"We need to get the marriage annulled. And I need something for the pounding in my skull." Massaging my temples relieves my problem for a short time. Alec is suddenly standing next to me, holding two glasses of water in his hands. When did he get up? I gratefully take the glass and the tablet from him. I haven't felt this shitty in a long time.

"I don't know anything about you. Just your name." This man is killing me. I want to go home and call my lawyer. And he wants to know my life story?

"That's not relevant either. I'm on the next flight to New York. Then I'll call my lawyer. And then we'll get the marriage annulled." A soft smile settles on the corners of his mouth.

"You're from New York? So am I. Where do you live there?," he asks enthusiastically.

"You'll see on the divorce papers", With that, I stand up, grab the bag at Jace's feet and disappear into the bedroom. I close the door behind me and hear the men talking quietly to each other. I don't understand a word and I don't care. The clothes from the bag are a bit too big for me. They probably belong to Alec. The scent, however, I like. It reminds me of sun and sea. It's been a long time since I sat in the warm sand and just stared at the sea. With my thoughts in faraway lands and a better time. These memories have no space here and I chase them away to the back of my consciousness.

My shoes have disappeared. Cursing loudly, I crawl under the bed and there are two pairs of shoes. How on earth did they end up there? I cannot explain it to myself. Nor can I explain that I was so drunk to get married. In Vegas. A man I don't know.

"Magnus?" Alec stands in the room. I lie under the bed and stick my bottom out at him. It must be a strange sight.

"Gotcha!", I shout loudly, flinging two pairs of shoes across the room.

"Ouch. What's that all about?", asks Alec, his voice distorted with pain. As I crawl out from under the bed I see him rubbing his shin.

"I found our shoes", I reply.

"Do you want to go?" The disappointment is clear and audible. But I have no intention of staying.

"I'm going to the airport. Don't worry about the hotel bill. I'll take care of it. Do you have a room? Or do you want to stay here for another day?" He shakes his head.

"No thanks. We have a room. This is the bridal suite." I roll my eyes and shake my head imperceptibly.

"Of course. What else", I say quietly.

Hastily, I slip on my shoes and am already almost running towards freedom. Just before the door, Alec holds me back by the arm and turns me around briskly. I stumble slightly and our bodies collide hard. His sparkling eyes automatically fix on my lips.

"Don't go", he breathes. His warm breath tickles my lips. My throat tightens, threatening to choke. The feeling overwhelms me so much right now that I don't register Alec slowly pulling away from me.

"I'm going to go now", I say quietly. He wordlessly hands me his phone and I take it and unlock the screen. A young woman with long black hair, a bright smile and a clear resemblance to Alec faces me. Next to her is Jace holding Alec in a headlock and both men are laughing. It's a beautiful photo, they look happy and content. The love between the three of them literally jumps out at me.

After saving my number, I call myself to have his number too. Freddie sings loudly 'So don't stop me now don't stop me. Cause I'm having a good time, having a good time' and it's almost surreal to hear those lyrics now of all times.

"My lawyer will get back to you. Bye Alec", I say and leave the room. The hotel bill is quickly paid and with the presence of mind I have breakfast brought to Alec's room. The pain in his gaze and the disappointment in his eyes won't let me go. He is a truly beautiful young man. One day he will find the right man and he will have the world at his feet. But that is not me.

I oversleep on the flight and land in New York quite exhausted. My first step is to the taxi rank and as soon as I sit down, my phone rings. Without looking at the display, I pick it up and remember that I now have a different surname. Great. This is going to be fun.

"Bane", I say. My new name just doesn't manage to break through my lips.

"I thought you were dead. Why aren't you answering? Where are you?" My friend's concerned voice echoes through the receiver and I spontaneously change my destination.

"Where are you? At home?", I ask and get a yes in confirmation.

"Are you alone? Is your better half at uni?", I ask further and get another yes. More hesitantly this time, he knows something is wrong.

"I'll be right with you. Please call Raphael. We need to talk", I say quickly and hang up again. Already my fingers are dialling a number I haven't needed for a while. But I know that he will always be there for me.

After a short ring, his melodic voice rings out and I wipe my face wearily with my hand. He's going to verbally kick my ass and I so deserve it.

"Maggie. The apple of my eye. How are you?", whispers Ragnor into the receiver. I imagine him sitting behind his big desk, running the fingers of his hand over the glass in front of him and grinning smugly. That's how I found Ragnor on my first visit to his office. And I can't get that image out of my head. It was many years ago, I was still half a child. And my mum still by my side.

"I need your help", I say. The tiredness is audible. Ragnor has known me since I was born. He is a good long-time friend of the family and has an excellent sense of emotions and feelings. Often he was the first to know that something was bothering me.

"What happened Magnus?", he asks excitedly.

"I'm married. To a stranger. You need to get the marriage annulled."