Chapter 10

Opening Up

She had sat beside her brother, holding his hand. They had all sat with him, talking to him, reminiscing about old times as he had fought desperately against sleep. It had been hard seeing her big brother like that, afraid to sleep, afraid of dreams.

Being a Shadowhunter you see and do a lot of frightening things, things most of the world's population can't handle. And now her big brother, the strongest of the strong, the bravest of the brave, was afraid of bad dreams? There was no sense to it, no logic. And Alec was the most logical person she had ever known.

While she had loved spending time with her brother, and had been promised that she would get to spend more with him until he was back on his feet and they were back to their daily training routine, it still had been hard seeing him that way.

Nobody had said anything, but she the team was all thinking it. They didn't believe that he would ever fully bounce back from all the shit he's been through in the last few weeks, but she did. She had too. And she would lay out any single one of them that had balls enough to speak the words out loud, where there was even the remotest chance that Alec could hear them.

She had never been above breaking noses, and would gladly take the consequences, even if it was a member of her team, her family. Because that's what families do. They love each other unconditionally, support each other in everything, and put foot to ass when necessary. Yes, it would be one boot to three asses', but she didn't care. Even her mate wasn't immune.

She didn't think Clary would ever say a word against her parabati though. They were too close, and always had been. She didn't know it, but her brother had asked her to be his parabati because she was the smallest of them, and he wanted to protect her.

Since his heat had started, she had been feeling a lot more through their parabati bond. She said it was like everything she felt from him was ten times stronger than it used to be. No one knew why. Not even his alpha. But day by day it was getting less and less intense.

Izzy suspected that no one had said anything because they were afraid of her wrath. While Alec may be the strongest and the bravest of them all, and had the patience of a saint, she was the one with the shortest fuse and the one that had the 'if you cross me or mine, bones will be broken' attitude.

She just wished she knew what was scaring the shit out of her brother. His alpha didn't know, and Alec wouldn't tell him, or her. They had tried to get him to talk about it, during those few hours that Magnus was doing the Angel knows what in his workroom, but he wouldn't. All it seemed to do was agitate him, so they backed off. She had just been happy that she had been able to sit by his side and hold his hand. She had missed him, more than she had realized.

When he had asked about their training, and keeping up with it, they had assured him that they were staying in routine, minus hunting, so they would still be sharp when he was up and back at it. He had let slip that he had a few new moves to show them, which, Alec being Alec, he always did. Sometimes she thought he just made them up in his head.

As much as she had enjoyed spending time with her brother, she was relieved when Magnus came back with a potion for him. A potent sleeping draft. Alec had refused it until his alpha had assured him that he had put a suppressant in it, one that would prevent dreaming. Then, and only then, had he relented. He had already known that he was losing the battle against sleep. What Catarina had given him had been strong.

It had only taken a few seconds for the draft to knock him out. Magnus said that the worse the fatigue the faster it worked. She had asked him why he didn't just use his magic to put her brother under, the way he usually did. He'd said he didn't want to risk doing that. He wasn't sure that he could use his magic to safely push him into a sleep deep enough to prevent dreams without hurting him. And, because as he drifted up from that sleep, he would become susceptible to dreams, something Alec didn't want. She didn't really understand, but she had taken his word for it.

She did make him promise her one thing. That he would get her brother to talk. To talk about his dreams so they could tackle whatever it was that was eating him up inside. He had been doing that a lot lately, holding things in, letting them eat away at him, and at some point, he was going to have to stop.

"Anybody I know?" Simon asked, behind her.

She spun around faster than he could blink with a right hook. He had barely caught her gloved hand before it could meet its mark. He had been expecting it. He merely raised his brows.

"Sorry. You startled me." Izzy said.

"So I see. I didn't think that was possible."

Izzy couldn't help but laugh. She had said the same thing to her brother that morning in the kitchen.

"Did I miss the joke?"

"No. Just something that I said to Alec earlier. What are you doing up? It's late." She said.

"I know. It's four in the morning, and you're up, so I am too. But seriously, is that someone I know?" He asked, nodding at the quickly deflating heavy bag.

Sand was pouring freely from the bottom of the bag and seams where she had busted it. Apparently, she had been taken out her frustration on an innocent punching bag, effectively murdering it. 'Oh well' she thought. Magnus could fix it tomorrow.

"I don't know." She answered honestly.

"Let me see your hands. I wouldn't be surprised if you hurt yourself." Simon said, unlacing the boxing glove he had caught inches before it broke his nose, and glasses.

With skilled movements he undid and removed the glove, unwrapping her hand. He whistled at the bruises on her hand and knuckles.

"Did you not feel this? Some of these are broken." He asked.

"No. I was too focused on what I was doing I guess."

"Alec again?" He asked, eyes softening.

He knew just how much her brother meant to her, how important he was to her, to all of them, and wanted to understand and help her with what she was going through. What they all were going through. Not having their commander was getting to them.

"You already know the answer to that so I'm not going to answer it. Pass me your stele. I'll heal this while you work on this other glove. Now that I'm not so distracted it is starting to hurt."

He pulled the stele she had made for him from his pocket and handed it over. While he worked to unlace the other glove, she used her injured hand to activate the iratze on her forearm. The bruises on her hand and knuckles started to fade within seconds, the broken bones mending. When the second glove came off, her hand was fine.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked, winding up the wrappings she had used back up.

"Not really. We've already had this conversation. More than once. There's no point in rehashing it again."

"We can 'rehash it' as many times as you want to babe, you know that. I'm always here to listen. Especially about someone as important to you as Alec." He said, wrapping his arms around her waist. "We're worried about him too, you know."

"I know. And I appreciate the offer for the ear. But I really should be asking if you need to talk. You've done nothing but listen to me, but I haven't returned the favor. I've been selfish."

"No, you haven't. He's your brother."

"And your best friend." She said, cupping his cheek.

"To be honest, I'm not ready to talk about it yet. But I'll tell you when I am, okay?" He asked.

"Okay." She said softly, dropping her forehead to his. "Tell me he's going to be okay."

"He's going to be okay. Magnus will get to the bottom of whatever is going on with him, he'll finish his recovery, and then we'll move forward. To what, I don't know. Clave or no Clave, there are still demons to fight and mundanes to protect. I guess we'll do that for a while until we figure out what happens next. But how about in the meantime we take a hot shower and head to bed." He said, sliding his hands down to grip her ass. She couldn't help but smile.

"Sounds good. I just need to check on Alec first."

"Already did. Magnus said he's fine. He should sleep through the night." He said between soft, biting kisses to her neck.

"Okay." She breathed as her eyes rolled back. "A shower and to bed it is then. Lead the way."

"Good girl." He said, scooping her into his arms. She couldn't stop the giggle that escaped her. "By the Angel how I love that sound."

He turned, his alpha in his arms, and carried her from the training room.

*****

Magnus made another note in his elegant script. He had been sitting on the loveseat working his way through the thick white book for hours. He didn't really want this book out where it could be seen, but he didn't want his Shadowhunter to wake up alone. Scanning over his notes, he thought he had found most of what he had needed to know, but he knew something was missing. He just didn't know what. To get what he wanted, he would have to keep digging. There was no spell or potion for what he wanted to achieve so he would have to create one himself.

He looked up at his sleeping omega for what felt like the thousandth time, making sure all was as it should be. He knew when he had given his angel the sleeping draft that it would knock him out for a while, he just didn't expect it to be this long.

But the position was designed to do something specific. Yes, he had wanted to suppress his Shadowhunters dreams, and give him the chance to get the rest he still needed to recover. But looking back he realized his mistake. When he had enchanted the potion as it brewed, he had been a little too specific.

Instead of enchanting it to allow his Alexander to sleep peacefully, he had enchanted it to allow him to sleep peacefully until he had gained what he needed. That one little slip-up may very well put his Shadowhunter out for days. Until he got all of the rest he needed. He had been needing good rest for more than a week.

So far, his angel had been asleep for thirteen hours. After the ninth hour Magnus had drafted a new potion to counteract the effects of the first, but he wasn't ready to use it yet. He would give his Shadowhunter a little more time before waking him. He did need the rest, and the sleep was a healing sleep. That much he had gotten right. His Alexander could possibly wake up fully recovered. He had wanted so desperately to help his young warrior become whole again.

He couldn't wait to meet the Alec everyone but him seemed to know so much about. The strong, powerful, fearless warrior. It would be interesting to see the differences between Alexander the omega and Alexander the Shadowhunter.

Yes, he would let his Shadowhunter sleep for a few more hours. He would use those hours to try to figure out what he knew was missing to achieve what he wanted. Turning back to the book in front of him he flipped the page, making another quick note.

"Magnus?" Alec asked sleepily.

Magnus snapped his fingers, the book and his notes vanishing. Climbing up he crossed the room in a few quick strides. He reached his Alexander just as he had pushed himself up in bed.

"There you are. How are you feeling?" He asked, taking his seat beside his Shadowhunter.

"Mmm. I'm not sure yet. Good, I think. How long was I out?" Alec asked, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"Awhile. But you needed the sleep." He said, brushing a lock of hair from Alec's eyes. "I take it you slept well?"

"I did, actually." Alec said, frowning.

"What's wrong, love?" Magnus asked, concerned.

"I...nothing. I don't think. I feel different."

"Different how, angel?"

"I'm not sure...I don't know how to explain it. I feel...normal again."

"I'm not sure what you mean, love. Normal again?" Magnus asked, brows furrowed.

"I...I feel like myself. Like before my heat started."

Magnus knew exactly what his Shadowhunter was trying to say.

"I don't feel weak. My muscles don't ache. I just feel...rested. And like I did before."

"That's great, sweetheart. I'm glad your feeling better. You needed some solid rest. Your body needed it, to finish healing itself." Magnus said. His suspicions were now confirmed. His mate wasn't the delicate omega anymore, he had recovered. He was Alec Lightwood, Shadowhunter extraordinaire again.

"I don't understand. How...?"

"Does it matter?" Magnus asked.

"I guess it doesn't. I just...feel like me."

"I know, love." Magnus said, both happiness and sadness raging war inside him. The omega he knew, the Shadowhunter he didn't. He was happy that his Alexander felt like himself again, he just wasn't sure that he was ready to let go of his omega. The omega that had needed him. 'Are they really any different?' he thought.

"Magnus, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, angel. Nothing's wrong. I've just have a few things on my mind." He said, pushing his selfish thoughts aside.

"What kind of things?"

"Just...warlock things. Something I'm working on."

Snapping his fingers, a steaming mug of tea appeared on the beside table.

"Here, love. It's your favorite."

"Thanks." Alec said, taking the mug with a smile. He loved how his alpha always thought of him.

"Sweetheart, we need to talk. Do you remember yesterday?"

"Yes." Alec said, hesitant.

"I need you to talk to me, love. I know you don't want to, but we need to talk about whatever it is your dreaming. You were able to sleep last night because I suppressed your dreams so you could rest. But I can't do that forever. Maybe talking about it will help. And I can't help if won't talk to me."

Alec stared into his tea, biting his bottom lip. He wanted to be honest with his alpha, but he wasn't sure he could tell him. He wasn't sure he could tell anyone.

"Hey, look at me." Magnus said gently, pulling Alec's chin until he released his bottom lip. He had bitten down so hard it was bleeding. "Do you realize that you just hurt yourself?" He asked, swiping his finger gently across Alec's lip, wiping the blood away and healing it. In that moment he realized what he was missing.

"No. I guess I didn't." Alec whispered.

"Please, angel. Tell me what's going on."

"I don't know if I can. My dreams, there bad." Alec said, looking his alpha in the eyes.

"I know, sweetheart. That's why we need to talk about them."

Alec fell silent, deliberating as he searched his alpha's eyes. What he saw there made his decision for him. He could tell him.

"There not always the same. But they always end the same way." He said, setting his tea aside.

"Go on." Magnus encouraged.

"Answer me a question first. Do you believe in premonitions? Or warnings?"

"I'm not sure what you mean, sweetheart." He said, frowning.

"Do you believe it's possible that dreams can be warnings? That they can show you the future? I know that sounds crazy." Alec said, turning away from his alpha, too embarrassed to look at him.

"No, love. That doesn't sound crazy at all. I've known people with that gift." Magnus said, tilting Alec's chin to face him again. "Is that what you think is happening? That your dreams are telling you something?"

"I don't know. I just keep having this same dream, over and over again. And it feels so real. It's like I'm really there, in the dream. I can feel everything."

"I can't tell you if what your dreaming is more than a dream or not. But I wouldn't dismiss it. If it feels real to you, if you truly believe that it's really something that is going to happen, then you need to tell me, so we can make sure that it doesn't happen." He said, cupping Alec's cheek. "Can you tell me? You have to tell someone, love. Or it's just going to keep eating you up inside."

Alec sighed, closing his eyes. He didn't know if he had the words to tell his warlock what he wanted to know, but he knew in his heart that his alpha was right. He had to tell someone.

"Do you promise to keep it to yourself? That you won't tell anyone? I don't what them to know. My team. My family." Alec said, looking deep into his alpha's eyes, crystal blue meeting chocolate brown.

"I promise, sweetheart. You can tell me anything. I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to." Magnus said, relieved that his Shadowhunter was going to open up to him.

Alec took a deep breath, forcing himself to say the words.

"Everyone is bound, on their knees. My team, you, my father, and a woman and man I don't know. Everyone is beaten a bloody. There's smoke in the air, like somethings been burned. It's gagging. I'm standing there, bound, in front of you." He said, unsure if he would be able to say anymore.

"Go on." Magnus prompted, knowing full well who the unknown people were, but he couldn't tell him now.

Alec reached out, taking his alpha's hand in his own, squeezing it tight.

"The Clave is there. At least part of them. People I know. People I use to trust. There's Shadowhunters there. Shadowhunters that I know. I know them well because I trained them. There holding us there. There there to kill us. To kills us all. They start with Clary, because she's my parabati. They want me to feel the pain of her death. They make me watch as someone I use to consider a friend slits her throat. I feel the pain rip through our bond and I fall to my knees, but they jerk me back up. They make me stand and watch as one by one they slaughter my family. But they save you for last. They want you to see something first." He said, unshed tears in his eyes.

"They make you watch as they slit my belly open, as our children fall from my womb, helpless to stop it. I fall to my knees as the pain rips through me, from the brutal slice through my belly, from the heartbreak of watching our unborn children die in front of me. We hear our babies cry for the first time, only to die seconds later when a seraph blade is plunged through their little hearts.

I beg for them to stop. I beg for mercy for my team, for you, for our children, for my father and the people I don't know. I beg so hard I can't get anything else out, all I can do is cry, my heart shattered to pieces. With my last breath I watch as they slit your throat, my last scream caught in my chest, and as the light leaves your eye's I feel the blade at my throat, and the slice that turns everything black." He whispered, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"I couldn't stop it. Any of it. Everyone dies because of me, because I'm an omega."

Magnus was stunned. There were no words for what he had just heard from his Shadowhunter. His heart stuttered to a halt in his chest. He had to force himself to take a breath. To draw in air as he reached for his angel, pulling him into his arms. Now he knew. He knew what was terrorizing his innocent omega. He could feel pain ripping through him, pain at every word his angel had just said.

"It's okay, love. It's going to be okay." He whispered in his sweet warrior's ear, holding him close, knowing in his heart that it wasn't okay. He didn't know that tears were running rivers down his cheeks.

"I don't know how to stop it. Any of it. And I don't know if it's real or just a dream."

Magnus' mind was spinning, racing with horrible thoughts, seeing clearly the images that had be running rampant through is Shadowhunters head, tormenting him. He tried to fight the dizziness that was making his stomach churn.

He couldn't dismiss this. This wasn't a dream. It was a warning. A warning he had to heed. Rather it was from his Shadowhunters Angel, he didn't know. But he had to protect him. He had to protect them all.

He felt the ache in his arms when he released his Shadowhunter, the pain of letting him go when all he wanted to do was to hold him close. He never wanted to let him out of his arms. But he had to. His angel was right. The others couldn't know. No one could know. All they could do was everything they could to thwart the future his angel had seen.

"It'll be okay, sweetheart. We'll make it be okay." He said, wiping the tears from his Shadowhunters cheeks.

Alec reached up, doing the same, gently wiping the tears from his alpha's face.

"Am I crazy?" Alec asked, searching his alpha's eyes.

"No, love. You're not."

"So you believe me?" He asked, hope shining in his eyes. He wouldn't be able to stand it if his alpha didn't believe him.

"Yes, angel. I do."

"You can't tell them. They can't know." Alec whispered.

He knew his Shadowhunter was referring to his family. Over and over again he had seen them die in his dreams. He understood why he didn't want them to know. He didn't want what he had seen hinder them, undermine their abilities, causing them to doubt themselves. He wanted them to be at their best, to stay at their best.

"I won't, sweetheart. I won't say a word. I promise."

"I have to get them ready. As best I can, I have to get them ready." Alec said, wiping a stray tear from his cheek.

"Alexander, love, it's going to be alright. We'll keep them safe. I swear to you. We'll keep all of them safe." He said, laying a hand on his omegas flat belly. "We'll do everything to make sure that what you've been dreaming doesn't happen. And if you see anything that seems familiar, something that strikes home, we'll take whatever action necessary to change it. But you have to tell me. You have to tell me everything you see when you see it. Okay?"

Alec looked down at his alpha's hand on his belly, where their children would someday be. He was promising to keep them safe.

"Okay." He said, laying his own hand over his alpha's.

"Thank you, sweetheart. Thank you for telling me." Magnus said, cupping Alec's cheek. Alec gave him a weak smile, unshed tears in his eyes. "No more tears, okay? It's going to be alright."

"No more tears." Alec said, gazing into his alpha's beautiful eyes. He saw the fear in them, and the honesty. His alpha would give everything he had to protect the ones they loved. As would he.

*****

Alec walked into the training room. Izzy and Clary were sparring, seraph blades clashing as they fought. They were throwing hard blows at each other. This was more than just training; this was hardcore.

"Time." He commanded.

Both girls stopped immediately, lowering their blades to their sides.

"Alec! Your up." Izzy said, dropping her blade to the floor where it went out. In a second she had wrapped him in her arms, clutching him tight. "Are you okay? How are you feeling?"

"Good morning to you too, Iz." He said, smirking into her hair, wrapping his arms around her, holding her close.

Breathing hard from the fight, Clary sheathed her blade as she approached.

"Your feeling better." She said.

"I am." Alec said, releasing his sister from his embrace.

"I don't feel you the same. It's like before."

"Good. It was a bit unnerving. For us both. I'm sorry that you had to go through that." He said, pulling Izzy's arms from around his waist.

"It's no big. I'm just glad you're better."

"What do you mean better?" izzy asked.

"Catch." Clary said, whipping a knife from her belt and throwing it at Alec. It sped through the air from the force behind it. A foot from Alec's face he caught it, hilt in hand.

"Clary! Are you crazy? He could have been hurt." Izzy exclaimed, rounding on Clary.

"No he couldn't. He's fine." She said with a smile. "Aren't you, Alec?"

"Yes." He said. "I'm fine now, Iz. No worries."

Izzy looked at him, confused. Just yesterday he could barely stand.

"How? How are you fine?" She asked.

"Magnus. The draft he gave me. It wasn't just to help me sleep or block out dreams. He added something. Something to speed up recovery."

"So your good now? Your okay?"

"Yep. All good, and ready to train." He said, smiling at her.

"Magnus?" She asked.

"Right here." Magnus said from the doorway. All eyes turned to him.

"Is he really okay?" She asked.

"He is."

"And it's safe for him to train?"

"It is. I do have one request though. That you all go easy today. He hasn't trained in a while and I don't want him pushing himself too hard on his first day back at it."

"Done." Clary said, a huge smile on her face.

"And his runes?" Izzy asked.

"Safe to use. In moderation." He said, smiling. Her happiness for her commander was infectious. "I would like to speak with Clary though."

"Sure. Anything." Clary said, looking between Alec and his alpha, curious.

"In private if you don't mind."

"It's okay, Clary. He and I have already discussed it." Alec said, walking forward to pick up Izzy's discarded seraph blade. It lit up instantly. "Iz? Ready to give it a go. Maybe this time you might actually beat me." He teased.

Izzy looked unsure. Her brother seemed well enough, and confident enough, and his alpha had said he was okay. But after yesterday she was still afraid. Afraid she might hurt him.

"Come on, Iz. I'm fine. I wouldn't be in here if I wasn't."

Izzy looked pointedly at Magnus. He gave her a small nod and a wink. 'If his alpha's sure' she thought.

"Okay. But were going easy. Until I see for myself that your up to par." She said, taking her place across from him, pulling another blade from her hip. It too lit up instantly. "Swear on the Angel that if you need to stop, you'll tell me."

"I swear. Now let's get on with it. I haven't held a blade in weeks, I've missed it."

She couldn't help but smile. From the looks of it, her big brother was back.

*****

Magnus led Clary into the kitchen. He sat down at the bar.

"Take a seat." He said.

Clary sat on the stool beside him. Her curiosity was at its peak.

"I need to know if you can do something."

"I can try. What is it?" She asked.

"Alec said that you can create runes. Powerful ones."

"I can."

"I need you to create one for me. I need you to create a breaking rune. One that will break Alexander's tracking rune. And yours and the others. Can you do that?" He asked.

Clary was unsure why he was asking. They hadn't activated their tracking runes in weeks. And Magnus' wards were hiding them.

"I can try. But why? We haven't used that rune since we got here."

"I know. Being here, it's not necessary. While your tracking runes aren't active, I'm not sure that you still can't be tracked by having them. The Clave can do a lot of things, and we can't stay here forever. I know my wards are blocking your location, regardless of the rune, I just don't know that there isn't something they can do when we leave here." He said.

"Leave here? You mean like to hunt?"

"Something like that. Can you do it?" He asked.

"I can try to create something. But what your asking will be hard. It won't be just a breaking rune, it will have to remove the rune completely. That's two different runes. I would have to merge two runes into one. A breaking rune and the rune the Clave uses to remove runes, when they derune a Shadowhunter. I don't know that rune. I've never seen it. And it's not in the Grey Book."

"And if you had that rune do you think you could do it? Create a rune that would remove the tracking rune?" He asked.

"I think so. But it wouldn't be limited to just that rune. It could be used on all runes."

"What if I told you I have the rune that the Clave uses when they derune someone, and could give it to you. With that do you think you can do what I'm asking?" He asked.

"I don't see why not." She said, confused.

Magnus opened a small leather book on the counter. Pulling out a piece of paper he handed it to her. It was a drawn picture of a rune.

"Where did you get this?" She asked.

"That doesn't matter. How long do you think it would take to do this?"

"Not long. But using the rune will be painful. It's painful when a rune is stripped." She said.

"How painful?"

"I don't know. I've never had a rune stripped." She answered honestly.

Magnus nodded, biting his lower lip.

"I need you to do this, Clary. Painful or not, I need you to do this."

"Okay. I just need my sketchbook. It may take me a few tries, but I should be able to get what you need." She said.

Magnus snapped his fingers, her sketchbook and pencils appeared on the counter.

"Do you have time now?"

Clary could feel the urgency coming off him. She wasn't sure why it was so urgent 'but he must have his reasons' she thought.

"I can do it now."

"Good. Thank you. I'll leave you to it." He said, climbing off his stool. "Please let me know when it's finished. And please keep this between us for now."

"I will." She said, opening her sketchbook to a blank page, her mind already working on how to create the rune.

*****

Magnus sat on the loveseat in the bedroom. He was looking at the fire message he had receive while his Shadowhunter had been in the shower. The fire message with the rune tucked inside. It hadn't been labeled, but he thought he knew what it was for. The message itself was simple.

'Hide my son'

Robert Lightwood had sent a warning. He must know the real reason why the Clave was after his eldest child and was trying his best to protect him. Just like he had always tried his best to prepare and protect him.

His Alexander didn't know yet the lengths his father had gone to. To keep him safe. To give him every advantage. To give him everything he could to protect and defend himself and his family. All the skills and knowledge that were made available to him, skills he had honed and taught his team.

Magnus had felt out the contents of the storage container at the address included in the note. Once his magic had confirmed that there was no danger, no threat lurking inside, he had transported the contents into his private storage chamber hidden behind a dozen wards and protective layers in a hidden room in the loft.

He had only been partially surprised by what he had found inside. It didn't surprise him that his Shadowhunters gear was there, or that of his teams, and their personal effects. But he was surprised when he opened the crates. They were filled with what he assumed were the rest of their custom-made weapons, weapons Isabelle had crafted for them, and the dozen crates filled to the brim with thousands of his angel's runed arrows. And half a dozen more filled with weapons that Shadowhunters used every day. Seraph blades, seraph daggers, short swords, extra bows, all of it.

Everything they could possibly need. Everything they could possibly need to wage war against the Clave. To overthrow it. To burn it to the ground. Whatever they had to do to save themselves and as many more as they could. Robert Lightwood had been preparing for this for some time, quite possibly since the moment his son had opened his eyes for the first time.

He had been surprised when he had read the most recent report from the downworld, that Robert Lightwood had disappeared from the New York Institute without a trace. He knew very well where he had gone. Somewhere he hadn't been in a long time. Somewhere he would have to take his to Alexander soon. Maybe there father and son would make peace with one another.

He had picked apart every detail of his angel's dream in his mind, as painful as it had been. But he'd had to. He had to see what details were there, and what details should have been.

In the dream his sweet omega had been very pregnant. But if he was correct based on his loves recounting, he had also been very mortal. An immortal would have had a protected womb, a womb that no seraph blade could penetrate, not when the father and children were both at least part warlock.

That was one thing he could change. One thing that he could do to protect his Shadowhunter and their children. The magic and immortality his angel would gain from him when he was claimed would protect them. His Shadowhunter was already the best and most skilled Shadowhunter alive, the best the Shadow World had ever seen. Add to that the magic of a warlock and he would be force not to be reckoned with.

He knew that his young warrior wouldn't want to leave his family vulnerable, and that they wouldn't stay behind, not once they found out what had to be done. They would have to be together every step of the way. And he couldn't fault them for it. The most he could do would be to sit them down and give them a choice.

He wasn't sure at first that he would be able to offer them what they would need to see this through, assuming they wanted it, but after looking through the Book of the White, he knew now that with a lot of work, and the final ingredient he could at give them a choice. He had a feeling that he knew what choice they would make.

He needed to find out from his Alexander which Clave officials had been present at the massacre that had let loose in his mind, and which Shadowhunters. That was where they needed to start. But to do this, to wage this war that would save them all, they would need an army. And there was only one place they would find the army that they needed. An army that his Shadowhunter and his team would need to train, then lead.

His angel would have to make his choice. He didn't want it to be this way. He didn't want the impending threat to sway his young warrior's decision, but there was no other way. He wouldn't rush him. They still had time. But not enough he was afraid. If his calculations were correct, his Alexander's next heat wasn't due for another two months and twelve days. Factoring in how far along he would have to have been for their children to be so well developed, that would give them just over nine months, unless they could change the course of things. But he was adamant, the day his angel had dreamt of would never come. And if they couldn't stop it, and it did come, it wouldn't end that way.

*****

"Time." Jace called. He had been watching Alec and saw him stumble on that last flip on the balance beam, thirty feet above him. "It's been six hours, Alec. I think that's enough for today. Come on down."

Alec looked down at his brother as he caught his breath. He wanted to do more, but his brother was right. He was getting tired. Six hours of training after being away from it for two weeks was pretty good.

"Okay. I'm coming." Alec called. He bent his knees for the jump. While he landed on his feet in a perfect crouch, he had to catch himself with his hand before he fell forward. He hadn't had to do that since he was a child.

"I really think you should call it, Alec. You look tired." Jace said, helping Alec to his feet.

Alec could feel the ache in his muscles. He had gotten a good workout. Now he wanted to find his alpha, and maybe take a nap.

"You did great today."

"No. I did okay." Alec said. "Everyone went easy on me."

"You haven't trained in two weeks, Alec. After what you did today, after doing as much as you did, you did great. Six hours is great."

"Maybe."

"Magnus didn't want you to overdo it, which I think you did anyway. Tomorrow you'll do better. You always do."

Alec sighed. Again, his brother was right.

"I will call it. Just because I want a shower. And my alpha."

He bent to pick up his blades. He'd used all of their blades today.

"I got that. You go on." Jace said, gathering his brother's weapons.

Alec nodded, handing what he had already collected to Jace.

"You did do really well today. You may not think so, but we do."

"Thanks." Alec said before he turned to leave.

*****

Magnus sat on the loveseat, making a list of what he would need. Somehow this had become his new workspace. He wasn't sure how he was going to ask his Shadowhunter for the last ingredient. But it was the most important one. Hearing the door creek open he snapped his fingers, his notes and list disappearing.

"I hope I'm not interrupting." Alec said as he came in.

"No, love. Not at all."

Alec nodded, chewing his bottom lip. His alpha was hiding something. That was the second time that day he had seen him hide his work. 'Maybe it's his warlock stuff' he thought.

"How'd training go? You were at it a long time."

"Okay. It would have been better if everyone wasn't treating me with kid gloves." Alec said, pulling his sweat soaked shirt over his head.

Magnus bit his bottom lip as his Shadowhunter undressed. Something about watching a gorgeous sweaty man taking his clothes off, especially when that man was yours and had abs like a God, got his juices flowing. The beauty of his runes were just a bonus.

Alec saw his alpha staring at him out of the corner of his eye. He fought hard to hide a smile. His warlock made him all hot and bothered all the time. It was nice seeing him get all hot and bothered. He had never gotten anyone hot and bothered before. Slowly he lowered his pants, dragging it out as much as he could.

"I was going to take a shower. Wash off the training and try to ease the aches from a hard day's work. Care to join me?"

It took a second for Magnus to come back down to earth, he had been so distracted by his angel's perfectly sculpted body.

"Always, love." He breathed.

This time Alec couldn't hide his smile. His alpha was almost drooling. Crossing the room, he held out his hand. Magnus reached up, taking it. Alec pulled him up, hard against his bare chest. He leaned in, claiming his alpha's mouth in a steamy kiss, his tongue sliding easily into his alpha's mouth when he gasped at the sudden movement. Using his hands he pulled his warlock flush to his body, holding him there.

"Look at that, I'm getting you all dirty." Alec breathed when he pulled back for air. His alpha was practically molded to him.

"It looks like you are. You'll have to remedy that." Magnus said, pressing hot kisses to his Shadowhunters throat.

"I guess I will." He said, reaching down to grab his alpha's thighs. With one quick move he had his warlock off his feet with his legs wrapped around his waist, firmly holding him there with his hands.

Magnus was shocked by his Shadowhunters move. 'He really must be fully recovered' he thought. His angel had lifted him so quickly and gracefully that it took his breath away.

"Did you activate some sort of rune to do that?"

"No, alpha. I didn't. Shadowhunter. Remember?" Alec said, laughing at the shock on his alpha's face, his aches and pains forgotten. "Are you ready for that shower now?"

"Lead the way." Magnus said, wrapping his arms around his Shadowhunters shoulders as he bent his head to press fresh kisses to his angel's throat and jaw.

*****

Alec carried Magnus into the bathroom, laughing as he stumbled when his alpha sucked on his neck, hard. He was sure there would be a bruise there later.

"Careful. I might drop you." Alec breathed as he sat his warlock firmly on the oversized marble counter. The pleasure he was feeling was incredible.

"No you won't." Magnus said, hiding his smirk as he licked at what would soon be a hickey. "Shadowhunter. Remember?" Snapping his fingers, the shower turned on.

"I love it when you do stuff like that." Alec mumbled, claiming his alpha's lips for another breath stealing kiss.

Magnus dug his nails in his Shadowhunter's lower back, the pleasure coursing through him exquisite. His head spun from his warrior's kiss, and this new side of him. 'Why was I worried' he thought as he hummed low in the back of his throat. His Alexander hadn't changed, at least not in any way that would take away from who he was. He was just stronger, more laid back, and more confident. The light radiating off of his angel was almost blinding.

"Now if there was just something that could be done about these clothes." Alec breathed when he broke the kiss for air, pressing his forehead to his alpha's as they fought for breath.

Magnus smiled, snapping his fingers. In an instant they were both naked.

"Better?" He asked as he slid his hands down, gently caressing Alec's ass.

"Mm. Much." Alec said softly, pressing soft kisses to his warlock's throat. Magnus sighed, tilting his head, giving Alec better access. His eyes rolled back from the pleasure of it all, the pulsing sensations where his Shadowhunter licked and sucked the sensitive skin at his throat; the feel of his legs wrapped down around his angel's trim, firm waist, and the emotions thundering through him. 'This is the real Alexander. And he's my mate, my fated mate' he thought. Before he could blink Alec lifted him off the counter.

Alec knew that his alpha was enjoying himself, which made him smile. He was happy. He had never been this happy. Yes, he was used to hard days of training. He enjoyed them, and the time he spent with his team, his family, but he had never had anyone waiting for him. Someone just for him, and with his warlock, his fated mate, he now did. He had what his family already had, he had love. And it was beautiful. He tilted his head when his alpha pressed his lips back to that same spot on his neck. Hoisting his warlock further up his waist, supporting him with one hand, he opened the shower door.

"It seems like someone's back at full strength." Magnus chuckled when hot water came raining down on him. His Shadowhunter was amazing. He wasn't exactly a tiny man, but his angel carried him around like he was a pound heavier than a doll.

"Not quite but getting there." Alec said, carefully lowering his alpha to his feet. The hot water washing over him felt wonderful, 'having his alpha there felt even better' he thought, stepping back to admire the view. His eyes swept down his warlock's body, taking in every curve, every line, and all the firm muscles, muscles he wanted to explore. He wanted to touch each one, taste each one, trace them all with his tongue. He wondered what his alpha would taste like.

Magnus lost his breath as his Shadowhunter's beautiful blue eyes swept up and down his naked body. In that moment he realized that his angel had never seen this before. Yes, he had seen him naked, but he's never really had the chance to take him in, to see all that he had seen of his young warrior.

"Enjoying the view?"

"Very much. Your perfect, Magnus. Every inch of you. I've never seen anything more beautiful." Alec said, reverently.

"Hmm. That's just the front, sweetheart. Would you like to see the back?"

"In just a minute. I'm not done with the front yet." He said, running is finger up the length of his alpha's hard cock, from bottom to top. He had seen his alpha hard before, but not like this, not laid out for him like a banquet. 'This is too good to be true' he thought. 'This couldn't be his. This couldn't all be for him'.

"Tell me what your thinking, love." Magnus asked, wondering what had his Shadowhunter so deep in thought as his angel's fingers ran up his length. 'Lilith, that feels good' he thought.

Alec didn't know how to answer his alpha's question. So many thoughts were racing through his head.

"Sweetheart?" He asked, growing concerned.

"Are you really mine? Is this really all for me?" Alec asked, eyes locked on his alpha's, crystal blue meeting chocolate brown.

"Yes, angel. I am. And it is. All for you." He said, relieved. He remembered in that moment that his Alexander had never had a partner before, a lover. How stupid of him. 'Of course he would feel a little insecure' he thought. "Come here, love." He said, pulling his Shadowhunter towards him by his perfect hips, hips he would explore extensively. Both had runes, one he already knew, the other he didn't.

Alec went gracefully into his alpha's arms, relief coursing through him. He had been afraid that he would wake up and this all would be a dream. He'd certainly had enough of them. He couldn't seem to stop himself.

"Am I dreaming?" He asked.

"No, sweetheart. You're not dreaming. This is very real." Magnus said, smiling at his beautiful omega. He would have to go slow, take his time. He would go at his angel's pace, just as he had promised him. "Kiss me now, Alexander."

Alec didn't have to be told twice. Reaching up he slid his hand into his alpha's hair, pulling him the last few inches between them for a kiss. It was soft. It wasn't gentle. It was fierce and he wanted to savor it.

"Magnus! Alec! Catarina is here!" Clary shouted from the bedroom.

"By the Angel, why now?" Alec muttered, pulling back when he desperately wanted to hold on.

"Be out in a minute!" Magnus called, his stomach sinking to the floor. He had wanted this time with his Shadowhunter. To share this time together. But he had forgotten Catarina was coming. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I forgot she was coming to check on you."

"I don't need checking on." Alec pouted.

"I know, love. But she doesn't. It shouldn't take long." He said, flipping off the water.

Alec sighed. He felt like what he thought a mundane child felt like when someone stole their candy.

*****

"It's amazing, Alec." Catarina said, sliding the blood pressure cuff off his arm. "You're the picture of health."

"Thanks, I think." Alec said, unsure how else to respond.

"Here you go, sweetheart." Magnus said, handing Alec a steaming mug of tea. "I put something in it for the pain."

"Pain? What pain?" Catarina asked, instantly concerned.

"Just a little soreness, Cat." Alec said, after a sip of tea. "Still have a couple of kinks to work out."

Catarina looked at him, confused.

"Does someone what to tell me what in Lilith's name is going on here? Yesterday Alec couldn't hold his head up. Today he's in perfect health but he's sore?"

"Of course, Catarina." Magnus said, sitting beside his Shadowhunter on the bed. "Alexander woke up this morning fully recovered. And after breakfast he spent a few hours training."

"Wait. Back up. What do you mean 'fully recovered'? And why on earth was he training? Magnus, he could have been hurt."

"I was fine." Alec protested.

"Let me explain it to her, sweetheart." Magnus said gently. "After you left the other night, I gave Alexander a sleeping draft that I had infused with a dream suppressant and a restorative.

He slept for a while and the potion did its job. When he woke up this morning, he was fully recovered. While I may not be as well skilled with healing magic as you are, I scanned him, and everything was as it should be. So after discussing it, we agreed on light training. The others were on board and didn't let him take on too much, but that's why he's a little sore. He used muscles he hadn't used in a while."

"That was dangerous, Magnus. You should have called me before you let him set foot in that training room. Did you test him for dizziness with quick movements? Did you check his balance?" Catarina asked, her temper rising.

"I did. And I watched the first couple of hours to make sure that he really was alright." Magnus said, trying to reign in his own temper. 'Does she really think that I would risk hurting him' he thought.

"The first couple of hours? How many, exactly, is a couple?" She demanded.

"I am sitting right here, you know." Alec snapped. "I can speak for myself."

"How many, Magnus?" Catarina asked, ignoring him.

"Six." Magnus answered, nonplussed. He wouldn't admit that he had started growing concerned with how long his Alexander had been training, and that he had been about to put an end to it shortly before he came in.

"Six!" She exclaimed. "Are you out of your mind?!"

"Stop it!" Alec commanded, anger pushing more force into the command. They both cringed back at his tone, and the power behind it. "I. Am. Right. Here. I'm not a child. I was in no danger. My team saw to that. And if you two want to keep bickering at each other, your going to have to do it by yourselves." He declared, slamming his mug down on the beside table hard enough to blow out the bottom. He didn't so much as flinch at the flying glass.

In the blink of an eye he was up and out the door. Magnus and Catarina sat stunned speechless, watching him go.

*****

Another knife slammed into the cracked wooden target, splitting it in half.

"Damn it." Alec huffed.

"You want to tell me what's going on, or do you just want me to put up a new target?" Clary asked from beside him. He hadn't seen her come in.

"Nothing's going on, Clary. Just doing a little target practice."

"Come on, Alec. I could feel your anger screaming at me across the loft. Something's got you thoroughly pissed." She said, crossing the room, scooping up a fresh wooden target. "Now, if you want to fill me in, I'll put this up for you so you can keep at it."

Alec sighed, willing his anger to subside. It wasn't working.

"Catarina and Magnus."

"I thought I heard them yelling. Do you want to tell me what it's about?"

"Not really. But I know your not going to let it go." He said as she pulled down the broken target.

"Yep. You know me well, so spill."

"Catarina flipped her shit when she found out I trained today. Magnus defended me." He said as she lifted the new target into place.

"That's a good thing, right? That Magnus defended you?" She asked, confused.

"It would have been, if they hadn't been talking about me like I was three years old. Like I wasn't even there and could speak for myself."

Clary stepped away as the next knife slammed into the target, hitting home perfectly.

"I see. Well, honestly my parabati, can you blame Catarina for being concerned? I mean, yesterday you couldn't walk without help. Today you were doing triple backflips thirty feet off the floor on a three-inch wooden beam."

"She didn't know that." He said, scowling at her.

"I get that your upset, and why. It was wrong of them you treat you like you weren't there and were incapable of speaking for yourself. But I think you should cut them a little slack. You've spent the last two weeks pretty much out of it. They were making every decision for you, because you couldn't make them yourself. It might take a day or two to realize that they don't have to do that anymore." She said, laying a comforting hand on his shoulder.

He sighed, the anger draining out of him.

"That's better." She murmured when she felt him relax. "Something else is bothering you." She said, looking at the creases between his brows. "What is it?"

"I'm not sure. I think Magnus is hiding something from me. Twice today I saw him snap his fingers and hide whatever he was working on when he didn't know I was looking. Why would he keep something from me?"

"Did you ask him?" She asked.

"Not yet."

"Don't you think you should before you let it get to you? He is your alpha, your mate. Jace may try to keep something from me from time to time, but he always tells me when I ask. We don't keep secrets. Maybe you should give Magnus a chance to tell you before you get upset without asking." She said.

'She has a point' he thought.

"It's not fair to him otherwise." She said, patting his shoulder. "Talk to him. I think he'll be straight with you."

"I think your right. I'll ask him. And if for some reason he won't tell me, I'm going to need another target." He said, throwing another knife, listening to the solid thud as it slammed into the target. "Is Catarina gone?"

"I don't know. I can go check."

"That's not necessary." Magnus said from the doorway. "She's gone, Alexander. She's not happy with me, but she's gone."

"How long have you been standing there?" Alec asked.

"Long enough."

"I'll leave you two alone." Clary said, stepping away from Alec. As she reached the door she gave Magnus a pointed look, a look that said 'hurt him and I'll hurt you'. Without a word she slipped past him and out the door.

"How much did you hear?" Alec asked.

"All of it. I was behind Clary in the hall. I thought I might find you here."

"You've got to stop listening to other people's conversations. It's rude."

"You make it hard, Alexander. You'll talk to them, but you won't talk to me."

"That's not true. I've told you things I haven't told them."

"That's true. But very little about your feelings." Magnus said, crossing the room to Alec.

"You've done the same."

"I guess your right. I haven't. I guess.. I guess I didn't want to put more on you. You were already carrying so much." He said, wrapping his arms around Alec's waist. "I didn't want to add to it. But we do need to talk to each other."

"We do." Alec agreed.

"And I'm sorry about before. You had every right to be upset." Magnus said, pulling Alec close.

"Did I? You've had to make a lot of decisions for me. Clary was right. You had to, when I couldn't make them myself. To take care of me."

"I will always take care of you, sweetheart. When you need me to, but I was wrong not to let you speak for yourself. Catarina and I both were wrong. And for that I'm sorry. Forgive me?" Magnus asked.

"Always." Alec said, pressing his forehead to his alpha's. "And I will always take care of you."

"I know, love."

"So what now? Will you tell me what you've been hiding? Please don't deny it. I know there's something."

"I will. I just have to finish working it out in my head. Can you give me a little more time?" Magnus asked.

"Promise you'll tell me when you're ready?"

"Promise. I love you, Alexander. More than anything. Please know that, and never doubt it. No matter what."

"I love you too. With all that I am."

Magnus smiled.

"I'm going to kiss you now, Alexander." Magnus nosed his angel's head up, pressing his lips to his Shadowhunters.

Alec sighed, opening for his alpha when he licked his bottom lip. His anger and frustration were gone. All he felt now was love.

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