, longer than any of them had been alive, but Alec had never once met him. His parents were very insistent on keeping him away from the three of them, their disdainful descriptions of him and his reputation making it clear they found him beneath them. For years Alec had heard about his ostentatious style, and his flippant attitude towards the crown, and watched how begrudgingly his parents relied on his magical abilities to hold the wards around the institute and whenever the Clave needed assistance.
If they were letting Warlock Bane interact with their children, it clearly meant something big was happening, and more likely, something bad. He didn’t get a chance to ask questions, before the door was opening and Raj was announcing Warlock Bane’s presence. Alec, from his position sitting, found his eyes first drawn to Bane’s stomach. He wore a waistcoat with delicate pinstripes, just the barest hint of a shimmer to them. It drew attention to the curve of his waist and, despite himself, Alec had a spare thought that his parents must of been exaggerating when they talked about his style, he thought Bane looked good.
He lifted his eyes up, to Bane’s face and when he registered what he was looking out, he felt his whole brain shut down. Panic gripped at his throat, making his breath come out choked off, fingers curling into his palms. Warlock Bane, Magnus , hadn’t looked at him yet, gold-green eyes focused on Alec’s parents. Distantly he felt Jace’s hand fall to his forearm, squeezing gentle enough to draw Alec’s focus back. He looked over, Jace’s eyes full of concern. He shook his head, tuning back into his mother and Magnus talking, back ramrod straight.
Maryse looked as stiff as Alec felt, where Magnus looked bored and uninterested. Making a sweeping gesture, she motioned to her kids, introducing them at once. Jace stood up first, his easy cockiness falling into place as he shook Magnus hand giving Alec something to focus on. He stood with Izzy, sweating away the time he waited for Magnus to look at him.
When he did, Alec got the same rush as he had the night before. All sound around them seemed to disappear, the brilliance of his eyes enchanting Alec all at once. Magnus’ eyes widened when they settled on Alec, showing his clear shock. Thankfully , he seemed to understand Alec’s silent pleading, and showed no other signs they had met before. He reached out a hand for Alec to shake, his smile fake, but eyes still blazing. Alec offered him back a weak smile, feeling shaken.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Bane,” he forced out, hoping no one would catch the stutter in his words.
“Pleasure’s all mine, Alexander,” Magnus said back, tone somewhere between professional and a purr. Alec pointedly ignored the heat down his spine at the way Magnus says his name.
As Magnus moved his attention on to Izzy, Alec wasn’t sure who he wanted gone more, Magnus or his family.
Izzy gave him one of her brightest smiles, twirling a strand of hair around her finger and glittering up at Magnus. Alec also ignored the surge of jealous when Magnus sparkled back at her, unfairly pleased when Maryse interrupted them.
“Isabelle, why don’t you and Jace step out so we can talk to Warlock Bane?” Izzy sputtered protests, but was quickly quieted by the look their mother shot her. Jace clapped a hand on Alec’s shoulder as they leave, offering support, before he wrapped an arm around Izzy, leading her out of the room. Magnus’ eyes flicked back to him briefly, and Alec could only hold his gaze for a second before he had to look away, back towards where his parents were flipping through papers in a red folder.
Taking a deep breath, then releasing it with force, Maryse started speaking again. “We would like to temporarily hire you as a private protector of the royal guard.”
Magnus laughed humorlessly, “I am the high warlock of Idris, I do not have time to play bodyguard.”
“You do when it is for the crowned prince,” she said, voice sharp and authoritative.
“What?!” She shot Alec a look, disapproving and annoyed.
“Since Alec’s coronation is approaching rapidly, Robert and myself have begun the transition to have him more involved in council meetings and take a more centerfold role in running Idris and the world outside. However, since we’ve been doing so, we have started receiving… threats.” Robert passed Magnus the folder, who immediately started flipping through it. “They demand for a change in leadership, a drastic one.”
“A change from Shadowhunter leadership entirely,” Magnus mumbled, brow furrowed as he read the papers. “And you’ve been receiving these through fire messages?” Maryse nodded. “Most find fire messages to be an archaic form with modern technology. Only the eldest of downworlders still use them.”
“We also suspect it has to do with the animosity of the messages, since they can’t be tracked back to their source. From the language used, we suspect a warlock, especially one toying with dark magic. Since they mention our son directly-”
“Hold on,” Alec interjected, “No one told me of any fire messages.” Magnus’ head shot up, first to Alec, shocked, before glaring at his parents.
“Any assignment of security I will take on will not be done without Alexander’s full knowledge.”
“We decided best not to worry him,” Maryse hissed, clenching her teeth. She made an aborted move to take the folder back, but Magnus pulled it out of her reach, before handing it over to Alec. “And Alec has bigger things to worry about than trivial threats.”
“But they were important enough to call upon the high warlock?”
Maryse looked incredibly annoyed to be called out on her bluff, but Robert spoke next, looking completely unbothered.
“The threats are our concern, Alec should be focused on preparing to take the throne. And you, Warlock Bane , should only be concerned with what we ask and pay you to be.” Magnus rolled his eyes, beginning to pace back and forth on his side of the table.
“What are you expecting of me here? Following him around? Keeping all the scary downworlders at a safe distance?”
“That,” Maryse said, not at all trying to hide her irritation, “and to put up extra warding around the private wing of the institute and his bedroom. We will be enlisting all of our resources to uncover who is behind the threats, and until we do, we will be entrusting you with his safety. Can you handle this, warlock?”
“Please. I can keep him guarded and find the source of the messages far faster than your resources ,” he waved a hand through the air, looking all too uninterested again. “For the right price, that is.”
“While we had hoped you would be willing to accept the position for the right reasons,” Magnus quirked a challenging brow, “Your time will be compensated however you deem fair.”
Magnus continued his pacing, looking as if he was debating it, and Alec found himself hoping he would say no. “Alright,” no such luck, “I’d be happy to,” he smiled cockily, briefly reminding Alec of Jace. Maryse came over, her movements stiff, and forcibly took the folder back from Alec’s hands.
“Alec can give you a tour. We expect the institute be put on lockdown at nightfall, from all magical beings. You may return in the mornings.” She turned on her heel, clearly dismissing the two of them. Robert shot Alec a look, one he couldn’t decipher, before following her out of the room.
The silence stretched between them, heavy and painfully awkward as Alec stumbled for an answer.
Magnus clapped his hands together, taking a deep breath. “So… after you?” Alec nodded, leading him out of the room and focusing on not tripping over his own feet.
Alec showed Mangus from room to room, rattling off facts about anything he could remember. Magnus seemed, understandably, uninterested and was ignoring most of what he was saying.
“So,” Magnus interrupted as they passed another empty conference room. “If I will be setting up wards for your safety, I should be focusing on the places where you spend most of your time.”
“Right, um, so that would probably be the library, the kitchens, our family room, oh, and my bedroom.”
Magnus hummed, a slight smirk on his lips, “trying to get me into your bedroom already, Alexander?”
Alec’s face immediately started burning, and he forcibly turned away from Magnus, trying to hide it. “C-call me Alec,” he finally chokes out, cringing at the crack in his voice. Magnus just laughed, low and under his breath, continuing on further down the hallway.
Magnus’ hands drifted over the walls, blue sparks spreading between his fingers, leaving behind a veil that sunk into the walls. His eyes were focused, carefully tracking every movement, seeing things Alec could not. “Wards are a layering magic,” he explained as he worked, “they work best when continually reinforced over time. Since the institute is already warded, I can add another layer to it, but it will be stronger over time.” He seemed satisfied with this part, because he took a few steps back, although his eyes stayed fixed, tracing over from floor to ceiling as he frowned slightly.
“And they will keep anything out?”
“Mostly. Not a hundred percent, they’re designed to keep harm out, magic with bad intentions like demon magic. However, they still have to allow for angelic magic to pass, to allow your runes and such to still work. You can also bypass them, if someone was invited through them by someone already inside.”
“That shouldn’t be too much of a concern, it’s not like we welcome many Downworlders inside the institute walls.”
“Ah, yes, I should consider myself so special.” Magnus tossed him a wink over his shoulder with a smirk, before walking down the hall. “But alas, that is only for within the institute walls. If you were to leave, be sure to bring back up, such as myself or that parabatai of yours.”
“I’m capable of protecting myself.”
“I don’t doubt that, but it doesn’t hurt to have back up, just in case.” The focus dropped out of Magnus’ eyes and instead was replaced by something deeper. He caught Alec’s eyes and suddenly Alec felt like his feet were made of lead. “Of course it could be fun, having an escort. If you wanted to go out somewhere, say a Downworld-”
“Magnus!” Alec cut him off, feeling his face heat up. Magnus looked unbothered, a smile creeping on his face. Alec cleared his throat and started again, “Warlock Bane, I think it would be best if we were to keep any relation between us professional.”
Magnus snorted. “Oh Darling it’s a little late for that, don’t you think?”
“Look, no one can ever, ever , know I was there. Let alone anything that may have happened.”
“May have happened?” Magnus raised one eyebrow, his expression asking for a challenge. “Do you mean when we-”
“Whatever,” Alec interrupted again, voice higher than he’d like it to be, “ may have happened was just a mistake. It would never of happened if I was using my head, and will never happen again.”
“I think you might be putting too much emphasis on the depravity.”
“I’m the crowned prince of Alicante, soon to be king. I can’t be going out and-”
“Hooking up with Downworlders?” Magnus asked, not too kindly. “Will it tarnish your pretty royal crest?”
“That… among other things.” Magnus looked at him like he was trying to read him, eyes narrowed and completely focused on Alec. “Look just, please don’t tell anyone about it. You need to just forget about it.”
“Don’t flatter yourself too much, Shadowhunter. It’s forgotten.” Magnus turned on his heel, lifting his sparking hands again, trailing his fingers along the wall as he walked away.
Alec watched until he disappeared around the corner, and then another few minutes as he waited for the knot in his chest to release.
-----
By time Alec made it back into his room, done with his studies and responsibilities for the day, he was thoroughly exhausted. He wasted enough time to strip himself of his shirt and jeans before collapsing on his bed, tucking into the sheets and ready to fall away from the world.
Instead, a moment later his door swung open, crashing into the wall when it was thrown too hard. Jace sauntered in, all bravado and arrogance.
“Get up,” he picked up one of Alec’s boots from the floor, throwing it at the bed. “We’re going to the roof.”
“I’m too tired to listen to you whine about Clary, Jace.” He groaned into his pillow.
“Too bad.” Jace threw himself onto the bed, landing half on top of Alec, forcing him to either sit up or deal with Jace’s weight on top of him. Jace pulled a bottle of whiskey from one of his jacket pockets, presenting it with a flourish. “We’re either going to the roof or we’re doing it right here.”
Alec groaned again, pulling his arm out from under Jace, and holding out a hand for the bottle. “See? This is why I chose you to be my parabatai .”
“You only chose me because there was no one else that would put up with you.” Alec said before taking a drink, grimacing at the taste.
Jace didn’t bother to correct him, instead took his own drink before leaning back against the headboard with a dramatic sigh.
“Clary’s with Simon again.”
“He’s her best friend, Jace. She’s going to spend time with him.” Jace shrugs so he tries again. “He’s been over that crush on her for a long time now. And even if he wasn’t, you know she’s crazy about you.”
Jace sighs, still overly-dramatic, sliding down to slump in a position that looks uncomfortable. “You know she loves you,” Alec says, trying to push sincerity into his tone, “You don’t need to worry.”
“I know, I’m probably being stupid.”
“You’re always being stupid.” Jace shoves at Alec’s shoulder but he’s smiling again. After they both take a few more drinks he throws his arm around Alec, nearly hitting him in the face.
“Besides, this just gives me more time to hang out with my favorite person in the whole wide world!” Alec snorts back at him, but still lets Jace settle into his side. “What’s going on with you?”
“Huh? Nothing really. Just been doing a lot of research for mom and dad. Getting ready and all that.” Jace hums back some noncommittal noise, taking a slow drink.
“You sure? Cause you still never told me where you went last night.”
Alec tries to play it off, despite the fact that his heart picks up in his chest. “I just went around for a walk, wanted some fresh air.”
It’s clear that Jace doesn’t believe him, but he lets the topic drop anyway, instead starting to gossip about some envoy the Clave plans on sending to check out the institute. Alec falls into it easy, letting the idle chatter move them farther away from personal topics as they continue to pass the bottle back and forth.
It isn’t until a few hours later, when they’re both too close to sleep to bother getting up or changing that Jace brings it up again. Right as Alec tucks his face into the pillows, feeling a heavy weight settle comfortably on him Jace says, “you know you can always tell me anything, right?”
“Yeah,” Alec responds, without opening his eyes, “I know.”
-----
Magnus showed back up at the institute by 9 the next morning, being shown to Alec in the library by one of the other Shadowhunters that worked at the institute. Raj looked terribly annoyed to have to escort Magnus, turning a strange shade of red when Magnus blew him a kiss as a goodbye. He regarded Alec with much more silence, bypassing the table Alec sat at with books and papers spread around him, in favor of exploring the shelves.
Most of the books in here were on history, of the Shadowhunters and downworlders, with the rest being about learning new skill, such as camping and cooking. Magnus probably already knew everything that was contained in the walls, considering he was alive for a good amount of their documented history. He selected a book about werewolves, flipping through the pages before he snorted and put the book back.
When he turned back around Alec tried to not look like he had been staring at him, turning his face to the first thing his hands grabbed. He reread the same paragraph four times before Magnus folded into the chair across from him, taping one fingernail along the spines of the books Alec had pulled down.
“Reading about the history of The Accords?” His tone was light and empty, in the same way you would politely talk to a worker at a store.
“Yeah, it’s time for them to be retouched, and since I’ll be the one overseeing it I have to memorize all the previous drafts.”
Magnus made an uninterested noise back at him. “Not that there’s many differences to notice.”
“They’ve been updated multiple times since they were written,” Alec responded, confused.
Magnus finally turned his attention fully on Alec, “and yet they still hold the same rules as the first day they were written.”
“Is there a problem in them that needs fixed?”
“Well, primarily the fact that The Accords were not written with the good of Downworlders in mind, and instead control.”
“There’s nothing wrong with a bit of order. They create a set of laws to keep everyone safe.”
“The downworld already has order. The werewolves have packs, vampires have clans, the fae have a queen older than the Shadowhunters have even been around.”
Alec met his eye, dizzingly bright, as he turned this over. “They are meant to create an alliance between Downworlders’ laws and our own. A sense of peace between the two fronts.”
Magnus rolled his eyes, leaning back in his chair. “There was never a compromise with the creation of the Accords. They did not ask us for our opinions or ideas. They were searching for compliancy, not unity.” Alec must of still looked confused because after a breath he continued, “I was there when they first presented the idea, when it was just idealism. They tried to wine and dine us while preaching about a new world order where Downworlders and Shadowhunters worked together. Then, when we left, they threw away all the plates we had used. They deemed them permanently damaged. That’s not peace.”
Alec thought about it carefully before speaking. He looked back at the papers, at the multiple drafts that only differed by one or two laws to accommodate for modern technology. He wasn’t sure who decided on the laws or why they chose what they did. He had always assumed they had taken the established Downworlder customs into account. “So what would you do to change them?”
Magnus shrugged, “I can’t speak for all Downworlders. As for the warlocks, I’d start with someone telling how I am allowed to use my own magic. According to this,” he tapped the papers in Alec’s hands, “I’m supposed to get permission from Shadowhunters for any spell bigger than refilling my coffee.”
“How did they think they could control that?” Alec saw the expression on Magnus face, one that asked him to answer his own question. It took two more breaths before it clicked. “They didn’t, they just wanted to pin every warlock for breaking the Accords.”
Magnus nodded slightly, holding Alec’s gaze unwaveringly. Alec was the first one to break, when he couldn’t ignore the heat spreading down his spine anymore. He cleared his throat again, just for something to do.
“I still believe the Accords should be about unity,” he said after a few minutes of silence. “And if they’re not doing that, then it’s time for them to change.”
Something crossed Magnus’ face, eyes narrowing and hardening. After a minutes he relaxed, looking parts confused and interested.
“You might just make a good king yet, Alexander.”