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Alec showed and bandaged his bruised hands after his training. Valentine would be expecting progress. Alec was these days seeking his approval as much as avoiding his wrath.
Alec dodged the mirror as he got dressed, not wanting to see the Circle rune on his neck. He was grateful Valentine was pushing him; it made it easier to help him. He tried to suggest strategies that wouldn’t jeopardize Magnus, Jace, Izzy or Max. It was a difficult line to walk.
Valentine was a fanatic, but also intelligent and insightful. Alec liked the back and forth between them when he debated other issues with Valentine than the war. Alec was used to a harsh push and pull, in particular with his mother, which made it difficult to keep hating Valentine. The complete disconnection didn’t help either; he only saw Valentine and sometimes some of his men. Alec had completely lost track of time. Maybe he had been here for months, maybe more.
Valentine never told him how the war was going. His short temper indicated it wasn’t going well. Alec had made a vow to help Valentine, and he fulfilled it. But he still hoped he didn’t have to do it anymore. That Jace and Magnus would be safe and he would no longer be trapped here.
Suddenly the ship shook, breaking Alec’s trail of thought. He picked up the blades he had used to train with, his bow quickly put on his back. Valentine had drilled him out of going for it, seeing the blades as a superior weapon, but he would still bring it. Alec left his room, searching for the source of the turmoil. Alec turned a corner on one of the upper decks and almost lost his breath when he saw who it was. Magnus and Jace, battling five Circle members.
“Alexander!” Magnus yelled worried when he saw him.
Magnus’ distraction almost cost him. Using Valentine’s training, Alec threw one of his blades, killing the Circle member who had tried to sneak up on Magnus.
“Alec!” Jace said, relieved, when he saw him too.
Within moments Magnus and Jace killed off the last four guys.
“Jace. Magnus,” Alec replied stunned, rushing up to them.
They were barely within reach when Valentine appeared, taking the scene in before him. Jace, Magnus and Alec all tensed.
“Jonathan,” Valentine said with a sinister smile. “You should be by my side.”
“Never gonna happen,” Jace said darkly.
“I know you feel what I feel about these filthy animals,” Valentine persisted, nodding towards Magnus.
Jace gave him a cold look as he replied calmly, evenly, “Maybe once you could have swayed me but not now.”
“If you are not with me, you’re against me,” Valentine warned.
“Oh, I’m against you,” Jace promised darkly.
“Your parabatai’s already mine,” Valentine reminded him, making Alec squirm uncomfortably.
Magnus hit Valentine with a fireball, making him fight to stay upright, grimacing in pain.
“You talk too much,” Magnus commented with a cold smirk.
“So be it!” Valentine said sinisterly. He did a handwave towards them as he turned to Alec, “Kill them.”
“No,” Alec denied, hissing in pain as his Promise rune started to glow due his defiance.
“You can’t defy me,” Valentine insisted.
Alec didn’t reply, grimacing in agony as the Alliance rune got stronger, having to drop to one knee, crushing his hand to his chest.
Alec caught Jace’s eyes and he knew from the bond and just knowing Jace what he was going to do. As Jace threw a knife at Valentine he moved to the side to avoid it, enabling Alec to use his distraction to plunge one of the blades he was holding into Valentine’s nearest thigh. Valentine screamed in pain. Magnus threw several fireballs at him, making Valentine fall to the ground, blood running out of his mouth, fighting to breathe.
“Killed by a Downworlder. Fitting,” Magnus commented mockingly as he looked down at Valentine.
A look of surprise was forever etched onto Valentine’s face as he took his last breath.
“Alec!” Jace said worried as he helped Alec to his feet.
Alec groaned as he managed to stand with Jace’s support. The pain from the Alliance rune had disappeared when Valentine had died but the damage had been done. He had a few broken bones and.…
Jace quickly took his steele and drew an iratze.
Magnus was by his side at once. He let magic circle his right hand as he told Alec softly, “Let me heal you.”
Alec signed in relief as his body quickly healed from the magic and Jace doing additional iratzes.
“I’m ok. You can both stop now,” Alec insisted quietly, suddenly feeling insecure now that the danger had passed.
Jace and Magnus stopped, taking deep and calming breaths.
“We finally have you back” Jace said emotionally, pulling Alec into a warm embrace. “I love you, Alec.”
“I love you too,” Alec said heartfelt.
Jace released him and Magnus gave him a fond look.
“Hi darling,” Magnus said quietly, misty-eyed.
Alec smiled softly, still struggling to believe they were both here.
“I love you,” Alec said, wanting to say it, just in case he would soon be parted from them both again to face judgement by the Clave.
“I love you too, Alexander,” Magnus replied passionately.
When Magnus claimed his lips, it was everything Alec remembered. Filled with care, love, tenderness, and passion. When they drew apart, Alec’s eyes locked with Jace his eyes went to his lips, wondering what they would feel like. He quickly looked away, blushing.
“Let’s go home,” Jace declared, looking at first Alec and then Magnus with warmth and affection.
“Indeed, sayang [darling in Indonesian],” Magnus replied fondly.
Alec didn’t understand the nickname, but he was happy Jace and Magnus had gotten close. It did made him wonder how much time had passed. Despite his confusion Alec had never felt safer as when he stepped through the portal and into Magnus’ loft, flanked by the two men he secretly loved.