Alec and Magnus knew that the road they were headed down was a bumpy one. Magnus remembered a conversation that he had Alec had, just before he told his parents that he was in love with Magnus. It was frowned upon because Magnus was another man but it could be an uncertain death sentence because Magnus was a warlock. He wanted to make sure that Alexander knew exactly what he wase getting into, and the consequences of his actions.

Alec had come to spend the night—a common occurrence these days. Normally Alec would come in, drop his stuff by the door and all but fall into the waiting embrace of his warlock. That night, he immediately sensed that something was wrong. He stood by the couch, unsure as to whether he should sit or not.

"Magnus?" His voice was full of concern and worry.

Magnus smiled, his glamoured eyes revealing nothing. "Yes Sayang?"

"What's wrong? And don't say 'nothing'."

Magnus turned so that he was looking at Alec. "I just worry that you haven't thought this through."

Alec sat beside the older man, grabbing his hand, entwining their fingers. "I have. I want you; I want to be with you. I'll do whatever I have to; to make that happen."

Magnus shook his head. "What if the price is higher than I'm willing to let you pay? I don't want you sacrificing yourself for me."

Alec smiled; whoever had said that downworlders were uncaring had certainly never met Magnus. After everything that he'd been through—his number one concern was still Alexander. Alec sat, holding his warlock's hand, placing the hand near his mouth and kissing the knuckles. "Nothing bad is going to happen—to either of us."

Magnus had given him a weak smile. Alec squeezed the hand that he was holding. "I think that you can do better than that."

"I didn't want to show you this but I guess I'd better." From the inside pocket of his jacket he was wearing he produced a letter. It had the official stamp of the Clave, without meeting his lover's gaze he handed Alec the letter.

Alec was still holding Magnus' right hand as he skimmed through the letter. "Magnus, according to this the clave wants to meet with you."

"I know." Magnus was still looking at the ground.

"Tomorrow."

"I know." Magnus felt miserable. He took a deep breath in a desperate attempt to get the unshed tears that were burning at the back of his eyes to leave, instead the first one fell.

Alec squeezed the hand that he was holding as he pulled the warlock against his chest. "I'm going with you. Whatever the clave wants, we'll face it together."

Magnus offered a weak smile and not for the first time thanked whatever force had put them together.

The next morning Alec watched as Magnus dressed, he did this with none of his usual flair. He was dressed in black dress pants with a black button-down shirt. He wore no make up, his eyes were unglamoured and the only jewelry he wore was a blue ring and his ear cuff.

Alec stood beside his boyfriend. "Don't worry. With me standing beside you, they will have no choice but to listen." As he wrapped his arms around his warlock, he could feel Magnus tense. Alec knew that Magnus had just thought of a new worry.

"What if they won't let you in?"

Alec gently kissed behind Magnus' ear. "I would love to see them try and stop me."

A few hours later and Magnus stood in the middle of the circle of Clave members. Each of them looking smugly at him. Alec had to admit if Magnus was scared he wasn't showing it. He stood with his hands clasped in front of him and his head held high, looking every bit the high warlock he was.

"Warlock Bane." The inquisitor announced.

"Yes?"

"You are hereby charged with unlawfully breaking the accords."

Alec couldn't believe his ears. He stood up, walking across the floor and standing behind Magnus.

"Mr. Lightwood, return to your seat."

"Absolutely not. On what grounds has the charge against Magnus Bane stand?"

"The unlawful summoning of a demon for financial gain."

Magnus scoffed. "That is without a doubt the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. The last time that I summoned a demon for anyone, it was for Elizabeth Ravenblood, at the request of the clave."

One of the Clave members sneered; obviously thinking that he'd trapped Magnus. "Everyone knows what type of business you engage in; and your lengthy list of clients."

"That's low, even for you. Each one of my 'clients' had gone through the clave to find me. I hide nothing, my activities are always widely known."

The Inquisitor stood. "Be that as it may, you have not always been overly co-operative. The clave has made a unanimous decision to start cracking down on downworlders who gray the areas of the law. If you do not agree to our terms life shall become increasingly difficult for you."

Magnus inclined his head; never breaking eye contact with the inquisitor. Alec was the only one that saw the small ball of blue magic being formed between his closed hands; the only sign that he was nervous.

"You'll be required to assimilate into the mundane culture—let your magic go dormant."

Alec had to stop his jaw from dropping. This was without a doubt the most ridiculous thing he'd heard in a while. "I beg the clave to reconsider. Magnus Bane has always been there for the clave when they needed use of his magic, to have him go dormant would be a loss to everyone."

"Are you seriously sticking up for the warlock, Lightwood? Despite the fact that he's nothing but a filthy downworlder?"

Magnus dropped his gaze. For the first time since the meeting started Magnus could feel his perfectly placed mask start to crack.

"Enough." Alec put his hands over Magnus', which had dropped to his sides and he felt how badly they were shaking.

Magnus took a deep breath and then another, calming himself. "It isn't as simple as just allowing my magic to go to dormant. Right now, it is one of the only things keeping your wards from completely failing."

The clave seemed to consider what he said. "Alright, you can keep practicing your magic but any client business will be conducted under the supervision of a shadow hunter. Is that understood?"

Before Magnus could respond, a younger shadow hunter had stood up. "This is starting to get annoying. Why is Alexander Lightwood hell bent on sticking for a filthy warlock anyway? If I were in charge he would be stripped of his marks and the warlock killed."

Alec scoffed. "And that is precisely why you are not in charge. Haven't you heard anything that Magnus has said? Never mind the fact that he sits on the council as the representative of the warlocks. If it were up to you we'd be faced with another war. Magnus has never done anything to break the law—the fact that he is the only warlock willing to deal with the clave or shadow hunters; should tell you something."

Robert Lightwood, couldn't help but smile at his son. He'd been very concerned that their relationship was either one sided or that Magnus was using him for something, but he'd seen the way that Alec held his hands; there love was real and deeper than most marriages.

Alec turned as if to walk out, he was still holding Magnus' hand, which was cold and shaking.

The Inquisitor nodded. "Very well, things can be left as they are."

Magnus offered Alec a weak smile as they both walked out of the meeting hall. Magnus had to fight the urge to turn around and stick out his tongue.