Bloodlines: An Alec and Magnus (Malec) Fanfiction

Bonus scene, news and thank yous!

Please keep reading until the end, because I have a couple of things to say. Nothing bad! Good things! I'm really excited to hear what you think. But anyway, I'll get to that later. For now, a bonus scene!
This takes place during chapter 21 of this fanfic, when the gang are preparing for battle with Sebastian. I'm super obsessed with the Blackthorns and couldn't resist writing a couple more scenes with them in. I'm soooo excited for The Dark Artifices to learn more about them. Unfortunately, I didn't end up including this scene in the final version of my fic, but I liked it too much not to share it. Enjoy!

Somewhere in the day filled with planning, recruiting and sorting through endless vaults of weapons and gear, I find time to go and see the Blackthorn children. I bring the rest of the group with me, and knock on the door, the sound barely making a dent in the cacophony of noise that's filling the busy, frantic Institute.  Miraculously, they hear me.

"Hello?" Julian calls, sounding flustered. "Come in. The door's open."

As we enter, it's clear why he sounds so stressed. In his arms is Tavvy, crying with an intent loudness that makes my ears ring. Julian's hair is sticking up in peaks all over his head and Tavvy's balled up fists pound at Julian's chest, tiny face scrunched up, red and wet with tears. Julian heaves a sigh and Emma stands up from where she sits, playing some card game with Drusilla. Ty has big headphones on and his head in a book, looking agonised at the noise. Livvy sits beside him, reading over his shoulder, doing a remarkable job of ignoring the chaos.

"Hi." Emma says. "Sorry about...." She gestures to the room as a whole. "This."

"No problem." Izzy says, and goes over to Julian. "Here, let me."

Julian gives her a concerned glance, then nods and places Tavvy into Isabelle's arms. She strokes his hair, damp with sweat and shushes him gently. I'm not sure whether it's the change of hands, the new person or just that Izzy really is good with kids, but Tavvy settles down and quietens. Julian looks like he might cry with relief, but he just heaves a sigh and smiles.

"Thank you."

"Anyway," he says brightly. "What's up?"

"We wanted to let you know what's going on, why the Institute is in such a state." Jace explains. "Have Helen or Mark told you anything yet?"

Emma and Julian shake their heads. Ty looks up, noting the lack of screaming, and takes off his headphones, looking content. Livvy's expression remains as passive as ever, but they both look up to see what's going on.

"Well, my brother, Sebastian, is back." Clary explains, taking up the story.

"Back from where?" Ty asks.

"He went into hiding, but we know where he is now." Clary explains.

"Back on our radar." Simon supplies.

"Anyway," Clary goes on, continuing the story. "We've found out where he is, and we need to go and fight him. He's very, very dangerous. So we're going to stop him. All of us."

"All of you guys?" Livvy asks, looking around the room at us all.

"No, all of us." Magnus says. "All the shadowhunters who are of age, and the Downworlders who are willing to help."

"Mark and Helen, too?" Julian asks.

We nod.

"And us?" Emma asks. "Not the little ones, but Julian and I?"

I glance around at the gathered Blackthorn children, an endearing mixture of determined resilience and youthful fear on their faces. I look at Tavvy, in Isabelle's arms, head lolled back against the crook of her elbow. Then my eyes travel to Drusilla, who is so small, unlike her lanky tall siblings. They're all so young. They've already lost so much. They can't lose Julian and Emma, and if anything happens to Mark and Helen - which, whilst awful to think about, is still always a risk in a war - the two of them will be the oldest. They all look so intent on us, and their eyes go to me. For the first time in an awfully long time, I'm the leader of our group - not Jace.