Chapter Text
Alec was seven, and his hands were aching.
He wished he’d thought of sneaking down to the kitchen for more ice before he’d gone to bed, but he hadn’t wanted to risk slipping by his parents.
He flexed his fingers again and took a deep breath, looking down at them. They were red and sore, blisters on his skin, and cuts on the tips. He’d known that learning the bow would be tough, but he hadn’t expected it to hurt so much.
“I’ll be okay,” he whispered to himself, dipping his fingertips into the small bowl of water, fighting down the urge to hiss in pain. Alec knew he needed to pop the blisters so they could start to heal, but as he clenched his hands into fists slowly, flexing them in the water, but he couldn’t make himself do it yet.
Alec took another deep breath and pulled his hands out, quickly pressing them to the towel he had beside the bowl to dry them off again. When the towel moved under his hands, he yanked his hands back, the thought of a spider enough to have him frozen in fear.
But then a head was poking out from under the towel and Alec froze, staring at who, what, was climbing out from under the towel. His breath caught and he stared, watching the Mini, because that had to be a Mini, right? But that wasn’t right. He wasn’t good enough for a Soulmate Mini.
But then the Mini turned to him and smiled and his heart started to pound in his chest. He leaned in closer and offered up his fingers before remembering how injured they were. His Mini blanched, rushing towards his hand. He clenched his hand and went to pull his hand back when his Mini was pressing his hands to his fingers and they were glowing with blue sparks, his Mini trembling.
“It’s okay,” he whispered. Once the Mini was done, he pulled his hand back and carefully rubbed the Mini on his back, watching him curl into the touch. His heart started to pound and tears gathered in his eyes. His Mini wasn’t a shadowhunter. His Mini was a warlock. “I’m learning to use a bow,” he added, lifting up his other hand that was still hurt.
Alec watched as his Mini rushed forward and made quick work of healing his other hand. He blinked hard and realized his Mini was starting to sway on his feet, looking exhausted. He reached out and caught him carefully, watching as his Mini curled up into his hands. “Thank you,” he whispered, leaning down to kiss the spikey hair. His Mini smiled and settled into his hands more readily.
Alec swallowed and carefully cleaned up the mess with the towel and the bowel, putting them to the side before padding quietly back to his bed. He climbed in, still cradling his Mini carefully. He curled up into a tight ball, cuddling his Mini against his chest as he closed his eyes. He bit down on his lip to try to keep the smile in.
He had a Mini! He had a soulmate!
There was someone, a warlock, out there with spiky hair and blue magic who was his soulmate. Alec took a deep breath and pressed the softest of kisses to his Mini’s head. “I’ll keep you safe,” he promised. “Just like Izzy. I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”
~!~
Alec turned eight and lied about having a Mini.
Despite the comforting weight hidden in his hair that he’d become used to, and despite the fact that his parents couldn’t see him even if he was being truthful, Alec still lied. He saw his parents relax at the lie and they both said it was normal, that they weren’t soulmates either, and they’re happy together.
That night, back in his room, as he listened to his parents shout down the hall, Alec met the sad and devastated eyes of his Mini. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, gently rubbing his thumb down his Mini’s arms. “I have to hide you from them. They’d try to take you away.”
His Mini’s eyes widened and filled with fear and Alec held him closer, blinking hard and trying not to let the tears fall as his Mini hugged him as tight as he could. “I know. I know you’re scared, and I am too. But I’m going to keep you safe, I promise. And, and, and when I finally meet you, I won’t ever let them take you away.”
His Mini looked up at him and nodded, reaching up to wipe away the tears that started to streak down his cheeks. Alec sucked in a hard breath and watched determination twist his Mini’s face. “I promise,” he whispered. “I promise. I’m going to protect you. I’ll keep you safe. I won’t let anything happen to you. But don’t…” Another fresh cascade of tears fell and Alec felt his Mini press closer, the familiar warmth of his magic trickling over his skin. “Don’t go, please.”
Alec finally let out a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding as his Mini clung to him just as tight. He clenched his eyes shut and promised himself that no matter where and when he met his soulmate, he would do everything he could to protect him and make sure that he was safe and happy. “I don’t ever want you to go,” he whispered, still rubbing at his Mini’s back slow and carefully. “I’m going to try to make you so happy, even though I know I’ll screw up sometimes.”
He knew how lucky he was to have a soulmate Mini, and how precious he was. Alec was never going to do anything to even come close to giving him up. “I hope that you like me too,” he whispered. “You probably don’t like Shadowhunters. We maybe even hurt you. But I promise I’ll love you, and be so good to you.”
When his Mini pressed a big, grateful kiss to his cheek, Alec closed his eyes and continued to hold him close, cradling him as carefully as he could. His Mini was amazing, and he wasn't about to let anyone, not his Mom, Dad, or the Clave stop him from being with his soulmate, no matter who they were!
~!~
Alec was eleven and he had never been more grateful his Mini was a warlock.
Leaning back against the wall in the training room, all of his muscles ached and even a few of his bones, but it was worth it for the proud look in his Mini's eyes when he managed to knock down Hodge.
Even when his Mini did the adorable nose wrinkle that told him he needed a shower and that he should not be continuing to stand there for as long as he was, it was worth it.
Stripping off his shirt, Alec headed for the showers, changing clothes before flopping onto the bed to do his rune practice, watching his Mini pick up the brush and start tracing runes as well.
Like this, he got to study his Mini up close, and while Alec knew him, and knew what colors he loved his Mini in the most, he couldn't help but notice just how beautiful the warlock was. He flushed and looked down at the bed as the open shirt his mini was wearing flashed bare skin at him.
It certainly didn't help that his soulmate, whoever they were, liked wearing impossibly tight clothing, as well as revealing clothing. It made his gut twist, hard and deep. His Mini was beautiful, and his soulmate was probably going to kill him with how hot he was.
Alec looked down at himself and frowned, poking his belly. He was too scrawny. He heard his Mom say it all the time, that he hadn't started to grow into how long his limbs were. He sighed and flopped back on the bed, feeling his Mini climb into his hair. "You're a bit unfair you know," he muttered.
He felt a punch to his nose, enough to get his attention, and grinned, opening his eyes to meet the indignant ones of his Mini. "You want to know why you're unfair?" Another determined nod and half a pout.
Alec let his head fall back to the bed. "Because. You're pretty. I can tell." There was no reaction from his Mini, but the growing silence and discomfort didn't feel right. "And if I think you're pretty, I'm reasonably sure that my soulmate is going to kill me with how hot he is. It's unfair."
He felt his Mini abruptly topple out of his hair and Alec sat up in worry, looking at the bed, only to find his Mini laughing hard enough that he had fallen off of him. Alec settled back down on the bed and watched his Mini laugh, his cheeks scrunched up adorably and his eyes bright, blue sparks of his magic snapping around him. Yeah. His soulmate was definitely going to kill him. It might be a little bit worth it though. Especially if he had a smile like that.
~!~
Alec was twelve and he hadn't seen his Mini in two days, and his heart was ready to shred itself in nervousness.
He'd looked in every single part of his room, but there was no sign of his Mini. Even worse, he couldn't feel the bond stretching, which meant his Mini was nearby, but was hiding from him and that hurt, fuck, it hurt so much more than he had ever thought possible.
He stepped into his bedroom, shutting the door behind him, putting a soundless rune on the door before stepping further in, clearing his throat. "Hey, I'm back. I brought dinner for us. I snuck out and grabbed some stuff from your favorite Indian place."
Not a single peep, or quiet patter of feet.
Alec sank into the seat in front of his desk, the food pushed to the side in favor of pressing his hands to his eyes, trying to keep the growing panic and fear down. "Please come back," he whispered. "I'm sorry, whatever I did. I'm so sorry, I promise I won't do it again. But please don't go. I can't lose you, I can't."
There was still silence in the room and Alec curled up tighter, tears falling between his fingers as he cried, hard and desperate into the palms of his hands. What was he supposed to do now? All he wanted was for his Mini to come back. He wanted to see the warlock and the bright smiles that he seemed to be able to earn so easily. He wanted his confidant to talk to at the end of a long day, and the familiar spark of his magic.
A hesitant tap to his hand had him sitting up in a rush, staring in relief at his Mini standing on the desk. "You're all right!" he exclaimed, reaching out to let his Mini hop into his hand before hugging him close. "Oh thank the angel, I thought something had happened to you, or something was wrong, or someone had found you and taken you away and-"
Alec froze when his Mini sat down in his palm and hung his head, curling up tight, not looking at him. "Hey," he whispered, moving over to his bed, staring down at his Mini. "What's wrong? Are, are you hurt?" He relaxed a fraction when his Mini at least shook his head in response to that question. He swallowed and took a deep breath. "Is something wrong?"
This time, a hesitation, followed by a small nod.
Alec's breath froze in his chest and he resisted the urge to tighten his hand around his Mini. He would not give up his Mini without a fight, and if they thought he would fight hard to protect his siblings, no one had seen the true extent that he would go to to protect his Mini. "Can, can you tell me? I can figure something out. Izzy and I know all of the best ways to sneak out of the Institute, and no one knows about you and I promised to keep you safe and I even have some mundane money if we-"
Alec stopped when a small hand was pressed against his lips, making him halt all of his talking and his planning. His Mini still wasn't looking at him, and he was trembling, his eyes clenched tightly shut. Alec watched him, his heart aching at the sight. "Do..." he bit down on his tongue before he forced himself to continue. "Do you not want me anymore?"
In an instant his Mini's eyes flew open and went wide with horror, shaking his head hard enough that Alec could hear the faint rattle of the earrings that he was wearing. In that same moment, as close as he was to his Mini, he could see what was wrong. Golden cat eyes, bright, and shining, met his and Alec swallowed, staring at them. That had to be his Mini's warlock mark.
Except then, his Mini seemed to realize what he'd done and spun away, clenching his eyes shut again as he curled up, hiding as best he could.
Alec cleared his throat. "Hey, no. Is that what you are scared of? Showing me your eyes?" He waited for the slow, single nod from his Mini before he bit down on his lip. "Did, do people normally not like your eyes?"
Alec's heart broke as he watched a tear slide down his Mini's cheek as he shook his head again. Well, this was something that he could fix, that he knew how to fix. "And if I told you I liked them?"
He watched as his Mini rolled his eyes, hard. Alec smiled faintly at the dramatics and reached out, rubbing a finger up his Mini's back, just to watch him melt at the touch. "What if I told you I think that they are beautiful?" he whispered.
When his Mini blinked and frowned before looking up at him in confusion, Alec melted at the sight of the golden cat eyes again. "They're gorgeous," he repeated, smiling at his Mini.
His Mini scowled at him and crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at him, stomping his foot angrily.
Alec smiled at the continued dramatics and rubbed his Mini's back again, waiting until he was melting into the touch, leaning back into his hand again. "I mean it," he whispered, waiting for his Mini to look up at him. The hope on his Mini's face broke his heart and he pressed a gentle kiss to the top of his head. "They're gold. They're so beautiful. I love them already. I can't wait to see them when I meet you in person."
His Mini continued to stare at him, wide-eyed and in shock. Alec smiled again and kept rubbing his Mini's back until he relaxed further, blinking his eyes open properly. "Is this why you've been hiding for a couple of days? Were you afraid that I was going to hate them?"
His Mini frowned and looked away from him, giving a quick nod, even as he stared at the wall.
Alec blew out a hard breath. "I can see why you'd think that. But I've known that you were a warlock since the first day I met you. I knew you had a warlock mark, I just didn't know what it was." He gave his Mini a sheepish smile. "I promised I was gonna love you no matter what, and now that I've seen it, I know just how beautiful it is."
Alec's eyes widened as he watched his Mini start to blush, his cheeks turning red in a couple of seconds as their eyes stayed together. He smiled and relaxed on the bed. "I know that warlocks sometimes have more than one. Do you? I promise that I'm not going to mind, no matter what it is."
It took a few seconds, but his Mini gave another, hesitant nod. Alec smiled at him. "You can show me whatever it is, if you want? You don't have to, but I'd like to know."
His Mini fumbled with the edge of his shirt and Alec blinked in surprise, his mouth dropping open as his mini unbuttoned his shirt, one button at a time. Alec had the completely inappropriate thought that if his soulmate was as in shape as his Mini that he was going to die when they met, before he realized what his Mini was looking at.
"Oh!" He blinked in surprise. "You don't have a belly button?"
His Mini shook his head and Alec grinned. "That's interesting. Thank you for telling me. I promise that I don't mind." He gave his Mini's stomach a poke, watching him stumble and then glare at him. Alec did it again, sending him sprawling onto the blankets with a huff until he started to smile. "See? You're just as beautiful as ever."
His Mini huffed and rolled his eyes, but he wasn't trying to hide his golden eyes any longer, and he was cuddling closer with a happy sigh against him.
~!~
Alec was fifteen and...
Well he was fifteen.
And it was starting to be fucking annoying.
Between having Jace as a parabatai, and the bond still new, and the both of them still learning to fight with it and around it and to control their emotions around each other, the constant low-grade horniness was only worse whenever he was near his Mini.
Because his Mini wasn't just beautiful. Well, he was, and he'd known that from the very first day that they'd met. But he knew, now, that his soulmate would be almost identical to his Mini, and that meant he was so, so, so screwed. His soulmate was fucking beautiful.
Glowing golden eyes, tanned skin, makeup, an incredible smile, lips that made him think things that required taking an extra few minutes in the shower...
It was driving him nuts.
And worst of all?
Worst of fucking all? His Mini knew. He was almost positive that his Mini knew, if those looks he kept getting were any indication. The looks that said his Mini was starting to look back. That said he appealed just as much.
Alec groaned and glared at the textbook in front of him. He should not be thinking about this. He needed to study. Just because he was apparently going to be his soulmate's type, did not mean that he needed to go jerk off.
Again.
For the third time today.
Popping out of a portal from the bed to his desk, Alec watched his Mini and groaned at the leather pants that were clinging to his legs. Yeah. He was going to die the day that he met his soulmate in person. He was certain of it. "You look wonderful," he complimented.
His Mini preened, tilting his head back and tossing his hair dramatically before spinning in place, showing off his outfit with a bow.
Alec couldn't keep himself from smiling at the sight, even as he told himself that he needed to keep his thoughts relatively innocent. "Do you know the worst part about being fifteen?" he told his Mini, leaning back in his chair. "Is that I can see just how, how beautiful, fuck, how handsome you are, and I know you wouldn't look twice at me."
His Mini gave him a skeptical look and Alec huffed, annoyed. "Don't give me that. You're beautiful, fuck, you're gorgeous, and I know you've been wearing those pants because of how good you look in them."
His Mini only smirked and shot him a wink.
"I hate you," Alec grumbled, dropping his head to the book spread out on his desk. A consoling pat to his hand came only a moment later, and it took a matter of seconds for his brain to imagine those hands elsewhere before he was up and out of his seat, striding for the bathroom, his sweatpants very obviously showing exactly what he had been thinking.
A glance back to his Mini on the desk showed that he was being watched, and...
Alec slammed the door shut and groaned, turning on the sink and leaning back against the wall. Fuck. This was torture. It was not fair. He just needed to keep himself under control. That was all he needed to do. He could do that.
He could.
He slid his hand down to the front of his sweatpants and squeezed, letting out a small groan.
He could. But maybe not right this second.
Dammit.
~!~
Alec was seventeen and Acting Head of the New York Institute.
He was exhausted on a level that he never could have been trained or prepared for, and all he wanted was to sleep for a week.
If his Mini hadn't been with him the entire time, cheering him up, either by staying on his desk and fiddling around with his magic, or by cuddling up in his hair, he would have killed someone. Multiple times.
He pushed his fingers through his hair and sat back in the chair, looking at the reports in front of him. He knew what they said, what they meant, but that didn't make it any easier. Alec looked to his Mini, who was also reviewing the report with a frown on his face.
"Isn't that the biggest bunch of bullshit you've ever seen?" Alec asked, sighing. He pressed his fingers to his eyes and rubbed, willing the words to come back into proper focus now that he was paying more attention. "Hell if I know what to do about it, it's not like I'm a proper member of the Clave for another year at the earliest."
His Mini gave him a confused look and he smiled, shaking his head. He didn't need any encouragement or support, he needed someone to be angry with and that wasn't something that he had the patience for at the moment.
"I don't know what they expect me to do," he growled, tossing the missive back onto the desk, glaring at it. "I understand that they need to go to Idris, to focus on their own careers and what they need to accomplish, but to leave the Institute to me like this, without finishing my training is irresponsible."
Alec was glad when his Mini stepped closer and pressed a hand to his arm, offering a few small blue sparks in consolation. He forced himself to unclench his jaw and take another deep breath. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do," he whispered, glad for the soundless rune that was on the door. "I honestly don't know."
His Mini stared up at him, golden cat eyes glowing with compassion and understanding. Alec had no idea what his Mini did for a living, but he was glad for the silent support if nothing else. "I know. I'll figure it out, because I always do, and it's not like this is the first-ever Institute to have an heir presumptive."
He looked back down at the paperwork and scowled at it. "But I'm not even eighteen. At least then I'd be a formal member of the Clave and wouldn't need to run every single report and every single approval through my parents. Do you have any idea how long that is going to take?"
Alec whined a bit and pressed his head to the desk, the whine fading into a pleased, happy noise as his Mini stepped closer and started to gently rub at his temples. He sagged in relief and let out a harsh breath. That felt like heaven and was exactly what he needed. "Thank you," he whispered, leaning into the faint touch. "It's weird," he added, meeting his Mini's curious eyes.
"Normally couples run an Institute together. I don't think that the Clave is going to let you help me run it," Alec mused, reaching out to rub the Mini's back, smiling down at him. "Maybe you'll help me another way, or I'll help you and leave the Institute to someone else."
His Mini gave him a skeptical look and he grinned. "Okay, yes, I absolutely deserve that look, and no, I'm not likely to give this up."
His Mini nodded firmly. He received another pat on his cheek and Alec wanted to curl up with him and yawned, staring down at the paperwork. "Okay, one more file to read and then I'm going to go to bed. I can talk to my parents tomorrow about how this is actually going to work, since who knows if they have any clue."
Another nod from his Mini had him smiling and reaching for the next report before skimming over it. At least it wasn't one of Jace's, which would have meant lots of edits. Especially since his parabatai always refused to do any edits that he sent back. It was a continuous point of frustration between them.
~!~
Alec was eighteen and a full-fledged member of the Clave.
With it came immediate relief. No one could take his Mini away from him now. He was considered an adult in the eyes of all Nephilim and was responsible for his own choices in a partner. Of course, there was always the political aspect of any shadowhunter marriage, but that didn't mean that he would have to do so.
"I'm so excited," he confided to his Mini, grinning brightly at him. "I'm not going to start telling everyone about you, that would just be a foolish idea. But I am going to tell Izzy. I know she'd be happy for me."
His Mini crawled into his palm and grinned up at him. Alec leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of his Mini's spiked hair, sending him into a fit of immediately trying to fix the spiked strands.
"I can't wait to meet you now," Alec admitted, biting his lip as he imagined what the adult version of his Mini looked like. "You're so beautiful, and if I think your eyes are pretty, I can't wait until I can stare into them for hours." He watched a red flush climb up his Mini's cheeks and had to grin at him. "I also want to know if it's actually possible for someone to wear that much glitter."
His Mini's eyes widened indignantly and he stomped his foot in the middle of Alec's hand. Alec laughed and winked at his Mini. "You can't blame me for wondering, you do wear a lot of glitter."
His Mini narrowed his eyes and considered that before shrugging. That was true enough.
Alec smiled and brought his Mini over to the bed, yawning widely. "I'll tell Izzy tomorrow. I think I'll tell Jace at some point too." He stared at his Mini and whispered. "I want them to be so happy for me. I know how lucky I am to have you and I can't wait to be able to tell everyone that I have a soulmate."
His Mini beamed up at him again and curled in closer, the both of them yawning together.
Alec felt the comforting touch of the magic coming from his Mini, the gentle heat a hug of its own sort and reminding him that he was not alone. He would never be alone, because there was a soulmate out there waiting for him. Waiting for him and waiting to be happy with him.
That sounded like heaven and Alec couldn't wait to meet his soulmate.
~!~
Alec was twenty and impatient.
He had to meet his soulmate soon, didn't he? What would happen if he was injured in a mission? Or if something else happened to him before he met his soulmate? They would have no idea, and his Mini would disappear from their lives.
Panic lacing through him, Alec hurried back to his room, sagging in relief when he saw that his Mini was standing on the desk where he'd been left while he filled out mission reports on the desk. "Oh thank the angel."
His Mini looked at him curiously and Alec stepped in closer, reaching out to rub his back soothingly. "I'm all right," he promised, shaking his head. "I was just thinking about what would happen if I was injured, not that I want to be, of course. The last thing I want to be is injured." He bit down on his lip and kept stroking at his back. "But if I am and I've never met you, you're never going to know what happened to me."
His Mini deflated, a sad look in his eyes and Alec cuddled him as close as he dared, feeling the warm surge of magic that always indicated one of his hugs. "I just want to meet you," Alec whispered, biting down on his lip. "I want to meet you and I want to make you happy and I want to keep you safe. But I can't do that unless I meet you first."
His Mini stared up at him sadly and continued to rub his cheek consolingly, pressing in as close as he dared. He wanted nothing more than to distract himself from the panic that seemed to be pressing in on him. What if it took another decade to meet his soulmate? What if his soulmate wasn't even in New York?
There were so many variables and so many things to think about and wonder and all of it was overwhelming. Soulmate Minis were a thing that were not understood by many, though they were a gift to everyone, and Alec knew, he knew how lucky he was to have one. So what the hell was he supposed to do about meeting his soulmate before something terrible happened to him?
Alec thought about it as he started to doze off, his heart still pounding uncomfortably hard as he prayed to the angel that nothing horrible would happen to him before he met his soulmate. He needed to meet the warlock with magic bluer than the ocean, and golden eyes that gleamed and glowed in the dark. He desperately needed it.
And hopefully, his soulmate was just as excited to meet him. There was no way of knowing for sure, of course, but he could hope, right? Alec bit down on his lip and tried to tell himself that.
~!~
Alec was twenty-one and life was a nightmare.
His twenty-second birthday was approaching. Valentine and his Circle were once again on the rise, his work and Institute were a mess all thanks to his parents that wanted to leave everything to him and take credit for the work that he was doing. He worked twice as hard to make half as much progress and Alec knew it was only a matter of time before he buckled under the pressure.
To make matters worse, of course, his parents had started to mention that they were beginning to look for a wife for him and he couldn't imagine anything more horrific. The last thing he needed was a wife, even though it would be nice to have someone running the Institute with him.
He had a soulmate, the whole wife thing was never going to happen. Izzy knew that, Jace knew that, and maybe it was high time he got around to telling his parents that. Alec blew out a hard breath and shook his head, staring down at the piles of work scattered across his desk. He couldn't afford to keep getting distracted like this.
Especially with the Downworld an absolute mess. Warlocks, Vampires, and Werewolves were all being targeted, none of them trusted him, no matter how hard he tried to make things a little better, and to make this whole mess all the more frustrating, he couldn't do anything without extensive Clave approval, and the approval of his parents.
"I want to tear my hair out most days," he admitted to his Mini, glad that he was in one of his sparkliest of outfits, because it was a distraction that made him smile and he desperately needed reasons to smile in all of this mess. He tilted his head into the gentle pat of his Mini's fingers and closed his eyes. "I want you more than I can possibly imagine because it would be great to have someone in my corner in all of this."
His Mini nodded and pressed in closer to him, trying to offer what little comfort that he could.
"Do you know the worst thing about all of this?" Alec whispered, fear filling his voice. "Is that I know Valentine is hunting warlocks, and you're a warlock. I have to try to keep them all safe so I can keep you safe, but I don't know if you're safe." He blinked hard, trying to keep the tears back.
"I don't know how to keep you safe, and every single time I hear that there is a report of a warlock..." he trailed off and swallowed hard. "I have to find you immediately, because I'm so scared you'll disappear when I haven't been looking, even though I am trying to protect you, to protect all of you, all of your people as much as I possibly can."
His Mini cuddled in closer and Alec sighed out, long and low. "I want to put an arrow through Valentine's eye, but I know that isn't easy, and I know there are shadowhunters who think that he is right and that his way is right, and I don't know how to stop all of this."
There was no answer, because there was no answer to the mess that was in front of him. Alec took a deep, shuddery breath, and leaned into the touch of his Mini's comforting hand and magic.
"I hope I meet you soon," he breathed. "Then I'll be able to help keep you safe and maybe you'll be able to help me do the same. That's all I want, is to be able to keep everyone safe," Alec promised, closing his eyes.
There was a comforting pulse of magic from his Mini and Alec sagged into the familiar touch. He was going to do his best to keep everyone safe, even if that meant putting an arrow in every Circle member who tried to hurt a member of the Downworld. If that's what it came to, especially to keep his soulmate safe, that is what he would do.
~!~
Alec was twenty-two, and on a mission and the last forty-eight hours of his life had been a non-stop roller coaster. All he knew right now, all he knew, was that he needed to protect Magnus Bane, wherever he was hiding, and figure out what the hell was going on with the mundane-but-not girl that was currently following Jace around like a lost puppy, demanding action from them all.
He caught sight of the Circle member melting through the crowd and didn't wait for the promised signal from Jace before he turned and fired an arrow into the man, quickly brushing past the downworlders around them to retrieve his arrow and disarm the Circle member. His Mini gave an impatient tug to his hair and he reached up to steady him.
There was another impatient tug and then his Mini was clambering down to his shoulder, holding onto the strap of his quiver, patting at his neck impatiently.
It took Alec another couple of seconds to realize why his Mini was being so adamant. When he looked down, he found his Mini staring across the room at a portal and the man about to walk through it. He caught sight of a flash of jewelry that matched what his Mini was wearing and his breath caught.
That was him! His soulmate!
But he had already stepped through the portal and Alec cursed. He turned to find Jace, but his brother was already talking about how they needed to follow Magnus Bane because the Circle members knew where he was.
Alec was dashing through the portal and through the house that he knew belonged to the elusive High Warlock of Brooklyn before he knew it. And the sight of another Circle member, this one threatening to take the warlock mark of the warlock he was fighting made his skin crawl. Alec drew and fired, sending the circle member crashing to the ground, only to be finished off by the warlock.
He sagged in relief. "Well done," he called, stepping forward.
"More like medium rare!"
Alec's lips twitched at the rejoiner and when the warlock turned to him, Alec froze, his eyes widening. Absently, he realized that his Mini was peeking out of the jacket pocket of his flak jacket and that he was staring at his soulmate.