Hello lovelies! Yes, yes, I made you wait a long time again for this new chapter and I'm sorry :( Also, sorry for my reviewers; I know you were probably expecting a snippet and one you didn't receive because mostly; this chapter has been a !bitch!, sorry for my vulgarity ^^' I just didn't know what or where to cut so I didn't want to send you something that wouldn't be valid or just wouldn't end in the chapter finally... SO! I finally got this out and even if it's a little bit filler-y, I think it convey what we need to know and where our characters are heading afterward without being too boring (I hope!) So, that way you know what happen with Magnus and Alec... as well as explaining how Magnus just 'disappear' before the dreaded event of Max's death. I also gave you a bit of Malec's fluff because it seemed odd to me that Magnus had just left without telling Alec now that they had somehow made up. Ok, I know you guys were very eager for the kiss in the Accord Hall but I have something very unpleasant and heartbreaking to address first... and I understand if most of them forgot it and just erased it from their memories; I wish I could have done the same :( But next chapter will be Max's death... and all the awful events unraveling after :'( I will have some comforting Malec moments but depending how I write it down, it will maybe be only by chapter 30, the next one being more 'family oriented'. And that's it for my babbling lol so on with the chapter, that I hope you'll enjoy! :)

Disclaimer : Don't own!

PS : Look foot note for one question book related and another more personal! You're welcome to answer if you feel like it :)

PPS : Just posted a new story (don't worry, it's not multi chaptered! I promised you the next one will be Professeur Lightwood as you all voted ^^) which is a sort of one-shot but turned out in a 3-4 shots lol! It's surprising, hurtful and we see an angry Alec ;) Look it up if you're interested and let me know what you guys think XD

Chapter 28 : Walking On A Thin Line

As they came across the Hall of Accords, Magnus was slowly dragged off his cloud as Alec seemed to stiffen more and more. He realized at this moment that he had caved in without much of an incentive. His lover had hollowly promised to introduce him to his family but that didn't mean he was ready to showcase their relationship and he was confirmed of the fact as the blue-eyed shadowhunter slowly distanced himself from him. He didn't leave his side but the relaxed and happy stance, after their lives stopped being in danger, he'd had was slowly disintegrating and he was turning back to the 'politically correct Lightwood behavior' as the warlock liked to call it. Magnus was about to profusely swear to himself when Alec stopped and turned around, glancing up at him just before they entered the building. The blue eyes were swirling with sadness and a bit of shame but, to Magnus' great surprise, the tenderness and affection were still there, lightening the depths with fire. He received the soft smile, that he'd fancied calling 'Magnus-reserved-only', as a warm blanket on a winter night. His boyfriend's next words were enough to dissipate any lingering fear.

- «I have to find Aline, see if she's alright. It also wouldn't be a bad idea to look out for my stupid parabatai who's been gone for six hours and I have to see if my parents left for the Penhallows, to pick up Max, Izzy and Sebastian. I know what I promised you and I'm not forgetting it. I can assure you that I meant it but I want to make sure everyone's safe first, I hope you can understand that. Which also mean that I would very much appreciate if you stay here and don't wander off where I can't see if you're alright or protect you if needed.» Alec finished his sentence with a hint of possessivity that he found very endearing but he hadn't been around for 800 years by letting others care for him. The warlock was about to snort in contempt when an icy blue gaze stopped his effort.

- «I know you're very well capable by yourself, Magnus. That is not the point. Izzy and Jace can fight amazingly on their own but, just as it's the same for you, I prefer to make sure I'm here to take care of all of you if needed, so stop it with the haughty stare.» Magnus fidgeted, strangely attacked by a wave of shyness and cleared his throat as he nodded in agreement.

- «You might also want to blend in, well as much as possible in your case, as I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to be here, right?» And then, Magnus smiled somewhat proudly, confirming his blue-eyed lover in his suspicions and was finally able to find his voice.

- «Well of course they don't know my darling! These bunches of old scoundrels wouldn't even know what got to them if I'd fallen out of the sky.» Magnus said, grinning wickedly while beaming. Alec rolled his eyes at him playfully and then to his greatest pleasure, leaned in to give him a last languid kiss before taking off to the Hall.

Magnus watched Alec walk away with mixed feelings. He was somewhat glad that Alec and him found an agreement but he couldn't help feeling wary. He'd suffered enough to the hand of the young shadowhunter to know their paths wasn't an easy one. He'd never wanted to push Alec in acknowledging their relation but his growing affection for the blue-eyed beauty had gotten the best of him. For a moment, he pondered on the future, on what Valentine would cast upon them in the next days, on what he'd lost already; Ragnor and a long line of friends, lovers, as well as his new found need to make his life worthwile. Alec had changed him and he wasn't even aware of it. Shaking his head to clear the sad and moving thoughts, Magnus crept silently through the big double doors of the Hall of Accords, lingering in the shadows of the doors where he couldn't be seen. He sought his lover with his cat's eyes and saw him speaking with his parents, who'd stood close to the Penhallows, where a quiet Aline was barely holding herself together.

The yellow-green eyes wandered around the Hall, unable to contain the deprecating smirk on his lips. The shadowhunters were resembling a bee hive that had been kicked, without the usual efficiency bees had toward attacking invaders. Most of them were dismayed, confused and their life mission of killing demons seemed lacking now that they had been hitted to the core of their society. If Alec wasn't directly affected by this, he'd laugh out loud seeing the proud and mighty shadowhunters being brought so low, even applauding Valentine's brilliant plan. But there wasn't anything laughable about death or war. To be completely honest, Magnus despised both; he'd spent the majority of his 800 years escaping these inevitables when it came to living creatures. But yet again, a blue-eyed shadowhunter had dragged him back into the heart of it. Although, he'd had to admit, maybe this time around he'd found something worth fighting for but most of all, he'd maybe found someone to hold onto when the havock would sweep them all.

He looked out again for his love, only to find him crossing the crowd of people in a justified anger in the direction of... his parabatai. Magnus tried to swallow his uneasiness; Jace was another of the couple unsolved problems but he was quickly distracted by the grand entrance of Luke's werewolves pack. At this moment, Magnus really couldn't hold his chuckles. He wasn't the only one who'd braved the sacro-saint defenses of the Glass City. He'd known about Luke's presence but he couldn't help to feel the need of bowing low to the former shadowhunter's boldness. Soon, Clary was thundering in their directions, surprising Magnus who hadn't seen her yet, to swallow Luke in a bear hug. He smiled softly at the affectionate gesture but their reunion was quickly interrupted.

Obviously, the entrance was remarked and Malachi, another Consul whom Magnus disliked grandly (to his opinion, only Charlotte had been a valuable Consul), stomped furiously in all his pompous self-importance to the werewolve's leader. Magnus slid closer, intent on eavesdropping and being who he is, as the discussion heated, he couldn't help but intervene. He really and profoundly despised Malachi...

Alec's pov

After he'd talked to his parents, who had agreed to go pick up his remaining siblings and... Sebastian, he'd looked around to find his sparkly warlock; to be disappointed and somewhat relieved he couldn't find him at first glance. Although, something else caught his attention and sent him in a frustrated anger; golden hair shining under the witchlights of the Hall of Accords. He made his way brutally into the crowd to reach his reckless parabatai who was, obviously, with Clary. These two would be the death of him if Magnus wouldn't end him first. He called out for his brother as he came close to them.

- «Jace!» The red-head girl and his brother turned around and looked at him surprisingly. This was enough to anger Alec further and he grabbed his parabatai by the collar none-too-gently. «What happened to you?» He inquired forcefully. Obviously, Jace looked at him as if offended and didn't answer his question.

- «What happened to me?» Jace said disbelievingly, spurring Alec further and getting him to shake his past crush in irritation.

- «You said you were going for a walk! What kind of walk takes six hours?» The blue-eyed shadowhunter roared defiantly.

- «A long one?» His parabatai answered, successfully sending Alec near the edge of struggling Jace with exasperation. Was it so hard to understand that people cared about him? It seemed so.

- «I could kill you,» Alec said, as usual in sync with his thoughts, while releasing his tight hold on Jace's clothes. «I'm seriously thinking about it.»

- «That would kind of defeat the point, though, wouldn't it?» Jace retorted, in a twisted way disarming Alec's sour mood and almost extracting him a smile.

He listened abstently to Jace's inquiries about their family and answering him while still looking around for Magnus. Now that he'd been reassured of his siblings' safety, he craved the presence of his favorite downworlder. He was taken aback when Clary asked about Simon and he answered her as honestly as he could when he was interrupted by the voices raising in the Hall. Clary took off abruptly and ran toward... Luke.

Alec grimaced, knowing the werewolf was in for a bad moment and he could hear Jace swear loudly beside him, surely thinking the same. Although, it didn't took long for Alec to do exactly the same when a tall figure stepped up and couldn't help opening his big mouth to talk down the Consul... really, if Valentine wouldn't kill him with his stupid war, he would be by the sheer stupidities of his loved ones. He got closer to the argument taking place while sighing in defeat.

Magnus's pov

Magnus was doing a lot of effort to remain controlled and mocking but Malachi was very good at rubbing him the bad way. First, he'd accused Luke of an invasion, really how stupid can you be?, to then complain about entering illegaly in the Glass City and now refusing downworlders' help against Valentine. Angel save them of the awful stain their perfectness would forever suffer if they'd meddle with low lifes such as them. Magnus had been more than glad to pull the rug under Malachi's pride by rubbing in his face how the shadowhunters had always requested help from downworlders; warlocks specifically. He though Malachi had swallow something sour the way he looked at him and of course, the haughty Consul dismissed answering his question.

- «I don't rememer the Clave inviting you into the Glass City, Magnus Bane.» Malachi said, almost biting him with the words. Magnus could have scoffed out loud in contempt.

- «They didn't,» he said, wasn't it evident that he wasn't supposed to be here but had fought, just the same as Luke, for these ungrateful stick-in-the-butts pretentious pricks? «Your wards are down.» Another evidence but Magnus was highly doubting of the Consul's IQ at the moment... and he was confirmed a moment later.

- «Really?» The tall man said, voice filled with contempt and sarcam. «I hadn't noticed.» Magnus could have found a great explanation or a white lie to excuse his presence but the man was so unsufferable that he pursued his mockery with a vengeance, noticing Luke's half-concerned, half-amused features at the corner of his eye. He faked a worried expression as he turned toward the Consul and the words left him before he could think about them.

- «That's terrible. Someone should have told you.» He turned to Luke, who was now struggling his laughter. «Tell him the wards are down.» If Luke was laughing a moment ago, he was now turning exasperated as he saw the Consul ready to fall into a bickering fight with the sparkly warlock without solving the issues Magnus and him knew they had to solve. Before Malachi could yell at him some more, the werewolve's chief had taken lead of the conversation again.

Magnus stayed behind after that, oddly comforted to have someone as level-headed and competent as Luke to bring ahead the downworlder's cause. It was most definite that both shadowhunters and downworlders needed to bring their force together if they ever wished to defy Valentine and he had this odd feeling that only Luke could be the one succeeding in these negotiations. He'd seen how the previous Accords had went and it had been beyond ridiculous. Of course, he'd had some evil vampire (Camille) to distract him at that moment and a regal shadowhunter (Edmund) but it hadn't missed his attention how all downworlders present had been treated like disgusting creatures and that the Accords were firstly signed because they were afraid of a consorted revolution, thanks to Ralf Scott, due to the constant abuse they brought upon the half-demons and were cornered. Which didn't stop them to make them all feel as if they'd been graced by the Angel to ever be put in presence of the mighty shadowhunters and how these Accords were pure charitableness toward the vermin they all were. Magnus was shaken from his bitter thoughts of the past by a small red-headed girl that called him softly. He looked down and sure enough, Clary was standing beside him.

- «Come talk to me. While they're all too busy squabbling to notice.» Magnus glanced at her with an inquiring gaze but her serious face made him nod in approval. He took her hand gently and moved confidently through the crowd that was parting as the waters of the red sea. The obvious nervousness his tall figure brought upon werewolves and shadowhunters alike made the corners of his mouth tug in a manic grin. He and Clary were quickly tucked in a quiet corner and he turned to her, asking what was going on.

- «What is it?» He said but nothing... absolutly nothing, even if he'd been expecting it, would have prepared him for what happened next. With an hesitant gesture, Clary plucked out of her coat what had been his best hope when he'd been looking for a solution to Alec's and his problem. The Book of the White...

- «I got the book.» Clary said, in a funny echo to his own thoughts...

Alec's pov

Alec had been warily observing the proceedings of the heated argument between the Consul, Luke and his lover, barely noticing how Jace had stiffen or the way his parabatai was unusually gloomy, when he'd lost sight of the red-headed girl and the sparkly warlock. His heart fluttered as he scanned the crowd, eager to find back his lover and when he finally got a glimpse of his tall frame hidden in a dark corner while whispering to the petite Clary, his relief was quickly dissolved when he took in the dazzling grin his warlock was giving the small shadowhunter. To his great surprise, a jealousy stronger than he'd ever felt when it came to Jace, swallowed his heart in its dark claws. They were fastly interrupted though, before Alec himself would thoughtlessly stomp to them, by one breathless Sebastien. He didn't think much of it, except his habitual reluctance toward the dark haired boy, until he realized that the Parisian shadowhunter should be with his siblings, protecting them. A fiery growl almost escaped his lips after he scanned the Hall again, to see his family wasn't there yet, before he shoved his way toward the trio, somewhat startled when he remarked Jace's blond curls a bit ahead of him.

They descended on the three with a sort of urgency to their steps, somehow Jace and he were linked in their discomfort with the strange shadowhunter. They heard mentioning spell books before Jace called forcefully to Clary, his voice near growling. But Alec didn't waste time with his brother's jealousy, or whatever it was he felt, before attacking head on with his most desperate concern. The concern he'd been living with his entire life. He almost shouted his question, but even with the few control he had, the words still snapped viciously at the dark-haired boy.

- «I thought I told you to stay with Max and Isabelle!» He said fiercely, his eyes turned icy with the coldness of his worry and anger. «Did you leave them alone?» At the thought, his heart clenched painfully. Sebastien looked at him slowly, almost bordering contempt but he couldn't be sure. The next words should have comforted him but somehow... he was even more worried.

- «Your parents came home, just like you said they would.» The boy said coldly. Alec thought it was a possibility but found that the span of time in which Maryse and Robert left to the time Sebastien got here wasn't really fitting. It should have taken longer... The dark-haired boy probably noticed his scepticism because he lauched himself in further explanations. «They sent me ahead to tell you they were alright, and so are Izzy and Max. They're on their way.»

Alec couldn't help but furrow his brows. He didn't even listen to his parabatai's bickering to Sebastien as he couldn't help feeling something was off. His mother was nothing but a logic person and a logic person would have kept the trained shadowhunter close to their group in case of attack. It would be silly to send an unguarded shadowhunter ahead, further weakening their defenses and risking on loosing a fellow collegue by sending him on his own in a city that had just been attacked. There were some obvious flaws in this explanation, the main one being that Maryse wouldn't have guaranteed their safety if indeed, they weren't yet... safe. They would have waited to be back in the Accord Hall to assess the security of their family. The gears in Alec's mind were working furiously when he felt a gaze on him and he looked aside to meet green-gold eyes lingering on his figure, with some kind of longing and hope in his eyes. Alec couldn't help smiling somewhat fondly to the warlock, his blue orbs letting the sparkly man know he longed to be alone with him also. It didn't last long though cause he picked from the corner of his eye a young Clary being taken away from their protective circle with one displeasing Sebastien. Even if he'd been yet again jealous of her a minute ago, Alec felt himself bristled with discomfort, a discomfort that didn't seemed entirely his and he was confirmed of it when he felt the burning anger of Jace seeping through him. There wasn't only perks to being parabatai...

He watched Clary walk away with an hawk's fixed glare, wary, and was comforted when Magnus motioned his head in the subtlest of way to the red-headed girl who, surpisingly, listened to the warlock and dug down her heels, refusing to go further away from her friends. He shall have to ask Magnus how he had attempted this small miracle of getting Clary to follow his orders. It would definitely be needed in the future... He crossed his arms on his chest, just as Jace did and all three men looked upon the heated discussion going on between Clary and the Parisian.

He felt Jace almost jump in anger when Sebastian grabbed Clary's wrist and he would have launched ahead if Magnus wouldn't have intervened, again, to sush him by saying that the red-head was well able to defend herself and now was not yet the time to come between the two. Alec looked up stratled to the warlock, questioning with his eyes as to how he'd be so convinced that they would have to interpose themselves but all Magnus gave him was a small knowing smile. Jace's stance became determined and fierce, his eyes returning to his fixed observation of the couple. Alec though searched the warlock's eyes, with million of questions in it, but was dismissed with a little hand gesture. He was about to protest when Magnus leaned in, placing his lips close to his ear, sending a shiver down his spine.

- «I have to go. I promised Clary that I would help her mother and I will. I'll be gone to New York for the next day or so but, don't hesitate to send me a fire message whenever you need. And do please avoid calling me Warlock Bane ever again, it was very displeasing and unecessary at first, I don't need it again...» His lover finished with a sort of bitter smirk on his lips.

Alec looked up at him with a sad smile and eyes blazing, hoping to convey how the warlock would be missed and how he'd wished he could go with him. He guessed it was a success because Magnus gave him the same dazzling grin he'd cast upon Clary earlier, dusting away any remaining jealousy he could have felt. The warlock sneakily took hold of his hand and squeezed it comfortingly, a gesture Alec returned in earnest. Too soon, the contact was broken but not before he heard some last warning words, spoken in the velvety voice he'd missed so much.

- «Beware of this one,» he said, gesturing toward Sebastian «I don't like him. There's something off about him and he scream danger. Keep a close eye on Clary, will you? I don't think you parabatai will be of much use, he's already ravaged by jealousy and can't observe rationally.» Alec nodded in acknowledgement and smiled shyly again, unsure of saying the words he wanted to but instead settling for something close that would bring upfront his returned happiness.

- «I'll do so. And Magnus...» The warlock lifted his damn sexy eyebrow again, bringing a flush to Alec's face. «I'll miss you.» He finished in a small voice, his head ducking a bit with his embarrassment. He was reassured by another squeeze to his hand and when he lifted his head, Magnus was giving him another affectionate smile, sending Alec's heart in a frenzy.

- «I'll miss you too, blue eyes. But I'll be back before you know it.» The cat's eyes were warm and sparkling. «Don't forget what I said,» were his parting words. If Alec hadn't watch him leave, he'd been convinced the warlock had vanished.

His heart was heavy when he turned back to the situation unfolding in front of him and his muscles tensed even more when he noticed how Sebastien had turned a little too violent in the last minute or so. He knew Jace wouldn't handle it much longer and as if to prove him right, his brother long legs carried them ahead, interrupting the discussion that had turned much too agressive for both parabatai's taste.

Later that night, Alec, Jace and Clary, without forgetting Simon they would go to save, would found out how exactly Magnus had been right. And all of them would be crushed under the terrifying reality...

Alright lovelies, hope you enjoyed that and I'll try to post next chapter soon :) Ok so here's the questions, first will be book related and second a personal point of view that I'd like to share on with you...

1- IN the next chapter, we'll face Max's death and if usually we'd only have Malec POV, I was wondering if you guys would like to have other POV? Like Jace, Izzy or Robert and Maryse? As this touch all of them, I thought you could be intrigued or compelled to have their reactions... Also, don't worry, we'll have a little bit of Magnus and what he's up to in NY next chap with... a surprise guest ;)

2- Ok, on a more personal note, I've been reading a lot of stories on FFnet and came across a lot of different writers... and I found myself very annoyed with some over-demanding ones. What I mean is that we, readers, want to be entertained and it's often a selfish act. We don't necessarily want to share on our experience and I've found some author very 'bitchy' if I could say with their demands and requests of the readers. It's not the majority of course but nonetheless it's a bit annoying... Which comes to my point: I know I have a bad habit of maybe complaining sometimes and whining about the lack of reviews or the shits going on in my life and I was wondering, do I bother you too? I hope not but if I do, please feel free to let me know... I already promised myself I wouldn't be bitching anymore and would just share my story, hoping you enjoy it too whatever feedback I receive. Anyhow, that's what I had to say lol! hope you liked the story darlings! ^^