“If you insist on disavowing that which is ugly about what you do," said Magnus, still looking at Alec, "you will never learn from your mistakes.”

“Alec," Magnus said. He put a hand on his boyfriend’s shoulder; Alec was standing still, staring angrily at the floor. "Are you okay?"Alec looked at him. "Who are you again?"Magnus gave a little gasp; he looked — for the first time Simon could remember — actually unnerved. It lasted only a moment, but it was there. "Alexander," he said."Too soon to joke about the happy memory thing, I take it," Alec said.”

“Hey," said Jace. who was sitting on an overturned speaker, looking at his cellphone, "do you want to see a photo of Alec and Magnus in Berlin?""Not really," said Simon. "Magnus is wearing lederhosen.""And yet, still no.”

“What do you need the phone for, Alec?” “We just need it,” Alec said impatiently. “Izzy-”“If you‘re texting Magnus to say ‘I think ur kewl,’ I‘m going to kill you.”“Who‘s Magnus?” Max inquired.“He‘s a warlock,” said Alec.“A sexy, sexy warlock,” Isabelle told Max, ignoring Alec’s look of total fury.”

“Alec's trying to get Magnus to take him seriously, but he's never told our parents about Magnus, or even that he likes, you know -" "Warlocks ?" Simon said.”

“Warlock,” he said. “I know who you are.”Magnus raised his eyebrows. “You do?”“Magnus Bane. Destroyer of the demon Marabas. Son of—”“Now,” said Magnus, quickly. “There’s no need to go into all of that.”“But there is.” The demon sounded reasonable, even amused. “If it is infernal assistance you require, why not summon your father?”Alec looked at Magnus with his mouth open.”