A/N: Yep, I still own nothing. Sorry in advance for any OOC-ness and for the shortness. I'm really glad y'all like the story so far. Your reviews always make me smile :)

3: Alec POV

I can't believe Jace is being so cruel to Magnus. And for no reason other than feeling Magnus is below him. And Magnus thinks he deserves it.

"We'll talk about this later," I tell Jace angrily.

Magnus looks up at me with fearful gold-green eyes.

"Why're you defending him?" Jace replies.

"Because there was no reason for you to be cruel to him."

I lead Magnus to my room. There's no way I'm leaving him alone with Jace for more than five minutes.

"I'm sorry," Magnus murmurs, staring at the floor.

"Magnus, why're you apologizing?" I ask.

"Because I did something wrong to offend him. And you."

"No, you didn't. Jace was being rude."

Magnus doesn't look like he believes me.

"Why'd you defend me?" he asks.

"Because I care about you," I reply.

Great. It sounds like I'm coming onto him. He isn't really bad-looking, though, and he seems really—Seriously, Alec? You barely know each other and he barely knows you're not gonna rape him and you're thinking about dating him, I berate myself angrily.

"Why? Usually, all people care about is using me. How anything makes me feel doesn't matter," he murmurs.

"I didn't buy you to have a toy. My sister thinks I'm lonely and need company. I'm not a rapist," I explain.

"So you bought me to have a friend?"

His intelligent gold cat eyes watch me curiously.

"Pretty much. And I felt sorry for you. You looked miserable."

"I'm glad you did."

"What would've happened if I hadn't?"

"I either would've been put down or adopted to another sadist or maybe sold to a brothel."

I don't know which bothers me more: The matter-of-fact way he tells me this or that I know it's true.

"That makes me really glad I adopted you," I tell him.

"Are you gonna buy a muzzle?" he asks.

"No. Ragnor had it coming to him. Did he muzzle you?"

"The vet did."

He shows me the small scars by the corners of his mouth.

"The metal cut me," he explains.

"That's horrible. Did it hurt you anywhere else?" I reply.

"My lips were raw from it. The straps cut me too."

"Wow. I won't ever muzzle you."

He seems genuinely surprised by this.

Tonight, he curls up against me on my bed while I watch TV. For someone who was so horribly abused, he's very cuddly. I don't know how much of it is from how he was trained or how much is because he wants to be close to me. Very gently, I stroke his slender tail.

"You're not gonna pull it, right?" he asks.

"Never. I'm gonna call the school early tomorrow and see if you can come to classes with me; Jace and Izzy only have a half-day tomorrow," I reply.

He doesn't say anything.

"Can I pet you?" I ask.

He shrugs one shoulder.

"Magnus, yes or no. Shrugging isn't an answer. Did I upset you?" I say.

"You don't have to ask me. I don't like Jace," he mumbles.

"I'm not putting my hands anywhere on your body without permission. I know you don't. I don't trust him with you."

"I don't really like being touched, but it's okay if you do it. I'd rather put up with it than deal with rape."

Slowly, I run my hand down his prominent rib cage. He's watching me with wide, fearful eyes.

"I'll stop," I tell him.

He jumps when someone knocks on the door.

"It's okay. Stay right here," I say.

It's Jace. There's a malicious glint in his amber eyes I don't like.

"Can I borrow your pet?" he asks.

"No. Why do you want to? He has feelings, you know," I reply.

"Clary said she couldn't come over."

"Out. You're not touching him just because you can't have Clary tonight."

I shut the door in his face and lock it.

Magnus is watching me carefully when I sit on the bed.

"I'm definitely not leaving him alone with you," I murmur.

"It's okay if you wanna let him use me," he replies.

"You're not a toy."

He's shaking as he curls back up against me. His tail's twitching against my calf.

"Magnus, you're okay," I murmur gently.

He doesn't respond. Instead, he turn his head to see the TV better.

"Can I go back to petting you?" I ask.

He nods.

"Magnus, what're you thinking about?" I ask.

"Why you're being so nice. What you might want from me. Why he's being so mean to me. Why you told him not to use me. How that guy on TV turned his hair pink," he replies.

"Because I'm not a mean person. I don't want anything from you. Because Jace can be a jerk. You're not a toy. He used dye or hair chalk. Do you wanna use it on yours?"

"I can?"

"Yep. I think Izzy has some if you wanna try it."

He looks really surprised and excited.

He sleeps curled up against me tightly all night.

The school refuses to let me take Magnus with me.

I can tell Magnus isn't looking forward to being by himself with Jace around. I just really hope Jace behaves himself.