Detained [2] 《SHADOWHUNTERS》

Chapter Twenty-Three

It had been six hours, and Alec and Andy still hadn't found Magnus. After a thousand texts and calls to the man between them (and that's barely an exaggeration) they had heard nothing back. Fear burned through their stomachs and it didn't let up.

Andy couldn't believe it when Jace caught her in the hallways of the Institute in the early hours of the morning. He and Clary had stopped their father. They had the Soul Sword. Valentine was now trapped in the secure cells that existed floors below the main basement. She wished she had been there to help beat him up, but she was a bit preoccupied with trying to comfort Alec and herself. 

Both Shadowhunters realized how stupid it was to not have an item of his anywhere. If they hadn't heard from him by seven, Andy insisted that Alec help her break into the warlock's apartment and steal something to track him with. Their anxiety was about to boil over as the sun started to come up.

Then Alec's phone buzzed. 

Andy wasn't sure. She wanted to be sure. So she hung behind Alec like a lost dog as he raced out of the Institute, passing the flood of Shadowhunters coming in. A lot of them were coming back from missions over the previous night. Some were soldiers sent from the Clave to keep guard over Valentine and keep an eye on his three children.

She stepped out into the pale morning, thanking the person who held the door for her. She joined Alec at the bottom of the stone steps. He looked around frantically, near hyperventilating. She was a just few intruding thoughts away from joining him.

Then she saw him, jogging up the sidewalk in the same suit from the night before. His skin was paler than usual, eyes darker and sullen, a permanent notch in his brow. His hair was something he would describe as "an utter mess", but he was alive. He was in front of her.

He scanned the crowd and found her relieved smile, heading over. 

Alec gave her an incredulous until a tug on his arm pulled his attention away. He turned and a sigh escaped him when he found Magnus before him. He pulled the warlock into a tight hug that neither wanted to escape, trying to make sure he was really there.

They released their embrace and Alec panted, failing to slow his breathing. "Magnus, I thought..." He started, not quite willing to utter the rest.

Magnus shook his head, knowing exactly what the Shadowhunter thought. "I found Madzie," he explained, glancing over to the woman hanging behind his boyfriend. She was like a shadow to him in the past day. "I got her out in time, I took her to Catarina's. She's safe," he said hurriedly.

Andy nodded and gave him a thankful look, filled with something much deeper. They both knew it was there, but neither mentioned it.

"Look," Alec breathed. Andy put a gentle hand on his back, trying to remind him to inhale between words. "On every mission I've ever been on, I've never felt that type of fear, ever." He admitted, eyes locked on the warlock. "Not knowing if you were alive or dead, I... I was terrified."

Magnus' lips turned down, his eyes full of understanding as he held Alec's wrist. "So was I," he said. Andy felt as though she had molded into the background, but she didn't find herself minding it much. 

She let her arm drop back to her side and glanced around at the busy street. Mundanes shuffled past, absolutely oblivious to the dangers they still faced in every dark shadow and stormy day. She looked back when she heard Alec confess, "Magnus I, I love you." His eyes scanned over every feature on the warlock's face, as if making sure they were still in place as he remembered them.

"I love you, too," Magnus said with a smile.

Andy beamed at them as Alec pulled Magnus in for a kiss. They pulled away briefly and Alec embraced him again, holding him close.