So sorry for the delay!
My work and sleep program have been hectic lately and while I wanted to write, I couldn't because my traitorous body needed sleep #missmyyoungdays
Also, I'm sorry for the slow development of the Malec relationship, I hope you don't mind it ^^;; (I enjoy a playing-hard-to-get game, so they might be a this game for a few chapters xD) Also, although in my mind I can see Matthew Daddario and Harry Shum Jr as Alec and Magnus, I wanted to keep their characters' physical description from the books, so just imagine a taller Harry Shum and a few inches short Matt haha
In any case, please enjoy this chapter and I hope to post the next one very soon! :D
Happy Easter/holidays, folks :")
Chapter Four - Of Engagements and Consorts
"I don't think we've been formally introduced." The man said as he glided to him, stopping in front of him. "I'm Magnus."
Despite his reputation of having a good time reaction, Alec actually took a few moments before he replied – "A-Alec." – and stuttered like a girl in front of her crush.
"Prince Alexander?" Magnus said and Alec felt his face go flush with red. It was the first time he actually felt joy upon hearing his name spelled out completely. He never thought that someone could say his name in such an endearing manner and in the same time with a challenge attached to it.
"I-I'm no prince, just Alec." He managed to get out again with a stutter for which he cursed himself because being an heir did not allow you to have issues with public speaking or other officials from the Seven Islands.
Magnus chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corner, drawing Alec's attention – they looked like cat eyes and the line of black mixed in with glitter that traced the almond shape of Magnus' eyes created an enticement to Alec, one he did not want to pull out. He simply wanted to lose into those eyes.
Wait, cat's eyes?
"You sent me those gifts." Alec dead-panned and like the end of a stage play, the curtains fell and he looked annoyed. "You are the one courting me." He continued and Magnus' smile faltered a little, having sensed that Alec wasn't actually pleased with this realization; although he had seen how his gifts have been welcomed.
"I'm not very subtle as I thought I am." Magnus said, trying to make the atmosphere light again – or at least with the sexual tension that Alec had seemed to ooze at the sight of him, but he saw that his little cupcake was more stubborn than he imagined.
"No, you're not and you've complicated my life." Alec retorted, crossing his arms and half-realizing that he sounded like a petulant kid. He didn't care – this was the suitor, the only person who was responsible for the mess in his life right now. And he was a man. Relationships of same sex weren't something unheard of in Idris, but the rarity of it made the whole situation feel a bit weird and awkward for Alec and coupling it with his reaction to Magnus' appearance, well, let's say it didn't sit well with the heir of Idris.
"Already?" Magnus teased and Alec got that tingling sensation on his skin and shivers running down his spine. "It was never my intention, Alexander. I just wanted to impress you." He continued with such honesty that left Alec baffled for a few moments.
"By sending me silk and jewelry?" Alec arched an eyebrow in amazement.
"I could hardly send you flowers, could I? Or would you have appreciated them more?" Magnus replied, the tip of his tongue slowly licking his lower lip drawing Alec's attention.
"No flowers." He replied on a gruffly tone, his blue eyes snapping back at Magnus' enticing ones. "No silk or jewelry either. If you claim to like me, you come and face me. That's the only way to impress me." He continued, not realizing that he was actually challenging Magnus with his words.
So much like his sister, Magnus thought, chuckling inwardly as he dared to approach Alec even more, closing the distance between them and drawing pleasure in seeing the other one taking a deep breath at this new closeness.
"That's why I have come, Alexander." He whispered and Alec couldn't see anything but Magnus in that moment, caught by the swirls of gold, green and deep brown of the other man. "I will steal you away."
Alec's brain stopped functioning at Magnus' last words – what? he thought as he was slowly reeling back into reality, feeling his heart beating fast in his chest, his body thrumming with unexpected emotion and need for a man who had only managed to mess up his life and throw him in an engagement he didn't want. What the hell was happening to him?
"I-I'm not s-some thing to steal me away." He hated that he stuttered again, but he managed to look composed – or so he hoped – glaring at Magnus, but not backing away from their proximity. He was a warrior besides an heir, he was taught to hold his ground in front of anyone challenging his comfort. "I'm not sure what game you think you're playing, but this one… you're not going to win." He stated, a determined smirk snaking across his lips.
"You play hard to get." Magnus said and chuckled pleased which only made Alec seethe even more at the nonchalant manner the other man was displaying. "I never back down from a challenge, Alexander." He continued, lifting his hand and tracing some invisible line down Alec's arm. "You have something that I want back or… at least something in return." He added with a whisper, his head titled as he watched the heir through his thick eyelashes, his magenta colored locks falling over his face creating a charming sight to which Alec was all but immune.
"What's that?" He whispered back, caught in the moment of Magnus' touch and his intent gaze.
"My heart."
"You barely know me." Alec replied with a bewildered tone, taking one step back – damn, he gave in.
"I suggest we change this." Magnus smiled and he actually felt his knees go weak. What the fuck was wrong with him? Indeed he hadn't shown an active interest in women like Jace and Max have done, but that didn't mean he was into men – was he? He considered himself an admirer of beauty, be it feminine or masculine. And yet, Magnus was overriding his system in a way no one had managed so far.
"I'm afraid you're too late for that." Alec dismissed the idea with something he wanted to be a mocking smile, but ended up with a bitter smile. "I'm engaged."
At his statement, Magnus chuckled, his cat eyes practically glowing with excitement. "Oh, I know."
"You do?" Alec asked in surprise.
"Been knowing it for a while now." Magnus admitted and there was a secrecy in his tone that Alec wasn't sure he liked it or not.
"How come?" The heir asked, feeling a bit fidgety. If Magnus had heard of his engagement with Lydia then how many more have heard it too? He hadn't even managed to speak with Lydia of their agreement and he needed her on board with him, he would have hated it to get married with someone who hated his guts,
Magnus ignored his question and turned towards the arched doors marking entrance to the palace as there were trumpets announcing the appearance of the rulers. "I think we should go inside." He glanced over his shoulder at Alec who gulped in nervousness. "It will be fine, Alexander." Magnus said, sensing the unquiet behind the mask Alec was struggling to put it up. "I promise to be your knight in shining armor tonight." He then added, a promising look settling on his handsome features.
Despite himself, Alec found himself oddly reassured and followed this mysterious suitor of his back inside the palace where everyone was standing up while the rulers assumed their places. Alec left Magnus' side to stand beside his brother who was on the right side of Robert while Isabelle stood on the left side of her mother. Involuntarily to him, Alec's gaze seemed to lock onto Magnus' figure who was still standing where he had left him. Once more he felt his breath hitch in the back of his throat and his heart start a loud and fast hammering in his chest.
As soon as there was quiet, Robert stood again and smiled at everyone in the ball. "Tonight, we have gathered to celebrate the return from the battlefield of my two sons. I am grateful for your presence and I am pleased to announce that our borders stand strong against any invaders." He said and everyone in the room cheered. "There were no casualties on our side to this confrontation as my sons have reported, but this is the fourth breach or attempt of breaching," Robert allowed himself a satisfied smile which caused a wave of dark chuckles from everyone, "and we have decided that it is best to repay this kindness."
Alec froze – he had not heard this decision from his father and judging by the look on Max, it was not the ruler's idea. While he was a strong preacher of offense is the best defense, his father and brother considered otherwise and by engaging in a battle in Teika or Uriba, it only meant that they were going to waste resources and lose lives. The seas surrounding the Seven Islands were not calm and welcoming seas and Idris did not have the protection the other islands had when it came to sailing.
Idris was the paradise everyone sought due to its Mediterranean climate and its spiritual connection to The Greaters, but this island lost the power of magic since Valentine. They could not sail just as easily as a teikan or uriban. Even those from Camus could engage on a sea battle and come out victorious. Alec did not agree with his father's decision, but he could not argue with him in front of everyone; he would have to wait.
"My son, Max, will handpick the soldiers for this mission and they will arrange only damage the ports of Teika and Uriba. No land battle will be engaged unless it's necessary." Robert continued in the hushed silence, everyone understanding what this meant – not everyone leaving will return to Idris.
"In another order, I have great news regarding the heir of Idris." The ruler continued and the silence broke as everyone eyed Alec who turned into a mask of stone, emotions shut off completely. "I would like to announce to everyone my son's – Alexander – engagement to –"
But to whom Robert was going to say, he didn't get the chance as Magnus strode from the archer doors through the dance floor and stopped at a respectable distance in front of Robert. With a flourish bow, he announced himself – "Magnus Bane, King of Magnifia, at your service."
Robert was speechless at the sight of the man in front of him. He had known him when Isabelle had invited him for some trading, but he did not remember inviting him to this ball! Especially when he had just made the announcement that he had authorized attacks on the ports of Teika and Uriba. He wanted to glare at his daughter for not letting him know that they were going to have a guest of another island. Surely, Magnifia was insignificant when compared with the other islands, but its role in everyone's every day life had given it an importance Robert disliked. It wasn't that he hated Magnus or Magnifia, it was just that it was abnormal that no one could visit that island or conquer it without finding instant death. And abnormalities in Robert's vision only meant trouble like Valentine Morgenstern.
"King Magnus, we were not expecting you." Robert finally acknowledged him with a small admonishment in his statement which Magnus dismissed with a radiant smile.
"Yet here I am."
Robert waited for something more but it seemed that Magnus wasn't inclined to continue. Grinding his teeth, the ruler forced himself to keep this charade going – "Thank you for honoring us with your presence. Feel free to enjoy this evening as it is a celebratory event for everyone."
"Right, you were about to announce your son's engagement." Magnus said casually, his luminous eyes flickering in the direction of Alec who was watching all this with impassive curiosity. Robert did not like this.
"Yes, I was –" Robert started, but was again interrupted by Magnus.
"I would have preferred a few more days for us to get to know each other better, though."
"Pardon me?" Robert asked and saw his son turn white as paper, confusion mixing with a bit of understanding on Alec's face.
Magnus tried hard not to smile, he had always enjoyed a bit of trouble and he truly hoped that Alec will forgive him for his behavior now – it wasn't that he had wanted their story to unfold this way, but hearing Robert speak earlier like that had made him want to retaliate in some way. This man was no better than Valentine if he was going to send people to war just to prove a point or he was going to push his son into a marriage he obviously didn't want. Aren't you doing the same with Alexander? – a tiny voice whispered in the back of his mind which Magnus promptly shut it out. His intentions were pure, well, to a certain point.
"I've been courting your son for a while; I believe you have received my gifts addressed to him." Magnus revealed and the shocked murmurs that went around the ballroom confirmed what he had told to Isabelle – he had covered his tracks very well. Only she caught on his court game.
Robert was speechless for the second time this night, but not for long – "You're a man!"
"Or so I've been told." Magnus remarked dryly.
"You can't court a man. It-it's –" Robert continued, stuttering before he was interrupted by Magnus.
"– unheard of? Immoral? Not likely?" It was clear that the King of Magnifia was jerking Robert's chain. To his shame, Alec felt like smiling. "I assure you that it's not unheard of and least immoral. It is one's decision to choose whom to court or not. And I have chosen Alexander." Magnus looked at Alec and smiled, sending those tiny shivers down Alec's spine, the way his name has been spoken making him want to close his eyes in sinful pleasure.
"My son is already engaged!" Robert turned red in the face, not believing that he was being made a fool in his own court.
"Is he now?" Magnus' cat eyes turned coldly on Robert. "If you mean me, then yes, he is engaged." His words startled even Alec who nearly lost his composure and wanted to go and drag Magnus away from here. This was going way too far.
"Father, perhaps we should continue this privately." He suggested instead, looking at Robert who was shaking visibly. Alec had to hand it over to Magnus – not one could make Robert this angry in such a short amount of time.
The ruler of Idris didn't say anything for a full minute, his gaze boring into Magnus like he wanted to drill him into non-existence. Unfortunately for him, Magnus was looking as he was actually bored with the ruler's actions and he was currently checking his amethyst cuffs with curious interest. In a restrained huff, Robert left the ball room, expecting for everyone involved in this mess to follow him. Nevertheless, Maryse was quick on his heels while Izzy glided up to Magnus with unhidden giddiness which made Alec frown a little.
"Well, that was unexpected." Max whispered to him, eyeing Magnus with more interest than Alec would have liked. "Never seen father's temper go off the roof like this." He added and Alec rolled his eyes as he sensed his brother's thirst for mischief and trouble. No wonder he was eyeing Magnus with interest, anyone troublesome was good enough for Max.
"And here I thought you're worried for me that now I might be engaged to a man instead of a woman." Alec said with a slight accusing tone to which Max grimaced a bit before clapping his palm over Alec's shoulder.
"My brother, I actually envy you. I wish I could have two beauties running up for my hand."
Alec didn't dignify that comment with an answer especially since Lydia wasn't thrilled to be his fiancée and he wasn't exactly sure he wanted to be courted by a man, even if the said man was the most interesting and beautiful man he had seen in his entire life. Involuntarily, he let his gaze wander up and down Magnus' figure from the back as he was being walked by Isabelle to his father's private chambers. A bit taller than him, Magnus was rather slender with somewhat broad shoulders, slim waist and long legs that kept going on forever. He looked fit and there was a coiled power that was coming off of him, shrouding him in the mystery that Alec was so pulled into. He wasn't sure why this man had chosen him for courtship, but it intrigued him more than he would have liked to admit and somehow he felt bitter that Magnus hadn't revealed to him from the beginning – all of this mess could have been avoided. Now there was nothing to do but let the show go on and hope for the best outcome.
The doors closed as soon as everyone was inside Robert's private chambers. With the ease of a king, Magnus took a seat on the small couch placed in the right side of the ruler's office. Robert's eyes flashed in unspoken anger as he watched Magnus from behind his office desk, his hands gripping the chair's back tightly. Beside him, Maryse stood tall and unyielding, but supportive of her husband. In front of the door stood awkwardly the three brothers and Lydia with Henry who wasn't looking particularly happy with the development. Magnus felt the need of a strong drink but he was beginning to doubt the manners of the Idris' rulers. He could even picture Robert pouring that drink over his head, if he has much suggested to have one.
"Explain yourself, King of Magnifia." Robert thundered and Magnus arched an eyebrow in a cool way as if he was not tolerating such manner of speech directed to him. Far in the back, Alec begrudgingly admired Magnus' royal air.
"Explain what, Ruler of Idris?"
A snort was heard from the three brothers and Lydia – clearly the youngsters found Magnus amusing.
Robert tried to calm himself down although the king was really getting on his nerves. The thought that his son, his heir, was engaged to such a flamboyant character and nonetheless a man, it made his nerves tingle with anxiety and violence. He wanted to strike and fast so this story didn't spread and cause instability in their rule.
"The meaning of your words – please, explain them. You said you were engaged to my son."
Magnus smiled slightly as he looked at one of his rings. "That's right. I and Alexander got engaged two weeks ago." He said and looked at Robert who gaped open-mouthed at him – such a funny sight, Magnus thought.
"Robert, what's the meaning of this?!" Henry interfered and looked murderous and everyone with a bit of a heart felt for him. His daughter had been promised to marry Alexander Lightwood, but now it seemed that the heir was engaged with someone else. However, Lydia didn't seem to mind this one bit at all, she was just trying to make an understanding of all this, even if her gaze kept being drawn to where the Lightwood brothers stood together, all three looking ready to defend one another. She felt her heart flutter like it didn't before when she met Alec.
Magnus stood up in a swooshing move, making everyone look at him like he was magic on legs. "I should apologize, sir." He addressed Henry who looked taken aback by this. "At the moment of our engagement, no one knew, not even Alexander." He continued and looked sincerely apologetic making Henry unsure of how to react, but he did poise the question on everyone's mind –
"How he could not know he was engaged to someone?"
At this, some red colored Magnus' cheeks making look even more attractive in Alec's eyes. "I assume that by now everyone is aware that Alexander has been receiving gifts from an unknown sender, namely me." He started and walked across the room slowly, his gaze steady on the object of his desires. "I know for a fact that Alexander never accepted them," He continued and Alec caught himself feeling guilty, "but he did accept only one. And that was the most important of them all." He added as he stopped in front of the other one who was watching him with open incredulity. How easily his cold mask faded in front of Magnus.
A jolt passed through Alec as the king took his right hand gently, lifting it for everyone to see the glittering golden ring with the bluest sapphire resting on his ring finger. An intake of breath could be heard from everyone, especially when Magnus lifted his own hand, showing the pair of the ring Alec wore – a pale silver encasing an amethyst of the deepest purple. The design of both rings was similar, only the color of the stones differing one which seemed to match something in them – sapphire for Alec's blue eyes and amethyst for Magnus' mysterious self.
"B-but it doesn't mean anything!" Alec pulled his hand away, hiding it behind his hand like it could make everything normal. "It was a gift, there was no interaction between us and like you said, I rejected your gifts!"
Magnus tried not to wince at the other one's words. "In Magnifia, the rings are a pair only to the King and his consort. Once you have accepted it, you have accepted my proposal." He tried to explain, although he could see that this reason won't make it through.
"In Idris, the exchange of two rings means nothing." Robert said with a rough voice, his eyes dead set on Magnus. "You can't come and claim your rights in Idris, especially with a small island like Magnifia –"
"Careful." Magnus said softly with an easy smile. "Magnifia might be small, but its resources are limitless and available throughout the Seven Islands." He added and from the tension that suddenly rose, he realized that everyone understood his message – if he made his island's resources unavailable to Idris only, that would create an advantage to the other islands to come bustling over.
"I don't think it's wise to make threats if you want our brother's hand." Max interfered and his gray eyes warned Magnus that he was overstepping his boundaries. Next to him, Alec made a sound between snort and scoff at his brother's words – really, when had he turned into the lady of the castle?
"Max, stop it." Isabelle put her hand over her brother's shoulder. "Magnus is just trying to explain his island's rules. Just because they don't apply to Idris it doesn't mean that they're not important." She continued, Magnus' eyes darting to her in an appreciative manner. "While this might not have been the best approach, Alec did accept the ring." She added, looking apologetically at Alec who resumed his no-emotions mask. "Magnus, is there a way your engagement can be undone and maybe follow a more neutral way of courting my brother without putting an engagement ring on him?" Isabelle asked Magnus who looked surprised – out of all the Lightwoods, she proved to be the smartest.
"It can only be undone if Alexander is not interested or attracted in me." Magnus said and everyone zeroed in on Alec who grew, if possible, even more stiffer than before.
"That's hardly even worth debating." Robert immediately dismissed the idea of his son being attracted by a man like Magnus. "It is clear that Alec doesn't feel that way about you." He added and there was a nasty smile on his face.
"Alexander, try taking off your ring." Magnus simply said and much to his surprise, Alec found himself he didn't want to. The ring had come to be his in the last two weeks and it felt like a part of himself; giving it up would mean giving a part of himself. Also, this ring would be his only reminder of Magnus if he were to never see the man – he didn't want to part with it.
But he had to.
He was the heir of Idris, he had duties to his people. So, with regret in his heart, he reached to pull off his ring only to find out he couldn't. Despite the hustling joy in his belly, Alec kept trying to take it out, but in vain. He looked at Magnus who was smiling at him softly and full of yearning.
"If you had taken the ring off, it would have meant you're not my consort." He explained to Alec who gulped, feeling his heart beating fast and hard. "But you are. I am sorry for not having been a proper suitor, but my intentions for you are of the best and I wanted to know you since the moment I saw you. I would be blessed and honored if you would be my consort in Magnifia." He continued, somehow his hand having found Alec's and holding it while his cat-like gaze bore into Alec's blue eyes.