Winter Blooms (Alec Lightwood)

🗝 Chapter Thirty-One 🗝

"I came alone." Varian's mind did not fit Valentine's voice. "Per your request."

Varian felt strange knocking on his own apartment door as if he were a stranger. When he stepped inside there was something off about the entire apartment.

"Of course you did son."

It was a disgusting use of words, and Varian forced himself to stay calm. "Let Jace go, and then I will help."

Varian motioned the door with his left hand, taking a deep breath as he looked at his own body. Jace made a move to the door, but Valentine stopped him with magic that did not belong to him.

"I'll be the first one out of here, after you switch us back."

Varian just nodded, crossing into his workroom and looking at the ingredients on the walls of his apartment. Valentine had already mixed the basic ingredients, and despite the fact that the body that he was currently in did not belong to him, Varian was able to complete the ritual.

"You try and stall, and I'll kill him with a flick of my finger." Valentine threatened, but it was just a moment to late as the Warlock held up the completed potion, glaring at his body as he did.

"Here." Varian handed over a vial, feeling as though his skin were crawling as he closed his hands around it and instructed the man across from him to do the same. "Reddite animas nostras in earum corpora."

Hearing his own voice echo in his ears was alarming, and when he opened his eyes there was a violet light in the air.

And then everything went downhill.

Varian felt his mind slam back into his own body, his entire being screaming in protest as he tried to force himself to his feet. It appeared that Valentine was having the same exact issue. Varian was to his feet first, his hands lifting as a shaking portal appeared, he felt as though he couldn't breathe as he looked Valentine in the eyes.

"You've chosen the wrong side Varian Morgenstern."

But Varian couldn't care less, his breath left his body the moment Valentine passed through, the world turned but his body stayed stationary. His back slammed into the ground just as Valentine landed in the prisons of Idris.

"Varian."

It was a familiar voice in any situation, the face of the man that Varian loved looked down at him ever so softly.

"Alec." Varian took hold of Alec's shoulder, pulling him down and wrapping his arms around him as tight as he could. Alec reacted immediately, pulling the smaller man to his chest and holding him close.

It appeared that this was a trigger for the smaller man.

Almost instantly Varian shoved Alec away, his subconscious telling him he was in danger. His breath caught in his throat, Varian's hands reaching up to protect him. His magic reacted the same, throwing up shields that glowed brightly in an ethereal way. Varian could feel the energy seeping away from him, his eyes fluttering shut, the barrier did not fade as images appeared in his mind.

The Angel stood with a frown.

The boy took a moment to rise, his eyes not lifting from the floor.

"I give you my protection, and you push away those you need." His voice was layered, as if men, women and non-binary people spoke all together. "You cannot forget how much you rely on those around you."

Varian did not speak for a few minutes, his eyes focused solely on his hands. "It is because of you that Azazel believed he knew me."

It was not a question.

"I do not want to push him away." Varian's voice broke as he voiced this feeling, his eyes finally lifting from his hands and looking up to the Angel. "I trust him more than anything, and at first I thought it was his comfort I sought."

Varian could feel the influence of the Angel on his mind, calming his anxieties and bringing him comfort in this moment of panic and fear. "But when he touched me, I couldn't breathe."

Ithuriel's heart went out to the boy. "It will fade, that I can promise."

The Angel lifted his hand, waving it through the air and willing it to fade ever so slowly. "I will send you back now." The Warlock nodded, letting his eyes fall shut and his head tilt back. "And Varian, be cautious of newcomers, for their pretty words hide ugly faces."

It was cryptic, and Varian expected nothing else from an Angel.

When he opened his eyes it was to the scared face of Alec Lightwood, he sat a few feet away, his hand pressed to the firm shield, a distant look in his eyes.

The shield faded the moment Varian sat up, his voice sounded rough when he spoke. "I'm sorry I scared you."

Alec just shook his head softly, "I shouldn't have grabbed you like that." It was an apology that Varian accepted almost instantly, though the smallest part of his mind told him not to. "Can I hold you?"

Varian hesitated, before nodding and reaching his hand out to the Shadowhunter. Alec reacted almost instantly, grabbing the extended hand and pulling the smaller man to his chest. Alec pressed a kiss to the side of Varian's head, rocking back and forth in a comforting way.

"I've got you V." Alec muttered it over and over again, and for the first time in the past week, Varian found comfort in falling asleep so easily.