Chapter Twenty Eight

When Luke awoke the next morning, and saw Valentine still sleeping beside him, he recalled a bittersweet memory from just shortly after he was bitten by the Brocelind Forest pack leader.

He went to Amatis with the news when he was well enough to walk. Valentine made plans with Stephen to assure them privacy. He had hoped to stay with her while he waited, but she refused him. Instead, he returned to his cabin, formerly theirs – Amatis had married and moved in with Stephen a few years before this. He thought of going inside, but it reminded him too much of her. Instead, he laid down on a patch of moss. Sleep was the only thing that held any appeal, and he dozed. When he awoke, Valentine was lying beside him. Luke checked the light, it was late afternoon.

"What are you doing here? You were busy with the Circle today."

"I could feel the meeting did not go well." That he felt it through their bond was unspoken.

"She said she doesn't want to see me again."

"Stay with Jocelyn and I."

"That's not necessary."

"Pack your things."

Luke closed his eyes. He did not want to argue with his parabatai. Did not want to stay with them and be the proverbial third wheel. And, if even his sister had rejected him, how would Valentine react if he did become a werewolf the next full moon? Valentine was here, offering support, but this felt like the beginning of the end.

And it had been. Despite Valentine's assurances, the love they felt for each other was not enough for him to remain by his side after he turned. Last night felt the same, the assurances, the declaration of caring. It had not been enough then, and he doubted it would be enough now.

Still, he could enjoy what time they did have. They kissed some, but neither made attempts beyond that. They went on more hikes, sat in the mineral bath, played chess, cooked meals. He told Valentine of the years he travelled alone, before meeting up with Jocelyn and Clary. Valentine shared some stories of demons he and Jonathan faced. They made no definite plans to see each other again.

Rita came to get them at the appointed time. The pack had done fine in his absence. He fell back into his usual routine; working at the shop; repairs at headquarters; evenings at the Hunter's Moon; letters to Amatis and Jocelyn; visits with Magnus and Simon, and wondered what the future held.

"Magnus, I need to talk to you."

"Ah, Rita, do come in. Please, there is no need to knock. You could not possibly intrude upon me."

Magnus was standing in front of his closet. He had just taken a shower, and was determining what to wear when Rita burst in.

"I see you are naked, but, Magnus, we're centuries old. It's more shocking that I haven't already seen. But I see I have disturbed your delicate constitution. Would it help if I took my dress off?"

"No, I am afraid it would not, Rita."

"Then put some pants on, get over yourself and meet me in your sitting room."

Magnus looked up at the ceiling as Rita walked out of his room. He sighed, quickly put an ensemble together, then sat down on a plush arm chair across from Rita.

"Alright. What is it you wanted to speak to me about?"

"It's the Pauper."

"Luke?" This was surprising.

"Yes."

"What about him?"

"Did he say anything to you about his trip with Valentine?"

Magnus stilled. He wondered where Rita was going with this. Normally, she got right to the point. This subtle approach coming from her was disquieting.

"He said nothing in particular about it. That he enjoyed hiking in the woods, that he enjoyed your mineral bath."

"How has the Pauper seemed to you lately?"

Again, the indirect questioning. "He seems alright. Why do you ask?"

"You trust my intuition, right?"

"About certain things."

"Let me be more specific. You trust my intuition about sex, right?"

"I do." Her ability often made him feel as though she had just read his diary.

"They did not have sex at the cabin."

"You weren't monitoring them, were you?"

"No, I just know these things. There is only one bed there. How could they not? They were alone in a cabin in the middle of the woods. Really, what else is there to do? They went out of their way not to. They had sex at Renwick's, and that place is miserable in the winter. It's nice in the summer though, all that stone keeps it cool. It's really a shame you didn't like it there, Magnus."

"Back to the point, Rita?"

"I know they're attracted to each other. And why wouldn't they be? Valentine's gorgeous-" When Magnus made a face at that, Rita continued, "My stars! You don't think so, do you? That makes me question your taste. And in regards to the Pauper, I have to say Magnus, I was upset with you. I made my feelings for him perfectly clear, and you still felt the need to start something-something?"

"This blasted rumor!" yelled Magnus, while Rita laughed. "I found it too amusing not to mention, but I'll get back to my problem with all this. My sense is the Pauper is the one having the issue, not Valentine. There's something I don't know, tell me what it is. I will go spell the Pauper if you don't."

Oh, Gods. Not this again. "Please, do not do that."

"Then tell me what I want to know."

Magnus was not comfortable, but he thought speaking would be preferable to Rita showing up at Luke's. "Give me a moment to think about this. Luke doesn't share with me about Valentine."

Magnus was touched that Luke felt comfortable enough to tell him he was going away with Valentine, though the memory of what happened the last time Luke went out into the woods hung between. Luke didn't tell him much about the trip, again, Magnus had been surprised Luke shared what he had, but he had noticed Luke seemed rather one dimensional, flat.

Magnus had worried about Luke in various degrees for their entire acquaintance. This worry he would not rank high, but he had literally seen Luke dying. Rita was saying she felt something was wrong, and he too had worried for Luke about this relationship. Magnus thought of a conversation he'd overheard between Jocelyn and Amatis:

"Jocelyn, even if you were here, do you think Lucian would have asked for your help?"

"I've wondered that myself. He asked me occasionally to work at the shop the day after a full moon. I never questioned him. I knew it was bad if he asked." Jocelyn said.

"Did you know he never told me he was having trouble with his studies? I only found out when Valentine told me. I confronted him, 'How bad was it?' He said he didn't know if he would have graduated."

"He didn't tell me, either."

"He's always been like that. Even when he was little, he'd be coming down with a cold, or having growing pains. He would say he was fine. I don't think he even knew what I was asking, when I asked if he was okay."

"I think by his standards, if he's alive, he's alright."

Luke had almost died. He would have been, by Jocelyn's estimation, 'not alright'. Magnus remembered when he himself tried to take his life. He felt he couldn't go on living. The isolation of being immortal, half demon. Camille saved him, and was his companion through that dark time. They eventually became lovers, but he was not capable of being any sort of romantic partner to her in the aftermath of that attempt. It had taken time to come back to himself, to feel his life force once again.

He hadn't considered that Luke might be feeling similarly, because their circumstances were so different. Luke attempted to kill himself because he didn't want to hurt anyone as a wolf, and after he recovered, he quickly jumped into life with the wolf pack and was, by all accounts, excelling as their leader.

Magnus, in his recovery, took things at a much slower pace. He and Camille spent much time just the two of them, before slowly venturing out for meals, shopping for clothes, working their way up to the parties they both so loved. He felt disoriented at first, as if the world were going on without him. If Luke felt anything like that, he would imagine having sex would be difficult, especially with Valentine, who – even in Magnus' brief meetings with him – came across as an intense individual.

This was all, of course, incredibly personal, but Rita had no qualms, and Magnus really did not want her to go spell Luke and make him talk about this.

"Yes, I can think of something that could be putting a hamper on their activities, so to speak."

"Do tell."

"I need you to promise me something first. If I do, you will not spell him, and what I share with you remains confidential."

"I don't make promises I can't keep, Magnus. But, I do have their best interests at heart. 'Star crossed lovers,' be damned, I'm rooting for them."

That was incredibly sincere, coming from Rita. Magnus felt more comfortable sharing, but he kept it vague.

"Luke suffered a grave injury. He almost died. I am wondering if the trauma of it is effecting his intimate relations."

Rita pondered this for a moment.

"So, the body's fine, his soul ain't?"

"Yes."

"What if they were at the Pauper's house? I picked a place I thought he would like, but obviously it didn't do the trick."

"So many people now know where Luke lives. Valentine wouldn't dare go there again, and it's rife with interruptions. That's why they went to Renwick's, where we proceeded to interrupt them."

"We're warlocks, Magnus. We can give them one night's privacy there."

"I can't deny that, but I feel we've meddled enough. Let them handle things."

"Do I need to mention again that they were at a cabin by themselves and they did not 'handle it?' Also, I find this notion of meddling ridiculous. Everyone is all up in everyone's business. I'm just up front about it."

"I'm rooting for them too."

"Good! I'll talk to Valentine."

"I didn't say I would yet, and what do you plan on telling Valentine anyway? Try having sex at Luke's house, we think it will work, and we'll make sure you are not interrupted?"

"See, that wasn't so complicated, was it? Unless, of course you would like to talk with the Pauper?"

Magnus knew Rita would move ahead with this, regardless. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

"No. I can't imagine having this conversation with him. You go talk to Valentine. He is as unfazed by this as you are. I envy you sometimes, for that."

Rita smiled. "I knew you would see things my way."

Rita returned to Magnus' apartment, this time with Valentine in tow. They exchanged greetings, then Magnus bid them to take a seat. While these two were as calm as could be, Magnus was already feeling flustered. "I never should have let you talk me into this."

"Aww, Magnus, no need to be shy!" soothed Rita.

"I am glad for your involvement. This is much preferable to Rita using spell work. Her appearance alone would give Lucian cause for concern." added Valentine.

"Do I detect a note of jealousy?" Rita retorted.

"Let's get on with it." said Magnus. "Valentine, if we cover you, would you be willing to go to Luke's house?"

"Yes. I would prefer it to be Sunday. The shop is closed the next day."

"We can do that, but who's going to tell Luke?"

"I would prefer you tell him, Magnus."

Magnus had not foreseen this. "May I ask why?"

"I do not want to write this in a letter, and he will want more than just my assurance that spell work will be used to shield us. I have just said that I believe Rita's appearance would be startling."

"My curves have brought men to their knees. Admit it, you are worried he will find them more appealing than your abs. Oh, Valentine, that reminds me, isn't this something! I saw Magnus naked the other day, and he has absolutely been working out, to impress his Shadowhunter, no doubt. Oh, wait, it's even worse than that isn't it? You're working out with him! Oh, Magnus, what's happened to you, doll. Waking up early, and now this? It's cute, in a sad way."

"I will talk to Luke."

"Is something troubling you, Magnus?"

He and Luke were sitting at Luke's house, at his kitchen table. Magnus brought breakfast with him, and the girls had not yet arrived for their shift. They had been chatting for a little while now. Magnus thought it would be best to ease into this conversation, but even he was having trouble thinking of how to say this gracefully.

"There is something that has been brought to my attention."

"What is it?"

"Rita paid me a visit the other day. She hasn't come by to see you has she?" It just occurred to him that Rita could have shown up here before him, and he would be none the wiser. That would be just like her.

"I haven't seen Rita since she portalled me back to New York. Did she say she was coming to see me?" Luke looked slightly uneasy at the thought.

"Yes, but she came to me first. You see, how do I say this, she told me she had concerns about you and Valentine. She thought she sensed trouble between you when she picked you up. She told me she wanted to ask you about it. I asked her not to, but you know how she is, she's like a blood hound.

"I know I am tap-dancing around the subject – You do not know this, but I am a fantastic dancer, you really must come to one of my parties – And I really just need to come out with it. She thought you two did not have relations at the cabin, and she wanted to know why. She asked if I knew and said if I did not tell her, she would go to you. I thought I could get her off the trail, but I should have known better.

"It occurred to me that, you may still be having trouble, after your ordeal. After I almost took my life, I was incredibly disconnected. I told Rita that I thought that was maybe what she sensed – though I only told her you had had a grave injury. She has once again taken it upon herself to help you. What she is offering is this: She and I will put up wards around your house so that Valentine can come here. You will not be interrupted. We already talked to Valentine about this, and he agreed to it."

Luke was silent, and Magnus, out of nerves, continued on. "I acknowledge once again this is none of my business. My only defense is that she said she would spell the truth out of you if she had to. I did not want to put you through that, yet I could not think of a way to stop her."

"It's fine, I'm not angry with you, Magnus. When did Valentine say he was available?"

Magnus was relieved, but also suspicious. Anything too good to be true usually was. "He only asked that it be a Sunday."

"I am free not this but the next Sunday. Will Rita portal him into New York?"

"Yes."

"Nine o'clock that evening would be good for me."

"Alright, we will all come by then. Rita and I will put up the warding."

Magnus took a moment to look at Luke now. He had the sense he was not alright, just as he had that morning at Renwick's. When he sat with Luke in his truck, he could see the hurt in his eyes, even though it did not express beyond that. Today, he couldn't even see that.

It would not have been pleasant if Luke were upset with him, but this lack of reaction was unsettling. It almost seemed as if he didn't care one way or another what happened. Or, Magnus considered, with shock, Luke thought he knew what the outcome of this would be? That it would fail? That this lack was resignation. At this, Magnus felt very much like Rita: "Star crossed lovers be damned." His friend deserved better than this. If that required meddling, so be it.