Alec let his eyes travel over Magnus' sleeping face, trying to memorize every pore and line. The time would have been approaching dawn back in their own realm. The sky outside should be that shadowy predawn gray. Instead, the usual orange glow of the Edom atmosphere broke through the windows and lit Magnus' face up.

All of the times Magnus had watched him walk out of the door, heading for patrol, flitted through Alec's head. Is this how Magnus had felt? Scared, anxious about whether I would return? He wondered. He knew that he couldn't afford the fear that crept through his gut but he couldn't stop its passage.

While he and Cain had their marks, protection that made them pretty much indestructible, Magnus didn't. Yes, Magnus' magic was formidable. Magnus was a force to be reckoned with. But Magnus didn't have the same guarantees that he and Cain did. He wanted to ask Magnus to sit it out, even if he knew that would never happen.

Alec's grip on Magnus' shoulder, where Magnus rested on his chest, tightened infinitesimally when he looked at the clock on the wall. It was almost time for them to leave. The sounds, from outside, of a gathering army, had been reaching him for the last half hour but he had wanted Magnus to have a little more sleep. So instead of waking Magnus, he had watched him.

Time, however, stood still for no man. Alec watched as Magnus' eyes rolled under his eyelids, Magnus' breathing pattern changing, and knew that his husband was on the brink of waking. Without saying a word when Magnus' eyes blinked open, he pressed his lips to his husband's forehead.

"Are you overthinking things, Alexander?" Magnus asked croakily, looking up into Alec's eyes. The worry he saw there was plain as day, even if Alec pulled a small, tight smile onto his face. It didn't quite reach his eyes.

"It's almost time," Alec replied, unable to stop his eyes from sweeping over Magnus' face once more. They had made love for hours before exhaustion had claimed them both, falling asleep wrapped around each other, clinging desperately to each other. Even while they slept. It wasn't enough.

"I have something for you," Magnus said, untangling himself from Alec's cool embrace. The heat wasn't as stifling in the loft as it was outside but it was still warm enough for him to miss the cool touch of Alec's skin. He pressed his lips to Alec's when his husband's grip tightened slightly before Alec let him go.

Alec sat up when Magnus climbed from their bed and disappeared into his closet. Magnus appeared a moment later, clutching three hangers and a small gift box. Intrigued, he took and opened the box when Magnus handed it over. A small red silk package rested inside. An Onamouri Charm, he realized, his still heart aching.

"You made this, for me?" Alec asked, lifting the beautiful charm out of the box, relinquishing it to Magnus when Magnus reached for it.

"I want you to have every protection possible today," Magnus said, taking the charm in his hand and raising his left hand so that Alec could see his own charm, secured to a bracelet around his wrist. Everything in the loft was a replica of their stuff, except for this. It had been in his pocket when he had left for Alicante, the day he had come to Edom.

"I have my mark," Alec said, implying that Magnus didn't.

"You do..." Magnus said, his eyes sweeping over Alec's body. Raising his hand, he curled his fingers and focussed his magic on Alec, silently uttering a complicated spell that he never thought he would ever use on his husband. On anybody, ever again, for that matter. But he needed to test a theory.

A strange sensation overcame Alec, a deep desire to spring from the bed. That was exactly what he did, his limbs feeling heavy, as though they didn't belong to him. Jumping up, he performed a series of perfect pirouettes, albeit slowly, silently asking himself why he was doing it but unable to stop himself. It was like his brain was telling his reluctant body to move without his permission.

"What... the... fuck?" Alec panted out, watching Magnus' fingers curl as he spun.

Magnus released his hold on Alec's body, his stomach sinking. "Just as I thought," he said, climbing from the bed once more. Rounding the bed, he took Alec's shaking arm in his hands and fastened the charm to Alec's wrist.

"What was that?" Alec asked, staring at Magnus. Control had returned to his body but it had left him shaken. Magnus had taken control of him. He had been helpless but to obey his husband's whims.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to do that to you but I had to know. It was a spell taught to me by my father centuries ago, during our time together," Magnus said, barely able to meet Alec's gaze. "Not many warlocks know how to perform it. Maybe there aren't many demons who know, either. But I don't want to take that chance."

"Hey, you're not that person anymore," Alec said, tugging Magnus' head up by his chin, to meet Magnus' gaze. Magnus had told him of some of the things that he and Asmodeus had done when Magnus was a child. The shame was there in Magnus' eyes once more. "When was the last time you used that spell?" he asked.

"Not for centuries," Magnus said, taking a deep, shuddering breath. Did Alec think he still used it?

"Exactly. Because you know it isn't right to take control of another person. You've moved on from that part of your life, grown as a person, learned from it," Alec said, sweeping his hand up to cup Magnus' jaw. He knew the horrible, sick feeling that came from controlling another, from when he had encanto'd Magnus. If there was anything he knew about Magnus it was that Magnus would hate that feeling as much as he did.

"You were a child, following your father's instructions. You could walk around with your own personal enslaved army. But you don't. Because you're a good person, Magnus. It's why you helped so many Downworlders find their way," Alec said. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth when Magnus leaned into his touch, Magnus' glamour flickering.

Every time Magnus revealed another part of his past, the past that he wanted to stay buried, Alec would remind him of why he helped so many Downworlders. It was so they wouldn't have to go through what he had as a child. If he'd had someone other than Asmodeus there to show him the way, his life would have been a lot different.

"I was hoping it wouldn't work. The mark protects your body from physical harm but it doesn't stop magical influences on your mind. That is why I created these." Magnus said, gesturing to the outfits on the hangers he had taken from his closet.

"The weapons aren't the only things I've been working on, Alexander. It occurred to me that we never fully tested what the mark was capable of stopping. Or more accurately, what the mark wasn't capable of stopping," Magnus said, watching Alec pick the clothing up. After the one disastrous time he had experimented, they had never tried again.

Alec pushed down a flash of guilt to inspect the gear Magnus had created; black pants and jacket made of thick leather, a pair of leather gloves, fingerless save for the pointer, and middle fingers - perfect for archery, and a pair of knee-length heavy-duty combat boots.

"It's perfect, thank you," Alec said, silently thanking the angel that Magnus would have some extra protection. Taking Magnus' hand in his, he pulled his husband into the bathroom to share a quick shower.

When they were done in the bathroom, Alec grabbed a fresh pair of boxers and a black t-shirt and started pulling the gear on, seeing Magnus do the same with a matching outfit. It was all surprisingly lightweight and molded perfectly to his body. The stiff-looking material moved easily with his movements and the collar of the jacket protected his neck.

Alec was lacing the boots on over the tight leather pants when Magnus once more disappeared into his closet.

Magnus retrieved the holsters he had made for their weapons, strapping a double holster around his thighs and pushing his arms through the loops of another which would sit around his shoulders and waist. His magic, as strong as it was in this realm, wasn't inexhaustible. The holsters were a backup in case his magic failed. He emerged from his closet, stopping in his tracks when he found Alec gawping at him.

Alec couldn't stop staring, his dick giving an interested twitch in his tight pants. Magnus looked hot! In fact, if he hadn't known Magnus was a warlock, he would have sworn that his husband was one of the Clave's finest. Finest looking, his chaotic ass thought, eyes traveling up and down Magnus' body.

"What?" Magnus asked, self-consciously tugging at his sleeves. Alec's mouth was hanging wide open. With a snap of his fingers, he fixed his hair and makeup, putting his stripes on. He was used to wearing stylish clothes, not protective gear, and weapons. Not that his gear wasn't stylish. Just because it was there to protect him, it didn't mean he couldn't look good. Alec looked hot, with a capital H, in his gear.

"That leather is doing things to me," Alec said, stalking forward to wrap his arms around Magnus' waist. Leather was definitely Magnus' thing. "I like your makeup like this," he said, searching Magnus' face. The look reminded him of when they had first met, heavy black shadow on Magnus' eyes. His husband looked equally as intimidating as he did beautiful.

"Warpaint," Magnus mused, his lips quirking up at the corners. They were at war and Alec still took a moment to compliment him. "You should try some, it does wonders for your confidence," he chuckled, pushing Alec's hands away from his ass.

Alec rolled his eyes at the gleam in Magnus'. "Go on then. Maybe I can scare all of our enemies away," he shrugged, seeing the intrigue that flashed in Magnus' eyes. He blinked when Magnus snapped his fingers and handed him a mirror. The reflection that stared back at him was certainly a look, the black eyeshadow just as intimidating as Magnus' was.

"Or maybe they'll throw themselves at the feet of the handsome Vampire King and beg for his mercy," Magnus leered, ingraining the image of Alec's face into his memory. He hadn't thought it was possible for Alec to look any hotter but there he was, looking less like a snack and more like an all you can eat buffet with smokey black eyeshadow on his lids. The shadow made the green and gold flecks in Alec's hazel eyes stand out. Beautiful.

Magnus caught Alec's lips in a brief but hard kiss. He knew they were both putting off the inevitable moment when they had to go and deliberately put themselves in harm's way but the banter settled his stomach. It reminded him of what he was fighting for. He also knew that the time when they could put it off no longer was approaching. So he curled his fingers once more and tested Alec's gear out.

"I wove protective spells into the material of your gear to stop any magical influences taking hold of you," Magnus said, silently commanding Alec to hop up and down on the spot. A grin spread over his face when Alec didn't so much as twitch.

"I'm guessing they worked?" Alec asked. Magnus was making the same gestures as he had before - when Magnus had taken control of his body - but nothing happened. There was no undeniable desire to spin around the room or bark like a dog, something that he was grateful for. Somehow, he didn't think he would survive that with his dignity intact.

Magnus nodded, satisfied that he had done what he could to protect his husband. The rest was up to Alec now. Ending the spell he was trying to weave over Alec, he took up Alec's weapons holsters from where he had dropped them on the bed and handed them over before gathering the third outfit while Alec strapped them on.

"For Cain," Magnus clarified, leading the way out of their bedroom when Alec was ready. They found Cain in the kitchen, dressed jeans and a t-shirt.

Magnus explained what the gear was for and handed the clothing over to Cain, woven with the same protections as their own. With barely a 'good morning' exchanged, he ushered Cain out of the kitchen to go get changed.

Alec silently poured himself a large glass of blood from the jug that Cain left on the side, knowing that he would need all of the strength he could get. When Magnus didn't show any signs of getting his own breakfast, he raised an eyebrow at his husband.

"I'm not hungry," Magnus shrugged. He didn't think his stomach could handle anything right then. The rise of Alec's other eyebrow had him conjuring a few protein bars with a sigh. "Happy?" he asked.

"It's not exactly french toast but it will do," Alec said, draining his glass and pouring another from the jug.

"Maybe you should get some straight from the source?" Magnus mused, holding his hand out, wrist up. Baggies kept his husband alive, so to speak, but it didn't give Alec the boost that warm, fresh blood did.

"I'm fine with this," Alec shook his head, turning when Cain reentered the kitchen, dressed in his own gear. Bloodlust might heighten his reflexes and instincts but he wouldn't weaken Magnus for those benefits. "Come on," he said, leading the way to his training room.

They were a silent group as they loaded their holsters with weapons. Magnus pushed two Kinjals into his thigh holsters, a Katana into the sheath at his back and two Indonesian Kriss daggers into the holster around his waist, trying not to think of their significance. They made effective weapons. That was what mattered.

Cain strapped a broadsword to his hip, close to his right hand and threaded a mace into the holder the other side, preferring a medieval weapon. He also selected one of Alec's longbows and strapped it to his back before strapping a quiver of arrows to the front of his right thigh, easily reachable. It was one of Magnus' refillable quivers.

Alec strapped a brace of daggers around his hips, perfect for throwing, shoved two short swords, which had a similar balance to Seraph Blades into his thigh holsters, and selected his favorite compound bow. The bow was stronger and had a further reach than his usual recurve bow. Tucking a long dagger into each of his boot-tops, he straightened up and started digging into his pile of specialized arrows, distributing them between himself and Cain.

"Are we ready?" Cain asked, looking from Magnus to Alec and back again. He followed when both men nodded and led the way.

They strode through the throne room and out into the training yard, the sound of growls and snarls growing more pronounced with each step. Taking hold of Magnus' left elbow as Alec took hold of his right, they jumped over the wall that surrounded the house when they reached it, landing on the other side with bended knees.

Magnus willed his stomach to settle when they landed on the other side, looking out over their gathered force. Demons filled the desolate plains outside their home as far as the eye could see, all of various shapes and sizes. Just from where he stood, he could see several fights break out amongst them already.

"We'd better get there quick before they start killing each other," Alec muttered, watching their allies approach. He wondered what the demons must be thinking. To them, he, Magnus, and Cain probably looked like three humans, leading a horde of demons into a fight with another horde of demons.

"Are we ready?" Magnus asked by way of greeting when Belial, Lempo, and Nessraya reached them.

"We await your portal," Belial replied, looking out over the gathered army.

With a nod, Magnus turned to Cain. "Hold the image of Lilith's castle in your mind," he said, pressing his fingertips to Cain's right temple. When Cain had summoned the image, he waved his right arm, creating a portal, and focused his magic to enlarge it. Using the image of Lilith's castle, he anchored the portal in place.

As predicted, the swarm of demons turned as one and vaulted for the portal. Alec watched as they mindlessly dove through it. It didn't take long, most of them already seemed to be clamoring for blood. He offered his hand and strength to Magnus.

"It's okay, I barely made a dent," Magnus said, his magic and energy still strong. The rise of Alec's eyebrow had him drawing strength from Alec with a small smile. Snapping his fingers, he summoned the potion grenades that he had been working on and distributed them between the leaders before they joined the demons that poured through the portal.

"Were they camped outside like this when you were here?" Alec asked Cain when they emerged from the portal to find a second army already awaited them on the plains outside a towering castle. His stomach sank when he saw just how large Lilith's force was, easily three times the size of theirs and already engaged in battle with the first line of their own demons.

"No. I didn't know she had this many either," Cain said, staring at the force that defended Lilith's castle. It seemed Lilith hadn't shown all of her cards when he had been her 'guest'.

"She knew we were coming," Magnus said, quietly, just loud enough for Alec and Cain's enhanced hearing, as he glanced at their 'allies'. None of them looked particularly shocked, making him wonder which one of them had betrayed them.

"So much for our plan," Cain muttered, snatching his broad sword out of its scabbard when a group of demons approached them. The plan had been to invade Lilith's castle using a map that he had drawn up. Lilith's force was supposed to be inside, not camped out like this.

"The plan remains the same, only the location has changed," Alec said, unslinging his bow and nocking an arrow. "We find Lilith and we take her down," he said to the group, letting his arrow loose when everyone agreed.

Magnus threw himself into the melee when the demons engaged them, sending out a series of fireballs to slam into the enraged demons. It occurred to him that he didn't know whether he was fighting ally or foe. Lilith's army was just as eclectic as their own. The only demons he recognized by a glance, were Belial, Lempo, and Nessraya. If any of them could tell the difference, he didn't know.

Magnus continued his assault with the fireballs as he watched Nessraya and Belial work together. The demons made an effective team. Nessraya would turn on the charm for those who came for her and Belial would sneak in and slit their throats when the enthralled demons halted their attack on her. He wasn't in the least bit surprised by how sneaky the attack was.

What Magnus was surprised by, was the ring of demons that surrounded him when he turned his attention back to the task at hand. They had separated him from Alec quite effectively.

Cursing his inattention, Magnus fashioned his magic into a whip, using it to keep the large group of demons at bay when they tightened the circle around him. He lassoed it around his head, letting his wrist snap out, again and again, watching some dart back. Others weren't as lucky, their heads and limbs separating from their bodies when he yanked his whip back.

Cain cut a wide path through the onslaught, engaging with his sword when the demons turned to face him, and letting his mark take care of his foes when they fought back. He watched with a heavy heart as demon after demon erupted into flames or exploded before his eyes, having to remind himself that they would use their teeth and claws, and whatever poisons they possessed, to kill him if they could.

It still didn't sit right with Cain. This mindless destruction was the exact reason that he had hidden away from society for so long. It didn't matter what species they were, the demons still fell by his mark or his sword.

Alec had fought many demons and many fights over his career as a Shadowhunter but this was beyond anything he had ever experienced. While he had always had his runes to enhance his hearing and skill, everything was now amplified by his senses, almost overwhelming for its ferocity. The battle, already raging at full intensity around them pushed down on him for a moment until he spotted Magnus.

Magnus was surrounded

Alec waded through the demons, firing arrow after arrow at his husband's opponents. They were supposed to be sticking together but he had turned his back for a moment to take out a wraith flying right at them as soon as they joined the battle. Upon turning back to Magnus, he had found them separated.

The sight of so many demons surrounding Magnus turned Alec's vision red, anger flooding him. Magnus might be giving them a run for their money with his magical whip but the desire to protect him pulsed in his veins. The smell of shed ichor and the sound of enraged dying screams pulsed through him, ramping up his reflexes as surely as bloodlust would.

Vaulting over the heads of the demons that surrounded his husband, Alec put his back to Magnus. He let them come, watching them explode before his eyes, already nocking his bow for those who would inevitably follow and fill the gaps.

"You'd think they would be smarter than this," Magnus muttered, knowing that Alec could hear him over the roar that surrounded them. "They just keep coming," he yelled, launching a potion grenade into the crowd.

"The intelligent ones will be with Lilith. These are just the footsoldiers. I don't think half of them have a brain cell to share," Alec said, following Magnus' lead. Yanking grenades from the holders on his weapons belt, he launched them in all directions, in quick succession, one after the other. His attack gave them a moment's respite.

Alec turned to Magnus to make sure he was unharmed, his stomach lurching when he saw one determined demon snake through Magnus' defenses. Grabbing Magnus' arm, he yanked his husband closer and spun, feeling the heat against his back when the demon exploded behind him. He also heard the grunt of pain, through the demon's final shriek, that Magnus tried to hide.

Magnus' fingers found his side when he'd felt a line of fire slice across his ribs. Probing the wound, he found that it wasn't deep, more a surface wound. Thanks to the thick material of his gear. It had stopped the demon's claws from shredding his ribs like paper.

"Heal it," Alec said, clamping his hand to Magnus' ribs. Looking at the wound was unnecessary, he could scent the blood, even over the scents of death that assaulted him from the battle that continued to rage around them.

Magnus would have waved Alec's concern away, knowing that it was just a flesh wound. If it wasn't for the dilation of Alec's pupils. He knew that Alec could scent the demon part of his blood whenever it was spilled, and Alec had said he could also taste it when they shared blood. But he also knew that Alec could scent the human half too.

That temptation wasn't something his husband needed, especially not with the highly charged situation that they were in. So Magnus directed a small amount of healing magic to his ribs.

Alec nodded when Magnus patted his hand. He'd felt the magic under his palm. Taking Magnus' hand in his, he drew his husband further into the fight, searching for Cain and the others.

They fought their way through the horde, releasing their grip on each other when it became apparent that they needed their hands free. But they stayed close, keeping each other in sight, fighting side by side.

Alec once again drew his bow, aiming for anything that got too close. He had resigned himself to the fact that he didn't know whether he was fighting demons from their own side or Lilith's and made peace with that fact. As far as he was concerned, if they came for him or Magnus, they died.

Magnus drew his Katana, letting his red magic lick up the side of the blade. Alec was a step ahead of him, using his bow, the occasional thrown dagger, and his mark to take care of those who came at them. He took the rear, lashing out with blade and magic when a demon got too close. It was an effective strategy, for the most part.

Now and then, a demon would get through Magnus' defenses, using tails with stinging barbs or claws to slash at him. Luckily, his gear mostly protected his body, deflecting teeth and claws.

The gear, however, didn't extend to Magnus' hands or face. He had miscalculated, realizing his error in not making himself a pair of gloves, his hands crisscrossed with cuts. One whip-quick slash of a demon's tail grazed his cheek until a wave of his hand cut off the demon's air supply. A nasty way to die, but that was war.

Magnus sent his healing magic into his hands and face, purging himself of any taint that might be left behind by contact with the demons' poison. The last thing he needed was for a wound to fester and kill him. He also used his magic to soothe his muscles. Unused to fighting for long periods of time, they ached with fatigue, his chest heaving with the effort he had already expended.

Alec was tempted to find a quiet place for Magnus to catch his breath for a moment, seeing his husband's fatigue. The battle barely made a dent in his energy but then again, he didn't have to breathe. The expression on Magnus' face, however, stopped him from making the suggestion.

The fight turned into one long, mindless struggle for Magnus. Time seemed to stretch out as he hacked with his magic-infused Katana and fireballs. Demon after demon fell before him and Alec, their ichor splattering them, again and again. For every demon that either of them felled, another two would take their place in an endless cycle. He had to keep using his magic to wipe the ichor away when the more poisonous spots started singing holes in his gear.

Realizing that he needed to start conserving his energy, Magnus changed his tactics when he felt his magic start to flag. Instead of firing fireballs, which required more energy, he shaped his magic into small balls, something akin to bullets. Instead of firing them in a focused wave to pick the demons off, one by one, he sent them out like scattershot, watching his magic tear through the demons.

It wasn't enough. The demons still came, mindlessly throwing themselves at Magnus for what felt like hours on end, still getting through his defenses whenever they could.

Alec realized that the further they got, the smarter the demons seemed to become. They were learning to join forces, Attacking in combinations. They had to stop at one point and stand back to back when they were once again surrounded.

"They've maneuvered us into position," Alec growled, once again snatching a handful of grenades and launching them into the crowd. If his heart still worked, it would be pounding in his chest. "We must be getting closer to Lilith, these are the smarter ones," he muttered.

Magnus didn't reply, conserving his energy for fighting. The demons crept closer, more filling the gaps when his scattershot felled the first lines. He pushed down his panic, locking it away, and changed his tactics once more. His set his magic to lick up his blade once more and he yanked a Kriss dagger out of his holster, sending his magic up the shorter blade for those who got too close.

Slinging his bow over his back when their foes got to close for the long-range weapon, Alec yanked his short swords out of their holsters instead. Pressing his right shoulder back into Magnus', he started to circle when Magnus took the hint and turned with him. He kept them moving in a circle, letting his mark take care of those who got too close. The temptation to dart out and attack with his swords was strong but that would mean leaving Magnus' back unprotected.

Magnus started to draw energy from the atmosphere when he started flagging once more. The combination of his magic-infused weapons and the blasts he sent out through his feet whenever he used them to block an attack or kick out in a combination attack, was starting to take its toll.

One enterprising demon lashed out at Magnus, it's barbed tail wrapping around his right hand and the dagger that he clutched. He sliced through the demon's tail with his Katana, severing it and sending his magic into its body. The shriek it let out grated on his nerves, sending a shudder down his spine.

"They're getting too close," Magnus shouted from between gritted teeth, pain ricocheting up his arm from the barbs in the demon's tail. The demon was destroyed but he'd lost his dagger to it. The pain fueled his movements. Sheathing his sword for a moment, he gathered his magic, raising his hands to focus himself, and brought them back down in a slamming gesture. The magic that he had gathered slammed into the ground, sending their enemies flying back from them.

Magnus spun during the slight reprieve and grabbed Alec's hands when the demons bounded to their feet. Meeting Alec's gaze, seeing the nod there, he kept tight hold of Alec's hands and started spinning on the spot. It was a move that they had practiced once, Alec flying around them. The muscles in his arms strained to hold Alec up but it worked. He effectively used his husband like a battering ram, their enemies frying before their eyes as they came for Alec and failed to reach him.

Alec watched a wall of fire erupt around them as he flew through the air, anchored only by Magnus' strong grip. Nodding when Magnus looked up at him, he let go of Magnus' hands and flipped in the air to land lightly on his feet next to Magnus. The fire raged around them for a moment more, giving him a chance to look Magnus over.

Magnus didn't hesitate to take Alec's energy this time, needing to heal the worst of his injuries. Especially his throbbing hand. Reaching up, he gripped Alec's wrists when Alec cupped his face, drawing energy from the skin contact. His chest heaved and the cuts on his hands and face stung from the sweat that rolled down his face and coated his body.

Not having the energy to spare for anything fancy, Magnus simply knitted his skin back together, knowing that there would be some scarring. It didn't matter, he would need the energy for when they found Lilith.

"You can portal home and rest for a while, Magnus," Alec tried, seeing how tired Magnus looked. If he was still a Shadowhunter, he knew that he too would be flagging. His thumb skimmed over the purple ridge of scar tissue that now ran from Magnus' eyebrow to his jaw. He wanted to replace his thumb with his lips, to kiss it, and all Magnus' other hurts away.

"You'd love that, wouldn't you? Then you could hog all the glory for finishing Lilith off without me," Magnus quipped, his stomach fluttering from the devotion and worry he saw in Alec's eyes.

"Yes, I would. Because you would be safe," Alec said, pulling Magnus closer and spinning them when another demon came for his husband. His mark took care of the demon but it had been entirely too close for his liking.

"We're in Edom. When is it ever going to be safe?" Magnus asked. One glance saw the fighting continue around them, demon tearing into demon, others making a beeline for them.

Alec silently conceded Magnus' point. They would never be safe in this realm, could never relax their guard. At least that meant their family would be safe. Taking Magnus' hand once more, he kept one of his short swords in hand, watching Magnus draw his Katana once more before they pushed on.

Magnus searched for any sign of their allies as he and Alec once again threw themselves into the melee. He hadn't seen any of them for a while. So much for sticking together. The demons had done an excellent job of separating them. It was harder than he had realized to keep tabs on their allies when he was fighting for his life and that of his husband.

"There," Alec said when he spotted Cain, making a beeline for a clearing in the battle. Following Cain's trajectory, he saw what Cain was aiming for. "Lilith," he muttered. And she wasn't alone.

Magnus set a bubble of calm around them, a protective shield that stopped anything from coming closer than five feet to get his breath back. He scanned the horde that surrounded them, seeing what Alec was looking at. Lilith.

"That sneaky bastard. I thought for sure Belial would be the one to betray us," Magnus muttered, his eyes narrowing when he saw who stood beside Lilith, obviously comfortable at her side. Glancing around once more, he also saw that Belial and Nessraya were running at Lilith, parallel to his and Alec's position.

Cain skidded to a stop when he saw Lempo standing next to Lilith, glaring at the treacherous demon. So this is how she knew we were coming, he thought, noting the area of calm that surrounded the Demon Queen and the Traitor, a good sixty feet in diameter with the pair of them standing in the calm center. Stalking forward with his broadsword raised, he decided to put Lempo out of their misery.

Magnus portalled him and Alec to the edge of the melee, keeping a careful distance between them and Lilith and Lempo when they stepped out of it. Lempo The Traitor had a certain ring to it. The demon's deception sent a surge of adrenalin through him, energizing him slightly. Betrayal and the thought of revenge were powerful motivators.

They were joined by Belial and Nessraya, the demons gaping at Lempo, just as surprised as he and Alec were. Looking over Lilith's shoulder, Magnus saw Cain's approach from the opposite direction, to Lilith's rear. A subtle shake of his head had Cain stopping at the edge of the battle.

"Some alliance," Alec growled at Lempo, glaring at the demon across the thirty-foot distance, wanting to wring his droopy neck. It was only then that he realized that he hadn't spotted the demon once since they'd portalled to the battlefield that surrounded Lilith's castle. "I thought you hated her?" he asked.

"I do. She, however, is the lesser of two evils. You should have opened the rift, King Magnus," Lempo sneered, ignoring it when Lilith made an indignant noise next to him. "When you denied my request, I came to her. Allying myself with her is better than starving to death," he said.

"A mistake which you will pay for," Magnus said, stepping up beside his husband. By the way Lilith scanned the fighting demons, he knew she was searching for Cain. "What did she offer you?" he asked, keeping his eyes on Lilith and Lempo. Looking at Cain would only give his position away.

"What do you think I offered him?" Lilith asked imperiously. "I offered him full access to any realm he desired if gave me information on your 'alliance' and pledged his loyalty and his demons to me," she said, a smirk flitting over her face. It hadn't been hard, who would choose ideals over starving?

Lilith turned to Belial and Nessraya. "I wasn't surprised to find that you had gone behind my back, Belial. You always were a sneaky bastard. And Nessraya, I could have counted on your weakness for a pretty face. However, I offer you both the same as I offered Lempo. Full access to any realm you desire. All you have to do is break your treaty with Magnus and Alec, and join me once more," she said.

"Why would I join you? These two make a formidable team," Belial said, gesturing to Magnus and Alec. He hadn't forgotten how Alec had killed Shinigami with a look.

"For precisely that reason. There are only three of them. We are the four most powerful demons in this realm. We have thousands at our disposal. What do they have? Where is their army without your forces?" Lilith asked, her eyes flicking to Alec's hand when she saw his grip tighten on his bow.

"Without that rift, we will never be sealed up in this realm again. You both know as well as I do that Magnus will never open it. Do you want to be trapped here forever?" Lilith asked, smiling when her words sank in.

The desire to strangle Lempo to death intensified for Alec. Lilith had said "three", not two. Lempo had told her everything. "You know she will kill you all when she is done with you, don't you? Lilith doesn't handle betrayal well. That's why she wants the rift open, she wants to kill Jonathan for betraying her. It's too late for that anyway, my family already killed him," he said.

"No! He was mine!" Lilith shrieked, silently vowing to avenge her son. He was supposed to die by her hand and she would make those who had hurt him pay for what they had done. She badly wanted to snap Alec's neck but she wasn't that stupid. That's what Lempo, Belial, and Nessraya were for. She wouldn't go up against Alec's mark.

Magnus shook his head when Belial turned to him, his eyes narrowing when he saw the cold calculation on the demon's face. Nessraya was better at hiding it but he still saw her eyes flick from them to Lilith and back. His power built when Belial opened his mouth.

"Can you offer the same? Will you open the rift and give us access to the mortal realm?" Belial asked Magnus and Alec. Getting rid of Lilith was the ultimate goal and he wasn't foolish enough to think that she wouldn't try to make him pay for his betrayal of her. But she had a point. He could always take care of her later if Magnus refused.

"No," Magnus said, sealing their fate with a single word. They were surrounded. It didn't matter. It didn't change the fact that the safety of the entire mortal realm was dependant on his decision. He had no doubt that the horde would turn on them but they wouldn't get through the rift while he was alive. The only regret he had was that Alec and Cain were there with him.

Alec almost jumped a foot in the air when Nessraya let out a shrill shriek. The sound almost brought him to his knees. It was like a thousand nails being dragged down a chalkboard.

The reason for the noise became apparent when she stepped toward Lilith and her demons stopped fighting. The command to withdraw. She had joined Lilith and would no longer fight alongside them.

"Seems her offer is better than yours," Belial said with a shrug, turning away from Magnus and Alec to join Lilith, Lempo, and Nessraya.

"Put your strongest shield around yourself. She will send them after you. If the rift fails, our realm is lost," Alec said to Magnus when the fighting stopped. Every demon that surrounded them stilled, as though waiting for a command.

"Alexander..." Magnus trailed off when he saw the pleading look in Alec's eyes.

"Cain and I have our marks. She can send every demon at her disposal against us. You don't. Please, Magnus. I Can't lose you," Alec pleaded. He could withstand anything. As long as Magnus was safe.

Magnus drew his power around himself in a shield, stronger than diamond and clearer than crystal. Unease settled in the pit of his stomach when he saw Alec's expression settle into a mask of indifference as his husband turned to Lilith and her new cohorts.

Alec didn't say a word. All that mattered to him was that Magnus survived. And without the rift, their family would die. Families all over the mortal realm would be ripped apart, unable to withstand the onslaught. Children like Madzie would never get the chance to grow up and discover their potential. He wasn't going to give Lilith a chance to try for Magnus.

Meeting Cain's gaze over Lilith's shoulder, Alec nodded once before launching himself at the four demons who stood between them, seeing Cain do the same. A growl ripped its way up his throat, his fangs snapping out.

Cain didn't stop to think about the consequences of his and Alec's plan. Dashing forward when Alec nodded, his own fangs snapped out. He let murderous rage fill him when Lempo, Belial, and Nessraya skittered back from Alec, the demons trapped between him and Alec.

"The mark," Lilith screamed, scrambling back from Alec when she saw him move, aiming right for her. Spinning on the spot to escape his attack, a snarl of rage and fear escaped her when she saw Cain coming right at her from the other direction.

Alec put on a burst of speed when Lilith started to transform so she could escape. Only, he wasn't aiming for Lilith. He was aiming for Cain. She just happened to be stood between them. The traitors were the first to die when they tried to raise their weapons against him, each of them exploding before his eyes, a split second before he launched himself at Cain. With the intent to kill.

Cain directed his rage at Alec, launching himself at the other vampire with one intention. To kill Alec. Lilith couldn't transform fast enough to save herself, trapped between them and unable to lift a finger against either of them. Pain exploded from his forehead when he and Alec clashed with Lilith.

The pain that radiated from Alec's forehead when he clashed with Lilith and Cain was indescribable, ricocheting throughout his whole body in an explosion that hurtled him backward.

"Alexander!" Magnus screamed, the horror-filled word ripping from his lips. He almost lost control of his shield, time seeming to slow down and speed up, all at once when Alec raced forward. Everything moved in slow motion.

The pain of seeing their future flash before his eyes ripped into Magnus' rolling stomach, bile creeping up his throat. He had known that they planned something despite Alec's protestations, had felt it in the depths of his soul. And now he knew.

Magnus fell to his knees when Alec and Cain clashed, unable to keep his eyes open when a blinding flash of blue light lit the sky up, surrounding his husband and friend. And Lilith. Her screams ripped through the air. The power of Alec and Cain's marks rushed over his shield, almost destroying it.

Only the thought of the rift failing managed to stop Magnus from giving up and dropping the protection that he had surrounded himself with. Focusing on the thought of his family and friends having to fight the horde, he poured everything he had into the shield.

A deep rumble, that sounded like the crack of thunder almost deafened Magnus, rolling through the trembling ground beneath his knees. His head snapped up, a mushroom cloud of thick black smoke filling his vision. Looking around, he saw demons disintegrate around him as the mushroom cloud flew up into the atmosphere, setting off a chain reaction.

No, this isn't how it ends. He has to be alive, Magnus' mind snarled at him, cutting through the shock and despair that almost had him giving up. Almost. Keeping his shield around him, he sent tracking magic out, searching for any sign of Alec or Cain.

Finding a faint signature that pulsed with his magical touch, Magnus portalled to the source. It originated 100 feet behind where he had crouched. Upon stepping out of the portal, his stomach lurched when he saw Cain lying on the ground, unmoving, surrounded by the ashy remains of demons.

Only the fact that Cain's body was intact, and not a smoldering heap of ash, stopped Magnus from crumbling, giving him hope that Alec too was in one piece.

Magnus sent out another pulse of tracking magic, fighting through the thousand turbulent emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. His husband needed him. A flicker, over 100 feet to his right, had him grabbing Cain's arm in a vice-like grip.

Hauling the unconscious vampire through another portal, Magnus ignored the destruction that had started all around him to keep a tight hold of Cain. If he let go, the unconscious vampire would be lost in limbo, just like his father. Only the hold he had on Cain, guiding his friend when Cain couldn't do it himself, stopped Cain from slipping away.

"Alexander!" Magnus yelled when he found his husband, lying just as still as Cain was, as he emerged from his portal. Relief flooded him, singing in his veins as he flung himself down on his husband. He had to fight the lump in his throat, a sob escaping him.

The danger of sticking around became apparent when Magnus realized that the ground was breaking up around them, rivers of molten lava pushing up through the deep cracks with a heat that seared his lungs and robbed his mouth and throat of moisture. Thick smog surrounded them, blocking his view of the atmosphere. Not that he needed it. It was obvious what was happening. Edom was falling.

The knowledge that they could go home barely brought Magnus any relief. Nothing would until he could check his husband over. He couldn't do that here, however. It was too dangerous.

Waving his arm in a semi-circle, Magnus created a portal and used every ounce of his strength to drag Cain and Alec's unmoving bodies through it. He didn't give Edom a second glance when the swirling vortex claimed them, holding on deathly tight to Alec and Cain's wrists, silently begging them to hold on too.