Chapter 8

Magnus Bane. Thoughts of the warlock floaded Alec's senses like a virus, every neuron in his brain lighting up, whispering the warlock's name whilst his heart danced circles in his chest, each syllable lyrics to a happy beat.

After his parents left the training room and Alec had talked things over with his friends, it quickly became clear to him that there was no way he would be able to simply go back to his training. Infact, it probably would've been dangerous had he even attempted it, not with his mind's inability to focus on anything else but Magnus.

An hour, that was all that was standing between him and the warlock, between him and the answers he so desperately needed.

He had quickly left the training room, his friends asking if he needed company, which he'd graciously turned them down. He needed to be alone. He needed to think, prepare himself mentally... and physically, if his first encounter with the warlock was any indicator. Also, he really needed a shower.

Clad in his usual shadowhunter black, Alec made his way through the halls of the Institute, and to the small sitting room where Magnus would be waiting for him.

As the two shadowhunters posted at the door stepped aside, Alec gripped the gold colored door knob, taking a deep breath, then slowly releasing it.

He knew there was something between him and Magnus, he could feel it. And seeing the warlock again, being able to talk to him, it would give Alec the affirmation that he needed. He would finally find out if what happened between them was real. Everything was about to change. His life was about to change.

~ooOoo~

"What now?" Alec asked. His eyes locked with Magnus' as they both stood transfixed in a loose embrace.

He had thought about what he wanted to ask Magnus, what he wanted to say. But now, standing in the warlock's presence, being engulfed by his magnificent scent, the absolute power and strength that he radiated, Alec was almost speechless, his brain scrambling to form coherent thoughts. Everything he had thought about, the conversation he'd planned out in his mind, had simply flown away with the wind.

"Well, it depends," said Magnus, fighting to keep himself together and act somewhat not uncouth. He could feel himself being pulled apart at the seams as he got lost in blue eyes. There was just something about those swirling pools of blue gazing up at him in search of answers. The innocence they held could melt the coldest of hearts. Yet still, the closer and longer one looked, that same innocence melted away, relenting to the fires of passion and mischief that burned in the distance, just abaft restless curiosity and burgeoning desire.

"On what?" Asked Alec.

"On you, my sweet omega. What do you want?"

"Oh." Alec was taken aback for a moment. He stepped out of Magnus' embrace, though only but an inch, his eyes casting down, breaking their eye contact for a moment. He couldn't really remember anyone ever asking him what he wanted before. This was all so very new to him.

What did he want?

Well, he wanted a mate... obviously. But much more important than that, he wanted love. He wanted a partner. He wanted someone he could build a life with. Someone who could see beyond him being an omega. Someone who saw him for who he was. Someone who saw Alec. Could Magnus give him that?

Magnus also knew what he wanted. It was the same thing he had always wanted. Love. True, real, genuine, love. Someone who would love him for him, and not because of who he was or because they wanted something from him. He wasn't certain, as it was far too early for that, but he felt he could have that with Alexander if given the opportunity. He so very much wanted that. But, it wasn't just up to him. He needed to know if Alexander wanted that as well.

Alec had never been one to act on impulse - always the over thinker - but, ever since he'd heard the name Magnus Bane about a week ago, acting on impulse seemed to be all he now did. And as crazy as it was, he was once again ready to do just that.

So, after a careful, but short consideration, "You," said Alec, lifting his gaze back to the warlock's, blue eyes meeting soft gold-green's. "I want you."

Magnus' lips curled up into a smile, then he chuckled. His fondness for the shadowhunter was growing with each second that ticked by. "I cannot say that I am not flattered my dear Alexander. You're boldness both surprises and thrills me."

The corners of Alec's mouth twitched as well, but he held back his smile.

However, despite Alec's boldness, it was still pretty obvious to Magnus how inexperience the young omega was, having been sheltered all of his life, and he would not take advantage of him. He hadn't been lying when he'd told Jia that he wanted to be the young shadowhunter's friend.

"I know that we both feel strongly for one another," said Magnus. "There's something pulling us towards each other."

"Yes," Alec agreed.

"And I very much wish to explore those feelings with you," Magnus continued. "I wish for us to spend time together. I want to get to know everything that there is to know about you, Alexander."

"As do I," whispered Alec, taking a step forward and closing the small space he had created between them, a sweet smile gracing his lips.

Magnus could feel the young omega's hot breath on his face. He was standing in it now, he thought. He could feel himself sinking deeper and deeper with every second that passed. Alexander smiling was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. And in that moment, he made a decision. He would do any and everything in his power to make sure that that smile never fades.

"Magnus," Alec continued, his blue eyes softening. "I - I've never felt like this before."

"Neither have I," said Magnus.

"It feels like... like I've just woken up, like I can finally breath." Alec could feel his face heating up at his own words, at how open he was being. It just felt so easy with Magnus... like it was the most normal thing in the world for him to do. "You've unlocked something in me."

Magnus watched as Alexander's cheeks turned a beautiful crimson, his words melting the warlock's heart. He couldn't help but to reach up, and ever so gently brush his thumb across the soft rose colored skin. "I feel the same," he said, his eyes sparkling with happiness.

There was a long intense pause, neither of them saying anything. One of Magnus' hand was cupping Alec's face, his thumb gently caressing the shadowhunter's warm cheek, while his other hand rested softly on his arm.

All too soon, as if Magnus' brain had suddenly been turned back on, he released his hold on Alec, much to the shadowhunter's disappointment, who suddenly felt cold and ached to be back in the warlock's warm and safe embrace. He had thought that Magnus was about to kiss him. Oh Angel, did he want Magnus to kiss him.

Magnus felt the slight coldness as well. It had taken all of his strength not to have leaned in, closing the small space between them, and claimed the shadowhunter's lips in a fierce kiss. But no, they couldn't rush things. They needed to talk properly first. And as difficult as it was maintaining his self control around the young omega, he would have to try. He would not take advantage of Alexander, he would not rush him.

They needed to figure out what they wanted to happen first and take it from there. If he kissed him now... that would be the end of him. There would be no turning back.

"Let's have a seat," said Magnus, gesturing to a small brown leather couch in a corner of the room that looked to seat three.

Alec frowned a little, but followed the warlock. He knew they had a lot more to talk about.

"Ok then," Magnus offered after they sat down, both sitting at an angle so they that were facing each other, their knees touching. "I just wanted to ask you something before... before anything happens between us."

"Ok." Alec visibly relaxed. Magnus was not rejecting him.

Magnus cleared his throat and reached for Alexander's hand, which the shadowhunter gave him willingly. "Like I said before, I want us to spend time together, get to know each other," Magnus reminded. "And I think you feel the same way too." He was holding Alec's hand gently between his own, smoothing his thumb over the soft pale skin at knuckles as he gazed intently into the omega's eyes. Alec nodded. "So, I here by ask to formally court you."

Alec opened and closed his mouth a few times before asking, "Are you asking me out on a date?"

"Not just one date," Magnus replied. "But many. Yes."

"So you don't want to be my mate then?" Alec was a bit confused. This was not what he had been expecting Magnus to ask him.

"Alexander," Magnus began. "That would be awfully presumptuous of me to expect you to simply accept me as your mate upon our first real meeting. Believe me as it is now, nothing would make me happier than to be your mate. But I will not rush you or take advantage of your inexperience. I want us to get to know each other. I want you to get to know me. Then make your choice. There is no need to rush my darling."

Magnus had no idea why he was being an idiot right now. It wasn't unheard of for people to announce someone as their chosen mate upon their first meeting. Some even with barely a conversation. He supposed it was is own fears creeping in. After all, you could only do this once. And though he now felt confident that the young omega was infact the one he had been waiting all these years for, he was not so sure of the young omega's certainty, and he didn't want Alexander to regret his decision later on. To regret him.

"I will be of mating age in two months," said Alec. "I will have to present my chosen mate by then. Shadowhunters don't get the option of choosing someone whenever they want to like other species do. As soon as we turn eighteen and are able to go through the official mating process and be claimed, we are expected to. It's the law," Alec continued. "It's even more strictly enforced now. Have to get an early start on making the next generation of shadowhunters you know," he joked.

"I know," Magnus chuckled. "I think two months is plenty of time to... I just...I don't want you to have any regrets."

"I won't," said Alec. "I know what I feel, Magnus. Every cell in body... everything in me tells me that you're the one. That you're my fated mate." Magnus couldn't help but smile. He could feel the young omega's... his omega's, words. He felt their sincerity.

"So... will you do me the honors? Will you be my alpha?" Alec asked, placing his other hand in the warlock's, their gaze still locked intensly on the other's.

Magnus felt his heart in his throat. He had always pictured himself asking someone to be his mate, not the other way around. But, he wasn't about to complain. It felt good to be wanted, to have his feelings returned.

"Of course," he smiled, gently squeezing Alexander's... his Alexander's hands. "Nothing would make me happier than to be your alpha... your mate." He pulled the Alec into a tight embrace.

This was going better than he could have ever imagined or even hoped for. When he'd left for the Institute that morning, this, was not what he had been expecting. This was far beyond his wildest dreams. Maybe there really was such a thing as fated mates after all, Magnus thought not for the first time as he allowed himself to get lost in the sweet scent and warm embrace of his omega... and how lucky he was lucky to have found his.

With great strain, Magnus pulled back from the embrace, retaking his beautiful Alexander's hands in his own. "I think we should keep this between us for now though," he said after a few beats.

"What? why?" Alec's brows furrowed.

"I think we need to give your parents some time to adjust to us being together... get used to us courting first, before we announce us formally becoming mates," Magnus reasoned. "This will be a lot for everyone to handle, especially your family."

"Ok," said Alec. He could understand where Magnus was coming from. A warlock and a shadowhunter officially becoming mates have probably never happened before, at least not that he knew of. It wouldn't be right to just spring this on his parents like this. This was going to take some time for everyone to get used to. He needed to gradually make them understand. "But I want to tell my sister and my friends. I don't think I could keep this from them even if I tried. Especially my parabatai. He'll sense something's up."

"Alright," Magnus agreed. His face was starting to hurt at how much he's been smiling. Alec was practically bouncing in his seat. "If you trust them and think they'll be ok with it, then I have no problem."

"I do," Alec assured. "And speaking of my parents... How is this dating thing going to work? How did you even get them, and the consul to let us see each other?"

"Well..." said Magnus with a not so innocent smile. "I may be, sort of, blackmailing the consul... But, that's a story for another day," he added quickly at Alec's shocked expression. "I wasn't going to let anyone or anything keep me from seeing you, my darling." Alec's expression soften again at Magnus' sweet words. "And as for us dating, that too won't be a problem."

~ooOoo~

"So you're saying I can see whomever I want?" Alec asked, stunned, after Magnus explained all the rights he had as an omega. Rights that he had known nothing about, rights that were denied to him.

"Not only do you have the right to court whomever you choose sweetheart, but," Magnus paused. "I've made arrangements for us to see each other, freely. Whenever we wish."

Alec felt a slight shiver down his spine. He could definately get used to Magnus' continual use of terms of endearment. "What about going out, leaving the Institute?" He asked, even more excited now.

"You're free to do that as well, my darling," Magnus confirmed. "Although, I wouldn't advise going out alone. You still haven't been claimed... and even then I wouldn't advise it. You are still who you are, after all."

Alec was now standing, pacing excitedly in front of a still sitting Magnus. "Oh by the Angel, I can't wait for our first date... When will we have our first?" He asked, stopping directly in front of Magnus.

"Whenever you want," Magnus chuckled. Alec was like a kid at christmas time, he thought.

"Where will we go?"

"Wherever you want." Magnus reached for a smiling Alec's hand, pulling him back down next to him on the couch. "The world is your oyster, Alexander. I can portal us where ever you wish."

"Well, since I've never been anywhere... I'll let you choose for our first date," said Alec, a glint in his eyes. "You can surprise me."

"Alright then, I'd like that."

Alec was simply over the moon. Everything was about to change.

~ooOoo~

"It's been over an hour now," said Maryse. "What could they possibly be talking about for an hour." She got up from where she sat in their joint office. Robert had convinced her that the two shadowhunters they had placed outside the door of the small sitting room and the fact that the whole Institute had been put on alert of the warlock's presence in the building was enough, and that they would've just looked silly standing at the door as well.

Maryse made her way towards the door off their office, pulling it opened. "Where are going?" Robert asked.

"To make sure my son is ok."

Robert stood from where he sat behind the desk, following behind. "Maryse please, just calm down," he said as he caught up with her.

"How can you be so calm right now? Do you even care about our son's well being?" Maryse asked.

"Just because I'm not freaking out and acting irrational, doesn't mean I'm not worried or that I don't care about our son's well being. You need to stop babying the boy and realize that we have trained him well and he can handle himself... And once again, there are over fifty shadowhunters in the Institute."

Robert couldn't understand his wife's behavior. He knew she was an over protective mother, especially when it came to Alec, but this, this was something else. This level of fear was not called for. Robert didn't trust downworlders for a second, but, he didn't think Magnus had any bad intentions towards their son. And if he did, to carry out an attack on an institute, because that's what harming Alec in any way would be, would be the downworld declaring war. And even if they had the numbers, Robert didn't think any of them were ready for the losses that the would no doubt incur.

Plus, the deal that Jia had with downworld council for Alec's protection was a good one in his opinion. The secret of Alec's existence was already out, all they could do now was to keep protecting him as best they could, and this deal would do just that.

No. Something was definately going on with his wife.

Maryse wasn't stupid. She knew what she saw in the halls they day the leader of downworld council came face to face with their son, before everything had erupted into complete chaos, before her husband and the others had shown up, and she knew exactly what it meant. She knew why the warlock wanted to see her son, though she would never admit it to her husband or to anyone else. It had been hard enough admitting it to herself.

At first she had tried to convince herself that she hadn't seen what she had, that the warlock had even cast some kind of spell on her son. But the more she'd thought about it, and now with this offered so called protection and requested visit of his, it was all starting to make sense.

Magnus Bane has his sights set on her son and she'll be damned if she let him have his way. No. Alec was not meant for the likes of him.

"I don't care if there are a million shadowhunters here, " Maryse groused. " That warlock has had enough time with my son."

The two shadowhunters standing guard at the door to the small sitting room where Alec and Magnus were meeting, quickly stepped aside, clearing the way as Maryse came charging towards them, Robert at her side.

She grabbed the handle of the door, turning the knob and pulling the door towards her. Only, the door didn't move. The door was locked.

"Why is this door locked?" She asked. Not bothering to wait for the two shadowhunters to answer, "Alexander!" She called, turning the knob again and pulling the door even harder this time. When once again it didn't open, she reached into her pants pocket. Robert and the two shadowhunters quietly watched at her back as she pulled out her stele to draw an unlock rune.

As she moved her stele to the brown stained wood, ready to draw, the door opened. "Mom? What's going on?" Alec asked, his face scrunched up in confusion.

"Why did you not answer when I called you?" Asked Maryse, already pushing pass him into the small room. "Are you alright?" She asked after a quick survey of the room and seeing the seated warlock. She then turned back to face him, looking him over, seaching for any indication that he was harmed,

Before Alec could answer, Magnus responded. "That was my fault," he said, rising from his seat. "I placed a sound proof spell on the room. So, although we could hear you calling, you couldn't hear him responding." Alec looked at Magnus surprised. He had no idea the warlock had done this.

"And why exactly did you do that? Why did you lock the door?" Maryse asked. "What in the Angel's name was going on in here?"

"Mom, please," Alec begged. "We were just talking."