Chapter 5

"What do you mean you're taking me to Idris?" Alec asked. He'd been alone in the training room, a welcomed surprise since lately there was always someone else in there training, when Jace walked in. Only to inform him that he had been ordered to take him to Idris.

"Exactly what I just said. Your parents will be having a meeting here with the downworld council at sun down, and you know what that means." Explained Jace.

"Oh," said Alec, feeling instantly vexed. He knew exactly what that meant. Whenever downworlders were expected to visit the Institute, Alec would be asked to make himself scarce. Sometimes he would just stay in his room, guarded of course, or in special cases, he'd be sent to Idris, returning once said visitors had left.

"Why can't I just stay in my room?" He grumbled. "You know how much I hate portaling."

"I know man," Jace admitted, scrubbing a hand through his hair. "But this time's different. Magnus Bane will be here."

"So?" Alec started nonchalantly, trying hard not to think about the sudden increase in his heart rate at the mention of Magnus' name. "Warlocks come here all the time to renew the wards and the portal. I don't really see the big deal," he said, though he knew it was infact a big deal. A very big deal.

"Don't see the big deal?" Jace retorted, looking taken aback. "He's not just any old warlock, Alec. The guy's the freaking prince of Edom. To make matters worse, we don't know what he's doing here or what he wants. He could be dangerous."

"Well, I don't care. I'm still not going anywhere." Alec continued stubbornly, retaking his previous position before Jace's interruption, nocking a new arrow in his bow. He had been working on his speed and efficiency, though he didn't know why he even bothered anymore.

Jace sighed, releasing a heavy breath, watching as Alec aimed his bow at the target, letting the arrow fly, hitting his mark. He hated how stubborn Alec could be sometimes.

"Look," Jace tried again as he inched closer to Alec, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Your parents don't want to risk the downworld finding out about you...not after we've managed to keep you safely hidden for so many years."

But Alec wasn't hearing it. He didn't want to hear any of it. To him it was the same bullshit as usual.

"This whole thing is stupid," he groused, shrugging Jace's hand off his shoulder. "I'm not going anywhere," he reiterated, turning to face his parabatai.

"Alec, look, I don't think you underst..."

"I'll be in my room if anyone needs me," Alec interjected, cutting Jace off as he pushed roughly pass him, their shoulders bumping. He quickly put his bow and quiver away, before leaving the training room.

Jace was left stunned, staring after him. It was normal for Alec to be stubborn and complain, that wasn't new, as he usually complied in the end anyway. But this was different, Jace thought. He could feel it through their bond. Alec was different. He didn't know what it was, but it was enough to make him worry.

-------

Alec stormed into his bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him. A deep anger he had never felt before, formed a lump in his throat, threatening to choke him. "I'm not going anywhere," he growled as he paced the room. He wasn't a child who needed protecting, who needed to be sent into hiding at the first sign of danger. Infact, there was no danger. So what if Magnus Bane was coming to the Institute. Was that enough reason for him to run away from his home? Was that...

Alec paused, stopped in his tracks at that thought, his anger and frustrations slowly melting away.

Magnus is coming here.

He was getting so wrapped up in his annoyance of once again being treated like a child, that he had almost forgotten the main point. Which was that Magnus Bane would be coming to the Institute.

Alec felt something stir low in his stomach. Suddenly a bevy of new emotions whirled through him. Apprehension, warmth, and this overwhelming sense of longing...needing

He smooth a hand through his hair and moved to his bed. As he slunked down, the telltale signs of a blush crept up his cheeks, his body buzzing with excitement as images of the warlock ran through his mind. He didn't know exactly how to interpret everything he was feeling. He had never been so confused in his entire life. Until two days ago he hadn't really known of, or given the warlock, Magnus Bane, a second thought.

Now, said man had some how, within the last fourty eight hours, taken up perennial occupancy in his mind, the mere thought or mention of his name arousing feelings he had never felt before. Alec couldn't believe himself, getting so worked up over someone he had never even met, but he just couldn't help himself. Not only was his mind eager and curious to meet someone like Magnus, but he also couldn't deny the fact that he felt a strong physical attraction to the warlock. No one had ever triggered such strong feelings in him...and once again, to think he hadn't even met the man.

As Alec laid back on his bed, his thoughts continuing to run wild, he couldn't help the stupid impish grin that spread across his face.

Magnus Bane would be coming to the Institute at sun down...and he would be damned if he wasn't present to see him.

~ooOoo~

"I need you with me today, Ragnor," Magnus insisted.

On the other end of the call, Ragnor was still lounging in bed, sipping gingerly on a cup of coffee. Turned out he had missed one hell of a party. He felt really bad about having not been able to be there for his friend, but unfortunately he had been dealing with his own problems at the time. He had been, once again, fighting with his mate concerning their current state of childlessness. It was a never ending issue really. And one with no simply solution.

"Magnus," said Ragnor. "Don't you think it will be inappropriate for a non council member to show up a council meeting? Especially one involving the shadowhunters."

"I don't care," said Magnus. "I'll simply tell them that your my secretary or something. That you're there to take minutes for the meeting." He waved a hand dismissively as he moved about his newly restored living room.

"What?" Ragnor huffed, sounding indignant. "I'm no one's secretary. Not that there's anything wrong with that," he added.

"Personal assistant then?" Magnus smirked as Ragnor huffed again. " Alright, alright, executive assistant?"

"You're riduculous you know that?"

"Yes, but you love me anyway," Magnus chirped. He could tell his friend was smiling now, his sour mood long gone. "Plus you owe me for missing my party," he added.

After that disaster that was his welcome party, Magnus was really in need of seeing a friendly face. He had spent the whole of the following day at home moping and contemplating the whole thing. What he needed right now was to keep busy, a good distraction. And this downworlder/shadowhunter meeting would do just that.

Also, he was well aware, dispite his constant assurance of everything being fine, that his friend had been going through some difficult times of his own, and could do with a good distraction as well. Thus, him inviting Ragnor to the shadowhunter/downworld council meeting, would not only benefit him, but Ragnor as well.

"And I am truly sorry." Came Ragnor's reply. After a few beats, "I still cannot believe she just showed up," he continued. "And that you just...just allowed her leave."

"Neither can I," Magnus agreed softly.

There was a pregnant pause. "So what now?" Ragnor asked.

"I don't know," Magnus confessed. Because really, he didn't know. Things were never black and white when it came to Camille. She was as vindictive as she was unpredictable. And now thinking back, perhaps he couldn't simply trust that she would actually keep her distance. And maybe, just maybe he should have delt with her in a more permant manner. Whatever the case may be, whatever happened, the one thing Magnus knew now for sure, them having come face to face again, he was done with Camille.

After catching up on the recent happenings for a little while longer, they said their goodbyes, with Ragnor agreeing to attend the meeting under the auspices that he was there to keep Magnus in line, and not as his secretary.

~ooOoo~

Alec was startled from his reverie as his mother, not even bothering to knock first, barged into his room. "What do you mean you're not going?" She snarled.

Alec had been stretched out across his bed, eyes closed, hands folded behind his head, fully engulfed in his Magnus Bane day dream. "Wh-what?" He stuttered, looking befuddled, rubbing his eyes as he came out from his daze.

"What do you mean you're not going to Idris?" Maryse reiterated, making sure to emphasize her words. She looked furious with her hands on her hips, staring him down.

Alec swallowed down the nervous lump in his throat. "Because," he began, finding his voice as he moved to sit up. "I don't think that that's neccessary. I can just stay in my room."

"Alec, sweatheart, please," his mother tried again, her voice still sounding angry but softer now. "Don't be stubborn about this. This is for your own good." She explained, her hands falling away from her hips, flailing as she moved towards him. She sat next to him on the edge of the bed. "We just want you to be safe."

"And I will be," Alec insisted. "Here. There's a whole institute of shadowhunters to protect me. Plus, incase you forgot, I'm not completely useless, you know. I am very capable. I can defend myself."

"I know that, but this is different, Alec." Maryse proffered. "We're yet to know the Prince's mission here. I don't want you in any unnecessary danger."

The two continued like this, arguing back and forth for what felt like hours to Alec, but was infact only a few minutes. Finally, after falling into a strained silence, Alec stood his ground, reiterating for a final time, that he wasn't going anywhere."

Maryse, realizing that her son had made up his mind, and short off dragging him to Idris herself, he was staying put.

"Alright, fine." She surrendered with a heavy sigh. "I'll send Jace and the others to stay with you, keep you company."

"That won't be necessary," Alec said quickly.

"Alec..."

"Alright fine," he interrupted with a huff, not in the mood for another long rant. "But just Izzy."

After a long moment of careful consideration, "Okay," Maryse finally agreed. After exchanging some more words, she then left his room, looking just as angry as when she'd came in.

~ooOoo~

"What is he doing here?" Raphael asked pointedly, referring of course to Ragnor. Magnus and Ragnor had just stepped out of a portal, joining the grumpy vampire, Luke and Meliorn for the council meeting. The group had been patiently waiting for Magnus in front of the Institute, not wanting to, but also fearing the warlock's reaction, had they gone in without him.

"He's here as my assistant," Magnus answered. He had almost forgotten that the two were going through a hate period in their love/hate relationship. He really needed to get some new friends, he thought as Ragnor scowled at him.

"I beg your pardon," the warlock drawled, obviously having taken offence to Magnus calling him his assistant.

"Okay, okay," Magnus conceded, bringing an arm around Ragnor to pat him on the shoulder. "He's here to keep me on my best behavior. Do any of you have a problem with that?" He asked challengingly, quirking as eye brow. Everyone shook their heads, no one daring to question him. A council meeting was considered to he a formal affair, and though they were all friends and alphas in their own right, in such settings, customs and traditions, as well as good old fashioned survival instincts, dictated that one should capitulate under the dominance of the greater alpha. In this case, that would be Magnus.

"Good," Magnus said after a moment. "We should probably get going." He stepped away from Ragnor, making his way towards the building, the others following suit.

~ooOoo~

Alec laid on his bed pretending to be reading as he watched his sister from the corner of his eye. She was sat across the room at his desk, browsing her phone. He was really frustrated. All he could think about was the fact that Magnus Bane was probably in the Institute by now, and if he didn't act fast, he was going to lose out on his chance of seeing him. He needed to figure out a way to get rid of his sister and he needed to do it now.

After pondering for a moment, "Iz," Alec called, trying to look and sound as miserable as possible. Which wasn't that difficult considering he really did feel miserable. "I'm starving. I haven't really eaten anything all day. Could you be a sweatheart and just run to the kitchen and get me a snack? Please." He did his best puppy dog eyes, hoping like hell she wouldn't suspect anything. There was a reason he had asked for Izzy's company instead of any of the others. She was the most susceptible to his charms.

"I can't even believe you right now," Izzy said, sounding annoyed but still moving to her feet. "You need to take better care of yourself, Alec. I hate when you get like this."

"I know," Alec muttered, almost pouting. "I promise no more moping from now on. Okay?"

"Alright. You want anything special?"

"Just a cheese sandwich and some juice," he replied. "I'm sure even you can't mess that up."

"Hey!" Izzy scolded. "Don't make me change my mind."

"Okay, okay, sorry," Alec said quickly, raising his hands up in surrender. The last thing he needed was a pissed off Izzy.

"Better be." Izzy grumbled as she left the room.

Alec wasted no time. As soon as Izzy left, he cracked opened the door, poking his head out, watching as she slowly disappeared down the halls. As soon as she was out of sight, he left for the conference room where he knew that the meeting was being held.

~ooOoo~

"Well, I can assure you I intend on carrying out my duties as the new High Warlock of Brooklyn as my predesessor did before me. Infact," Magnus smirked, raising a hand, his pointer finger sticking up in gesture, "I'm sure I'll do a much better job. After all, I am more powerful than he was...and better looking too."

Maryse Lightwood had been throwing snide remarks his way the moment the meeting had started. Making it very clear to everyone that she doubted, not just his ability, but also his willingness to carry out his duties as the new high warlock. Though Magnus could understand her apprehension, as he wasn't exactly known for being responsible or caring too much about following rules muchless enforcing them, she didn't have to be so rude about it.

They were all sat in what looked like a conference room one would find in any mundane mutli-million dollar co-operation. Complete with an overly large oval conference table. They were discussing the implementation of the new rules that had been added to the accords between shadowhunters and downworlders. Basically the shadowhunters would no longer be the primary ones policing the downworlders. With the rise in demon activity around the world they simply didn't have the man power to spare. Thus, each clan, pack and other leaders would be responsible for policing their own group, and it would be the job of the downworld council to over see this new change.

"I'm very happy to hear that Mr. Bane," said Maryse, putting on her best fake smile. "And we look forward to continuing the peaceful relationship we've managed to established with the downworlders over the years." Robert, who was seated on her immediate right, laced his fingers with hers, their hands resting on the table as he smiled his agreement. Everyone smiled and nodded theirs as well.

Magnus adjusted in his seat, finding the chair most uncomfortable, and opened his mouth to add something else to the conversation but the words died on his lips. His nose tingled and suddenly it felt as if the temperature in the room had risen substantially.

After a few beats of awkward silence, Ragnor leaned over to him. "Are you alright?" He asked, concerned. "You just kind of zoned out there a little bit."

"Don't you smell that?" Magnus asked, breathing in the new scent as his eyes scanned the room trying to find the source. Ragnor shook his head as he and everyone else at the table watched Magnus, confusion etched on their faces.

It smelt like freshly cut grass in the height of spring, rain on a hot summer's day, and...strawberries? It was like all of his favorite things all rolled into one. It was delicious and simply...intoxicating.

Without breathing another word, Magnus stood from his seat.

"Magnus? Mr. Bane?" He heard faintly as he moved quickly, at vampire's speed, from the room and into the halls.

~ooOoo~

Alec walked briskly down the halls of the Institute towards the conference room, looking over his shoulders and every which way to make sure he wasn't seen. He was determined to sneak a peek at the hot new High Warlock.

In the seconds it took him to turn his head and look behind him, he found himself colliding with a wall. Only he was in the middle of the hallway, so it couldn't have possibly been a wall. As Alec breathed in and all of his senses adjusted, he blinked a few times to find that he had infact ran straight into someone, a very tall someone. A very tall and incredible smelling someone.

Alec took a step back and allowed his eyes to travel from the very sollid looking chest, clothed in purple and blue, upward. His breath caught in his throat when he met gold, green eyes.

"Magnus," he breathed

Magnus was transfixed as he stared into a startled pair of the most beautiful azure blue eyes he had ever seen. They quite literally took his breath away.

It took a few beats for the rest of his senses to catch up with what his eyes were seeing. Then with a start, Magnus realized that the intoxicating scent that had lured him out into the halls, was infact attached to said blue eyes. The aroma was even more overwhelming now at the close proximity.

Magnus took a deep breath, reveling in the other man's scent, his eyes fluttering close. He could feel his control slipping away as every cell in his body buzzed, some of them coming alive for the first time. He felt like he had just been jolted by a bolt of electricty. It took every ounce of power he had in the deepest recesses of himself not pull the other man down to the floor and have his way with him right then and there.

As Magnus opened his eyes again, his glamour fell.

If Alec was breathing before, he definately wasn't breathing now. He couldn't explain it, but as he looked into those cat like eyes, darkened and burning with desire, he felt his whole body grew weak. The next thing he knew he was on his knees, his arms wrapped tightly around Magnus' leg. He had never felt so safe, so complete and so at peace as he did in that moment holding on to Magnus.

Alec closed his eyes, breathing in and letting the other man's scent consume him, a fire of desire slowly building.

Magnus reached his hand down, lightly feathering his fingers through Alec's hair. Then ever so slowly his fingers began their descent, burning a path down Alec's cheek, hooking underneath his chin, and tilting his face up. As Magnus once again gazed into the other man's breath takingly beautiful eyes, he could feel an understanding, an agreement of sort pass between them.