Chapter 1

With a small smile plastered on his face, Magnus climbed up the last flight of stairs to reach the floor where the apartment that he shared with Alexander resided. The smile only grew as he thought about his husband who was waiting for him. It had been a busy week for the Head of the New York Institute, and Alec had promised to make it up to him for their lack of 'couple time' by coming home early.

The weeks leading up to the wedding with his Shadowhunter had been fret with a whirlwind of emotions and heartache. Starting with him losing his position as High Warlock and then with everything that followed with Lilith, Jonathan, and Asmodeus, Magnus was ecstatic to find himself back with Alexander and starting their lives together as a married couple.

Exiting the stairwell, Magnus hummed softly to himself as thoughts of tonight's activities with his husband filled his mind. His satchel bag was bouncing lightly against his hip as he walked, and his fingers strummed against the bags soft material; inside were the leftover ingredients that he had collected from his office for his house call with one of his clients.

He continued down the hallway and gave off a bright smile as he felt himself drawing closer to Alexander and their comfy bed, which would hopefully play a large part in their night together.

Magnus snapped his fingers to allow his front door to fly open, permitting him to enter without having to slow his stride and could instantly hear the sound of his husband talking in the living room.

Stepping around the corner, the warlock's flirty comment lodged in his throat when he skidded to a halt and his heart skipped a beat as his eyes came to rest on Jace's grandmother.

"Oh, Imogen," Magnus said, forcing the words through his clinched jaw and strained a grin for their unexpected guest. The last time he had been face-to-face with the elderly Inquisitor was when he had found himself locked away in the basement of the New York Institute, trapped inside Valentine's body.

He remembered feeling the cold metal of the dagger pressing against his throat before hearing Alec rushing in to stop his would-have-been execution. Seeing the woman again now, inside his apartment, Magnus couldn't help the feeling of dread seeping through his veins. "What are you doing here?"

Sensing the tension growing in the room, Alec stepped up to the Downworlder and rested a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Mags. She's not here for you."

Magnus sent him a questioning look, but before Alec could explain further, Inquisitor Herondale spoke up.

"I just came by to mention the good news to Alec in person," the woman stated, her eyes lingering on her fellow Shadowhunter before drifting over to address Magnus. "The Clave is impressed with everything your friend has accomplished in his short time as Head of his Institute. So, seeing as I am going to be retiring soon, Alexander is being offered the position of Inquisitor."

Alec could feel Magnus' eyes lingering on him, and his skin prickled at the back of this neck under the stare.

"Well, I should go," Mrs. Herondale continued and started to move pass the couple in the direction of the front door. "There are a few things I still need to check on back at the Institute before I leave. The Clave will be expecting to hear from you shortly." She paused briefly to meet Alec's eyes with a stare stronger than he could stand. "The Clave does not like to be kept waiting."

Alec nodded and held her gaze until she turned back to head out. "Would Magnus be welcomed in Alicante?" Alec asked, causing the Inquisitor to stop in her tracks, foiling her attempt at departing.

Turning back with a tight smile, Mrs. Herondale narrowed her eyes to mere slits – a much deadlier look than before – staring back at him through the small opening between her eyelids. "You know the rules, Mr. Lightwood. Downworlders are not permitted in Idris."

Her tone made Magnus shiver; she spoke as if he should know that he were under her in every way imaginable. The warlock swallowed nervously under the woman's intense stare. Alec's fingers, which were still resting on his shoulder, began to curl up before releasing and repeating, softly massaging him. The muscles in his back and shoulders relaxed under the comforting touch.

"Then I don't need to think about it. I'm not moving anywhere without my husband," Alec corrected her pointedly. "Let alone going someplace where he won't even be allowed to visit." A warm feeling swept through Magnus at the man's words.

"Mr. Lightwood," Imogen started, her voice taking on her customary demanding tone. "You are one of the select few that are being considered for this position. I highly suggest that you–"

"The Clave has been aware of my relationship with Magnus since the beginning," Alec interrupted, his voice rising in the process. "Why you thought I would suddenly jump at this opportunity and simply move away from him is absurd."

Inquisitor Herondale held Alec's gaze, a mixture of anger and resentment in her features. "Fine," she practically growled in their direction. "I'll discuss the matter with the council and see if we can't come to some kind of agreement. We'll be in touch." And with that, she turned on her heels and was out the door.

Hearing the sound of the door slamming shut behind their visitor, Magnus took a step away from Alec. Slipping his satchel bag off his shoulder, he tossed it onto the nearby couch.

"What are you going to do?" Magnus asked as he turned around to face the Shadowhunter.

Alec frowned and scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Magnus let out a soft sigh as he leaned against the back of the couch and folded his arms across his chest. "Look, do I want you to move away? Of course not, but this is a huge opportunity for you, Alexander. I really think you should at least consider it."

"You want me to take the job?" Alec was stunned, the surprise written clearly on his face. "Even if it means moving away from you?"

"You thought about moving away before," Magnus reminded him. "When you got the offer to join the council."

Alec shook his head. "Things were different between us then, Magnus. You're my husband now. I'm not–"

"I know," Magnus said, interrupting him with another sigh. "I know, Alexander, but think of all the good you could do as Inquisitor. All the discrimination that still goes on between the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders . . . You could change all of that, Alec." As he talked, the warlock slowly stepped up in front of the Shadowhunter again and reached to take one of Alec's hands in both of his. "And the first law you could work on changing could be letting Downworlders into Idris. I'd be able to join you then."

"No, Magnus . . . It could take months to get the law changed, and the council has to vote and agree on getting it passed. Knowing the Clave, it could take years to get them to even consider agreeing to a change like that." Alec sighed looking down at his and Magnus' interlocking hands and ran his thumb over the warlock's wedding ring. "Would you really be okay with being separated for that long just so I could get the job?"

"I didn't say it would be easy, but whether you're in Idris or in New York, I'm not going anywhere."

A smirk flashed across Alec's face for a moment at the memory of the last time Magnus had said that exact line. "Look, Imogen said she was going to talk to the other council members and see about making an exception for you. Before we discuss this any farther, lets wait and see what information she comes back with."

Something about that statement seemed to upset the warlock a little, and Alec moved to cup Magnus' face with his free hand.

"Hey, I'm not going anywhere without you. Okay?" he whispered, hoping to rid the anxiety from his husband's eyes and leaned forward to place a short, soft kiss on the warlock's lips.