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Chapter Text

Alec and Magnus had been living in Alicante for a year, savoring the rhythms of married life whenever their busy schedules allowed. Alec’s days were consumed with Inquisitor duties and the ongoing reform of the Clave; Magnus, equally occupied as High Warlock, balanced his own responsibilities while keeping the magical community in check. Time together was scarce, but every moment was precious. Their family life had stabilized as well, especially since Clary had returned a few weeks ago, and regular contact with friends and loved ones reminded them that they were never truly alone.

While Alec was in New York on Clave business, he seized a rare opportunity to have dinner with his mother and sister. Just the three of them, as the rest of the family was engaged in other duties, the evening took on an intimate warmth. Maryse had recently visited Max and eagerly shared updates on her youngest son’s progress. Most other conversation revolved around mundane matters: work, and the small victories and annoyances of their respective lives and partners.

During dessert, Isabelle’s phone chimed sharply.

“By the angel!” she exclaimed, reading the alert.

“What is it?” Alec asked, concern threading his voice.

"It seems New York has suddenly been swarmed by vampires attacking mundanes at random. There have been several deaths reported already. And, of course, this has to happen while Jace is off duty and out of town with Clary.", Isabelle explained grimly.

“If you need me, I can help,” Alec offered immediately, a familiar resolve sharpening his tone.

“Are you sure?” Isabelle asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes. I haven’t been in the field for a while… and I miss it,” Alec admitted, a spark of eagerness behind the professional demeanor.

“Alright,” his sister agreed, a small smile tugging at her lips.

While Isabelle began contacting Simon to assess rumors, Alec called Magnus to explain the situation.

“I’ll be late tonight,” he said.

Magnus’s voice carried steady reassurance. “If Izzy needs you, you have to be there. Just… come back to me safely.”

“I will. I love you, and I’ll see you later,” Alec said softly.

“I love you, too.”

Maryse hugged her children tightly as she said goodbye.

“I know I don’t need to say this, but I will anyway: Please take care of yourselves.”

Alec and Isabelle promised they would. Afterward, they returned to the Institute, trading casual attire for mission gear. Alec had left a spare set in New York precisely for moments like this. They had already been armed – a Shadowhunter was rarely going out without weapons – so they didn’t need to bother with that, but they had to meet with the team and plan the mission.

Alec was paired with Underhill, heading to Park Slope, the site of the most recent attack. What they found was worse than either had anticipated: an entire family brutally slaughtered—grandparents, parents, four children, the youngest barely a baby. Silence fell, heavy and grim, as they scanned the scene for clues. The devastation weighed on Alec’s mind, yet beneath the grief and duty, a lingering sense of being watched prickled at him. He could see no one, yet instinct screamed that they were not alone.

While searching the backyard for further clues, Alec finally spoke to his temporary partner, breaking the oppressive quiet.

“So… you and Lorenzo Rey. I didn’t see that coming. But it seems to work.”

“It does. And I know he hasn’t always been easy for you,” Underhill admitted. “But now he’s Magnus’s ally, and yours as well. We work well together. I love him, and he loves me.”

Alec smiled quietly, recalling the backlash he himself had faced in loving Magnus. How could he judge another for the same?

“I wish you both the best, Andrew,” he said, using his partner’s first name for the first time.

“Thank you, Alec,” Underhill replied, a brief warmth passing through his eyes.

Then chaos erupted. A portal opened, spilling at least eight vampires into the yard, faces twisted with rage, fangs glinting, clothing smeared with blood. Alec and Underhill immediately fell back-to-back, weapons ready.

“I had a feeling we were being watched,” Alec muttered through gritted teeth, angry at himself for not paying more attention.

“Oh, such a clever Shadowhunter. It seems Magnus didn’t pick you just for your looks. Shame you’re about to be far less pretty with a few bite marks, darling,” a female voice said behind Alec — a voice he knew all too well.

"You should have trusted your gut. But, on the other hand, it wouldn't have mattered. I would have got to you anyway. But I wanted to thank you for saving me the trouble of going to Alicante. It would have been much harder to snatch you away under Magnus's watchful eyes.”, she continued, glancing at the vampires she had summoned.

Alec’s chest tightened. “Camille! Why aren’t you in the Gard?”

“Little boy toy,” Camille said, her smile devilish, “the prison that can hold me hasn’t been invented yet.” She turned to the other vampires.

"I want him alive," she ordered, pointing at Alec. “Do with the other what you like."

Back in Alicante, Magnus was sitting at his desk writing out an order for some specific plants that he needed to make a potion that a client had requested, when he was interrupted by a knock on the door. He got up and approached the door cautiously, sensing that the presence behind it was not well-intentioned. When he opened the door, he was face-to-face with a vampire.

“Delivery for Magnus Bane,” the young woman announced, dropping a small box into his hands. He wanted to hold her back but was unable to stop her as she jumped into a portal that had just opened behind her.
He closed the door and took the box to his desk, scanning it with his powers before opening it. Inside, he found a small scroll, and beneath that, an object he knew well, as he wore its twin on his left ring finger. His heart stopped for a beat. It was Alec’s wedding ring – with several bloody spots on the surface.

“No, no,” Magnus gasped, having to sit down before unrolling the scroll. He recognised the handwriting on it immediately.

“Come to New York if you want to see your husband alive. Come alone or I will kill him on the spot. Yours truly, Camille.”, it read. Beneath that was an address in Chelsea.

Only when a sharp sting shot through his palm and blood began to drip onto the carpet Magnus realized he had clenched the ring in his hand so tightly that his fingernails had pierced his skin. He forced himself to loosen his grip, staring at the crimson stains now smudged across Camille's elegant handwriting on the scroll.

He was still recovering from the shock when his phone rang. At first, he didn’t want to answer, but then he saw that it was Isabelle calling.

"Magnus!" his sister-in-law called out as soon as he picked up. "There was an attack by vampires on Alec and Underhill! Underhill is badly injured, but Alec gone!”

"I know," Magnus replied grimly. "Care to tell me why Camille isn't in the Gard? It seems she is behind this."

"One moment."

Magnus could hear Isabelle typing on a computer. Several moments later, she returned.

"It was only recently discovered that Camille managed to escape amid all the chaos surrounding the reawakened Valentine. She encantoed some wards to remove her files from the computers. They have regained their memory merely days ago. Damn, why didn’t these idiots of the Gard inform us immediately?”

"I'm coming to New York," Magnus answered, his voice quiet but lethal, before ending the call.

Chapter Text

About half an hour later, Magnus stood in front of the abandoned mansion Camille had chosen as her new lair. The windows were lit from within, their dirty glass casting an eerie glow. Silhouettes shifted behind them. Outside the main entrance, four burly vampires stood guard—faces Magnus didn’t recognize. Obviously, Camille hadn’t wasted any time rebuilding an army.

Magnus lifted his chin and strode seemingly confidently up to the guards. “I believe your mistress is waiting for me.”, he announced.

“We need to make sure you came unarmed,” one vampire growled.

Magnus allowed his magic to crackle at his fingertips, soft blue flames licking the air. “My only weapon is my magic. And that’s not something I can hand over.”

One of the vampires snorted. “Fortunately, we don’t have to worry about that,” he said, earning himself a sharp slap from the vampire next to him.

Still, they patted Magnus down—roughly. He allowed it, though his lips curled in disdain. “Let’s not get too familiar. I have a very jealous husband.”

“Who’ll die a very painful death if you brought along any Shadowhunters,” the first vampire sneered.

“I value my husband's life far too much to gamble with it recklessly,” Magnus replied, his tone cool, but his heart pounding a furious rhythm beneath his calm facade.

Two vampires gripped his arms, holding them tightly to his sides as they shoved him forward. Wards pressed against his skin as they crossed the threshold—an immediate, suffocating suppression of his magic. Now he understood the comment from one of the vampires that they didn’t need to worry about his magic. It took every ounce of Magnus’s restraint not to lash out. That was a problem he would have to deal with later.

They led him into a once-grand salon. The chandeliers hung in tatters, broken furniture lay strewn across the dust-covered floor, and the stale air was thick with the metallic tang of old blood. But none of it mattered. All Magnus saw was Alec.

His husband lay sprawled on an ottoman, his head resting in Camille’s lap. It would have looked quite intimate if it hadn’t been for the state Alec was in. His skin was alarmingly pale, his shirt stained with blood seeping from two deep punctures on his neck. His lips were parted, breath shallow. The sight struck Magnus like a physical blow.

“Alec!” Magnus stepped forward instinctively, but Camille’s hand rose in a lazy gesture, stopping him. Blood dripped from her wrist, dangling dangerously close to Alec’s lips.

“Look at you,” she cooed, her voice sugar-sweet, “Rushing here to save your little boy-toy. I expected you even earlier. Already tired of him?”

Magnus raised his hands slowly, palms outward. “I’ve come just as you asked, Camille. Now let Alec go. He has nothing to do with the quarrel between you and me.”

Camille's fingers traced Alec’s jaw, smearing blood across his skin. The gesture was grotesquely tender. “Of course he’s involved. He made you betray me, Magnus. Hand me over to the Clave… expose me to their tortures. You only did it to please him, didn’t you?”

Alec stirred faintly, his lips moving. “Magnus…” His voice was barely audible, but it cut straight through Magnus’s chest.

Camille smiled. “He keeps calling for you. So trusting you will come to save him. He must love you very much. Poor thing. He didn’t believe me when I told him you’d always love me more. But it’s true, isn’t it? You’ll never love him like you loved me.”

Magnus’s throat tightened. He knew contradicting her outright would only escalate things, but he couldn’t—wouldn’t—let her rewrite his truth.

“I don’t love you, Camille. I haven’t in a very long time. But I love Alec. He’s my life now.”

Camille frowned. Her hand stilled on Alec’s face. “How can he be your life?” she hissed, venom lacing her words. “You’ve known him for what—a few months? We spent decades together!”

“Decades filled with lies, manipulation, and pain,” Magnus said, each word sharp as a blade. “You never loved me. You loved owning me. Alec would never do that.”

Camille’s eyes flashed. “I saved your life, Magnus.”

“So did Alec.” Magnus exploded but calmed down immediately. He had to stay grounded and focused. “I was grateful for what you did, Camille. For too long, that gratitude kept me from holding you accountable for your crimes. That’s done now.”

Camille’s gaze turned icy. She returned her attention to Alec, running her bloody fingers through his hair. “You leave me no choice,” she replied sharply. “If you want to keep him so desperately, I’ll have to turn him. Let’s see if you still love each other when he craves blood, when he kills for it.”

A cold shudder passed through Magnus. For a fraction of a second, the image of Alec reduced to a predator, bloodlust clouding his eyes, tore through his mind. The thought was unbearable.

“Please, Camille.” The words tasted like ash. “I’ll do whatever you want. Take me, keep me, chain me if you must. Just let Alec go.”

Camille’s laugh was brittle. “Oh, Magnus. You still don’t get it. I know you won’t give up on him. You married him.” She spat the words as if they burned her tongue. “If I turn him, though, he’ll be loyal to both of us. We can all be together. Lovers, allies. We would make a magnificent ménage.” Her grin widened. “Maybe I’ll even turn his blonde sidekick. Then no one will be left out. Think about it! You wouldn’t lose him to time. No more aging, no more watching him wither away.”

“But he wouldn’t be Alec anymore.” Magnus’s voice cracked, but he pressed on. “He would despise being a vampire. It would break him.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure,” Camille said sweetly. “That mundane Simon adjusted just fine. His little love for that impertinent girl Clary helped him through. Are you telling me Alec’s love for you isn’t just as strong?”

Before Magnus could answer, the sharp, unmistakable sounds of fighting erupted from outside.

Chapter Text

“Oh, look at that. The cavalry has arrived,” Magnus announced coldly, stepping forward with quiet authority. Of course he had brought reinforcements — Isabelle, Lorenzo Rey, and a team of Shadowhunters were already in position, ready to strike. He couldn’t have held them back even if he had wanted to. Even if Camille still had her wards, Magnus was certain her time was running out. There simply couldn’t be another outcome.

Camille’s sneer deepened. “You bastard of a warlock! You did bring reinforcements! But as long as the wards stand, your magic is useless. And I warned you — any Shadowhunter that steps inside dies with him!”

She leaned closer to Alec, smearing fresh blood on his lips. With deliberate cruelty, she let some of it slip into his mouth.

At that moment Magnus felt the wards around him weaken - fortunately. The surge was like a sudden crackle of fire across his skin, a fierce pulse returning to his veins. The block on his magic was breaking. He gritted his teeth.

“Let him go, Camille,” Magnus said, voice steady but ice-cold. “You cannot win this.”

Her hiss was sharp as a knife. “Never!”

Before he could react, she brought forward a blade with her vampire speed and held it over Alec’s chest.

“No!” Magnus cried, lunging forward—but Camille’s hand darted out, blade aimed at Alec’s heart.

Pure instinct roared to life within Magnus. Flames burst from his fingertips, a wildfire of magic scorching through the air and striking Camille’s chest. Her scream shattered the room—half rage, half agony—as her flesh ignited and curled in fiery agony. Within seconds, the flames consumed her entirely, leaving nothing but ash and silence.

Magnus barely registered her death. At this moment he didn’t see her as his former lover, his confidant or a person he had pitied once. Camille was merely a threat to Alec that had to be dealt with. Now with her gone, he dropped to Alec’s side, heart hammering. His magic swept over Alec’s body, searching for injuries beneath the surface.

The wounds on his neck were deep, the puncture marks raw and still bleeding. But for now Magnus had to focus on getting Camille’s blood out of Alec. He let his magic flow through his husband.

Alec coughed violently, retching as Magnus worked to purge the vampire poison. His body shook with effort, and Magnus held him steady, brushing damp strands of hair from his pale face. The taste of iron and darkness spilled from Alec’s mouth, but slowly, he began to breathe easier.

“Stay with me, my love,” Magnus whispered. “You’ll be all right—I promise.”

He slipped Alec’s wedding ring from his own finger where he had put it after he had cleansed it of blood and Camille’s corruption. He returned it to Alec’s hand where it belonged and would hopefully stay forever from now on.

Just then, the door burst open. Isabelle and Lorenzo stormed inside, urgency written across their faces.

“By the Angel!” Isabelle knelt beside her brother, eyes wide with concern.

“Is he…?”

“He’ll be fine,” Magnus assured her, voice steady but low. “He needs to get to the Institute’s infirmary. He’s lost too much blood— my magic can’t replace that. But I’ve made sure he won’t turn.”

Lorenzo’s gaze flicked over the room, then settled on Magnus. “I take it you killed Camille?”

Magnus looked up, eyes heavy with exhaustion and something darker. “I didn’t have a choice.”

Lorenzo’s jaw clenched. “Her monsters and that lousy warlock she chose were no match for us. Camille sure wasn’t picky with her allies.”

Magnus nodded, but his attention was back on Alec, stroking the sweat-soaked hair from his forehead. He pressed a gentle kiss there.

“We have to get him help—now.” Isabelle’s voice was urgent and Lorenzo hurried to open a portal to the Institute.

Magnus allowed himself a moment’s relief but didn’t let go of Alec’s hand. Not yet.

Chapter Text

Magnus stayed by his husband’s side throughout his treatment at the Institute’s infirmary. Both the Shadowhunter’s healer and Catarina soon confirmed that there was no vampire blood left in Alec’s system, and that he would heal once his blood had been replaced. They activated his Iratze rune to close the wounds on his neck. Only when the last trace of the deep wounds had vanished Magnus felt he could breathe again. Alec was hooked up to an IV to replace the blood he lost. He didn’t regain consciousness during this process which was also due to a spell Catarina had put on him.

"Don't worry. He’ll wake up soon. He needs to rest a lot now, but he'll be fine," Catarina assured a worried Magnus, affectionately touching his shoulder before leaving the couple alone.

For the next few hours, Magnus sat beside Alec’s bed, holding his hand and ensuring he slept safely. He couldn’t turn his eyes away from the beloved face, needed to feel the warmth of his skin, hear his even breathing. Fortunately, Alec’s sleep was peaceful and not disturbed by any nightmares. Although Magnus was grateful for that, he was still worried. There was no way of knowing what effect Camille’s attack had had on Alec’s mind.

"We'll get through this together," he whispered to Alec. "You’re one of the strongest and bravest men I have ever met, Alexander Lightwood-Bane, and I will be by your side. I won’t let you suffer; I promise.”

He only left Alec’s side when Jace burst in, immediately having returned from his trip with Clary after Isabelle had told him what had happened. Jace and Isabelle spent some time at Alec’s bedside, but Magnus remained close by, observing the scene through the glass wall of the infirmary.

Simon, who had also come back earlier, approached him and handed him a mug of coffee.

Magnus took it but didn’t drink it. He didn’t turn his eyes away from Alec for one second. Simon noticed that he was gripping the omamori charm Alec had given him when they had first started dating, tightly in his hand.

"I know it must have been hard for you to kill Camille, but personally I’m glad to see her gone," Simon told him.

Magnus didn’t look at him when he answered: "Simon, how did you feel when that vampire Heidi was killed?"

“Honestly? I still believe Maia shouldn’t have done it that way, but I felt relieved, almost elated," Simon replied. "Heidi was out of control. She would have harmed more people if she hadn’t been stopped."

"Now you know how I feel,” Magnus said in a cold voice. Simon instinctively took a step back. He was used to Magnus being warm, open, friendly and caring, but he had seen his darker side before. It was better not to forget that this side of him existed too. Simon knew for now it was better to leave Magnus alone, so he turned around and left the infirmary.

Isabelle slipped in a few hours later and tried to get Magnus to eating something and to catch some sleep as well. At first Magnus refused, but when she pointed out that he wouldn’t help Alec if he was malnourished and exhausted, Magnus begrudgingly conjured up a sandwich and some tea and ate it under his sister-in-law’s watchful eyes. Afterwards he enlarged Alec’s bed with his magic so he could lie down next to his husband. He vowed to not fall asleep, but eventually his exhaustion caught up with him, although his sleep was restless and short.

Alec remembered being cold. Everything had been dark and he had been in pain. There had been a female voice, her tone soft but unpleasant. He didn’t recall what she had said, but it had been something he hadn’t want to hear. Cold fingers had clung to him, unyielding and without pulse, and a silken body pressed close—soft and moving, but empty of warmth or breath.

But now there was no pain. A hand held his, warm and strong. Someone was close to him and he could hear that person breathing.

“Alexander?”, a well known male voice said tenderly.

“Magnus.”, he sighed with a bright smile.

“I’m here, my love.”, the voice assured him and that made him open his eyes. At the same moment, memories came rushing back to his consciousness and he shot up, gasping.

The grip of Magnus’s hand around his tightened.

“Alexander! Everything is okay, you are safe!”

“Magnus!” he sighed relieved when seeing his husband. He sank down onto the bed again. "I tried to fight them off, but I couldn't. There were just too many. It was a trap.”

"I know," said Magnus, kissing his cheek. "But Camille can never come for you again. She's gone. I’m so sorry she did that to you. It’s all my fault.”

"Don’t blame yourself. You couldn’t have known that she had escaped from the Gard.”

Alec touched Magnus’s cheek lovingly and for a moment he just enjoyed the feeling of safety and the knowledge that his husband was by his side. Then another thought shot through his head.

“How is Underhill?", he wanted to know.

"Recovering," Catarina replied. She was standing on the other side of his bed and checked his vitals before she pointed through a glass wall to the next room where Underhill was lying in a bed, hooked up to an IV, with Lorenzo by his side.

"Magnus, if you hadn't killed Camille, he would have done it," she said, referring to Lorenzo. "He was beside himself when Andrew was brought here."

Magnus didn’t pay any attention to Catarina’s words; his whole focus was on Alec, who had slipped back to sleep. Alec woke up from time to time but only stayed awake for short periods. They didn’t talk much, but Magnus was pleased to see colour return to his husband’s face and to feel his strength returning.

Chapter Text

By the next day, Alec felt much better; alert, awake, and increasingly impatient to leave the infirmary. His parents, as well as Max and Luke, had visited, their worried expressions etched deep, but Alec was determined to move on. The Shadowhunter healer and Catarina declared him fit to leave, though both warned him to avoid overexertion in the coming days. Magnus vowed to ensure Alec followed their orders.
After bidding farewell to their family, they stepped through a portal back to Alicante.

“Do you need to lie down?” Magnus asked once they reached their apartment.

Alec rolled his eyes. “I think I’ve done enough lying down in the past 24 hours. But don’t worry—I won’t overdo it. I’m even taking tomorrow off, though I feel fine.”

“Don’t take it too lightly,” Magnus warned. “The aftershocks might come later. You were in the hands of a vampire, after all—and she almost killed you.”

“I don’t remember much,” Alec admitted, touching his neck subconsciously. “She attacked me quickly, drained me before I even knew what hit me. I was mostly unconscious. At least we don’t have to worry about me getting addicted to vampire bites—never want to experience that again. It hurt like hell.”

Magnus sighed. “Vampires can control the pain or pleasure they inflict with their bite. Alexander, I’m so sorry you had to go through this. Camille only did it to punish me.”

Alec wrapped his arms around Magnus. “I’ve told you not to blame yourself. And I haven’t thanked you yet—for saving me.”

“I would never have left you at her mercy, even if it meant my own death.” Magnus’s cat eyes flashed up for a second, showing how upset he still was.

“I know,” Alec said, tightening his embrace. “Trust me, I’m glad it didn’t come so far. I’m sorry you had to be the one to kill her. I wish she could have been returned to the Gard.”

Magnus’s voice hardened. “I regret nothing. Camille brought this on herself. She threatened you, attacked you, almost killed you! She forced me to choose between her and you—and she was crazy to think I’d choose her. It’s always going to be you. Everything I ever felt for Camille disappeared long ago. The last shred of compassion vanished the moment I got her message with your ring. When I saw you in her lap, bleeding and unconscious, I wanted to rip her apart. Trust me, the world is better without her. She should have been stopped ages ago, and I blame myself for letting old feelings get in the way of justice.”

Alec took Magnus’s face in his hands and kissed him softly. “Everything’s okay now. She’s gone, and we’re back together.” He kissed him again.

When the kiss ended, Alec smiled cheekily. “You know what? Maybe I will lie down after all. Care to join me?”

Magnus grinned. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Hand in hand, they moved to their bedroom. It was time to celebrate their reunion and their love.

Alec had already ripped off his T-shirt and tossed it aside when Magnus was still shrugging off his jacket. Alec started undoing the buttons on his vest and shirt impatiently.

“You’re wearing too many layers!”, he complained.

Magnus snapped his fingers. His upper body was bare in an instant.

“Better?” he smirked.

“Much better!” Alec said, giving Magnus a playful push that landed him on the bed. He was on top moments later.

“Easy, easy!” Magnus grabbed his shoulders. “No strenuous activities, remember?”

“So we’re not…” Alec started, disbelief in his voice.

Magnus put a finger to his husband’s lips. “Yes, we are. Just lie back and let me take care of you.”

“I love hearing those words.” Alec stretched out on the bed, grinning. He generally enjoyed surrendering control to Magnus in the bedroom, not only because his husband was an experienced and skilled lover. Alec was used to leading— at the Clave, before that in the Institute, as an older brother, even sometimes in their relationship. That could be exhausting at times. It always felt good to lose himself in Magnus’s touch, to forget everything but their love, their passion for each other.

From their very first time together, Magnus had known Alec’s body almost better than the young Shadowhunter himself, almost instinctively finding sensitive spots, places Alec enjoyed being touched. That night, Magnus pampered him with tenderness and skill. He wanted to be as close to Alec as possible, showing just how much he loved him.

Alec responded eagerly, except for one spot—when Magnus kissed the side of his neck where Camille had bitten him, Alec flinched. Magnus immediately stopped, pressing his lips just above Alec’s heart instead, savouring the strong, steady beat beneath his touch.

Alec couldn’t get enough of Magnus’s warmth and pulse, his husband’s gentle touch chased away faint, subconscious memories of Camille’s cold, lifeless hands.

Afterward, satisfied and a bit breathless, Alec wasn’t ready to let go, holding on tightly to Magnus.

“You know, I never feel safer than in your arms,” he said softly.

“Then I should never let you leave them,” Magnus replied, half-joking, kissing Alec’s temple.

Alec smiled, resting his head on Magnus’s chest. The steady heartbeat soothed him, exactly what he needed right now.

“That’d be perfect, but unfortunately, it’s not possible. Looks like we have to keep saving each other.”, Alec mused.

“’I will protect you above all else,’” Magnus quoted from their wedding vows. “Those weren’t empty words, Alexander. Nothing will stop me from fighting for you until my last breath.”

Alec kissed the spot just above Magnus’s wedding ring. “I’ll do the same. And I fear it will be necessary—again and again. That’s the price we pay for being a Shadowhunter and a warlock.”

“We’ll never let anything break us apart.” Magnus vowed. “Together, we can face anything. Haven’t we proven that before?”

“Magnus, if higher demons like Asmodeus and Lilith couldn’t keep us apart, how could one crazy vampire chick?”, Alec agreed with a smile.

Magnus tried to smile but failed.

“What’s wrong?” Alec asked.

“I know Camille is gone, and won’t return, but it’ll take years—maybe decades—to erase the memory of you lying in her lap, bleeding, while she threatened to kill or turn you.” Magnus shuddered at the image.

“But she didn’t,” Alec said, taking Magnus’s face in his hands, determined to pull him from the dark. “You saved me. You always will. You have to focus on that. Promise me.”

Magnus took a deep breath and nodded.

“I promise,” he said, kissing Alec again.

Alec rested his head on Magnus’s chest. The sound of his heartbeat and even breathing lulled him to sleep.

“There is no one I will ever love more than you,” he murmured sleepily, the smile Magnus adored soft on his lips before he slipped into dreams.

“And I will never love anyone as much as I love you,” Magnus promised. Caressing Alec’s back, he needed to feel his warmth, pulse, breathing—to know he was alive, here with him. Only then could Magnus finally sleep, looking forward to the days to come, whatever challenges they might bring. They had each other—and their crazy, beloved family. Together, they could face anything.