Magnus put him down gently. Alec paused at the door to catch one last glimpse of them. Magnus glanced up at him, touched his own heart with his ringed hand, and made a little flicking gesture. Alec grinned and opened his own hand to see the tiny blue spark of magic burning briefly there.

“Hate you, Daddy,” Max said, and sulked.

“That’s a shame,” said Alec. “I love you both,” he added quickly, and closed the door on his own embarrassment.

The words were seldom easy for him to say, but he tried to say them whenever he was going on a mission. Just in case they were the last words.

Jace was waiting for him on the sidewalk, leaning against a sad-looking city tree, flipping a knife from palm to palm.

As Alec reached the sidewalk, there was a sound from above. Alec looked up to see Magnus, but instead he saw Max’s round face. Alec assumed Max wanted to get a glimpse of his magnificent uncle Jace. Then he saw Max was looking at him, big blue eyes mournful. He put his hand on the front of his sailor suit, then gestured to Alec the same way Magnus had, as if Max could do magic already.

Alec pretended to see a magic spark in his hand and put the magic kiss in his pocket. Then he gave Max a last wave as he and Jace headed down the street.

“What was that about?” Jace asked.

“He wanted to come patrolling.”

Jace’s face softened. “My good boy! He should—”

“No!” said Alec. “And nobody will let you have your own kid until you stop putting other people’s kids in bags meant for axes and trying to smuggle them out on patrol.”

“I almost got away with it, due to my supernatural speed and unmatched cunning,” Jace claimed.

“No, you didn’t,” said Alec. “That bag was wriggling.”

Jace shrugged philosophically. “Ready for another round of heroically defending the world from evil? Or if it’s a slow night, pranking Simon?”

“Actually, I can’t,” said Alec, and explained the message from Jem and Tessa.

“I’ll come with you,” Jace offered instantly.

“And leave Clary to run the Institute alone?” asked Alec. “A week before her exhibition?”

Jace looked shaken by the force of this argument.

“You’re not letting Clary down. Lily and I can deal with whatever’s going on,” said Alec. “Besides, it’s not like Jem and Tessa can’t handle themselves. We’ll be a team.”

“Fine,” said Jace reluctantly. “I guess three other fighters are an acceptable substitute for me.”

Alec thumped him swiftly on the shoulder with a fist, and Jace smiled.

“Well,” he said. “To the Hotel Dumort.”

From the outside the hotel’s facade was grimy, the graffitied sign the dark brown of old blood.