Entanglements
The midday sun reached Magnus' pupils through his closed eyelids in soft hues of green and blue and ever so gently beckoned him back to the waking world. He inhaled deeply, stretched – oxygen simultaneously reaching muscles and brain – and finally, though still reluctantly, he opened his eyes, his pupils slowly adjusting to the light. As the cobwebs of sleep slowly cleared away and he became more aware of his surroundings, Magnus noticed that he was lying on his stomach and that, surprisingly, his head rested at the foot of the bed. Someone had covered him and as he inhaled deeply once again, the scent of soap, spices and something else he could never identify, but that were so completely Alec, invaded his senses.
He was alone in the bed and, when he lifted his head and looked around, he saw that there was no one else in the room either. Leisurely and unhurriedly, Magnus turned and gazed up through the skylight at the little pieces of blue sky visible between the tree brunches under which the cottage was sheltered. He stretched once more and realized that his body ached and pulled in the most delightful of ways, the aching filling his mind with the most exquisite memories: memories of Alec dragging fingers and nails down his back, Alec's teeth against his skin, Alec holding on to him with Shadowhunter strength. Other memories soon followed: Alec calling his name; Alec telling him that his heart belonged to Magnus; Alec's skin glowing silver in the darkness.
As if by instinct, his ears began to search for the sounds of Alec, filtering out the birdsongs, the ocean and the breeze until they finally homed in on Alec's soft and a-little-off-key whistling coming from downstairs. The sound called a smile to his lips – a smile that was just a little bit self-congratulatory – and he thought that Alec and his whistling fit perfectly in this house, that he was looking forward to Alec being part of the landscape and soundtrack of his life.
Magnus had never brought anyone, not even the people with whom he had shared his life before, to this secret hideaway, and sometimes decades had gone by between his own visits to the cottage. He had not even planned to bring Alec here the first time. It had been one of those spur-of-the-moment kinds of thing. This place was one of his most guarded secrets, his refuge when he needed a place to hide because he had gotten himself in trouble, needed time alone to work out a new spell or learn new magic, or, during sad times, lick his wounds and grieve. Yet, even the first time that Alec was here, Magnus had felt that the Shadowhunter, with his quiet and thoughtful demeanor, belonged; that this house so far away from the hustle and bustle of New York, so removed from their active lives, became a home when Alec occupied it.
As he laid in bed, his arms folded behind his head, Magnus thought that while he had known for some time that he was in love with Alec, he now understood that this love was the kind that, even for an immortal, came only once in a lifetime, the kind of love that completes one's life and makes one want to plan for two instead of one. The thought of loving in that way someone so mortal and ephemeral should have unsettled Magnus, but he was completely at ease with his feelings, as if a piece that had been missing in the puzzle of his life finally fit in place.
He let his mind wonder some more and his thoughts inevitably began to run through the events of the last few days, weeks and months. He thought that he was truly happy for the first time in a long time, perhaps happier than he had ever been before. Being with Alec was easy. Despite their different histories and the complicated relationship between their peoples, they got along and worked well together. Even during the crisis that had triggered their latest misadventure, neither of them had ever truly doubted their feelings for each other. Furthermore, from the very first time, being in love and making love with Alec had felt right. Unlike many of his previous relationships, being with Alec had never required comprise, submission or domination; being together had always been an act of mutual offering and mutual surrender.
He knew, of course, what many people thought of the kind of relationship him and Alec had. He had lived through times of deep bigotry, bigotry that turned cruel, murderous and even barbaric against people who did not look or did not conform to dominant ideas of morality and racial superiority, people who were seen as inferior, aberrations, immoral. He had been at the receiving end of those insults because of his ethnic background, his sexual identity and his condition as a warlock. Even if human society was nowadays more accepting of two men loving one another, homophobia was still rampant. In fact, Magnus suspected that homophobia might even be more dangerous and violent now because it had been pushed underground. The Nephilim, with their closed, secretive and insular society, their glamored lives and their determination to set themselves apart as a superior species were not free from the sins of superiority, bigotry and prejudice. Furthermore, they were rather slow in keeping up with the pace of mundane or even Downworld openness. The Angel's chosen were particularly afflicted by prejudice, not only against same-sex relationships but also, and most importantly, against the Downworld.
Yet, Alec had chosen to be with him, or rather, they had chosen to be with each other, and as the events of the last few weeks had demonstrated, they had gone to great lengths for one another. It had not been easy for either of them, even if for different reasons. Alec had had to go against thousands of years of traditions, prejudice and expectations, and he, Magnus, had had to overcome his own painful history with the Nephilim, some of it even involving the Lightwood family. Magnus had had to set aside centuries of resentment, abuse and the discrimination he had suffered at the hands of the Nephilim. But how not to jump if Alec had extended his hand to catch him? How not to defy prejudice and his own reluctance when Alec had looked at him with such awe, admiration and acceptance? How not to meet Alec halfway when Alec was the one to take the first step? Yes, he thought, this relationship felt right, as if after decades of wandering in the darkness, unsure of which direction his destiny would take him, his life finally made sense with Alec in it.
However, as his mind eventually came back to the previous night, something started to nag at Magnus, a mystery that needed solving. For, while, since the first time, they had always enjoyed incredible closeness and intimacy, for one moment last night, Alec had touched Magnus in ways he could not describe or explain, in ways that were more intense and more intimate than anything he had ever felt. At that moment in which the scars in Alec's chest and back glowed, Magnus had felt what he could only describe as tendrils, filaments or wisps of energy emerging from Alec and reaching towards him, touching and caressing every single cell in his body and soul. Every nerve-ending and sensory receptor in Magnus had come alive at once and, disconcertingly, his magic had awakened of its own accord as if it was answering Alec's command. Magnus' magic had responded to the call and, as it reached deep inside Alec, Magnus had felt like his magic was getting entangled with Alec's Nephilim life force.
Magic always required a certain amount of coercion – that is why it was called a power – because it required warlocks to bend the forces of nature to their will in order to extract the strength they needed to create a potion or perform a spell, incantation or summon. Those forces of nature always resisted. Magnus was, by all accounts, a powerful warlock, and, he had always prided himself on his exceptional capacity to master his powers, to control and even dominate the demonic part of him in order to master the forces that created and sustained magic. However, last night, during that indescribably intense and intimate moment, Magnus had had no control and there had not been any need for coercion, resistance or struggle.
The sensations, the sensory overload and the loss of control should have been overwhelming and terrifying. But instead, Magnus had felt entirely at ease, utterly in synergy and at peace with the forces around him and with the demonic and the human parts of him. He had felt that he was part of an invisible web that tied him to Alec's Nephilim energy, and to all energy around them. It was as if the mysterious forces emanating from Alec were guiding him into the depth of a tranquil lake made all of magic, and in which he and Alec floated in a state of completely intertwinement, as if their bodies, spirits and souls were one with each other and with nature.
Magnus was not complaining. He had never experienced such intense sensations, or that kind of intimacy and synergism. Just thinking about it now, gave him goosebumps and caused his magic to stir and crave once again for that state of bliss. But his rational self could not help wondering what had caused the phenomenon, what was happening to Alec and how much their experiences in the Seventh Circle were to blame. After all, nothing that came from that place should be taken lightly, not matter how positive it seemed at first sight. His father's realm was a dangerous place, especially for a Nephilim. Furthermore, Magnus knew his father too well and Asmodeus never gave anything in exchange for nothing. He needed to unravel this mystery, investigate the effects that a journey to hell might have on a Nephilim. He certainly needed to speak with Catarina and Tessa, find out what they knew and if they could help.
A sound from the kitchen irrupted in his reflection and the certitude of Alec's presence recalled Magnus to the here and now. The idea of wrapping his arms around the Shadowhunter, breathe in his scent and kiss those sensual lips, finally convinced him to put his concerns aside at least for the moment. He did not want to worry Alec until he, Magnus, knew more. Besides, at least for now, Alec seemed fine, he had said so himself. Yes, Magnus thought, he would call Tessa and Catarina at the first opportunity, but for now, his lover was downstairs, likely waiting for him.
Magnus got up and, after quickly – and with the assistance of a simple spell – making the bed with fresh and crisp white sheets, he headed for the bathroom. He looked at his reflection in the mirror and the twinkle that seemed to have found permanent residence in his eyes confirmed once again that he was a fool in love. He shifted his gaze down to his chest and then, turning, he examined the reflection of his back in the mirror, and a smile lifted the corners of his lips. As he had suspected, faint and some not-so-faint scratches crisscrossed his chest and back. Magnus thought of using a quick healing spell to take care of them but then reconsidered; for why get rid of the marks left by a night he never wanted to forget? So instead, he brushed his teeth, washed his face and run wet fingers through his hair, just enough to bring some order to his unruly hairstyle. After making sure he was sufficiently presentable, he put on silk pajama bottoms and a matching robe – both in a deep blue he thought would look wonderful against Alec's skin – and headed downstairs in search of Alec.
He found him in the kitchen, barefooted and wearing his frayed grey t-shirt over a pair of black boxer briefs that hugged his hips perfectly and temptingly. As he descended the stairs, Magnus saw Alec put something in the oven and then turn towards the coffee maker on the counter, apparently oblivious to Magnus' ogling. Magnus thought that beautiful and striking were not words that did justice to the way Alec looked, with his hair in disarray reflecting the sunlight coming in through the windows, his long legs and his perfectly proportionate body, a body that, as Magnus had confirmed once again last night, seemed to have been made, not only for fighting, but also for loving.
"Good morning Alexander," Magnus quietly said when he approached Alec from behind and wrapped his arms around him, the sensation of Alec's muscular back against his own chest defying any attempts at description.
"Good morning Magnus, you are up," Alec said his body immediately and easily relaxing against Magnus, "did you sleep well?"
"During those short intervals that you allowed me to sleep, I did," Magnus replied with a coy smile.
"When I allowed you to sleep?" Alec asked in a tone of feigned outrage, his face turning to look at Magnus, the force of those eyes making Magnus skip a heartbeat. "I think we may have different versions of last night Magnus."
Magnus marvelled at how wonderful his name sounded in Alec's lips, perhaps as wonderful as when Alec called him warlock in the intimacy of their bed. But then Alec smiled seductively, and that smile called for Magnus's lips, and all thoughts went up in smoke. Answering the call, Magnus leaned in and kissed Alec gently.
"Let's agree to disagree, shall we?" Magnus softly said once their lips parted. But then Alec turned, leaned against the counter and, pulling him closer, wrapped his arms firmly, yet also gently, around his waist, and Magnus thought that he would agree to anything Alec said as long as Alec continued holding him and looking at him in the way he was doing now.
"Did I tire you out Magnus?" Alec asked, and his smile and the low tone of his voice were just the right combination of innocent and seductive. "Was I too demanding?"
"I think I should be the one asking that question," Magnus replied as he tried to control the goosebumps that threatened to cover every inch of his skin. "May I remind you that Catarina threatened me with all kinds of nasty consequences if I didn't make sure you rested. How are you feeling Alexander?" he then asked, his smile fading into an expression that was a little bit more serious. Magnus rested his hand against Alec's chest feeling for that mysterious mark that last night had triggered something that Magnus could still not explain or fathom.
"I feel great," Alec replied. "Really," he added in response to Magnus' doubtful expression. "I feel stronger than I have felt in days and the pressure that I felt on my chest yesterday is almost gone."
"Do you do remember what happened last night?" Magnus asked tentatively, unable to contain the concern that had irrupted in his thoughts earlier, yet not wanting to alarm Alec.
"I remember every second of it," Alec whispered in Magnus' ear, and Magnus lost the battle against the goosebumps and his magic stirred at the sound of those words. "You were holding out on me Magnus. Whatever you did, however you did it, it was so intense that I can't even describe it. You never told me that being with you could feel like that."
"That has never happened to me before, Alexander, never. Whatever happened, it was not me, or rather it was not just me."
"But I saw the magic flowing out of you," Alec argued. "I felt it enter and running through me, healing me, releasing the pressure in my chest, and, for a moment, I felt transformed somehow. I felt that I was becoming more than what I am. Does that make sense? It was so intense that the hairs in my arms stand on end just thinking about it."
"I can relate to that," Magnus added, a smile lifting the corners of his mouth. "But that was not just my magic, Alexander. The scar on your chest had something to do with it. What if whatever is happening has to do with the energy I used to free you from the Seventh Circle? We need to find out what caused it, don't you think?"
"Can we not just enjoy this for a while, Magnus, this peace, this time without The Clave, demons, mysterious forces, and everything else that constantly occupies our lives? Can we not leave the rational explanations for when we go home?" Alec asked. "We have gone through so much; can we not just take this time as a blessing?"
"I don't know Alexander," Magnus replied with a deep sigh, "I think we should investigate some more."
Alec sighed and smiled. "Since I know I cannot stop you or convince you to leave it alone…," Alec began to say but before finishing the sentence, he leaned in and kissed Magnus. "Can I just ask that you don't get too obsessed? As I said, I feel great and I don't feel that what happened last night was sinister. In fact," he added, and he leaned in closer again to whisper in Magnus' ear, "I think it was unforgettable, even divine." He followed the words with a gentle and very enticing bite to Magnus' earlobe, a bite that made Magnus lose his train of thoughts. Images of wisps of silver magic and memories of the incredible sensations of the night before began to push away all rational thought.
"I guess we can wait until we go back to New York," Magnus said with sigh, his body automatically melting against Alec's strong body.
Before Magnus could say anything else, Alec was simultaneously kissing him and loosening the knot on the belt of his robe. A moment later, Alec's hands were going on a new recognizant mission up and down Magnus' back, and his mouth was doing a delightful dance along his neck. The sensation of Alec's body awakening against his own finally convinced Magnus that, at least for now, he could postpone the asking of questions. And then, they were kissing, completely oblivious to their surroundings, completely engrossed in the feel of each other's lips and bodies, and the way in which they each anticipated and responded to the other's needs and demands.
Alec's hands were slowly making their way under the waistband of Magnus' pajamas, pulling him closer and caressing him with unmatched dexterity when a beeping sound rudely irrupted in their private moment. "Brunch is ready, warlock," Alec informed him, his breathing shallow, his forehead leaning against Magnus'. "We should get some food in you and build up your strength. I don't want you to faint on me."
"I am an all-powerful warlock, Shadowhunter, and you have stamina runes, I don't think strength is an issue," Magnus said, and then leaned in for another passionate kiss. However, he had to acknowledge that whatever Alec had baked smelled delicious and that his stomach was complaining of hunger and his brain was suffering from coffee deprivation. "Let's eat," he finally said after another minute of slow and sensual kissing, "or Catarina will really have my hide if you faint from hunger,".
They reluctantly separated and while Alec made and served coffee, Magnus set dishes and food on the kitchen counter: fruit, cheese, bread and the frittata that Alec had prepared. The food was so delicious, filling and sensual and they were in such as state of arousal that the meal became part of their lovemaking, a foreplay full of promising flirtations, auspicious caresses and stolen kisses. The perfect preamble for an afternoon of exquisite pleasures. They whispered little sweet somethings in each other's ears. They laughed and yearningly looked into each other's eyes with a desire that kept building and building until their skins were covered in goosebumps, their senses were full of each other's scents, and their minds were drunk with the most lustful thoughts.
"Don't do that," Magnus told Alec, when Alec placed a blueberry in Magnus' mouth a while later.
"Do what?" Alec asked, and his tone was the perfect imitation of innocence.
"You know what," Magnus responded, his voice heavy with desire. "If you keep biting your lower lip like that, I will not be accountable for what I might do to you on this very counter."
"Is that a promise?" Alec replied and bit his lip once again, and Magnus grabbed him by the front of his t-shirt and pulled him closer, taking possession of the offending lips, officially putting an end to the meal.
The night before, and despite having been apart for so long, they had taken their time and had made love slowly and without rush, rejoicing in the process of recognizing and reclaiming each other's bodies once again. That had not necessarily been Magnus' doing and a few times, specially at the beginning, Alec had restrained Magnus' unruly impulses. Today, however, there seemed to be no need for restrain and Alec quickly surrendered to Magnus' overwhelming desire. Instinct pushed aside all rational thought or attempt at self-control, and a powerful need for release took over them with surprising force.
In seconds, Magnus was pulling Alec towards the sofa, kissing him at the same time that he hastily helped off his t-shirt and underwear. And then, he pushed him with a little bit more strength than necessary down on the couch and climbed on top of him. All the while, he continued kissing him and caressing him with the need and hunger of a starving man. Meanwhile, Alec's hands resumed their exploration past the waistband of Magnus' pajamas, rounding his behind and pulling him closer and closer until Magnus thought there was no possible way to tell where one ended and the other began, until they had fused together and become one, one organism, one life moving towards the same goal.
Their bodies began to move together, offering and taking, their minds unable to keep up with their instincts, their lips kissing and whispering words of love and wanting that acquired the quality of incantations. When Alec's body shuddered and quaked in that exquisite way that Magnus had learned to recognize as the moment in which his lover surrendered to a climax he could no longer contain, he too let go and finally jumped into the abyss, his chest opened, his heart exposed to the four winds. For a moment or an hour – neither of them knew – they froze in place, still and unable to move, their bodies transformed into a single connected muscle before they were washed away by the most exquisite wave and they collapsed. Magnus rested his head on Alec's shoulder, his face turned towards that sweet spot where neck met shoulder, and Alec wrapped his arms around Magnus, as if holding on for dear life.
"I like how this fabric feels on you," Alec whispered when he recovered his voice sometime later, "it is soft and sexy, just like you. It makes me think of a gift that is just for me to unwrap." When Magnus gave him an inquisitorial look, Alec gestured to the silk robe Magnus was still wearing and run a hand down and under the waistband of Magnus' pajama bottoms which were barely holding on to Magnus' hips.
Magnus looked down at himself and laughed. "I guess I was in a rush," he said, the memory of being naked while Alec remained fully dressed the night before adding to the seductiveness and sinfulness of the moment.
"I guess we are even now," Alec whispered as if he had read Magnus' mind. "But I think we should find a reason to disrobe you soon."
"Aren't you tired Alexander? You were in death's doorsteps just a few days ago."
"Of making love with you? Never," Alec replied. "All you have to do is touch me, warlock, and I forget everything; all pain and tiredness gone. That is the kind of power you have over me." Alec sighed deeply and tighten his hold on Magnus and for a while they laid entangled in a knot of arms and legs.
After a few minutes, Magnus flicked his fingers and with a wave of his hand send a flow of magic into the air. At that moment, water started running somewhere upstairs, the faint scent of sandalwood eventually reaching them. Slowly and gently disentangling himself from Alec, Magnus stood up and, reaching for Alec's hand, pulled him to his feet.
"Come Alexander," he said. He then slowly guided Alec up the stairs, pausing a couple of times along the way, first so Magnus could stand a step higher than Alec and kiss him, and then so Alec could push Magnus against the banister to return the gesture. When they finally got to their bedroom, Magnus pulled Alec towards the bathroom, and as he did, he congratulated himself for having had the foresight of installing an extra-large Japanese bathtub the last time he renovated his bathroom.
Alec sat on the edge of the tub, the sunlight filtering through the panoramic window behind him reflecting on his skin and hair and making his eyes shine like pools of dark honey. He pulled Magnus to him, and with as gentle movements as the night before, he began draw a path of kisses along Magnus' skin starting at the hollow of his neck, while slowly peeling off Magnus' silk robe and pajama bottoms.
"I am sorry I scratched you Magnus," Alec said kissing one of the scratches on Magnus' chest, and the look of dismay in his eyes made Magnus regret not having used that healing spell.
"It is nothing," Magnus replied. "I also scratched you," he added gesturing to a similar injury in Alec's shoulder.
Alec looked in the direction Magnus was pointing and smiled. "I guess we were both a little distracted," he whispered in Magnus's ear and then followed with a gentle bite to his earlobe. "You did drive me a little crazy last night. I am not even sure I was in control of myself at times."
"You and I both," Magnus replied, as he searched for Alec's eyes. When their eyes met, Magnus shifted his gaze down to Alec's lips and after a moment of exquisite anticipation, he reasserted his ownership of those lips. Alec surrendered to the kiss and then his hands were exploring once again Magnus' bare skin while Magnus' fingers were running through Alec's hair. When Magnus rested his hand against Alec's cheek, Alec turned and kissed the inside of his wrist and the gesture was so gentle and so loving that Magnus' heart melted.
"You are so beautiful that you take my breath away," Alec whispered, and his words and his eyes were so full of honesty that they had the power of erasing all memory of those times when other Nephilim had looked at Magnus with scorn, disgust or disdain. At that moment, Magnus felt that Alec's words were remaking him into a new and better being, a being without darkness in him. Magnus' reply was a gentle kiss on Alec's forehead. But the kissed quickly turned passionate as Magnus' lips progressed down Alec's face until they reached Alec's lips once again. And as if by magic, Alec and Magnus became fire and flames once more, their thoughts and emotions entangled together, and for the remaining of the afternoon, that bathroom and that bedroom became their whole world, a world of their own making in which time had no meaning and only they existed.
They were in the bathtub a long time later, Magnus' back against Alec's chest, his head leaning back against the Shadowhunter's shoulder. Magnus was relishing in the protective feel of Alec's arms around him, the warm water that covered them, and the way in which Alec was running a sponge lathered in sandalwood soap along his chest and abdomen. The scent together with the feel of Alec's body against his own were making Magnus feel a little inebriated.
"Does this mean we are in a relationship again Magnus?" Alec softly asked.
"And here I thought we were going for casual sex and a one-night stand," Magnus replied turning to look at Alec with a playful smile.
"One-night stand? Casual sex? Really Magnus?" Alec replied, his smile equally playful. "I don't think we could ever have just sex, and, as I think we have proven today, one night will never be enough for us." Alec leaned in and tenderly kissed Magnus, the scent of sandalwood adding to the sensuality of the contact. "I give you my most solemn oath, Magnus," he added once their lips parted, his tone no longer playful, "that I will never again do anything that may cause you to doubt my faithfulness. You do know that Nephilim oaths are sacred."
Magnus looked into the eyes of this fascinating creature that had so quietly and unassumingly walked into his life and made himself at home in it. There was no a thread of doubt or hesitation in those eyes and Magnus knew that Alec's oath was unbreakable, that with those simple words, Alec was offering his life to Magnus. The gesture caused a sensation of warmth to run through Magnus' body and his heart suddenly felt like it was made of melting chocolate.
"I have a better idea," Magnus said, and he had to swallow in order to push down the emotions that were making it hard to speak. "What if you moved in?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Magnus felt that they were finally coming full circle, that they were finally ready to move on and leave behind the childish things from the past. He then looked at Alec and thought that if he had a camera, he would have recorded Alec's expression to keep it for all eternity as a perfect study in surprise. For Alec did a double take, dropped the sponge with which he had been washing Magnus, and his eyes opened wide with what could only be described as astonishment.
"But Magnus, I thought you were not ready to move in together yet," Alec replied when he finally recovered this capacity for speech.
"I was ready," Magnus stated, his voice full of conviction. "I was ready even before you asked, but the fact that I felt ready to jump into a life with you, a Shadowhunter no less, scared me."
By way of an answer, Alec brought his hand to the side of Magnus' face and leaning in, kissed him, the kiss passionate and completely unguarded. "I give you my word," he said when he finally recovered tenure of his mouth, "that you will never regret trusting me with your heart Magnus," and at that moment, Magnus believed Alec completely.
"My heart is exploding, Magnus," Alec exclaimed hours later, his eyes locked on Magnus' eyes, quicksilver flooding his pupils and reflecting the light from the setting sun in ways that seemed to capture sunlight in ice.
They had finally made it to the bed and had spent the last few hours between white sheets, playing and laughing with puppy-like unselfconsciousness, curiosity and desire. But then, a few minutes ago, Magnus had felt a sudden change in the air around them, as if it had become electrically charged. The tone and feel of their lovemaking had changed then, becoming stronger, deeper and more intense, and there were no longer laughs or words, but just the incredible sensation of harmoniously moving with someone whose body and soul you knew as well as your own.
This time when he looked down and saw the mark on Alec's chest glow with silvery shine, Magnus was prepared. Rather than trying to control the effects of that mysterious force that had begun to flow from Alec, he gave free rein to his own magic, so it could go in search of the sensations Magnus had been craving as much as Alec had. Magnus reached with his powers deep into that mark and then deeper still until he thought he felt Alec's heartbeats in the very center of his own being. As he did, Magnus brought down his own barriers and defenses and welcomed the sensations of that mysterious power that touched his body and soul with cool silvery fingers.
Alec closed his eyes and relinquished his own self-control and Magnus did the same, and as the energy flowing from Alec entered Magnus, and as Magnus' magic invaded Alec, the most incredible and indescribable sensations invaded them. It was as if silver and gold, ice and fire, ocean and lava were coming into contact in an explosive collision that made Alec and Magnus feel that they were disintegrating into millions of stars that for an infinite moment floated in the air, outside history and time. As they surrendered, their orgasm was not just physical or individual, but a shared spiritual, physical and magical experience.
Completely overcome and feeling like his joints had become disarticulated, Magnus collapsed on top of Alec, and Alec gathered him in his arms, holding him while the remnants of whatever power they had conjured up run through their veins. As his own heartbeat slowly went back to normal and his breathing settled, Alec whispered loving words in Magnus' ear, telling him how much he loved him, how beautiful he looked with the setting sun illuminating his skin, how much he wanted to hold on to him forever and never let him go.
"Alexander," Magnus said when his breathing settled enough for him to form the words. "I feel like I just died and came back to life."
"A truly religious experience then," Alec whispered and then chuckled.
An exquisite sensation of exhaustion and satedness began to take over them, and soon they began to drift into a deep sleep, the drumming of Alec's heartbeat in his ear a lullaby that quieted, at least for the moment, all of Magnus' thoughts and apprehensions; the feel of Magnus' strong body on him a blanket that surrounded Alec in soothing security.
After lunch the following day, Alec announced that he was feeling strong enough to go for a run. Magnus looked at him with a dubious expression but then decided that Alec knew his own limits better than anyone, and that if he said he was fine, who was he to doubt him? Besides, it was likely that Alec was needing some space and time alone after days of being cooped up.
"I am going to work on a translation while you do that," Magnus said as he watched Alec put on a pair of Magnus' running shoes which size Magnus had to adjust to fit Alec's bigger feet. He then watched as Alec set off down the stairs that led to the ground.
In minutes, Alec was running along the trail, rejoicing in the sensation of fresh air and the scent of wet soil and ocean entering his lungs. The last time he had run was back in Idris, the day that Catarina sent him the fire message telling that Magnus was in trouble, and Alec's heart had been heavy with sadness and his mind crowded with thoughts of how much he missed Magnus. Today, however, his mind was quiet, and his feelings were at ease, all the dark thoughts and fears from the last few weeks gone. Soon, his body was feeling the exertion that was likely the result of the lingering effects of his injuries, and of the last couple of days in which he and Magnus had made love almost without stop. The sensation was not uncomfortable, but as sweat began to cover his forehead and back, Alec began to regret having forgotten on the kitchen counter the bottle of water he had planned to bring. Still, he pushed on, his mind entering into that state of meditation that always made running such a relaxing and rewarding experience.
He eventually reached the beach he and Magnus had stopped at during their previous excursions and as he bent down to rest his hands on his knees and catch his breath, he noticed that he had not forgotten the water bottle. He brought it to his lips and the coolness of the liquid running down his throat eased the exhaustion and the faint burning on his chest. He thought, not for the first time, that he could live forever among these ancient trees, majestic mountains and tranquil waters, that he would not mind spending the rest of his life listening to the birds and watching the occasional whales that came to swim in this remote cove. Yes, he thought, he could live here, only Magnus for company. The thought was surprising, even if not new, for he had never spent any considerable amount of time in nature. He was a city man, and he was a Shadowhunter, and Shadowhunters, especially those serving in Institutes, were not the kind that craved quiet life.
At an easy pace, Alec began to make his way back to the house, the thought of Magnus sitting at the kitchen counter, his eyes on the manuscript, calling and guiding him home. Yet, when the entered the house, Magnus was nowhere to be seen and the manuscript laid forgotten on the counter. "Magnus?" Alec called, and when he received no answer, he sharpened his hearing and began to search for the sounds of his boyfriend. A moment later, he heard murmurs coming from Magnus' office.
Alec had not ventured again to that part of the house since the day that Tessa helped him to Magnus' office, so he could call Celestina Rays and blackmail her in order to ensure Magnus and Catarina's release. He now quietly opened the French doors that stood to one side of the living room and that led to the part of the house that contained two small guest bedrooms, a bathroom and Magnus' office. As he went along, Magnus' voice became clearer and then Tessa and Catarina's voices also joined in. Magnus was obviously on a videoconference with the two warlocks. Odd, thought Alec, his heart suddenly skipping a beat; Magnus had told him that communications between the cottage and the outside world should only be attempted in cases of emergency. Further, the urgency and concern in Magnus' voice told him that this call qualified as an emergency. For a reason he could not explain, Alec approached the door quietly and stealthily, not wanting to alert Magnus of his presence until he had a better sense of what was happening.
"Are you certain that is what is happening to Alec?" Magnus was asking.
"I cannot think of any other explanation for the symptoms you describe," Tessa replied, her soothing tone a contrast to Magnus' concerned one.
"I felt the power in my own magic when I touched that scar, Magnus," Catarina added. "It was very strong and unmistakable. I have to agree with Tessa on this."
"But is this a permanent condition? Will it go away?" Magnus asked, and Alec heard him shifting in his seat, another telltale of Magnus' state of agitation.
"It might go away," Tessa replied, her tone reassuring. "We just have to wait and see. But if it doesn't go away, Alec will adjust, I am sure of it."
"I must do something," Magnus stated, and his voice could not sound more desperate. "This is my fault. I have to find a solution, perhaps try to summon my father or another demon to force them to give me a cure."
"Magnus," Catarina interrupted Magnus' desperate ranting, "the best thing is to wait and see. Does Alec have any idea about what is happening?"
"I don't know. He appears unconcerned, though he could be trying to not alarm me. But then again, it has only been a couple of incidents." Alec could almost hear the wheels turning in Magnus' head as he run multiple scenarios.
"You may want to speak to him," Tessa suggested. "Ask him how he feels and what he thinks."
"He has gone through so much because of me," Magnus replied. "I cannot worry him right now, especially when he is starting to feel like himself again."
"I don't know if it is a good idea to keep this from Alec," Catarina said. "You should talk to him, at least share your concerns with him."
"I will think about it," Magnus stated. "In the meantime, we must keep looking for an explanation and a solution."
"I am sure of one thing though," Tessa added, "we need to give his Nephilim system the opportunity to deal with whatever is happening. He is strong; he will pull through. Trust me Magnus, I am speaking from experience."
Alec turned away from the door once he heard Magnus say good bye to his friends, and quietly made his way back to the living room. By the time he reached the kitchen and sat at the counter, he had made the decision to keep to himself whatever was going on with his body, to push that energy that seemed to be singing in his veins deep inside himself along with that scar that, for whatever reason, caused Magnus so much apprehension. When Magnus came back to the kitchen a few minutes later, Alec welcomed him with a completely carefree smile, and Magnus replied with a similar gesture. Neither of them mentioned the scar on Alec's chest or the power it exerted again, and Magnus never spoke of his phone call with his friends.
That evening, Catarina sent Alec a fire message announcing that, in her opinion, he was ready to return to duty. When Magnus came downstairs the following morning, he found Alec out on the terrace, wearing his Shadowhunter clothes, his gaze lost in the distance. The morning was quiet and dark clouds announced impending rain and seeing Alec there leaning against the banister, Magnus thought that the sky was about to cry because of their impending departure.
They had spent the previous evening tidying up the house, picking up the books they had been reading, putting away dishes that would not get used again for who knew how long. After a quiet candlelight dinner, Alec had stood and reached for Magnus' hand and had quietly guided him upstairs to their bed and to their last night of making love by the sounds of the ocean and the wind.
"Ready to go home Alexander?" Magnus now asked as he came to stand beside Alec and with his eyes followed in the direction of the Shadowhunter's gaze.
"Are you ready?" Alec asked by way of an answer.
"As ready as I will ever be," Magnus replied trying to keep his tone light. "I do have work to do once I get home. I have to make room in my closet for someone's clothes."
Alec smiled and turned to look at Magnus, and Magnus, anticipating the move, leaned in and kissed him, the kiss gentle and tender.
"I hope you will bring me back here for another visit sometime," Alec said. "I am going to miss this house."
"If you play your cards right…" Magnus started to say, but then he saw a look of regret or perhaps sadness pass across Alec's eyes that made him suspect that Alec was not as enthusiastic about going back as he had anticipated. "Aren't you missing home Alexander?" he asked after a pause.
"It is funny really," Alec stated, "I have been so caught up with everything that happened that I have not given much thought to the fact that I have not been at the New York Institute in over six weeks. This is the longest I have ever been away from home. Things got so crazy and for a while I was not feeling well that I have not had the chance to think about work much."
Being a Shadowhunter had been all that Alec had thought about since he was a child. It had been his whole purpose in life and not a day had gone by that he had not thought about, gone on, or reported on missions. He had never had much of a personal life; Shadowhunters had no hobbies or interests outside of their angelic obligations, and their sense of duty was drilled into them since childhood. Yet in the last few days he had gotten a glimpse of a different life, or rather of a different setting for his life, away from the business of the Institute and the demands of a war against dark forces which threat never seemed to abate. Being just with Magnus and so far away from all that was familiar to him had gotten him thinking about what it would be like to live an ordinary life. Yet, he knew that such thoughts were futile; duty was calling to him, and he would answer as it was expected.
"I have a gift for you," Magnus said, irrupting in Alec's gloomy thoughts. He then lifted his fisted hand and opened it. Alec looked down and saw a set of rings on Magnus' palm, heavy, sturdy and beautifully crafted. The rings were actually made of two separate parts: a wider and sturdy silver band surrounded by a thinner band that moved around the wider one. The spinning inset was made of intertwined and interlocking threads of gold and silver forming an unbreakable bond. "I know you are not much for wearing jewelry, Alexander, but I thought you might consider wearing this ring."
"Magnus…" Alec started to say but then seemed to be lost for words, so instead, he leaned in and kissed Magnus. Magnus thought that he could hear Alec's rapid heartbeat and suspected that Alec could also hear his.
"They are magic," Magnus explained, gathering in his emotions and picking the ring that he had made for Alec. He turned it, so Alec could see the inscription inside. "To come to thee and be thy love," it read in Magnus' neat penmanship.
"It is a take on Sr. Walter Raleigh's old poem," Magnus continued. "Both rings have the same inscription, which is also an incantation. The rings are linked, you see, like twins. If you want me to know that you are thinking of me, you just have to give the top part – the one with the silver and gold design – half a turn. But if you are ever in danger and need me, you rotate it all the way around, and no matter where I am I will sense your call, and no matter where you are, I will find you."
"They are beautiful Magnus, but magic objects like these are very rare and valuable," Alec responded, "Are you sure you want me to have it?" Magnus thought that Alec's words contained more emotions than they could express
"I wouldn't be offering it to you if I didn't," Magnus responded.
"Is this the warlock's equivalent to a tracking devise?" Alec asked trying to imbue lightness into the tone. "Does yours work in the same way?"
"Yes," Magnus replied. "If I am ever in danger and in need of a Shadowhunter – which I doubt will ever happened – I give my ring and turn, and you will be able to use yours to open a portal to wherever I am."
Magnus had spent the last few days working on the rings whenever he had a chance, using some of his rarest and most potent potions and ingredients, as well as some of his most secret, ancient and powerful spells to bestow on the metals the power to act as a beacon between him and Alec. "Would you wear it?" he now asked. "I promise not to use mine for booty calls."
"Oh, that's too bad," Alec teased him. "Of course, I will wear it," he added and picking up the ring that was meant for Magnus, slid it down Magnus' finger. Magnus then did the same with Alec's ring. "Does this mean that there is a chance that you might agree to marry me one day Magnus?"
"Wow, not too fast Shadowhunter. We just went from casual sex to moving in together, don't push your luck."
Alec rested his hand on the side of Magnus' face, the feeling of the ring cool against Magnus' skin. "I love you Magnus," he whispered and now the smile was completely unguarded and free from the wistfulness Magnus had seen before. He then leaned closer and kissed Magnus, and the kiss was passionate, tender and full of promises, the perfect start for the next stage of their lives together.
Magnus and Alec portalled home a few minutes later, back to their lives and the fights, missions and struggles that were a daily part of the lives of a Shadowhunter and a warlock in a city like New York. As Alec stepped through the portal, he concentrated all his willpower in controlling the pressure building up in his chest and in pushing the scars deep into his skin, resolute to keep the promise he had made the afternoon he listened in on Magnus, Tessa and Catarina's conversation, determined to not tamper with the joy of starting a life with the man he loved.
Neither Magnus nor Alec would learn until weeks later the dangerous consequences of Alec's decision to hide the effects of that mark, and of Magnus' choice not to speak openly with his boyfriend about his suspicions and fears. Neither of them knew then that Asmodeus' hatred would soon rear its ugly head once again.
I wrote this chapter thinking about what it might feel like to make love to a magic-maker. I am not sure the writing does justice to my imagination. I am sure the chapter could still use some more work.