Malace || Shadowhunters || Malace || Demon On Your Shoulder || Malace || Shadowhunters || Malace

Title: Demon On Your Shoulder – The Split Soul's Soulmates

Fandom: Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments

Disclaimer: All rights to the Shadowhunters show reserved to Ed Decter, the books the show is based off and its characters belong to Cassandra Clare. This fanfiction on the other hand is entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.

Tags: polyamory (m/m/m), alpha/beta/omega dynamics, soulmate AU, daemons, past child abuse, hurt/comfort, angst, explicit intercourse, anal, oral, f/f, m/f

Main Pairing: Magnus/Alec/Jace

Side Pairings: Lydia/Izzy, Simon/Clary, Luke/Catarina

Shadowhunters Characters: Jonathan 'Jace' Herondale, Magnus Bane, Alexander 'Alec' Lightwood, Isabelle Lightwood, Clarissa 'Clary' Fray, Simon Lewis, Lydia Branwell, Madzie, Catarina Loss, Luke Garroway, Raphael Santiago, Maxwell Lightwood, Imogen Herondale, Valentine Morgenstern

Daemons: Aurea (Jace's Golden Retriever), Celestina (Jace's barn owl), Shyama (Magnus' panther), Minerva (Alec's snow owl), Dolios (Max's raccoon), Nagendra (Izzy's cobra), Timon (Lydia's lynx), Seraphina (Clary's robin), Adina (Simon's rat), Ares (Andrew's dog), Piedad (Raph's bat), Menelaus (Cat's lion), Regulus (Madzie's bunny), Lupercalia (Luke's wolf), Cornelius (Imogen's horned owl)

Summary: Everyone had a daemon, an animal-shaped manifestation of their own soul, and bore a picture of their soulmate's daemon on their body. Everyone, aside from Jace. Because Valentine split his soul, giving him two daemons – and took the one on his soulmate's marks. So even when he meets them and recognizes them by their daemons, his daemon doesn't match.

Demon On Your Shoulder

The Split Soul's Soulmates

Chapter 7: Return of the Golden Pup (1)

Valentine Morgenstern was secure in a cell in the institute and Alec hadn't slept that well in months. Still, the Soul Sword was missing and the Inquisitor had announced a visit today. Both, to oversee the interrogation of Valentine, and to inquire about the Soul Sword.

"Don't frown, darling," Magnus pressed a gentle kiss between Alec's brows. "It leaves wrinkles."

Alec couldn't help but huff out a soft laugh at that. He relaxed in his soulmate's arms, closing his eyes to revel in the alpha's deep, warm scent. A purr rumbled in Magnus' chest, soothing Alec even more. Alec rolled over and stretched wide, preparing himself to actually get up. Before he could, Magnus followed, to lean over Alec. His fingers gently danced over Alec's chest. Tracing Alec's mark. The picture of Shyama and their still unknown golden puppy.

"Soon," Magnus whispered against the soul-mark. "This war is finally coming to an end. And when it does, we will get to focus on us. And maybe, that will... help us find our third."

Alec caught Magnus' hand and brought it up to his lips to kiss. "There... was something else..."

A playful smile spread over Magnus' lips before he leaned in and kissed Alec. "Yes. Our... fourth, I suppose. Remember when I suggested we go somewhere far away? We will do this. Once Valentine is safely transported to Idris, I will sweep the both of you away to one of my various vacation homes and we will propose our idea to Jace. How does that sound?"

Now Alec was the one offering a smile and a kiss. "That sounds good."

Knocking on the door disturbed the moment. "Hey? Alec? We should get going."

Shyama started purring as she heard Jace's voice and headed straight for the door. Sliding her paw into the little space the door stood open, fully pushing it open to reveal Jace standing in the doorway. Her purring increased as she started circling him, pushing her head against his leg.

"Good morning to you too, Shyama," Jace smiled and rested a hand on her head.

Alec knew how much that got to Magnus. To see Jace with Shyama; not just the trust displayed by Magnus' daemon, but also how gentle Jace was with her. After all, that was Magnus' soul. Clearing his throat, Alec got out of bed and headed for the closet to get clothes.

"I'll just get dressed and then we can go, okay?"

/break\

Valentine was locked up, but the Soul Sword was missing. Aldertree had lost his position – finally – but the Inquisitor had taken over the office of the head. She wanted to get caught up on their progress though, so Alec, Izzy and Lydia found themselves in the office with her. Imogen Herondale was very impressive and intimidating at the same time. She was an omega, with a mildly rose-scented smell, and her daemon was a large horned owl, sitting on the headrest of the chair, looming behind her and staring Alec and the others down threateningly while she oozed authority.

"What kind of plans did you have for this situation?"

Well, that was one way to push responsibility away from her. Asking them what they'd do. Alec exchanged a look with Lydia; the two of them had talked about this excessively. They'd grown closer, become... friends. Not that Alec had a lot of those. But they had a very similar sense of right and instinct for strategy. Last night, Alec and Lydia had spoken about this in particular, when Izzy and Lydia had been over for a double date. Izzy and Magnus had happily let the two of them strategize, while they just drank wine and talked... fashion, if Alec wasn't mistaken.

"We've been discussing this..." Alec crossed his arms over his chest. "We can't tell for sure where Valentine might have hidden it, but we think that it would be worth it to..."

He paused, because saying it actually hurt. "To go and investigate the former Wayland residence."

"He spent a decade hiding out there, we might find a clue," Lydia took over when she noticed that Alec got distracted by his own feelings. "Perhaps he went back there to hide out in the past months again. The place had been vacated ever since 'Michael Wayland' died."

Inquisitor Herondale hummed and raised one eyebrow. "A good approach. Put together your best team, I trust you to know who to pick for this, and go investigate it."

"With all due respect," Alec straightened and held the inquisitor's eyes. "I'd rather not send our best man out there. Everyone but him."

He was a beta, so not overly intimidating. But he also didn't mean to intimidate. He wanted to be taken serious by her. In their society, alphas went into fighting positions while omegas took diplomatic roles. Alec had always dreamed of becoming inquisitor one day, but he knew his chances were very slim, because he wasn't an omega. He was a beta, not meant for an outstanding political or military career. Nobody ever really expected a beta to stand out. Which now brought him the curious glance from the inquisitor; not used to a beta speaking up.

"What makes you say that, Mister Lightwood?"

"Our best man is Jace Wayland," offered Isablle when she saw the look on Alec's face.

Talking about Jace, about the past that Jace had endured, hurt him. She knew that. Understood it too. He was Alec's parabatai and though Izzy didn't understand the parabatai bond for lack of an own, she now understood the soulmate-bond and she could compare that. But even so, her and Lydia barely knew each other. Alec and Jace additionally had years of history weighing in.

The look on the inquisitor's face changed. It was a brief flicker, but there were many conflicting emotions. She was aware of Jace; of course she was. Valentine's son, raised and abused by him.

"Very well, Mister Lightwood. Then I want you in charge of this mission," her eyes were piercing like those of her daemon's; a predator zooming in on prey. "I trust you're personally invested enough in this to turn that place upside down and find any lead."

Alec straightened and nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

/break\

"Alec-" Jace snarled, actually snarled.

He rarely did that. It wasn't a very beta thing to do; snarling and baring his teeth like that. Threatened omegas did that. It was one of these instinctual things. One of those that he tried to suppress, because he wasn't an omega anymore. But this was pushing him.

"Jace," Alec looked at him, so pleading. "I'm not sidelining you. I just..."

"You're trying to 'protect' me. I don't need protection,"Jace glared, baring one half of his teeth, showing off a sharp canine. "It's just a house. It can't hurt me, Alec."

"That's nonsense and you know it."

Urgh. How much Jace hated how blunt Magnus was. The alpha just never fluffed up his words to lessen their impact, the way Alec would do. Always direct, straight to the point. And though he never used his alpha voice, there was always such a note of authority to it. The sharpness of his eyes too. Made something deep inside Jace want to uncurl and bare his neck to his alpha.

"Sweetheart," Magnus' voice was softer now – and was he talking to Jace? In that tone? With such an intimate nickname? "You and I both know that pain doesn't have to be physical. That place... it used to be your home when your father abused you. It's filled with many bad memories. And Alexander doesn't want to expose you to those. You only just started sleeping a little easier. All this is going to do is stir up other pain. Listen to your parabatai."

The warlock rested a hand on Jace's shoulder. Warm. Made Jace want to lean in. Next to Magnus stood Alec, looking so desperate for Jace to listen to him. The fury inside him started to die out and Jace took a deep breath. Trying to calm down.

"I don't want to stand aside and feel useless..."

"I know," Magnus' hand moved from his shoulder to cup his face. "And so does Alexander. But there is plenty of other things you can do. And if you can't concentrate on work, maybe... socialize a little. I remember Luke trying to invite you out to burgers?"

Jace wiggled his nose displeased. "I guess I could take the day off, spend it with Luke and Clary."

"I'd actually really like that," Alec heaved a relieved sigh. "Because I'm worried about both Luke and Clary, while Valentine is still held captive at the institute. The inquisitor is currently here and... we don't need her to get a bad impression, we don't need either of them to do something irrational. So I had hoped you could... distract them. Keep them away from Valentine."

It felt like a pity task, to make Jace feel useful. Jace hated how that was actually working. Grumbling softly to himself, Jace leaned forward until his forehead was resting against Alec's chest. He could feel Alec relax at that, wrapping his arms around Jace.

/break\

There was no question in Magnus' mind that he was going to tag along to that mission. They'd need a portal to Idris anyway; sure, they had an official one, but then they'd still have to walk all the way into the woods. Valentine had wisely chosen to live off the grid. Magnus could portal them right in. More important than that, Magnus wanted to be there for Alec. He knew that this one was personal. This was the childhood home of Jace. The place where he'd been abused. They'd talked about how this wasn't a good place for Jace to go, but Magnus thought it wasn't the best for Alec either.

"I have your back, my love," Magnus grasped Alec's hand, caressing it with his thumb.

Alec nodded, but his other hand was gripping his Seraph blade tightly. They didn't expect an ambush, but then Valentine tended to do the unexpected. For all they knew, the Circle could be camping out here. They'd taken Isabelle with them, and two more Shadowhunters, who weren't from their usual group. Outside perspective. Among them was Andrew Underhill; he was a good soldier, hard-working and serious. Alec thought he had potential.

"Underhill, you take Raj upstairs," instructed Alec. "Isabelle, you and Blackwood take the first floor. According to Jace, there is a basement that he was never allowed to enter as a child. Me and Magnus are taking that. Check for threats first, then start turning this place upside down."

Andrew nodded sharply and motioned for his daemon – a German Sheppard – to go ahead. Isabelle also offered a nod, and then they parted. Alec and Magnus headed to the basement, bracing themselves for what was yet to come. Upstairs were the bedrooms. Alec had to hand that over to someone else, he couldn't possibly go to Jace's childhood bedroom.

"Well, dreadful interior design," Magnus commented lightly, trying to break the tension.

"I don't know, torturous chique or something?" Alec tried to quip as they looked around.

It was a dreary place. Gadgets on the walls, shackles, weapons. Everything was dark, so Alec was straining his ears – using a rune to enhance his hearing. There was something. A noise. Freezing up, Alec pressed a finger against his lips, then motioned toward where it was coming from. Magnus stood alert, ready to perform any magic they would need. Ready to have Alec's back.

"There's something," Alec whispered, as low as he could. "I can hear noises. Behind the wall."

"Shall I, or would you like to work out some aggressio-"

Magnus chuckled softly when Alec crashed the fake wall put in. Yes, there were some Valentine-related aggressions that needed to be worked out. The wall came apart. A thin, additional wall. A secret room? Where Circle members could hide, if the place was found?

"Anyone in here better put aside your stele or weapons. Hold up your hands," Alec ordered.

A whine. This time, Magnus could hear it too. But it didn't sound human. Furrowing his brows, Magnus raised a hand, lighting the whole room up in a soft light. No human being was in the small room. But there was a metal cage in the farthest corner. And in it...

"Is that... a dog?" Alec sounded surprised, lowering his weapon. "...No..."

The Seraph blade fell to the ground, the only noise in the room, echoing off the walls. Magnus' hands were shaking as he approached the cage. The light was dim, but he didn't need to see. This wasn't a dog. It was a daemon. And not just any daemon. A Golden Retriever. Matted fur, looking exhausted, but very much alive and... and... Magnus looked down at his shaking hand. That was it. The very same. He could feel it in his bones – no, in his soul. Shyama growled and violently pushed past both Magnus and Alec, reaching her paws into the cage, desperately trying to reach the dog. Minerva was screeching, sounding near hysterical as she landed next to Shyama.

"H... How..." Alec turned to look at Magnus. "How is this possible? There is nobody here."

Magnus shook his head. Words were failing him. He fidgeted with the lock for only a moment before it finally came off. The door opened with a squeaky noise and Magnus reached in. As hurried as he was, he was careful when he grasped the daemon. A long whine came from the daemon, but it didn't sound pained. It sounded relieved. Magnus shushed gently, cradling the puppy close.

"There, there," Magnus' voice was barely a whisper. "There, we have you. You're safe, little one."

"Y... You're," Alec's voice broke, his fingers shaking as he reached out for the daemon. "Ours."

Yes. That was the only word that Magnus could think too. Their daemon. The daemon from their soul-marks. The daemon that should be attached to their soulmate. But there was no human here. And if there was someone upstairs, the others would have alerted them too.

"Are you hurt, sweet one?" Magnus cupped the puppy's face. "What do you need?"

The Golden Retriever blinked her eyes open and looked at him with pleading eyes. Hope and fear alike. Hope for freedom. Magnus caressed her face gently, trying to sooth her.

"Home," the daemon's voice was weak.

"We... We'll... We'll bring you home," Alec looked at Magnus desperately. "I don't... How?"

Alec looked at Magnus for answers. Alas, Magnus didn't have them. This was their soulmate's daemon, how did it end up here? Where was their soulmate? It was a known fact that a daemon could not live without their human. If the human died, so did the daemon. If a human was separated from their daemon for too long, they would both die.

"I have no idea how this is possible and we are going to investigate it further. But for now, I want to get her out of here," Magnus turned toward Alec. "I need to get her checked for injuries."

"Of course, yes," Alec nodded sharply, looking around. "I... I'll just... Find Izzy. Give command to her. Tell them to take the regular portal, from Alicante."

"Yes, good plan," Magnus smiled at his soulmate. "Go. I'll keep her warm and safe."

Shyama growled her agreement, curling around Magnus. She started grooming the Golden Retriever, her purring increasing to sooth the other daemon. The puppy looked so exhausted.

"What is your name, sweet one?" Magnus asked softly. "Can you tell me...?"

"Au..." the daemon adjusted to look at him with half-lid eyes. "Aurea."

"Golden one," Magnus smiled gently. "that is a very beautiful name, my golden puppy."

Whining, she snuggled closer against him, hiding her face in Magnus' stomach. It didn't take Alec long to hurry back in. He walked over to Magnus and carefully scooped the puppy up, so Magnus could also get up. Alec was so careful as he held her, like she was made of glass.

"She says her name is Aurea," offered Magnus after a moment.

"Aurea," Alec smiled at her. "Hello, Aurea. It's nice to meet you. I have been... waiting for you."

Aurea whined and snuggled up to Alec, while Magnus opened a portal back to the loft for the five of them. Right into Magnus' bedroom, so Alec could lay the daemon out on the bed. Alec had no chance to move away from her, because she made a desperate little noise. Alec sat down next to her, pulling her so she could rest her head on his thigh and he could run his fingers through her fur.

"I'm going to examine you, Aurea," Magnus looked at her. "I will be gentle, okay?"

He received a nod from the daemon and carefully checked her for injuries. None to be found. Whatever had separated her from her human had not caused any physical injuries at least.

/break\

This was nice, Jace had to admit. It had been a good idea, to go out with Luke and Clary. They'd gone out to dinner at a mundie diner, Luke insisted on paying for all their meals, calling it a family dinner. Afterward, they went to a bakery to get a cake to take home. Catarina's home was lovely and it seemed that Clary and Luke had found their places here too.

"Jace!" Madzie was giggling as she ran up to him.

He'd tried to be kind and connect with her, when he'd met with Valentine and Madzie. When she had been in captivity. It seemed she grew attached to him. Laughing, he caught her and whirled them both around. Catarina greeted Luke with a kiss. The way they looked at each other, it felt so warm and loving. They'd supported each other through this war. Luke had said to Jace before, he didn't know how he would have handled Jocelyn's death if he hadn't had Catarina to lean on.

"We bring cake," offered Clary. "How was work?"

"Stressful, as ever. I'm sorry I couldn't join you."

"It's okay, love," Luke smiled, cupping Catarina's cheek. "You had a long shift. I did also bring you a burger from the diner for later, mh?"

"You're so lovely," Catarina kissed the corner of Luke's mouth.

Jace sat down, looking at them for a while. They were the kind of family he wished he had when he was a boy. Even though they were very... unorthodox. They were also happy. Loving. He was glad that Madzie had this kind of family now, the support she needed after what she'd gone through.

"Are you staying for cake, Jace?" Catarina asked.

Jace's eyes wandered over to the clock. "Mh, I... don't know. I think that Alec should get home soon. I do... want to check in with him. See what they found."

Luke walked over to him, resting a hand on his shoulder, looking at him concerned. "Thank you for today. It was... what I needed. My mind has been on Valentine since he has been captured. But... seeing you kids, spending the day with you. It took my mind off it."

"Yeah," Jace offered a lopsided smile. "I... guess it did."

And then he got pulled into a hug. He wasn't much of a hugger, aside from his parabatai. But Luke gave very... fatherly hugs. His smile grew as he returned the hug. Luke was a good alpha, and now that the war was over, he would get to be the Alpha, more properly. Jace knew he had it in himself, but so far during the war, he had prioritized Clary over the pack.

"Get home safely. And give my regards to Magnus. Remind him we're on for cocktails on Friday."

Jace smiled at Catarina and nodded. This was... He would like to be a part of this family. Now that the war ended, once Valentine would be fully locked away, maybe Jace would get to be happy. Maybe just a little bit. He wasn't used to hoping for something like that.

But for now, he had to wrap this thing up. The inquisitor was here, to take Valentine with her after the interrogations. They'd track down any leftover Circle members and this would finally be over. And for right now, he needed to get home and confront whatever parts of Jace's past Alec had unearthed in the Wayland home. He swallowed and braced himself as he unlocked the door.

Whatever he had tried to brace himself for, what he found inside wasn't it. When he found nobody in the living room, he followed the noises to Alec and Magnus' bedroom, where the two of them were laying on the bed. Shyama laying over their legs, so she could reach the one laying between Alec and Magnus. A Golden Retriever, with Minerva nestled against her.

Aurea. That was Aurea. His Aurea. Alive. At... At Magnus' loft? In bed with Magnus and Alec? Being cuddled by them? How... Why... How... Jace felt like he was shattering from the inside.

Author's note: Cliffhanger! Ngl, mostly because I still couldn't decide HOW I want Jace to react to it so I'm buying myself some more time to figure it out xDDD